Age – Page 20 – Balding Blog

May 14, 2009

My Hair Loss Just Started When I Turned 50 Years Old – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello, I’m male and have just turned 50. There’s no baldness in the family and up until very recently I’ve had a full head of hair.

My hair started falling out considerably in the shower about six months ago (Oct ‘08) and has continued up until now, to the point where I just have to run my fingers through my hair and hairs will fall onto the countertop. Unfortunately I’ve now lost a good amount of hairline and have thinned all over the top of my head.

I went to a dermatologist and supplied eleven vials of blood for testing with everything coming back negative for hair loss – minerals, vitamins, hormones, dhea, thyroid, kidney, liver & bioavailable testosterone were all within range (the last two were slightly elevated, but still in normal range).

There hasn’t been any major stress events in my recent history, nor do I feel depressed. However, I have been taking prednisone since March ‘03 after being diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency (addison’s disease) after a bad bout with food poisoning. According to the medical association hair loss is not a side effect of prednisone, but I’m guessing it is the cause of my hair loss, or possibly an autoimmune disease attacking the hair follicle’s themselves.

I was given a dandruff shampoo (Ducray – Selegel) by the dermatologist but that hasn’t slowed the hair loss down, not sure dandruff could cause this type of hair loss anyway. I’m wondering if you might have any advice that could help as this is very frustrating to say the least.

Thanks

You can guess on the mechanisms for your thinning hair, but hair loss from genetic causes can start late in life (50s). I would need to know much more about your Addison’s disease and the impact of the steroid use before discussing your case further. Prednisone can cause hair loss (see here), but dandruff isn’t a cause of hair loss.

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May 4, 2009

Can an Infant Have Alopecia? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Can a 20 month old child have Alopecia?

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This is unlikely. Most children without much hair are just delayed growing their hair. Assuming the the hair is patchy, one would look to your pediatrician for the diagnosis of ringworm, alopecia areata (rare). Complete absence of hair on the head and eyebrows could reflect other types of alopecias, but I do not want to write a book on the subject without knowing more about what your concerns are.

April 24, 2009

Heavy Drinking, Hard Partying, Hair Thinning – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’ve been drinking heavily and partying hard for the past few years and have lost a substantial amount of hair. I understand that the weight gain issue is controllable, but is the hair loss something i can prevent? Thanks.

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Drunk Your hard partying ways are likely not good for your overall health, but your hair loss is probably unrelated. Genetics is the main reason men lose hair, and I assume that you’re in your 20s or 30s if you’re doing heavy drinking and late night partying (just a shot in the dark), which is around the age many men see their hair begin to thin.

If you’ve got male pattern baldness, your doctor should write you a prescription for Propecia (finasteride), but without knowing much more about you (age, for starters), I can’t really give much more advice than that. The hair loss isn’t necessarily preventable, but you can halt the progressive nature and possibly regrow some of what you lost.

April 20, 2009

Proscar and Insurance – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am aware that you are not in the business of insurance premiums, but I am curious to know if you have any insight regarding the possible negative affects (insurance related) of obtaining a Proscar prescription.

Specifically, have you ever heard of someone being negatively labeled by an insurance company after receiving a prescription for Proscar (in terms of increased premiums with current or future insurance providers)?

Thanks for your time.

For a young man, the answer is no. If you are over 50 years old, this medication is often associated with benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH), so maybe an insurance company can draw the wrong conclusions if your use is for hair only.

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April 17, 2009

I’m 15 Years Old and Losing My Crown! – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi, I’m 15 years old and for a long time now I have noticed a bald spot in my crown and from what people have told me it is getting worse. At the moment I have quite long hair but for some reason the crown is balding. This is making me very self conscious and I’m only 15! .. What should I do??

You should get help from a dermatologist in your area. I’m not sure what you’re seeing (is it actual hair loss or just the way your hair parts at the crown?), but a doctor should be able to tell you once and for all. Your options are limited at 15 years old, as you’re likely still growing. Minoxidil (Rogaine/Regaine) may work for you if you are losing hair, but most teens your age wouldn’t be too keen on applying medication twice daily to their scalp. Again, seek out a doctor for an in-person exam.

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April 15, 2009

Young Teen Has White Hairs! – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello. I am thirteen and I was in class one day and a friend say i had white/gray hair all over in the back and side. I checked at home with two mirrors to see and I saw ALOT. Is it just the glare of the sun/light or is something wrong with me and i first thought if it was my showerr hair product. Whats a good recommendation(Dying it, Different hair product?)

You could dye it, but at 13 years old you should get a parent involved in the process. You’ll want to do a spot test for dye to make sure you don’t have any allergies (it should explain this on the packaging). White/grey hair isn’t terribly common in someone your age, but it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything wrong with you. It’s likely just genetics.

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April 14, 2009

What to Do for a 21 Year Old Non-Responder to Propecia? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Dr. Rassman, thanks again for your work here. I was wondering if you have ever encountered a young patient say, 21 years old, that did not respond to propecia. I have been on propecia for 8 months now and my thinning is becoming more evident. From my impression, you’ve held that propecia is most effective for the early stages I’m experiencing. Should I expect to see any difference between 8 months and a year (the full potential marker)?

I’m just really concerned propecia hasn’t slowed the process for me. Thanks for the help

I’ve been mentioning it a lot lately, but there is a genetic test that will determine just how good Propecia will be for you (see here). You can find a doctor in your area that carries the HairDX tests here.

I believe Propecia always works, but it could be a matter of degree. It should slow down the balding process, but the balding process could be aggressive. Generally you see the results in 1-2 years, but some indication of the benefits should be evident at this time. I would recommend getting baseline measurements for miniaturization and then get the genetic test. This combination of things should give you more insights with a good doctor at your side.

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April 13, 2009

Can Propecia Interfere with My 18 Year Old Son’s Genitalia Growth? – Balding Blog

I’d like to know if finasteride is safe for an 18 year old boy. Can it interfere with a possible genitalia growth spurt that I’ve been told can occur even after complete bone growth up to age 20 or 21? My son appears to have male pattern baldness, so his Dermatologist has put him on the drug, but his Endocrinologist advises against it. My son doesn’t want to lose his hair so he’s taking Propecia, but doesn’t know about the other possible problem. It’s not something I want him worrying about unless the drug can really interfere with genitalia growth, in which case he should know so he can decide for himself whether or not to take the drug. Please advise.

Propecia (finasteride 1mg) is safe for 18 year olds and this medication is not known to retard genitalia development in young men. The 5-year effectiveness and safety study submitted to the FDA included men aged 18 to 41 years old. He is correct that to hold on to his hair, this is the best approach.

April 8, 2009

I Want a Teenage Hairline Permanently! – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello,
I am 20 years old and my hairline seems to be receding. There is miniaturization in a clear line, and then thick normal hair also in a clear line. I am wondering If this is a sign of my hairline settling into a mature widows peak sort of line(I went to talk with a specialist at at a clinic in New York and they said I wasn’t even the first part of the Norwood in the receding section, though I notice a lot receding at the temples.

Could this be the end if the miniatrization is that clear or would taking finasteride(probably finpecia since I am currently unemployed) be a smart option. I am opting for a teenage hairline permanantly seeing as I plan on doing sort of gender bending performance art and want a hairline that can he feminine as well.

I am willig to do anything to get ride of the receding hairline, I never want a mature hairline. This might sound naive or childish, but I do not feel comfortable looking manly at all, and never will, so I am DESPERATE. I know my options, would I have luck with finasteride?

At 20 years old, you might be a good responder to finasteride… but as for expecting it to regrow a maturing hairline and go back to your 10 year old line, it won’t do that. What you’re asking for is likely going to require surgery (as drugs will not reverse frontal balding), and at 20 years old it doesn’t sound like you made up your mind wanting your 10 year old hairline back. Hair transplants can be done to give you that, but do you really know where you mind is when you are 30 or 40. You get the picture? I never say never, but you need to bond with a good doctor, not one that just wants to take your money in these difficult financial times and become realistic with regard to what may happen to you over time.

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April 6, 2009

I Have 50% Miniaturization – Is That Significant? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hey Doctor, I just had a miniaturization study done the other day by Dr. Bernstein in New York (who I found out about thanks to this site) and he said I had about 50% miniaturization on the front of my head while the crown/back was all normal and prescribed me 5mg Propecia to cut it into 1/4s. I didn’t take the chance to ask him any questions about it, which I regret. So I was hoping I could ask you:

Being 20 years old, would you consider 50% miniaturization a significant amount of hair thinning?

Being that right now I just have hair thinning and there’s really no signs of balding to the untrained eye, am I at a better advantage to responding to Propecia?

Also, could the propecia actually reverse the miniaturization, at least to a certain degree, or is it much more likely that it’ll just halt it/slow it down?

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Yes.
Yes.
Could go either way, or none at all. I can’t predict how you’ll react to a medication.

50% miniaturization is a predictor or hair loss or balding in the area where the miniaturization is found (in your case, in the frontal area). Sooner or later, the balding will be evident to the naked eye, but with finasteride, it may slow it down or reverse it. You should repeat the miniaturization study in a year and see what has happened ,and then you will have a better idea of the hair loss progression and the speed of the process.