Age – Page 9 – Balding Blog

August 26, 2011

Hair Loss InformationMy Teenage Daughter Keeps Losing Eyebrow Hair While Sleeping – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My 13 year old daughter annually starts complaining about the area over her right eye hurting. Within about 2-3 weeks the eyebrow hair will fall out while sleeping, or I just have to rub my finger over it and it comes off. This has happened 3 years in a row. Her pediatrician thought she may have used a razor the first time but now I KNOW thats not happening. I personally see it rub off at the root. What is happening?

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It sounds like she might have a medical condition known as trichotillomania, which is a compulsion to pull hair out (which could also explain pain felt in the area). This can occur while your daughter is sleeping, and she is probably unaware that she’s doing it. If a doctor looks at it with magnification, he will see “Exclamation point” hairs and broken hairs at different levels in the eyebrow hair.

You could treat it by putting a head band around her head securing the eyebrows within it. Keep this for 3 months or so and see if the hair grows back. That would confirm the diagnosis. Often, a doctor can look at the eyebrows and see changes in the hair that point to this diagnosis.

August 26, 2011

Hair Loss InformationHow Can an 18 Year Old Lower His Hairline? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Is there absolutely no way for an 18 year old to lower his hairline. I am a performing musician so my image is fairly important. Whether I am on the way to a fully bald head I don’t know but I have always had a very high hairline and thin curly hair which is really hard to manage and maintain. Messy hair just doesn’t look cool with a 4 inch forehead.

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I do not know anything about you and certainly do not know what you look like. Yes, hairlines can be lowered a number of ways… but would I do it on an 18 year old that wants to look cool? Probably not.

If there is good reason to do it, I would consider it, but a doctor-patient relationship is critical and that starts out with a face to face meeting.

August 19, 2011

Hair Loss and Getting Older – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hey Doctor Rassman,

Got a few questions:

1. Can you explain to me the link between aging/being older and male pattern baldness?

2. Do you think that any lifestyle or diet changes are effective at preventing MPB? Other than surgery and medication what else do you reccomend? Aerobic exercise? Lowering insulin levels?

3. I have heard that is better to start dealing with hair loss before it has begun. Is this true or even possible?

4. Have you had a HT yourself? You look great btw.

Keep up the good work.

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1. Hair densities and thickness of the shafts can change with age. In some very elderly men, we see a condition looking like diffuse unpatterned alopecia (DUPA), which produces a see-through appearance of the donor area. Some doctors refer to this as senile alopecia.

2. Nothing that can be done with diet or lifestyle to fully prevent genetic hair loss. Just maintain a normal and healthy nutritional status.

3. From a social point of view, the earlier one starts medications like finasteride, the less advanced will be the hair loss. Hair transplants are another option that can and should be explored, but they are not for everyone.

4. Thank you. Yes, I had a bald crown. There are photos of my non-transplanted hairline and transplanted crown here.

August 10, 2011

My Hair Loss Started at 16, but Has Progressed Extremely Slow – Balding Blog

Extending on a point you made answering a recent question, about a man who believed his hairloss would progress to a norwood 6/7 because he began showing signs at the age of 19, how accurate would this be as a way of estimating? For example, if I am actually experiencing male pattern baldness, then I have had this same hairline since I was at least 16 (no accurate pictures before) which includes no more than a little lobsided recession.

My progression has been extremely slow, even at a young age when people believe hair loss is much more aggressive. Is it possible that, even past the mature hairline point, a sufferer of hairloss can just stop at any point, say a norwood 3, or just a little overall thinning, and keep what they have left for the rest of their lives?

Hair loss can be aggressive and then stop forever if that is your genetically determined pattern. You need to see a doctor to get that diagnosis done. The doctor can check your miniaturization (if it is present) and your hair bulk, and between the two of those you can get an idea if you are balding. At 16 years old, I do not believe that you can predict a Norwood class 6/7 pattern, nor have I seen that pattern in a 16 year old.

I think a lot of times people write wanting comfort in knowing that simple math will tell them how much time they have to enjoy their hair. Unfortunately, there’s no chart to refer to and I can’t even give an estimate of that time table without an examination of some sort. There’s no way to predict your final hair loss pattern just based on when you started losing hair.

August 8, 2011

My Son Saw Total Regrowth After a Few Months on Propecia, So Was it the Drug? – Balding Blog

Dear Dr. Rassman,
My eighteen year old son has been on propecia since march 2011 and has been using rogaine 5% since April 2011. He has had just about total regrowth starting with the month of June, his hairline is restored. The dermatologist was pretty sure it was MPB but left a stress issue on the table. My son had been through alot the past year. The Dr. never did any mapping etc. My question maybe he does not need the propecia, I don”t want to put him at any risk.

What do you recommend and is it unusual to have this success so quickly with these meds. Thank-you You are a voice of reason in all this confusion

I just answered a very similar question last week.

I have seen total regrowth (particularly in the hairline) on rare occasions, and when it occurs it usually happens in men under 22 years old or so. It’s been 5 months since he started on the medication, and although that does seem pretty quick to see so much success, it’s not improbable. Results can be seen anywhere from 3-12 months after starting Propecia. As this is a prescription drug, I’ll defer to the prescribing doctor as to whether or not your son needs the medication. He can always get a second opinion, of course.

Ideally, he will want to have a doctor who can check for miniaturization and hair bulk in a number of areas of the scalp to determine if he is balding. Hair transplant doctors know hair, so that would be a good place to start — not for surgery, but for the consultation. You can look for local doctors by using the physician search at ISHRS.org or if you’re planning to be in the Los Angeles area, he can see us.

August 3, 2011

My 82 Year Old Mom Has Burning Scalp and Hair Loss – Balding Blog

My mom is 82 years old and has always had a full head of hair with no scalp issues. About 1 and a half years ago she experienced burning, itching scalp, loss of hair and weight. This ended in about November, and started again in February till current. What could possibly be cause? She has had all blood work done, however has been under stress for quite sometime. She has stopped getting perms and coloring her hair. She sets own hair with rollers and uses a setting gel. Any suggestions?

You just listed many of the causes of hair loss in women over 80. Stress can cause hair loss as well. She should see a good, caring doctor. I couldn’t tell you why she’s having scalp issues or weight loss.

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July 26, 2011

Hair Loss InformationWhat is Hair Bonding? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

What is hair bonding? Can it give a natural look?

Any treatment available to people over 60 years of age, with long standing baldness?

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You may be taking this term out of context. Glues that are used to attach hair systems (wigs) are said to be bonded to the scalp. These can cause damage to weak hair, leading to further loss. They may look natural, but they also could take a lot of work and money to maintain that natural appearance.

Hair loss treatments that I recommend include transplantation and medication. Your options depend on a variety of factors, but since I have no info about you (aside from age) I couldn’t begin to list what those options might be. But yes, generally there are treatments available even at 60 years old.

July 13, 2011

At 72 Years Old, I Saw Hair Loss After Testosterone Replacement Therapy – Balding Blog

I am a 72 year old male in excellent physical condition. Because I was starting to feel a lack of energy, after a blood test for testosterone level, he said I was on the low end of the acceptable scale for testosterone. He prescribed testosterone replacement therapy. I started weekly shots. After about a month I started noticing a very definite loss of hair on my head. I stopped the testosterone injections. My question is “Will my hair grow back over time now that i have stopped the testosterone injections?”

I have started taking Shen/Min DHT Blocker and using Ovation Cell Therapy to help. Thanks

I am sorry to hear you noticed androgenic hair loss after testosterone therapy. At 72 years old, I would have guessed that would have been a very minimal risk. I do not know if the hairs may grow back, but you will know in a year or two if the loss was permanent. Although a bit late, I would try to go on the drug finasteride if approved by your doctor.

I would ask your physician the same question you posed to me, as well as his thoughts on possible finasteride (Propecia) therapy.

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July 12, 2011

Hair Loss InformationHow Do You Diagnose DUPA? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman,

I am an 18 year old male. I have experienced diffused thinning on the top and sides of my head for the past 10 months. I’ve probably lost 50% of my density. My sides are slightly thinner than the top. I was wondering if this would be diagnosed as DUPA?

The reason I’m asking is that my back is as thick as ever (of course there might be miniaturization that cannot be observed by the naked eye). Also, is it possible for a person to get DUPA this young?

In case it helps, no one in my family has MPB or DUPA. All 4 of my grandparents have quite thick hair on their sides, back and top

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DUPA (diffuse unpatterned alopecia) is a condition found in men where the hair on the fringe area (back and sides) have significant miniaturization (greater than 20% of hairs). And yes, teens can have it.

No one knows what causes DUPA, but it looks like the pattern we see in women with significant female genetic hair loss, although their miniaturization may extend to other areas of the scalp.

July 11, 2011

My Young Daughter Had Ringworm That Left a Bald Spot – Balding Blog

My 8 yr old daughter got a bad case of ringworm a year and a half ago. The lesions became a superinfection and eventually cleared. She was left with a quarter size bald area on the top of her head and now has some small amount of hair growth. Is there anything out there could be doing for her to promote hair growth? Are there any specific doctors i should see? She is 9 and I believe it is bothering her a bit socially. Thanks

Hair loss from infection and scarring may be permanent if it has not regrown in over a year. One possible treatment worth using may be Rogaine (with approval from her doctor) topically applied, but you need to apply the medication twice a day everyday for about one year before may see any improvement.

Another option may be a limited hair transplant to the area which we have done on occasion. This may be a better solution, as it is a one-time event for most people. I realize she’s only 8 or 9 years old, but depending on how bothersome the bald spot is, it might be a consideration.