Category: Hair Loss Causes

I am 23yrs, male losing hair from 8th months. I don’t have any bald spots. Right now I might fit into NORWOOD II classification( I can easily cover my frontals with the hair). Though I am losing hair all over I can notice more hair loss at sides and back. When ever I put my fingers thru the hair I see atleast 2 hairs come out. Most of my colleagues say I still had pretty much hair, but I know how much I lost from last 10 months or so..

I went to dermatologist last month and she ordered some tests, my testosterone level is high, which is 869 ng/dL (normal 241-827) she said this was the reason for my hair loss. I am not totally convinced since it is DHT that cause hair loss but not high testosterone. Shall I go for DHT test? If so do I need to have any other tests along with DHT? They suggested me to take Propecia which I am concerned of side effects. When I asked her about Miniaturization she said that she never heard about it. Is there any doctor you know in Denver Location that does this Miniaturization.

And also one more thing, while I am searching internet I found these DHT blocker shampoos. Do you think that these shampoos really work? Please tell me what to do. It is been so hard for me to concentrate on other things due to this problem. I really appreciate your advise. Thanks

If you do not have the balding genetics, a high testosterone level will not cause genetic hair loss. If you’re losing your hair, it is in your genetic makeup, not due to your testosterone level. If you have balding, then map out your hair for miniaturization and make the diagnosis. That’s really the best “test” you can have done — and it’s a simple task. You can even do it yourself — see Mapping Your Own Scalp for Miniaturization. I’m not sure if there’s a doctor in Denver that does it, as some doctors unfortunately have difficulty understanding the importance of such a study.

There are two types of DHT (Type I and Type II), and I believe most of the DHT blocking shampoos only take care of one of those types. Taking finasteride under a good doctor’s guidance will be your best course.

I am interested in getting a lot of chest hair..Now I have some fuzz and sporadic hairs. My FSH is rising and I am diagnosed with hypogonadism, early testicular failure- at 55 years young. Transplanting chest hair (from where may I also ask?) must be a lengthy- and costly transplant process. Is it possible? I also desire more underarm hair.

I have a free place to stay in L.A. if there is hope to do these procedures.

Thanks..

First, you should see an endocrinologist to see if hormone replacement therapy can get you the hair you want on your chest and in your underarms. Then, if this fails, a hair transplant should be your last option (hair would come from the scalp).

Hello Dr. and thank you for your reply ( the 14 days after surgery question).

I did get the do’es and dont’s and i did follow them, except for that one day that i had insufficient cover and that’s how it happened. I dont think i had a second degree burn, it’s more like light first degree.

My question is – if there is a way that i can tell ( i’m 2 months post op now ) if the hair is growing or not – cause right now i have a very poor growth and i fear it’s because what have happened although i’m reading every where that i should wait few months before seeing results….

It may take 4 months to see very early signs of hair growth. It can take up to 8 months on average to see 80-90% of the growth and a full year to see the full results. I am surprised that you are not aware of this and this was not explained to you by your surgeon. Just take care of your scalp in the manner your doctor told you (hopefully you at least got post-op instructions) and you should be fine. There’s not much you can do at 2 months post-op except waiting.

Dr. Rassman,

Does running your hand through your hair have any effect on the rate of hair loss? I have a habit of running my hand through my hair frequently (possibly 50 times) each day, and being a 20 year old male with my genetics against me, I am beginning to wonder if this may be encouraging hair loss to occur (although no loss, other than slight recessions, is visible yet).

Also, when sleeping, does it matter whether I sleep on the crown of my head verses the side of my head? Specifically, does sleeping on the crown help to encourage hair loss in the crown area (eg. the bald spot), and should I attempt to sleep on my side more often, or does it not matter whatsoever? Once again, no hair loss is visible in my crown as of yet, other than the small spot I was born with.

Thank you!

There is no real risk to running your fingers through your hair, unless you are pulling on your hair. Running your fingers through your hair is not causing your hairline to recede, I can tell you that much. Sleeping positions do not impact hair loss.

first i would like to say that i greatly appreciate your website and the time you put into it.

does the rate and age at which a male starts to bald corespond to the rate and age at which other men in their family start to bald? in other words, my dad and every guy on his side of the family and on my moms side of the family started going bald in their early 50s. does this mean that i will also start balding in my early 50s. also is it possible for me to start balding at the crown eventhough everyone in my family has never shown signs of baldness in that area?

i have been reading that scientists in britain have said that weightlifting can increase the rate of the male pattern baldness? is there any truth to this? do aerobic exercise reduce testosterone levels in your body?

thanks for your time

There is no way to be definitive in answering the question. Many people do follow their family patterns of hair loss. You may or may not. I do not believe that exercise increases hair loss unless you are taking exogenous steroids.

This is part 2 of a series. For the first part, see Mapping Your Own Scalp for Miniaturization.

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Interpreting the Results:

Is miniaturization present? Hair shaft thickness should be relatively comparable from one part of the head to another. There are exceptions to this rule in the first 1/4 inch of hairline, the temple prominences, and the hair of the neck where the shaft thickness may be less than that found throughout the scalp. In any one area of the scalp, the hair shaft thickness may be reduced significantly in 20% of the viewed hairs. These reflect vellus hairs, not mature normal ‘terminal’ hairs — so any measurement below 20% can be thought of as normal without miniaturization.

The area of the head may have different findings. For example, frontal hair in the balding Norwood Class 3A will show varying degrees of miniaturization eventually leading to complete balding, while crown views of the hair may show no miniaturization whatsoever. The balding patterns shown in the Norwood classification chart will parallel the distribution of miniaturization as the balding process develops.

All miniaturization is not equal. Some hairs in any one part of the scalp may show different degrees of thinning. That is because the impacted hairs are self-destructive and different times. Eventually, those miniaturized hairs at the beginning of the destructive process will progress with more and more miniaturization until they just fade away. In the various stages of miniaturization, the hair’s growth slows (no longer growing at 1/2 inch per month) and they will lose their pigment (become gray or transparent). These changes will be appreciated by those of you who become experts on your own miniaturization process.

Now What?

This week, I’ll be posting a tutorial video on BaldingForum.com to show how the process works using the sub-$100 Celestron handheld microscope I mentioned in part 1 of this series. First though, you’ll need to get the microscope. I provided the links in part 1, but to keep things convenient here they are again:

• Buy it at Amazon.com
• Buy it at JR.com

Assuming you have the microscope, the tutorial video (Below!) will be a big help. It’ll not only show you where to map on your scalp, but it’ll also show you how to create files of your historical record on your computer and compare the pictures you obtain over time may give you insights into your balding problems.

 

 

Thank you for your website.

What do you think about the genetic test for the male pattern baldness? Do you think it is accurate?

It will identify the genes that it is looking for, nothing more. Genetic tests are accurate assuming that they are done properly and the genes have been isolated for the test. I’d expect it to be accurate, yes, though I haven’t run any independent tests.

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