Hair Loss Causes – Page 198

September 15, 2008

Aggressive MPB Genes – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Question 1: You have been saying that aggressives genes will always beat Propecia! Do men only with strong MPB family history have those genes or can men also with no or little MPB family history have those genes?

Question 2: Also you been saying your genetic code will catch up eventually even on Propecia…but don’t all men with MPB have that genetic code? If they didn’t they couldn’t develop MPB!

“Aggressive” genes does not mean there has to be a strong family history. Everybody has a different genetic code and if your have the gene, you will eventually bald to a specific bald pattern, as described by Dr. Norwood in the Norwood Classification. So all men with male pattern baldness (MPB) have their unique genetic code with their unique bald pattern and their unique time frame to get to that pattern. I have discussed the term apoptosis, which implies cell death. Some of the tissues in our body die at specific time frames and in the case of hair, it is believed that some cell which produces some critical part of the growth cycle of the hair dies. This cell death kicks in after a certain number of hair growth cycles and every balding person has a different time frame for that kick-off. We know enough to be dangerous. In other words, things cannot be summarized in a simple fashion with our present state of knowledge.

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September 11, 2008

Hair Loss After Craniotomy – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

(female)
Previously someone mentioned she had had surgery and was losing hair. The reply was something about stress and medications, and a predispostion to balding. My question is how long does the stress and medications phase last? There does not appear to be a predispostion to balding to any of us in the family. I had a craniotomy 2 months ago and I now have a bald spot in the middle of my head about the size of four quarters. It seems to want to grow and then bends and breaks off. Now what? The reply also stated to see a Dr., but what kind? I have asked my neurologist and my PCP – neither has seen this before and the only response I get is “I think it will grow back.” Not an answer, if they haven’t seen this before. Would a dermatologist work? (I also have what looks like dandruff that attaches itself to the hair. But I can actually hear it when it hits the sink (I take a comb to it occassionally to help remove it.).)

Thank You

Hair loss in random patches about the size of a quarter sounds like alopecia areata that can be precipitated by surgery or stress. Also included in the differential diagnosis is telogen effluvium (see article). Your description and condition sounds a bit more complicated than just that, though. You had a craniotomy and there are other issues (things falling from your scalp that makes a sound when hitting the sink?!). I would definitely see a dermatologist.

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September 11, 2008

Blood Supply and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I recall reading a couple years back that some doctor interviewed in a mens health mag said that taking a baby aspirin is recommended as it increases blood flow which may be of benefit to men losing there hair

your thoughts on this theory? as well as the whole concept of blood flow bringing nutrients to the hair? perhaps MPB is directly correlated to poor blood circulation? ok this is far fetched but can it be ruled out?

I do not know of a scientific correlation. The concept of blood flow contributing to hair loss has been well disproven. The hair gets what it needs, but the genes that cause balding will cause the cells to die (medical term is apoptosis — see ResearchApoptosis.com).

September 11, 2008

Hair Falling Out When Towel Drying — Am I Being Paranoid? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I was wondering. When some of my hair falls out when I’m drying it with a towel, I notice some hair strands are thicker than others. Is that a sign of miniturization? Or am I just paranoid?

Hairs normally fall out at a rate of about 100/day, more when you wash your hair. The hairs that fall out as part of the normal hair cycle are usually normal thickness hairs, but if you lose a miniaturized hair, say goodbye to it, for it may not come back.

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September 10, 2008

Anorexia and Bulimia and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi. I’ve been recovering from an Anorexia/Bulemia for about a year. I’ve been losing hair the whole time. For a while it was really bad, then got better, then got worse, then better to where i really thought it was actually going to stop but now it’s been worse AGAIN for a few weeks. I am taking birth control and an antidepressant which i understand both may cause hair loss. I was just curious if there is anything else that may be causing the hair loss. Note: i have recovered SUPERBLY from my eating disorder and have a great relationship with food. I eat healthy but indulge once in a while. Is there anything that can “help” with the hair loss? Please let me know. The problem is stressful and embarassing. It would be great if you would respond to my question. Thank you.

Hair loss from anorexia/bulimia stems from malnutrition and malabsorption. If you are eating healthy you should eventually recover unless other medications you are taking are causing the hair loss (antidepressants are common causes of hair loss). This process can take several months to over a year. Regretfully, sometimes you may not regain all the hairs that were lost.

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September 10, 2008

I Have a Fivehead! – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello

Im 17 and I have noticed that my temples have recedeed so much that my hairline on the side literally goes straight up towards the top of my head. I am also thinning on the front right side at the top of my head. All my uncles and my grandad on my mothers side went bald and my brother is also quite bald at the age of 21.

I really would not be bothered if I started balding around the age of 30 but to have it happen so soon is worrying. What treatment would you recomend to try and slow down the process? I also have a big forehead, or a fivehead, so any receeding will be much more noticed! Is it normal for someone to start goin bald so young? It got me really depressed when I first noticed but now I am not too bothered, althgough I would still still like to possibly slow the process down

It sounds like you have genetic balding otherwise known as androgenic alopecia (AGA) otherwise known as male pattern baldness (MPB). It can start with puberty with changes in your hormones. There are medications such as Propecia that can slow this process down, but you need to see a doctor for a formal diagnosis and treatment options.

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September 9, 2008

Is Female Hair Loss Related to Female Facial Hair Growth and High Testosterone? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

(female)
I am 61 years old and I am experiencing balding on the top of my head and thinning of hair on the rest of my head. I have developed a mustache and beard. I have found that my testosterone level in 486. Would this cause my hair loss?

Normal total testosterone levels are as follows:

Men — 500 to 1000 ng/dL (nanograms per deciliter)
Women — 50 to 100 ng/dL

I would look to your doctor to find out why your testosterone is so high. There are many potential medical reasons for this. High testosterone can cause hair loss in women and possibly even the appearance of a beard.

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September 8, 2008

Does Miniaturization Always Mean MPB? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hey doctor,
Thanks so much for your time. This would be very helpful for me if you could answer this question! My question is, does miniaturization for sure mean that one has male pattern baldness or can miniaturization be a result of other causes of hair loss (i.e. meds). I’ve been taking minocycline for 4 years because of acne prescribed by a doctor and I also have A LOT of miniaturization. Is this just coincidence or could there be other reasons for miniaturization/balding

Thanks for your time!

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There could be other reasons besides genetic male pattern baldness. Get a good examination by a doctor who knows about this. Miniaturization could be drug induced along with a variety of other diseases.

Minocycline is not known to cause hair loss, but I suppose it could be a rare side effect (I’ve read conflicting reports online about it being a side effect at all). The official documentation does not mention it.

September 8, 2008

Eyebrow Baldness – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dear Doctor,
I’m a 41-year old female and in the last six months my eyebrows started falling out to the point of almost complete “eyebrow baldness” (I don’t wax or tweeze them, so that’s not it). The dermatologist I saw did a scalp test and that was all fine and bloodwork done revealed nothing abnormal. He has prescribed twice-a-day application of topical Clobex. Does that sound like it’s on the right track of proper treatment? What about those “eyebrow growth stimulator” lotions I’ve heard about. Are they worth trying?

Thanks for your time and have a great day. Kind regards

Clobex is a topical steroid, so I would ask your prescribing physician what the working diagnosis is. Biotin deficiency has been strongly linked to hair loss and, when severe, can even lead to loss of the eyebrows and lashes. Deficiency is rare, but can be caused by excessive consumption of raw eggs, which contain high levels of the protein avidin, which binds biotin strongly. Biotin can be taken orally.

Another diagnosis that needs to be ruled out is alopecia areata, and a biopsy may be indicated for this. The Internet is not a place for a comprehensive review of your problem, but your doctor should be able to go over this with you if he spends the right amount of time, as I do with every patient I see.

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September 8, 2008

Hair Loss Paranoia – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hey, thank you for keeping this blog – it’s a great help! I’m an 18 year old male with a little bit of paranoia (nobody else thinks I’m losing hair). I’ve been reading about miniaturization. I noticed that some of the hair that comes out when I’m washing my head is finer than other hair. I have no idea if this is normal or not – what do you think?

It is normal to lose around 100 hairs every day as new ones grow in. If you have product in your hair (hair spray, gel, wax, etc), it may keep some of those hairs trapped until you shower, and then appear to have a bunch of hairs coming out at once… when in reality, it was just your normal daily hair cycling.

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