Category: Hair Loss Causes

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Is The White Bulb on a Fallen Hair Seen as an Thyroid or Tumor Problem? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am attending cosmetology school and my theory teacher told the class that when u shed hair, if hair comes out and has the little white bulb on the end of the hair strand than it is an internal problem such as thyroid or tumors and if it doesnt then that means its more than likely an external problem and me and 2 of my friends have the bulb on the root of our hair strand, does that mean that we have something wrong?

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Bulb (not related to hair)It is normal to see a white bulb on a pulled hair. There is no connection to diseases or tumors and the white bulb at the end of fallen hairs. If you pull your hair (don’t make a routine of it) a few hairs will come out and some of them will have white bulbs. Hair coming out is part of the hair cycle and the hairs that come out are about to go into telogen.

Hair follicle cells have three phases of growth:

  1. Growth phase (Anagen phase) which lasts anywhere from 2 to 6 years. This is the phase where your hair is actively growing at approximately 10cm per year. 85% of hair is at this phase at any given time.
  2. Transitional phase (Catagen phase) which lasts about 2 weeks. This is the phase where the hair follicle shrinks and prepares to enter the resting phase.
  3. Resting phase (Telogen phase) which lasts about 1-6 months. This is the phase where hair does not grow, but stays attached to the follicle. Some hairs are shed at this phase, but at the end the hair follicle re-enters the growth phase to start the cycle over again. 10-15% of hairs are at this phase at any given time.

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My Hairline Has Matured at Age 17 – Does That Say Anything About My Future Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello,
I have read a few posts previous to my post, inwhich you reassured people that gaining a “mature hairline” at a early age (17 in my case), certainly DOESNT mean that you WILL definitely experience further balding past the “mature hairline”. on this subject i have two short questions:

  1. Is there any medical evidence based on maturing hairlines that states that they are definitely separate from the balding process (past the mature hairline)
  2. Since i reached a mature hairline at 17, does this mean i will have a greater chance to actually have the balding gene, or is this just me thinking the worst?

thanks for the great service you provide

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The answer to both questions is no, but a good Master Plan should be made with sound metrics on the mapping of your scalp for miniaturization to cover you in the future if you should develop hair loss.

For more about the maturing hairline, see Maturation of a Hairline — Moving From Juvenile to Mature.

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Do DHT Levels Change Over Time? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dear Doc,
I was just curious to how the levels of DHT change in the body over time. Do DHT levels rise to some sort of critical level before the onset of baldness? or do the follicles just become less resistant to DHT as one ages? Also is there a difference in DHT levels in bald and not-bald males?

thanks

Yes, DHT levels change as we age, but the level of DHT does not necessarily correlate with balding or androgenic alopecia (AGA). It is your genes that makes you susceptible to the DHT impact on hair that produces balding. In other words, you can have a high level of DHT and if you do not have the gene for AGA, you will not lose hair. Or you can have a very low level of DHT and have the gene for AGA and be bald. As DHT comes from testosterone, it is your testicles that are the supplier of the hormones that cause baldness. If you did not have testicles, then the balding process would stop, but your hair would not come back.

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Is DUPA a Sign of Illness or Disease? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello I am a 24 year old male how has been experiencing DUPA over the last year and a half or so. My father has a full head of hair as well do my uncles and brother. However I read that people who suffer with DUPA don’t have problems with DHT levels, but something foreign. Could DUPA be a sign of something out of order internally in regards to symptoms of an illness or disease. I have many signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism and I wonder if that is why my hair would be thinning all over. If you would to be so kind and assist me with this question it would make the year and a half all the more better spent. Thank You and God Bless.

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Hair loss can sometimes be a sign of medical illness, which is why you need to see a physician for a complete medical examination. DUPA (diffuse unpatterned alopecia) in itself is not a sign of illness, though.

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Does Hair Loss from DUPA Thin At the Same Rate All Over? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

If you have DPA or DUPA does it tend to thin all over at the same rate or would you notice a faster thinning of the traditional crown and temples area followed more slowly by the top of the head and/or back of the head and sides?

Thanks!

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I don’t believe anyone knows the answer to this question, but you can have your scalp mapped out for miniaturization and see to what degree your hair loss is and how it progresses over time. For more on diffuse unpatterned alopecia (DUPA), please see How Fast Can DUPA Take Effect?

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Hair Loss InformationDoes Couvre Cause Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman
Great site…thanks for helping out so many concerned men and women. I am a 42 year old male, with Norwood class III hair loss. I had 2 hair transplants about 10 years ago at the temples, and was happy with the results(they have taken me back to a norwood class I or II look). Now my hair is thinning more in the centre. I use a scalp covering paste (couvre) applied with a sponge, that does a great job of helping to cover the thinning area…but I am wondering if using this will cause my hair to fall out even more? Also, I read that most men slow down or stop their hair loss in their mid 40’s..my hair loss is starting to pick up again over the last year. Can I use products like minoxidil with products that colour the scalp?
Thanks for your help.

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CouvreI highly doubt Couvre causes hair loss. You can use minoxidil with scalp coloring agents. For more on Couvre, see their site here.

I suspect you are losing hair due to general male pattern hair loss as it is a progressive process (something we do not like to admit). Hair loss should slow down as we age, but it still happens in men at all ages. There is no rule or exception if it is happening to you. You may consider seeing a doctor for a good diagnosis and you may be a good candidate for finasteride (Propecia/Proscar).

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Tanning and Hair Loss – Balding Blog

Dear Dr. Rassman,

I actually have a few questions, my first one is, can going tanning (whether in the sun or a tanning bed) cause hair loss and/or permanent damage to hair follicles?

My other question is, can seborrhoeic dermatitis cause permanent damage to hair follicles? Also, how long does seborrhoeic dermatitis usually last? I’ve been diagnosed with SD and I’ve
lost alot of eyebrow hairs and I’m curious as to how long I can expect this to go on for. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

The sun nor a tan should impact hair loss directly in the short term, but long term exposure to the sun can damage the skin to the depth of the bottom of the hair follicle. You need to be evaluated by a good doctor.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis does not cause hair loss. I’ve discussed eyebrow hair loss with seborrhoeic dermatitis before — Seborrheic Dermatitis on Eyebrows.


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Hair Loss InformationAugust is Hair Loss Awareness Month – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I BELIEVE AUGUST IS “Hair Loss Awareness” month. I also seem to remember that there is an international hair loss conference (In Sydney?). Could you please share any new info on AGA or laser therapy with us? Thanks

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Those experiencing hair loss are usually aware of it every month. It is the end of the month, and I don’t think anything has changed on the awareness level. Nonetheless, I am pleased hair loss fits into the one of the 12 months of the year. :)

The 15th Annual Scientific Meeting for International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) will be held September 26 to 30, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (last year was in Australia). I will be attending this conference and I will keep you informed on the all the new technology including gene therapy, cloning, lasers, etc.

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Hair Loss InformationDHEA and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,

I have read confilicting information regarding DHEA supplements and Hair Loss.

  1. Can DHEA increase hair loss?
  2. Is this due to DHEA converting to Androstenedione then this converting to Testosterone and then on to DHT which causes the hair loss?
  3. Does DHEA cause direct problems to the hair follicles like DHT does?
  4. If you were to take a 5 alpha Reductase inhibitor like Finasteride would this help with any potential hair loss problems associated with taking DHEA? and if so would it be because it blocked the Testosterone (converted from the Androstenedione converted from the DHEA) from converting to DHT?

Thanks for your help

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  1. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) does not directly cause androgenic alopecia (AGA), but may accelerate it.
  2. DHEA can potentially affect DHT levels, thus indirectly causing hair loss (via DHT).
  3. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) does cause hair loss in men who are genetically susceptible to AGA.
  4. Finasteride is a prescription medication for men who have AGA. It is not meant for use with DHEA.

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Woman Hates Her Widow’s Peak – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 22 yr. old female with a terrible widow’s peak, and I have hated my forehead for my entire life. Some people think that widow’s peaks are unique, but trust me-mine is ugly and awful and makes me feel bald. It is very prominent and severe and it makes me feel like I have a man’s receding hairline more than anything else. I would do nearly anything to have a round, even hairline like most women do. I have considered methods such as rogaine and hair transplants. Is there any hope for me to ever have a normal hairline?

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First and foremost, you may have a widow’s peak that you do not like, but it is a “normal” hairline. If you want to remove the widow’s peak, you can try laser hair removal, which is fairly successful. There is a patient of mine who had his widow’s peak removed with great results. Unfortunately, he changed his mind a few years later and had a hair transplant to put it back. He decided he liked it after all, because it changed his appearance too much for his liking. Your other option is to have a hair transplant around the widow’s peak to round out your hairline. So, you do have options!