Category: Hair Loss Causes

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Body Hair and MPB Link? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello, thanks for being a boat of sanity on a sea of panic driven nonsense. I have a question about risk of balding. I remember before that you said body hair and MPB were genetically distinct processes. Now I have found a new entry on Wikipedia (not always accurate I know) saying there is a correlation between body hair and head hair thinning.

Given I am quite hairy myself (but have made it to 35 with a full head of thick hair) this is a bit of a worry. Do you have any thoughts on the matter.

Wikipedia

(I couldn’t find the source for this – on the androgenic hair page there is a reference to a 1947 article but no link)

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As you said, Wikipedia is not always accurate. Anyone can post information there. For that matter, I just noticed that the post of follicular unit extraction (FUE) on Wikipedia is not completely accurate either.

Body hair is not necessarily linked with MPB, but even if it is, what would you do and how would that information help us/you? I wish I could give you answers on the presence of a link between head and body hair loss, but I haven’t seen anything reliable that ties the two together.

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Scar Revision Patient Results, Follow Up – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman,
Re: Patient Results – 7846 grafts & scar revision. Very impressive images! Please provide more information regarding the patient and the procedure:-
– Patient’s age and history?
– Norwood class?
– Hair density?
– Hair weight?
– Scalp laxity?
– Donor hair depletion?
– Propecia and/or Regaine user?
– Time span of treatment?
– Further surgery required?
– Did you carry out all three procedures?
– etc.
Thank you.

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This is the post you’re referring to — Patient Results – Over 7800 Grafts and a Scar Revision.

His hair weight was medium-fine, his scalp laxity was good, his hair density was slightly above average, and he was placed on Propecia. I don’t remember if he continued with the drug. He was a Norwood class 6 evolving pattern balding patient when he started the transplant process. The treatment spanned 6 years and I personally performed the surgery on him.

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Can The Horseshoe Pattern of Hair Loss Eventually Bald? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr. Rassman,

I will try to keep this simple: Once a man with hairloss can make out his “horseshoe” pattern, is it possible or common for any of the “horseshoe” hair to bald at a later point?

I am 26 and, while I don’t have any bald spots, the hair on top of my head is thinner and more limp than the hair on the sides and back of my head. My “horseshoe” hair goes all the way up the sides of my head, and does not dip down low at the back of my head. Given that this hair has remained unaffected for the past 8 years since I’ve been thinning, is this indicative of hair that will remain unaffected for the remainder of my life?

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The thinning in a young man at 26 years old which can produce an apparent horseshoe pattern, may be stable for years in the horseshoe itself. I have seen men that have a horseshoe pattern which is much more narrow than most Class 7 pattern patients. I often classify them as a Class 8 pattern to reflect the narrow band.

The normal height of the posterior part of the horseshoe is somewhere between 2 1/2 and 3 inches high (not counting neck hair). If this Class 8 patient was to have a hair transplant to cover his entire head (assuming the Class 7 pattern) he will likely have moved some of his non-permanent hair in the procedures. With the strip method of harvesting, the scars can be vary bad for cases this large. I have unfortunately seen this type of pattern with the scars produced by overly aggressive surgeons, and each one is a real challenge.

I couldn’t tell if it’ll dip down further as the years progress, but measuring the bulk of the remaining hair should be able to tell you if that area is continuing to thin.

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Hair Loss InformationLosing Crown Hair While Maintaining a Juvenile Hairline? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr. Rassman,

Is it possible to start balding in the vertex area and scalp area while still maintaining a juvenile hairline? I noticed that I still have hair under my furrowed brow, but the overall thickness of my scalp hair has dramatically decreased. I am 22 years of age.
Thank you.

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Yes! You can start balding from the vertex (crown) area while maintaining a juvenile hairline. Those patients are a subset of the normal Norwood hair loss patterns with a persistent frontal hairline.

In rare instances, someone with this type of hair loss may even continue to have his juvenile hairline for the rest of his life, even though his crown has become bald.

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Hair Loss InformationArticle Suggests Hair Wax Can Make Hairs Stop Growing? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Just wanted to send you a link to this silly article. One of the claims is that petroleum-based waxes can block hair follicles.

Link: Worried you’re going bald? Eat nuts and have a fried breakfast

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Thanks for the find. Yes, it is a silly article. Journalism isn’t what it used to be. Even the title of that article suggests eating a fried breakfast will somehow stop your hair loss. That’s ridiculous.

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Hair Loss InformationWhen Does a Scalp Wound Result in Permanent Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Doctor

How bad does a scalp wound has to be in order to mean permanent hair loss in the area ? I bleeding or crusting afterwards na indication for bye bye hair ?

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Any cut on the skin will produce a scar, and on the scalp no hair will grow on that scar. Even with follicular unit extraction / FUE (advertised as “scarless” surgery by some) will produce a round punctuate scar.

In general, if the injury or wound is significant there will be permanent hair loss. Even a scratch could cause bleeding, but that doesn’t necessarily mean permanent hair loss will result. Only time will tell if your hair will grow back. This time frame is around one year. If you see no hair growth after one year, then it would be safe to bet it is permanent hair loss.

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Hair Loss InformationI Stopped Finasteride Due to an Increase in Body Hair, But Now My Scalp Is Thinning – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Doc. i’ve been on finasteride 1mg for 3yrs without major sides just an increased in body hair. i quit for 2yrs and now my hair has thinned so much that i’ve started fin again. now will i get sides this time? or should i expect the same.

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Increased body hair from finasteride is not a common side effect I have seen, but I have been asked about it before. I have seen decreased body hair in a couple patients over the years.

If you restart the medication I cannot say if you will get the same side effect. You should follow up with your doctor.

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Hair Loss InformationI Want My Hair to Fall Out Faster So I Can Get a Transplant Sooner – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am currently taking finasteride and it has been helping me in slowing down my hair loss but not stopping or regrowing anything. If I am losing hair still, wouldn’t finasteride be a bad thing for me to take because I would want my hair to fall out faster so I can get a transplant right away instead of waiting to see my final hair loss pattern.

Wouldn’t this also avoid me risking shock hair loss if I get a transplant in areas I still have a bit of hair in which was being saved by finasteride?

Love the website.

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Oh boy. Why in the world would you want your hair loss to progress faster?! Please read about building a Master Plan.

If you are ready for a hair transplant, I would think you would want your existing native hairs present as long as possible for a better result. Shock loss may be an issue, but that is something you discuss with you surgeon for its risks in relation to the aforementioned Master Plan.

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Hair Loss InformationMicro Extensions? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Is there anything else other than finasteride I should consider to help with my hairloss?

What is your thought on micro extensions?

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Finasteride and minoxidil (Rogaine) are the two drug treatments I will recommend, as they are FDA approved to treat hair loss.

Micro ring hair extensions do not use glues or sewing, but while I haven’t had it done myself (I prefer my hair short), the photos I’ve seen show me that it will probably run the risk of causing traction alopecia (more hair loss) due to the tight pulling on the scalp.

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Hair Loss InformationWhen All Else Fails, What Can a Young Man With Hair Loss Do Besides Give Up? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hey, I just want to take a second to thank Dr. Rassman for all of the time that he puts into this blog in helping young men as myself in looking for solutions to hair loss. I just want to explain something for a second.

First of all im 20 years old, have been losing my hair for some time. For all the time I put looking for answers to stop my receding pattern, people like me seem to be just wasting their time. I have been on finasteride for two years, and from the looks of my head, it seems as if I have no more options. I come to this blog out of desperation to hopefully find a “miracle cure” that will hopefully one day regrow the little fibers of youth that have slowly destroyed any bit of self confidence I once had. Im afraid that I have put countless hours a week researching baldness and still can find no answer in how to stop this.

How do people like me… when all fails…deal with this situation?…because it seems to me like the answer that makes the most sense is to just give up. It is most certainly wrong that young men, barely out of high school, will not face judgement and humiliation from this. In my case, I am embarrased to say that this little problem has turned into one big life crisis. A couple of years ago I was a pretty good looking kid. Now I cant jump into a pool without my scalp showing for everyone to point fun at. Two years ago I was happy…now im just depressed

If I’m going on a little rant here im sorry, but im just desperate I’m afraid. In reality, is there any hope for the guys like us, who seem to see thier youth crumbling, and confidence fading?

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You’re not alone in feeling this way. Unfortunately, we don’t have all the answers and there is no cure for hair loss. It’s possible that a hair transplant could be in your future… but you need to find a caring doctor who can work with you on a Master Plan addressing hair loss possibilities.