Category: Hair Loss Causes

Hello, I have a question about the shower and hair loss.

My question is, is it harmful to your hair if you do not shower daily, or sometimes go a few days without showering? Does not showering daily or showering every other day cause hair loss/is it bad for the hair to not shower often? Thanks so much!

You do not need to shower or wash your hair daily. There are many people all over the world who do not have access to water and they have the same frequency of balding that we see in countries that have the luxury of lots of water for frequent hair washes. I think a nice shower just feels good.

Hi,
I’ve been having some pretty severe anxiety over potential hair loss over the past few months. I went to my primary care doctor, barber, and mother who have told me that I just have fine, blonde hair and a high forehead. I specifically asked if there was any receding or balding, and each said no. Hoping to get closure,n I went to a dermatologist that I randomly found on the internet. This dermatologist has only been in practice for two years, so I’m a little skeptical when he said I had early hair loss by running his fingers through my hair a few times.

That’s where this blog comes in. I feel you’re a pretty trustworthy source of information, and hopefully you can help. My primary doctor actually did bloodwork, specifically DHT and testosterone, and they came back fine. This dermatologist almost disregarded the blood test and said he saw things as a dermatologist that no other doctor would see. Now I’m not sure what to think. So I have to questions.

1. Can a blood test determine genetic hair loss?

2. Is it possible that I just have fine, light hair? It’s darker and a bit thicker around the sides, but my maternal grandfather has the same hairline and fine hair as I do, just looks a but thinner as his is gray.

It may also be of note that this dermatologist said I had mild hair loss, and then was somewhat eager to prescribe Propecia. He also assured me that once on Propecia, it would not stop working and I would be fine and keep what I had for the rest of my life.

Sorry for the long inquiry, but hopefully you can set me straight. Thank you in advance.

A blood test can determine a “probability” for genetic hair loss based upon your carrying of the gene, but carrying it does not mean that it will be expressed. More importantly, any good doctor can tell you if you have genetic hair loss without a blood test by simply mapping out your hair for miniaturization, which shows genetic effects well before the naked eye will show it.

Yes, it is just possible to have fine, light hair or just a high forehead that may look like hair loss. In any case this seems to bother you. If you want to find out more, see a hair transplant doctor who can see your hair under a microscope to see evidence of some pattern of balding.

Dr Rassman

I am suffering from recurring Seborrheic dermatitis since 2 years, now my age is 26. I never had any hair problem before. I feel fine while on medicines but as soon as I stop taking medicines itching in scalp resumes and skin starts flaking and scaling again. I have spent lots of money and time with discomfort due to itchy scalp. Is there any permanent solution for it ?

Also I am losing lots of hairs due to it and my dermatologist has told me that I may get bald if I don’t treat it whenever required. Is it correct ?

You will not go bald from seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff), but if it is severe enough you could have hair loss if you pick at the flakes. The hair loss you see could be genetic hair loss, and your doctor should be able to tell you that. Perhaps if you are not happy with your current doctor you can get a second medical opinion.

As for treatment, I assume you’ve tried various dandruff shampoos, which would be the simplest method of treating your scalp. I don’t know what medications you’ve been prescribed, so I don’t know what help I could offer.

Sir,
I am aged 24 and I dont have facial hair except a few hair on my chin. I have a mustache but even that is not thick. I dont have even a single hair on my chest. Hair have grown normally in head, hands, legs, arm pits and pubic hair also are normally grown. My father has thick and complete facial hair. I have a brother and he too has good facial hair. I dont find anyone among my relatives also who lack facial hair. I am the only one. Apart from this problem I am a healthy person.

Please suggest me some remedy. Due to this problem I am unable to involve in social gatherings. My height is 5 feet 9 inches but I look like a child among my other same aged friends. Thank you.

You know, some people would be very happy to not have facial or chest hair. I would guess that when you are 50 years old, you would enjoy your youthful appearance. This must be a cultural or religious thing that I’m not all that familiar with, and I don’t mean to make light of your situation.

Unfortunately, there’s really no simple solution to what you’re asking. If we could easily get hair to grow in areas that we wanted, the population of bald men would likely be much smaller.

If you want to look older with facial hair, you can possibly have a hair transplant to your face, but I don’t know that I’d recommend trying to transplant a full beard for someone. You’d also need to find a skilled surgeon with experience transplanting facial hair.

Greetings Dr. Rassman. I just would like to know why most MPB only occurs on the top of the head(meaning frontal, top and crown area) and not on the sides?? What is the difference of the scalp on top of a male’s head and the scalp in the sides?

There is no clear answer as to why the hair only falls out at the front, top, and crown. The reality is that the fringe seen in the Norwood Class 7 pattern is permanent hair that is never lost in 99+% of men with male pattern baldness.

Hello Doctor,

Alright so, I don’t believe vitamins, and a change of diet or saw palmetto is gonna stop hair loss, lets make that clear, if it was no one would be bald face the facts people.

But with that said, DHT gets converted from cholesterol (assuming my sources are right) so wouldnt lowering your cholesterol assist in the slowing process a little? And Stress is also a contributing factor so wouldn’t vitamin D (or something to that affect, creating a calm and stable mood) also assist in slowing the process. And if coffee increases your cortisol levels, wouldnt not drinking it also help?. And if Biotin or “what ever” vitamin helps to improve the quality of your hair wouldnt that also assist in some what of a stronger hair shaft?

And again im not saying its the cure, because obviously it just isnt!! but in theory wouldnt it help to slow down the speed of your hair loss by even just a little?

Everyones body is different and even a big fat gross out of shape dirty slob can have a big beautiful thick head of hair due to good genetics. but wouldnt these things ive suggested provide some what of a healthy environment for a poor little miniaturizing hair, assuming the cost is with in a balding mans budget.

A person balding should obviously try propecia or minoxidil and if it works great!! but these suggestions i’ve made must have some affect in the assistance of the slowing process? A healthier body must fight better against hair loss then a not so healthy one?

I know my suggestions are not ‘FDA’ approved but lets get real, if its not “the cure” itself no companies gonna drop the large amount of funds for testing if it only helps a little bit.

Just trying to keep a open mind thats all. thanks.

Ps, love the site.

A little information can be dangerous. In this case, you are somewhat correct that cholesterol is related to DHT as a precursor step in the process; however, lowering cholesterol does not and will not lower DHT. Our bodies are not that simplistic and your body generally controls the DHT levels.

The general public sees cholesterol as a bad thing, but cholesterol is a very essential part of our physiology. It would take a year long course in biology and biochemistry to explain this and it may lead to someone simplifying and misunderstanding the human body and its physiology.

Alas, let me try (with a warning that it is not as simple as it sounds). Cholesterol is the building block to hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, DHT, etc, etc. Our bodies are smart. Just because you have a high cholesterol level does not mean you will have excess of these hormones.

To illustrate my point here is a “simplified” pathway that shows how cholesterol is the building block of some hormones — cholesterol flow diagram.