Category: Hair Loss Causes

I am part of a group of doctors who discussed the value of long term finasteride. There is a general consensus that this drug has good long term effects, even if it just in slowing hair loss ‘progression’ however, a few patients pop up periodically who actual start losing hair while on the drug long-term. Some patients switch from Propecia to Proscar 5mgs tablets cut in quarters, or genetic 5mg tablets cut in quarters. These people, as a general rule, do not see changes in their hair loss from these switches. On the other hand, some doctors are reporting that a switch to the 1mg finasteride is causing more shedding within a month of that switch, suggesting that either the 1mg is counterfeit or not pure finasteride. So if you see shedding after switching your routine finasteride, then think seriously about going back to your doctor and going back on the real finasteride Either Propecia of Proscar in quarter tablets).

Suggestions for those who are really experiencing hair loss after long term use of finasteride, include combining minoxidil with the finasteride (Propecia) as there are different effects when the drugs are worked in combination. This is worth a try if you are disappointed in the results of the finasteride or if it is losing effectiveness over time. On rare occasion, a few doctors may prescribe dutasteride (Avodart) but must doctors are reluctant to do so, as I am since there is no clear evidence that it is better drug for hair loss.

Six years ago, when I was 24, my doctor prescribed Propecia. I had some early loss in my crown and I could see through it and my frontal corners were thinning. Within a year, I saw an increased amount of hair in my crown, but still had a see through look and my frontal corners continued to disappear leaving me today with a full Frontal Class 3 pattern in the front. Should I continue with the drug or can I assume that it has done its job?

Have you considered that maybe if you did not take the drug, you would have even less hair now with a completely bald crown area? The original studies by Merck (drug company) showed that the drug may peak at 5 years showing a stabilization of hair loss. In men not on the drug (placebo group), the visible effects of progressive hair loss showed and they were more bald than those on the drug. The fact that the value of the drug over the 5 year study showed that some men actually benefited more, the more time they were on the drug. Unfortunately, the study was stopped at 5 years. From my clinical experience of prescribing the drug since it was introduced in the mid-1990s, my sense was that if men stopped it, at any time even after the 5 year period, they would develop what we have coined “catch-up hair loss” so as a result of that, we advise all of our patients to stay on the drug. The official study in the 5 year term showed that those not on the drug, became progressively more bald each and every year, suggesting that those that were treated, even if they had some progressive balding during the follow-up treated period, that it was less than if they never took the drug. We do see some men who lose hair while on the drug and I am convinced that if they were not on the drug, or stopped it after some number of years, the hair loss will eventually reflect the progressive nature of the genetic balding pattern. I am convinced that those who stay on the drug will have more hair than those who stop it. OF interest, that may not apply to all men of all ages, as men over 50, probably have less progressive hair loss than men under 30, but my general advice to most of our patients is: If you are not having symptoms or side effects from the drug and you sexual function is acceptable to you, to stay on the drug no matter what age you are. Even if you are losing hair and are on the drug, stopping it may make ‘catch-up hair loss’ a reality that you may not want to face. Also, long term use of finesteride may have a preventive impact on prostate cancer especially if you are over 50. Hopefully, you will eventually get to 50, so stick to the plan, stay on the drug.

This is exciting as it identifies stem cell heretofore not understood. Read the links HERE and HERE

Dr. Stuart Gitlow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine says “we’ve known that people who use marijuana when they are younger tend to have cognitive abnormalities”. He studied were people in their 40s who smoked about 6 joints a week when they were 18-20. Brain scans were done which showed volume, shape and density changes in two key regions of the brain. These areas deal with emotion, motivation and decision-making…. “This is the part of the brain you don’t want to mess with”. says Northeastern University psychiatrist Hans Breiter……” The more marijuana that users smoked, the more their brains differed from normal brains…..

As we move to more and more legalization of this drug, we should ask ourselves what is the price we will pay? This will obviously impact schooling, and everyday life. Can you afford to take this risk?

I recently saw a lot of posts here about the asymmetrical hairline or hairline receding, however, I am wondering as many people part their hair in one side for a long time, is it possible to cause asymmetrical hairline receding due to the parting? If people do not change their parting place regularly, I guess it may result in the hair loss in parting point so that the hairline looks uneven for both side, or can we call it a similar form of traction alopecia?

Parting your hair on one side does not cause hair loss or asymmetric hair line. In general hair does look thinner on the side of the part because there is no overlap of hairs and you can see through to the scalp easier. Parting the hair does not cause traction alopecia but some doctors feel that exposure to the sun on the parted side, especially when the parted side is on the driver’s side of the car, may promote balding from UV/sun damage.

The following was sent to us from the author of the book.

Alopecia Uncovered is a fine art photography book that explores the therapeutic potential of the portrait through a series of arresting black and white images, essays and journeys of those affected by the condition.

Daniel Regan’s Alopecia Project, in which he invited sufferers to be photographed as and how they wished to be represented, was shot over a three year period. For some of his subjects it involved baring all and showing their natural selves, whilst others wished to retain their eyelashes or eyebrows. However the true message of this project is that it’s OK being you, but most importantly being the you that you choose.

Now combined with analytical texts by art psychotherapist Jennifer Chambers, Alopecia Uncovered encapsulates the emotional difficulties of sufferers by allowing subjects to reclaim their sense of self by confronting these images of themselves. This book investigates issues of self-esteem, fractured identities and perceptions of illness, illustrated through the use of empowering yet vulnerable photography that challenges the social constructs of beauty.

The relationship between young men who smoke show changes in the Y Chromosome suggesting a causal relationship between the appearance of earlier lung cancer in young men than comparable men of the same age. Lung cancer has been known to have a higher in men than women, so this relationship is important. The changes can be measured in the red blood cells of smoking men. This article was published in the prestigious journal Science.

Article: J.P. Dumanski et al., “Smoking is associated with mosaic loss of chromosome Y,” Science, doi:10.1126/science.1262092, 2014.

Hello, so I have a question that I cannot get to the bottom of. I’ve been on finasteride 1.25mg for about 14 months. Right at the one year mark I started getting a burning sensation on my left hairline area and above it ( that side had no real problems). It would come and go, but then within 2 weeks the left side of my hair/ hairline got noticeably thinner and I began shedding A LOT in the shower. It started November 1st and it is now December 7 and I still shed a litany I have lost ground on that side as well as a little I my right side to. I also have dandruff.

I went for blood work thinking maybe this is a thyroid issue causing hormonal imbalances because at the start of the burning and shedding, I noticed an increased libido. Anyway, I’m not sure if fin just stopped working after a year? I’m 23 and was thinking maybe I need dutasteride now. Any information would help greatly! Hair was doing great before this random rapid Hairloss.

The best advice I can give you here is to go see your doctor. Burning sensation on the scalp is generally not normal and likely not Propecia related. Increase in libido is something I do hear on occasion with Propecia but the decrease in libido is what is most discussed on the Internet. Finally Dutateride is not recommended for genetic hair loss and it is something I generally do not recommend.

I have a hair transplant 6 months ago, can I use a tanning salon to improve my overall look?

Tanning beds give off significant amounts of UV light which can cause skin cancer, make you look older with frequent use and damage your hair (See: HERE)

I realize many people use the tanning salon for cosmetic reasons, but it is general medical advice to avoid such exposures to UV light not only for your hair but for many other reasons as UV light cause skin cancer. It is not something I generally recommend.

I am a 26 year old women with what my doctor called Alopecia Areata and it has left me with many holes on my head. He said it may go away on its own, or it may last years. I want to know if a hair transplant will solve my problem.

Hair Transplants are contraindicated in alopecia areata because any hair that is put into the bare areas, may get rejected by the disease and even cause further hair loss. You can, of course, wear a wig as so many women do with this condition. The winner of the Miss Delaware contest had Alopecia Areata and you can see how she managed her hair HERE and: HERE

Bald is definitely beautiful.