We’re off today to pay respect to the men and women who gave their lives for their country… also known as the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day. We’ll be back tomorrow!
Hair Loss InformationShould a Norwood Class 3 Person Consider Himself Lucky? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
You may have touched upon this question before but I was looking for clarification. In an early post (I’m talking a few months ago) you mentioned how a norwood class 3 would rarely, if ever, progress to a norwood 6/7. By this, can a norwood 3 consider himself quite lucky in the sense that he’s probably not going to experience crown loss? What exactly did you mean by this?
Everybody is different. If you have stabilized your hair loss pattern at a Norwood class 3, then you will probably not progress to further balding.
You are born with certain traits ranging from eye color, skin color, dimples, to hair loss patterns. I would not say having one trait is better or luckier than the other. I believe about 8% of men are born with a Norwood 6/7 trait. Does that mean those men are unlucky? For example, Michael Jordan is likely a Norwood 6. Would you consider him unlucky?
Months After Extreme Illness, I’m Still Losing Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
Hi,
I’am 19 years old and suffering from a great amount of hair loss. I got extremely ill about 4-5 months ago and almost lost my life. After the hospital i lost a lot of hair but eventually went to normal a month or two after. A couple of months after, i started losing even more hair. When i wash my hair, lumps of it fall out. I have seen many doctors but they all say nothing can be done. I have been taking Nutricap for a little over a month now and I see no difference. Any suggestions? I feel like i’m going to be bald by 20!
Hair loss after a major illness can be normal. I can’t explain why your loss stopped and restarted. It may all grow back in about one year time frame. If you were going to eventually bald due to genetics, the illness may have kickstarted your genetic process early… but if the hair grows back, then you don’t have to worry about that being the case. You’ll just have to be patient, though.
Look on the bright side — you didn’t lose your life!
Lysine and Finasteride – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
I started taking lysine with finasteride in the mornings and now my hair has been getting much thinner. Is there an interaction between fin and lysine. I’ve read that Lysine is supposed to be beneficial for hair growth?
I have no experience with lysine and finasteride together, but it you are getting a negative impact from the combination, it seems obvious to me that you should stop using it. What does your prescribing doctor say?
I Have Severe Dandruff, Diffuse Hair Loss, and Questions – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
Hi Dr. Rassman,
I have been diagnosed with some pretty serious seborrheic dermatitis (scalp). I have chronic severe dandruff (easily noticeable from a distance), major flaking and yellowish scales. Also, there is intense itching and patchy inflammation.
For sometime now, I have also been losing hair. It has been what is known as diffuse hair loss, but the saving grace is there is no visible miniaturization (after diagnosis), and there is absolutely no emerging pattern (I have always been a NW2 from my early 20s and remain perfectly so).
But the diffuse hair loss is worrying me, since my hair is starting to appear a lot thinner.
My questions are:
- Will controlling dandruff and reducing inflammation help stop the diffuse hair loss?
- How does dandruff cause hair loss? (More specifically, how does it affect the follicle?)
- I’ve heard about cortisones being used for seborrheic dermatitis. Are they effective and safe?
- I have been put on a 2% ketoconazole shampoo to be used thrice a week. Is this safe to use for seborrheic dermatitis?
Thanks
1. Dandruff doesn’t cause permanent hair loss. It is a skin issue.
2. See above answer. If you’re constantly scratching your scalp or brushing out the dandruff, it’s possible you could be causing hair loss.
3. Efficacy or safety of topical cortisone is something that is a doctor/patient issue. Sometimes the use of steroids can induce hair loss. That is why you always should follow your doctor’s advice.
4. Ketoconazole shampoo 3 times a week is a seborrheic dermatitis treatment that many doctors recommend. See here for other treatments.
Hair Loss InformationMy 4 Year Old Has Hair Loss After She Had Chicken Pox – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
hi, my daughter is 4 years old. recently she had chicken pox after which she losses her hair every time with combing or sometimes without combing. the amount of loss hair is almost 30 or 35 hairs per combing. i really worry about her what should i do? thanks
The stress on the body from chicken pox could be causing your daughter’s hair loss, but you should take her to a pediatrician if you are concerned.
Pull Test and Telogen Effluvium – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
Why is a pull test positive in cases of telogen effluvium but not in mpb. If a pull test was positive is this a definate indication of telogen effluvium
The pull test can reflect many conditions, including a variety of autoimmune alopecias, telogen effluvium, possibly even androgenetic alopecia when it is very active. The test constitutes grasping about 60 hairs between two fingers near the scalp, then pulling gently (but firmly) on the hair. A positive test will yield 6 or more hairs and it is often done on 4 different parts of the scalp.
Do not wash your hair for 2 days prior to doing the test. If you decide to do the test on yourself, do not keep repeating it as you can pull out more hair than you really want.
This would not be a reliable test for male pattern balding diagnosis, because the hair loss from this condition varies. I suspect that when the process is not active (like when a patient is using finasteride / Propecia), the hair loss has stabilized so that the pull test would or should be negative. There are much better ways to make the diagnosis of MPB than by using the pull test.
How Did Pro Hockey Player Ryan Getzlaf Lose Hair So Quickly? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
Good day Dr.Rassman and company. Here is a picture of professional hockey player Ryan Getzlaf back in 2003 when he had gotten drafted to the Anaheim Ducks.
This is him in: 2003, 2010, 2012
How did he lose hair so fast?
According to Google, Ryan Getzlaf is 27 years old now… so he was a teenager in that first photo from 2003 and his juvenile hairline is clearly evident. In young men (under 35 years old) hair loss is not a steady process, as it may come in spurts. Hair loss over an 8-9 year time frame is not fast from a genetic point of view.
Can Alopecia Just Go Away? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
Is it true that Alopecia can go away and (possibly) never return?
“Alopecia” is just the medical term for hair loss. Genetic alopecia will not just go away, but other types such as alopecia areata can go away and not return (or stay dormant for years). You can learn more about alopecia areata and its various forms at the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.
Hair Loss InformationDoes Sebum Cause Hair Loss In Any Case? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
what do you make of this theory? is it possible that there could be any truth (or even half truth) to it?
The site you linked to doesn’t offer much besides unproven theories presented by an unknown author. It doesn’t look like the site has even been updated in almost a decade.
There has always been talk that sebum is the cause of hair loss, but sebum is the normal exudate from the glands on the hair follicle and when produced, it is completely normal. Now with that said, we see many people who are concerned about hair loss or just poor hair and when looking for something to blame, sebum always seems to come up. Sorry, folks — sebum does not cause hair loss.
Also, to perpetuate this old wives’ tale, you will always find some business that makes money helping you clean your hair better so that the “evil” sebum does not do its damage. Everyone needs to make a living, so I guess the sebum cleaners have been around for as long as people have focused on their hair problems and are willing to give up their hard earned money.