Category: Hair Loss Causes

dr Rassman, does consuming foods rich in phytosterols such as black sesame seeds cause hairloss? I know phytostreols are plant hormones, can they increase testosterone and therefore more DHT?

If it means anything, I’ve seen phytosterols listed as a key ingredient in various herbal hair loss treatments…but I couldn’t say one way or the other if they work (I’m leaning towards them not working).

As to whether phytosterols can cause hair loss — I am not an expert on dietary issues and phytosterols, so I don’t know the answer to that.

Dr. Rassman,

I’ve had intense burning scalp pain for the past 10 months. It all started during a particularly stressful point in my life so I initially attributed it to that. Unfortunately it persisted so after a month I went to see my general doctor then 3 dermatologists, all whom said my scalp and hair looks fine (albeit slightly pink at times). One of the dermatologists did a biopsy in the spot that hurt the most and came up with nothing indicating why I would be in such excruciating pain. I was prescribed topical steroids which I used and did nothing.

Over the course of the 10 months the areas that are burning have begun to shed hair and not regrow them, where once I had an incredibly thick head of hair it’s started to noticeably thin (top, back). There is a point towards the back of my head to the left of my whorl that I have been told is hot to the touch, and that is the spot that hurts me the most. The best way to describe the pain there is as if someone is jabbing a hot poker into my skull. The rest of the pain in the top and back is like someone poured gasoline on my scalp and lit a match. The pain is so bad that sometimes it wakes me up and I end up throwing up due to the agony. It’s at its worst when I wash my hair, regardless of the shampoo.

Is this some sort of insanely aggressive MPB? Neither my father nor my mother’s father has any history of MPB. I am a 37 year old male and up till 10 months ago had no hair issues. Thanks for any advice/guidance you can give.

I’ve never heard this complaint before, about the scalp being hot to the touch (hypersensitive skin) as some sign of MPB. I always call on my experience with taking detailed histories from my patients. Sorry!

It could be something like trichodynia that you’re experiencing, which hasn’t really been studied all that much.

I’m currently 19 and my hairline has matured within the normal boundaries of the measurements that you have given and as far as I can tell my hair is not thinning as I am not losing an excessive amount of hair a day. However, I have noticed some shedding of shorter hairs from all over my scalp and I was wondering whether it is normal to shed some shorter hairs along with hairs of my normal length (about 2 inches long). Any advice as to what this maybe or what is causing it would be much appreciated.

I suspect that we all lose different lengths of hair in our daily hair loss experience. You should be examined by a good doctor if you are losing hair so you can determine what is happening to you and hopefully stop counting your daily hairs in the drain.

Hi great blog, my hair is neither falling out or receding but it has thinned/miniaturised completely as well as my facial and body hair !

Is this MPB or another health issue ? Any information or recommendations would be greatly appreciated thank you.

The best information I can give you is that you need to have a full history and physical examination by a good doctor and tell him of your concerns. Searching for your medical issues and trying to self diagnose your symptoms on the Internet is not a good way to start.

This is not meant to brush you off or not answer your question, but I would not know where to begin without taking a full history and examining you in person. I can tell you that when we refer to male pattern baldness (MPB), it is the patterned hair loss on the scalp. Body or facial hair loss is something else.

I recently visited a hair specialist in my area to address some concerns over hair loss. I am 33, have been taking propecia for about 7 years and have had what i would call minor hair loss or perhaps the loss is indicative of a maturing hair line. The doctor stated that I am not really losing my hair and made this assessment from looking at me from across his desk.

My question is can a doctor really make this assessment in such a way as it seems to me a closer inspection would be needed and expected given the hefty consultation fee? Further he is recommending meso injections which seems strange to me given that he thinks the hair loss is minor. Is there a possibility that I am being sold treatments which i do not need to make extra money or would meso therapy seem like a reasonable preventative treatment?

I know Superman had X-ray vision, so it would be more logical to ask me if this doctor was actually Clark Kent and really had Superman-type powers. He should have measured your miniaturization and hair bulk and by not doing even the basics, I would run from any recommendation he would make.

Mesotherapy is one of the fringe areas of this field.

Hi,
I just have a quick question, does increased testosterone levels increase dht levels? Say if you take testosterone pills or shots does that increase dht levels? Thanks for your time

Yes. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a metabolic bi-product of testosterone. If you have the genetic predisposition for male pattern androgenic alopecia, increased DHT will accelerate the balding process.

Hey Dr R.

i jave a question about your opinion on Gho. Recently there has been a very well documented case from a patient, with obvious donor regneration.

Link: Hairsite

I think that this is the real deal because this patient has no incentives to lie and he provides close up donor pictures.

He was also said by other clinics that he has only around 2500 available grafts. Gho extracted already 1400 and the next time this patient is gonna get 1400 additional Grafts extracted.

Also this patient has scarring alopecia.

Oh, I can’t wait to see some of the vitriol that is sent my way for this one. These pictures are confusing and do not tell the full story of what was done. I am sorry, but what is presented here does not move me to believe anything had occurred other than a nicely done FUE with healing. When I watched Dr. Gho do his thing (on video) at the Amsterdam ISHRS meeting, I thought he was performing a partial FUE, leaving some of the hairs behind.

He obviously has supporters (I received basically the same email half a dozen times), but this doesn’t change my opinion as previously stated.

I have read your past answers on weightlifting.

I understand that you don’t believe there’s a proven link between hair loss and weightlifting – but do you think there is any risk whatsoever? If there is even a minuscule risk, I’d rather not weight lift.

There could be a connection if your body increases its testosterone levels in response to prolonged extreme exercise. Most people who exercise normally should not increase their testosterone levels. Some professional weightlifters take steroid-like drugs that accelerate the genetic hair loss process.