Category: Hair Loss Causes

Thank you for writing this blog, it is a wonderful resource for so many people. My question is regarding Saw Palmetto. I had my serum DHT levels checked, then began a regimen of Saw Palmetto extract for two weeks and had my DHT tested again. The results showed that my DHT dropped from 62 to 22 during that period.

This is a pretty significant drop in DHT but I am wondering if there is more to the story from a hair loss perspective. Does an overall drop in serum DHT mean that it should have a similar effect to Finasteride in stopping hair loss or is there something else to the equation?

It is hard to believe only two weeks on a herb (saw palmetto) can have a significant decrease in DHT levels. I do not believe even finasteride can have that effect. I simply do not know the significance with respect to how it can be interpreted for hair loss treatment.

Please note that the human body and its functions are not as simple to just quantify with a blood test and hormone levels. For example, testosterone level may vary in your bloodstream throughout the day! It may be high in the morning and low at night, and this may even vary from individual to individual depending on their work habits, exercise habits, sleep habits, etc, etc. So DHT levels can vary as well. The conclusion or associations that you are trying to make is unclear.

DHT may be implicated in male pattern hair loss, but as we have said over and over again, just lowering your DHT level is not “THE” answer to MPB. Sorry to be a party pooper.

Hi, I am 25 and male.

I have for the past year or so been losing my hair round on the sides of my head to the point that you can now see the scalp through it. The hair round my ears falls out even if I gently touch it and the thinning is worst just above and behind my ears to the point there is almost a bald spot above/behind both.

Although I am in early stages of MPB (between II and III vertex) could you please advise whether this is anything more than MPB – as pretty soon I won’t even be able to shave my head without looking slightly odd? Thanks

Hair loss around the ears is not from male pattern baldness (MPB), as that area of the scalp is considered the permanent fringe area. That doesn’t mean you do not have MPB, but it should not affect the hairs around your ears. It seems you need a diagnosis and I cannot provide that here.

CNN asked Dr. Rawnsley, a hair transplant surgeon and clinical associate professor of facial and plastic surgery at UCLA, about hair loss from heavy workouts.

Snippet from the article:

So it is very unlikely that your weight lifting program is contributing to hair loss. More likely, your hair has been thinning over time and you are beginning to notice as a critical level has been reached, usually about 50 percent, according to Rawnsley.

Read the full blog at CNN.com — Can heavy weight exercise cause hair loss?

So while I’ve said the same thing before (that I doubt the two are linked), it’s always nice to have confirmation from another source to show those readers that tend to question my opinions about stuff like this.

Hey Doctor,

I’d like to start off by thanking you for such a wonderful blog you have set up. I am 18 years old and have been on propecia for about 6 months or so and I am still able to pluck hairs from the top of my head. This worries me. Does this mean I am not responding to propecia well or further time is needed for propecia to to take effect? Do new hairs grown or maintained by propecia remain weakly intact to the scalp? As of now, I have not noticed any significant changes to my thinning hair except the hair in the crown appears just a little bit thicket (I believe I have a diffuse thinning pattern on top of my head), then again I do not have the proper equipment to verify it’s working.

Is there a place in Vancouver, BC that you know of that can help me develop a “Master Plan” and contains a densometer to confirm any results?

Thanks

Propecia isn’t going to cement every hair into your scalp, and by that I mean if you pull on your hair, you will still see some come out. That is normal. I don’t know if you are responding to Propecia, but if you do have regrowth I’d expect they wouldn’t be weak after some time. Pulling or plucking your hair isn’t going to help with your hair loss situation. If you keep on pulling it, you can develop traction alopecia which will clearly add to your problem.

Your prescribing doctor should be able to help you figure out if you’re seeing any benefits from Propecia. If you really want to know if you are gaining or losing the hair loss battle, read up on a device called Haircheck. If you grow your hair out to 1.5 inches in length, a doctor with this device can measure the bulk of the hair in the crown, compare it to the donor area, and then repeat it in a year to see the impact of the drug. I’ve advocated the microscopic miniaturization mapping for years, and this tool takes it one step further by providing actual numbers.

I don’t have any personal recommendations in BC for you. Check the physician search at ISHRS.org to see if there’s a doctor in your area. Call the doctor and find out if they offer Haircheck or at the very least, video microscopic miniaturization mapping.

Hello Doctors,

When it comes to hair loss genetics is usually the main culprit. There has been a lot of discussion of what can “cause” hair loss which I think people mistake with the acceleration of a destined hair loss pattern. Stress can be one factor which can accelerate hair loss. Is male pattern baldness purely a result of genes or is there also an influence of environmental factors which determine if a person will have hair loss?

Also, I know weight lifting does not “cause” hair loss, but can it accelerate the rate of hair loss much like stress does? There a body builders without hair loss, and even some may have high levels of stress, so it may be a matter of just genetics.

Genetics, lifestyle, hormones, and stress all play a role in hair loss. For example, if you lead a stressful life and have the genetics for losing your hair, the stress could cause the genes to express earlier than they otherwise would. This is not a simple issue!

Hi,
have you ever heard about electric pulse treatment for hair grow?? it works??

Since its invention, electricity has been marketed for treating ailments ranging from cancer to hair loss. We have seen many benefits of electricity in healing wounds, ulcers, bone that will not unite, etc… but I don’t know of any proven value for the electric pulse therapy and hair loss. This fits into my usual dictum of “buyer beware”.

Hi. I’m a male in his late 20s and noticed a couple of years ago that my hair wasn’t as thick as it used to be so I tried Minoxidil. After two months of using the product there was extreme shedding so I discontinued use. Keep in mind I had no bald spots before Minoxidil but now there are several and it looks as if I burnt my scalp. I didn’t use the Minoxidil on my hairline which is still completely intact. But any spot where the Minoxidil was applied looks awful. It’s been over a year and there has been no improvement.

How could Minoxidil turn hair into no hair? Is there a warning on the product that says to not use on areas you already have hair? Is there anything I can use to reverse this damage caused by Minoxidil?

I’ve not seen a case like you’re describing, so it’s difficult for me to point the finger at minoxidil for bald spots that have lasted over a year. Even if there was a topical allergy to the medication, I’d expect you should’ve seen some regrowth by now in the impacted areas. It’s worth noting that a disease like alopecia areata can cause bald spots like you’re describing, though the more likely thing is that you were going bald in that area with or without the medication.

You used minoxidil because you saw your hair thinning, so it’s not outside the realm of possibility that minoxidil caused shedding in the already weak areas you applied it in. I have heard many patients complain about increased shedding in the first months of using minoxidil, but this generally stops as you continue to use it. I just haven’t seen a patient with bald spots strictly in areas where minoxidil was applied.

You need to consider paying a visit to a physician for an examination if you’re really concerned. I hope you have before and after photos you can show the doctor, plus he/she can learn how you were applying the minoxidil, how much you were applying to each spot, and if there was anything perhaps unusual about the way you used it. There’s only so much I can offer online without actually seeing what you’re talking about.