Hair Loss Causes – Page 258

March 13, 2007

Break Out In Hives and Facial Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am 39 male and in the last 3 months I have started to lose hair on my chin. It seems to be getting larger. About 4 years ago I broke out in hives while standing in the sun and ever since, when I go out in direct sun light I break out in hives. Could there be a connection between the facial hair loss and the hives from direct sunlight.If so what could it be.

As the time gap is long between the events, I would doubt a connection. If you are losing facial hair, see a dermatologist to find out why.

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March 13, 2007

Wouldn’t Propecia Increase DHT from Increase in Testosterone? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

hi, i have a question about propecia that i cant seem to find in the archives- if propecia raises testosterone and DHT is a byproduct of testosterone, then wouldnt taking propecia in effect block DHT and also increase the chance that your body is producing more DHT from the increase in test.? also, you state that scalp itching is not a sign of mpb, yet i’ve read way too many instances of people with scalp itch and hair loss -do all these people have scalp problems that only seem to appear as soon as they start losing their hair?-thx for best hairloss blog on the net!!

Your question is confusing and I do not think you have the correct information. Propecia (finasteride 1mg) is a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor which blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The body often increases testosterone as a result, which implies some internal feedback loop may exist. Increases of testosterone levels by 18% have been reported, but the data on long term testosterone levels is not available with people on Propecia.

With regard to itching of the scalp with hair loss, this could be explained as an indirect effect of reduced hair volume, more drying, and certainly more sun exposure.

If you look at the flow diagram, you will see where testosterone fits into the overall cycle and that DHT is formed with the help of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase.

Graphic source: GentlePharmacy

March 12, 2007

Can Genetics From Mother’s Side Blend with Father’s Side for New Class of Balding? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am contemplating a HT. I am 46 and would class myself as either a 3v diffuse or a 3a diffuse, I’m not really sure. I had been to see a surgeon locally about 2.5 years ago and was going to visit him again shortly to re-evaluate my situation.

My question is this. When inheriting hair traits is it always from one side or the other? can their be a blend of sorts? for example, my father had very minor, if any hair loss at 74 years of age. Not sure about his father. My maternal Grandfather was a norwood 6 by age 45. My brother and I seem to have about the same amount of hair loss, he’s 2 years older, has a higher forhead due to receding more than I am. I have a widows peaks with receding temps and diffuse middle.

Is the fact that our father had no balding the only thing standing between us and a norwood 6? can genetics for balding blend from one side of the family and the other side creating a new class baldness.

Thanks

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Nobody really knows! Hair loss is genetic, but it does not follow a specific or predictable pattern. In fact there may be more than one gene that is responsible for hair loss and many patterns which are inherited and may be independent from one another. You can inherit your father’s crown balding, your mother’s father’s frontal balding and become a mix between the two. While looking at your father, mother, and grandparents may offer a clue, it is not an exact science as we would like to make it.

March 7, 2007

Does Hair Loss Come from the Mother’s Side of the Family? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Although there is few questions i have that cannot be answered somewere on this site i seem to have one in which i cannot find an answer. It is stated that the hair loss gene comes from your mothers genes(hence if your mothers father is bald you will be bald.)If this is fact i have a question with a certain situation. If my father started balding early(about the age of 23-24) But my mothers father started around the age of 55-60, what is in store for me? My hairline is as my mother’s father’s was but it is not the same as my fathers, also my hair color and texture is like my mothers fathers. What is your opinion?

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Hair loss is genetic, but it does not follow a specific predictable genetic pattern. It has been observed that the hair loss gene seems to favor the mother’s side (about 52%), but this is not always the case. While scientists can say hair loss is genetic, they still have not found the specific gene for hair loss because it probably reflects a series of genes. In addition, carrying the gene does not mean that the gene will be expressed and you need to express the gene to be balding. So when we get smart enough to learn how to control the ‘expression of the gene’ then the solution to hair loss may be at hand.

There is an old joke known in this industry — A bald father with a heavily balding son complains to his wife, “Look what you and your family gave him” (pointing to the son’s hair loss). In our male dominated society, we tend to blame women for every conceivable problem with the children, because we know that as men, we are just perfect.

I hope the sarcasm comes through to the casual reader.

March 6, 2007

Where Can I Get My Hair Mapped? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dear Dr. Rassman,

I’m very interested in getting my hair mapped, but I can’t find anywhere near me that does it and I really have no clue where to look. What would be a good place to start?

Go to the ISHRS.org and use their physician search to check with the doctors near you. When calling the various doctors’ offices, ask their staff if the doctor will check out your hair for miniaturization to make sure they actually will map your hair, rather than wasting your time.

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March 6, 2007

Hair Loss Information » Hair Loss After Bout with Bulimia – Balding Blog

hi i’m a 32 year old female. i recently came off a crash diet and i was making my self throw up not every day but enough. needless to say for last past month and a half i’ve been losing hair by the clumps. i started taking vitamins, folic acid multi, and vitamin ped throwing up two months ago. thank you

Hair loss from malnutrition may be reversible, but then again, it may not be if there are underlying genetics that also produce hair loss. Now that you’re back on a better diet, you’ll need to just wait it out.

March 6, 2007

Port-Wine Stain Birthmark and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

(female) The hair on one side of my head has thinned considerably over the last 8 years or so. (I am currently 40 years old.) This is probably related to a port wine stain that covers the right side of my neck and continues up onto my scalp on the entire right side of my head. When I was first born, the doctors warned my mother that I may not ever have hair where the birthmark is located but luckily, this wasn’t the case. I couldn’t distinguish a difference between the stained area and the rest of my head until the last 8 years. Is this a typical response for this type of situation?

I have had laser surgery performed on the birthmark a number of times over the years, first with the argon laser and more recently with the pulse dye laser. Most treatments have focused on the visible areas of my neck but a couple pulse dye treatments were carrried up into my scalp. This may or may not coincide with the hair loss. I’m really not sure. (Both happened within the last 8 to 10 years but I just can’t seem to sort out which came first.)

Is Rogaine effective in this type of situation? Is there some other treatment option I could pursue? Like most people, I am limited to treatments that aren’t extravegently expensive or are covered, at least somewhat, by insurance.

I am not aware of any association between hair loss and port-wine stains. On the other hand, high energy lasers have been used successfully for removal of unwanted hair. It is likely that the laser treatment has caused or accelerated you hair loss in the area of treatment if the area of hair loss conforms to the treatment area. You might want to slow down the laser treatments. If your hair loss is because of laser treatment, your hair may grow back within next few months. Find out from your laser doctor the depth of penetration of the laser. If it does not go deeper than 2mm, chances are that the hair will grow back.

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March 6, 2007

Testim Testosterone Gel and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I wrote this to a web site ,, also I spoke with the pharmacist. Looking thru the papers that come with the testim. Trying to I am having something along the lines happening to me. But I am a male, 44yrs old. I started a treatment due to low testosterone( first happened) I started on Sun. It wasn’t until Wed. morning that I noticed a lot of hair in my tub. This is very strange since I have a full head of hair and never see any hair in the tub. Thought nothing of it till Thur at work. I was running my fingers thru my hair. When it seems to rain- startled by what I saw. I pulled a little to see if it was just a fluke. It hasn’t stopped and it’s gotten worse. The pharmacist said it wasn’t related to the Testosterone Gel – Testim. But I only started taking the Gel on that Sunday ,, with hair loose that Tues/Wed? Please let me know if this is truly related or what else could cause this?

There is no doubt that testosterone treatments can be a cause of hair loss. You must be under a doctor’s care, so I would ask your doctor about this side effect and if you should stop the medication. I just had a patient see me yesterday who was taking testosterone and Propecia and the hair loss accelerated shortly after starting the testosterone even though he was on Propecia. Clearly the Propecia did not cancel out the hair impact of testosterone on this patient.

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March 5, 2007

12 Year Old Daughter Has Bald Spots Since Birth – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

My daughter is 12 years old now, and when she was little and her hair finally grew in, she had a bald spot right in the center of her head. Her doctors told me not to worry about it, but I awalys have. I thought as she got older her hair would get thicker, but it never has. Yesterday, my daughter show me another spot on her head which is almost bald, I called her doctor, to find out what to do. She is doing research as I write this to you. I was hoping for anything you could share with me. My daughter is so upset and I can not comfort her with any kind of reasoning. Please get back to me. Thank you.

This is a situation where face to face discussion and examination is critical. This is not an internet problem. You need a skilled doctor (dermatologist in your area) to examine her and then render an opinion. If she is upset, not taking her to a good doctor does more damage than need be.

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March 5, 2007

Creatine and Body Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I recently read your entry about monohydrate creatine…I did a little reading & it seems that quite a few doctors think it causes hair loss. I take ce2 ethel ester creatine (28yr old male,caucasian), are you aware if this product can cause body hair loss? or would this most likely be restricted to head hair?
Thank you.

Bodybuilder “A little reading” can be dangerous, because you will always find conflicting facts or opinions.

The good news is that you have a choice! If you believe it causes hair loss, you have a choice not to take it. If you are taking creatine for bodybuilding and you are also worried about hair loss, you have to make the choice.

It is my opinion that creatine does not cause hair loss. It is also my opinion that creatine does not have much effect in bodybuilding. I have personally taken it for a year and I have always found harder workouts made me stonger/bulkier (without creatine).

By Dr. Jae Pak

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