Hair Loss Causes – Page 261

February 20, 2007

I Didn’t Know Weaves and Wigs Would Make My Traction Alopecia Worse! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’m a 38 yr old black female. My hair started thinning in the crown about 10 yrs ago. I started braiding it to keep out the chemicals. About 3 1/2 years ago I was diagnosed with traction alopecia. Had never heard of it before. I started wearing weaves and wigs to cover up the ugliness. I never realized that this would make my situation worse. Now the balding has spread to the top and front of my head. Is it too late for a hair transplant that would work. The hair on the sides and back is relatively thick, but it seems so unhealthy. At the rate I’m going I feel like I should just shave my head bald and call it a day. I feel so ugly. I did see a dermatogolist for the diagnosis, but I never got any advise on what I should do to help the situation. Can you recommend anyone to see on this side of the country??

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If you are diagnosed with traction alopecia, you need to keep your hair short with no weaves and wigs. After stopping the insult, you should wait for at least six months and see if your hair regrows. In many cases, traction alopecia may cause permanent damage to the hair follicle and may not reversible. Repeating the evaluation of your hair after this period of time will show the areas of permanent hair loss. At that point, a hair transplant specialist can evaluate you for further treatment options if the hair failed to grow back. Then, if you are using a wig, be sure that it is converted to clips to prevent the transplants from developing traction alopecia.

February 20, 2007

Shouldn’t I See My Hair Receding If I Am Balding? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I have always had a high forehead, but I’ve had two comments in the last month saying I’m growing bald. My hairline has always definitely been higher by my temples, but I’m now unsure if it’s getting worse. When I lift my hair to show my hairline though, I don’t see any thinning. Shouldn’t this be a gradual process where I could actually see the hair receding or doesn’t it work that way? Also, my dad and all of his brothers are completely bald, but they all showed signs by the time they were 20. No one on my mom’s side is bald. Would that mean if I was balding, it would be in the same pattern as my dad and his family? I’m almost 26, should I be balding at the same age as then and same rate?

You need to determine if you are developing a maturing hairline. You should also get your hair mapped out for miniaturization to determine if you are really balding. Recession is different that maturing a hairline and you need to understand the difference. If you do not show miniaturization, the it would be safe to assume that you are not now presently balding.

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February 19, 2007

Does Miniaturized Hair Imply a Form of Alopecia? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

In this answer you stated; “it is normal to have some miniaturization or thinning in the very front edge of your hairline“.

and in this answer you stated: “The maturing hairline is as thick as the juvenile hairline, as long as there is no genetic hair loss in the actual hairline (no miniaturization). Sometimes, the mature hairline is thinner (at least it seems that way to me as I look at my mature hairline), but that is just a feeling.”

These two answers confuse me since it seems that you in your first answer suggests that it is normal with some thinning in the very front, but in the second answer, it is NOT normal with some thinning in the very front. If this is not a contradiction I suppose the juvenile hairline also have some normal thinning at the very front?

I would be really greatful if you could clear these things up…

Best Regards

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Miniaturized hair means that the hair shaft is smaller than a normal (terminal hair) shaft. If you look at a follicular unit, you will see some vellus hairs (shorter and finer) and occasional thinner hair shafts, which when they are not present in substantial quantity, may be normal. As these smaller hair shafts are found all over the head, one must draw the line as to what may constitute a ‘medical condition’ that reflects genetic balding or other forms of alopecia. I have arbitrarily determined that any miniaturized count out of a population of normal hair shaft ‘terminal’ hairs, should be under 20%. When the thin (miniaturized) hair counts exceed 20%, I assume that this is a medical condition. In the frontal line, many people have thinner hairs, sometime exceeding 20% (in the first 1/2cm). If there is no miniaturization above 20% behind this first 1/2cm, then I would call this the soft look that God gave us to produce a transition from bare forehead to thick hair.

All hair shafts are not equal. In people with coarse hair, thicker hair shafts must be offset by finer frontal hair shafts and we actually see finer hair at the edge of a frontal hairline (first 1/2cm or so). The same is true for everyone, but the phenomenon I am talking about is most evident in the coarse hair person.

I hope this helps.

February 19, 2007

Spina Bifida and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My 24 year old son, with spina bifida (mylomeningocele) has suddenly, started aggressively going bald. I’m stunned, there is no hair loss like this on either side. My father had a full head of hair, his bio father and grandfather had crown loss after the age of 50.

Could this be related to his spina bifida? I’m very upset. It’s not enough to be a young man paralyzed, but he also has to be bald??

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Balding impacts almost 50% of men in their lifetimes. Even when there is no obvious family history, the genetics can skip generations. He should be treated like any young balding man. Get his hair mapped out for miniaturization to find out if he has the genetic pattern balding process going on. A diagnosis is critical. The best treatment for genetic hair loss is Propecia (finasteride 1mg) daily. He needs a Master Plan for his hair loss. The Spina Bifida in conjunction with balding may make for more stress, and stress is clearly something that accelerates the rate of hair loss in young men.

February 16, 2007

Ritalin and Hair Loss – Balding Blog

I turned 17 about 2 months ago. I’ve been taking ritalin SR for 5-6 months now. I’ve noticed recently that my hair has been receding slowly. Currently it looks like my hair line has gone back about a good 1/2 inch.

If I stop taking this medication will my hair ever grow back?

Ritalin is used to treat ADD — Attention Deficit Disorder. It is commonly used and there are some reports of hair loss associated with this drug, however, at the age of 17, you might be seeing the early maturation of your hairline and you should want to get your hair mapped out for miniaturization to be sure that you do not have genetic balding. As you are in California, come visit me at my Beverly Hills or Newport Beach office to find out and I will map your hair and scalp (no charge for the visit).

February 16, 2007

I’m 72 Years Old and Losing a Few Hairs Each Day – Balding Blog

I have perused your website and your answers to many questions relating to hair loss but have not found an answer that addresses my question. I am a 72 year old male. I still have a full head of hair with very little greying but I have begun to notice that there are long hairs (few each day) in my comb. Can I stop any further loss?

Hair loss does appear in the elderly. I’m not calling you elderly, as you are only 7 years older than I am — and I am certainly not near elderly. What I mean though, is that even the elderly lose 100 hairs per day. As long as you do not look like you’re balding, don’t worry, be happy (as the song goes)!

February 16, 2007

Pulling Hair Very Hard – Balding Blog

Is it possible to pull a hair shaft so hard and suddenly that it actually removes the follicle along with it?

You can remove hair, but the generative part of the follicle will stay and is able to make another hair. Persistent pulling of hair may damage its follicle and cause permanent hair loss. This condition, which is called traction alopecia, could be seen in people who braid their hair tightly or use extensions for a long period of time.

February 15, 2007

Age vs Hair Cycles – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr. Rassman

I am a 22 year old male who has been having chronic telogen effluvium for almost a year. Now I am finally correcting the underlying condition, and hopefully the 60 % of hair I have lost will grow in.

During this time my hair has gone through short truncated anagen cycles (maybe 2 or 3), does this mean the hair follicles have aged for many years so that genetic balding will start a lot sooner than it is supposed to?

In other words: is it the number of hair cycles or the person`s actual age which signals the onset of male patterned baldness?

I think many men who experience CTE or TE are worried about this, hope you can give a definite answer.

Thanks

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Some doctors believe that hairs have a certain number of hair cycles in their lifetime. That would indicate that you are correct — more cycles might mean acceleration of genetic hair loss. Drugs like Propecia and minoxidil are thought to prolong these hair cycles, theoretically keeping the number of cycles lower over a given number of years.

February 15, 2007

Does Brushing Prevent Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

does brushing help prevent hairloss?

Brushing will not prevent hair loss, but it will cause hair loss if you pull your hair while doing it. Use a brush with tongs that do not dig into the scalp and be gentle. Hair that is miniaturized or near the end of its life, will come out and not return with little coaxing.

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February 14, 2007

Losing Arm Hair – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

i am losing hair on my arm. i do not have none. my hair on my head is getting thin also. could you give me some idea of what i can do. they aint no were i can go out here. please help me out.

Without examining you I can not tell you very much. Are you taking medications? If so, these must be looked at as a cause. Arm hair? Well, I just do not know.

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