I forgot to mention this a week or two ago, but I caught an interview with 8th generation wigmaker Ruth Regina on the Late Show with David Letterman. Along with her celebrity clientele, Ruth also makes wigs for dogs.
I’m serious.
Hair Loss InformationArticle – Fighting Insurance Companies to Pay for Wigs – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
Insurance companies generally exclude any hair treatment (wigs, transplants, drugs, etc) as a benefit of the insurance plan. For accidents, I have had insurance companies pick up the bills, but that is unusual. Read this interesting article about a woman fighting insurance companies on behalf of those with alopecia…
Hair Loss InformationVirtual Reality Hair System – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
You seem like a wonderful person to spend so much time answering people’s questions and helping us. My question is about “Virtual Reality Hair”. This seems to be a hair system that claims to be undetectable to the sight as well as feel. The base is suppose to be like a contact lens…very very thin. The maintenance is very high and it is expensive. Can you let me know if it is unhealthy for the skin? I am only 23 with a receding hairline or a maturing hairline and this would save my social life if it works. Thank you for your time.
I cannot comment specifically on the Virtual Reality Hair system, as I have not seen it and have no experience with it. Generally though, these hair systems should not be “unhealthy” for the skin. However, sometimes these systems may cause local irritation or even contact dermatitis in rare cases. The way such systems fit to your hair and scalp can cause traction alopecia from the rubbing of the hair system and the pulling upon your hair. You should also be aware that as you wear them for periods of time, you will sweat and need to clean and maintain them from developing that worn-in odor (as with your favorite hat). As you stated, the maintenance cost is very high and expensive.
Combat Itching from Hair Systems – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
I wear a hair system and I would like to know how to combat itching
Itching may be caused by the inability to get a good wash. Can you remove the system and wash your scalp regularly? After a wash, are there abnormalities in the skin of the scalp? As you will note, I am starting to ask questions that require observations. Other than basic cleanliness, I would have to examine you before rendering an opinion.
Female with Hair Too Thin For Transplant – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
I have thin hair all over, I have spent a lot of money on wigs, that are really pretty, but I am severely depressed over my extremely thin hair. Do you know anyone that could help me? I am not a candidate for hair transplant, I went to Bosley Medical and was told my hair was to thin all over to get donor hair. Although I can wear a wig, I want my own hair. I am very sad over this, I am a pretty 34 year old woman with a wig, but without it I feel i look horrible. Please do you know anyone who can help me? Thank You!
Not many women are candidates for hair transplantation, especially those with diffuse telogen effluvium (thinning throughout the scalp including the donor area). Have you tried Rogaine for Women? It would be valuable to you to see a doctor to be absolutely sure that you have no medical conditions that can cause hair thinning. They would be the same conditions as discussed here.
Hair Club’s Bio-Matrix Process – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
I began losing my hair at 21. I began taking HCM’s EXT therapy and had no effect. I am now 24 and the balding is apparent. According to HCM representatives, a full head of hair consists of approximately 100,000 hairs and I only have approximately 50,000. The rep added that one hair transplant will only add approximately 2,500 hairs. Is this true? I can’t see this being noticeable. Further, HCM quoted me 12k for one hair transplant then stated that I would also need to take Propecia to “prevent” further hair loss. I am a graduate student, so money is scarce, but my desperation isn’t. So, I am on the verge of calling HCM tomorrow and purchasing their Bio-Matrix process because, according to an HCM representative, it replaces all 100,000 pieces of hair, looks and feels natural, isn’t noticeable to anyone, and it’s porous (so it doesn’t create bacteria/odor).
I’ve read you comments regarding the Bio-matrix process and you seem to see it just as a hairpiece. But, as stated above, its qualities are unlike those of a hair-piece. Are HCM representatives deceiving me? Is the Bio-matrix process not what it’s portrayed to be? According to an HCM representative, Bio-matrix attrition rate is only 7% (n=30/month). I would love to know why people like/dislike this product. Do you personally know anyone who is satisfied or disatisfied with the Bio-Matrix process? If not, do you know where I could read testimonials of such individuals?
Thank you for your time and consideration
I am not a Bio-Matrix representative, nor have I had any scientific proof of their claims. I do know that a hair transplant is for life and it is a permanent way to replace hair. Male pattern baldness is also for life. Your questions and what you have been told has many truths. I have nothing bad to say about the Bio-Matrix product other than it is costly on a yearly basis. Be absolutely sure that you know the full costs before you buy into that system.
It is true that we are born with 100,000 hairs. That you have 50,000 left takes good metrics, something I estimate all of the time. Did your salesman measure your hair densities in each area of your head and show you the calculations? To have 50% of your original density, you would have to be a Class 5 or 6 pattern balding, so look at those charts and see if that makes sense. If you have only lost hair, say a Class 4A pattern, then you might have lost only 20% of your hair population. Clearly the less hair loss, the easier it is to transplant with a high density if that is your goal. Some people are willing to deal with hair systems like the Bio-Matrix system offered by Hair Club, but I am a freedom man. I do not want to have a no-touch zone around my head, something that you will have with a hair system and not transplants. Finances are a real issue as well, and I am convinced that these hair systems are far more expensive and they produce an annuity for companies like Hair Club, a revenue stream from people like you that keeps on giving. I particularly don’t like to use the term densities unless it is meant in measurement purposes as a doctor uses it. I think that patients need to focus upon fullness, because that is what they see. Take a look at Steve Hartman’s photos and see what he accomplished with around 4,000 hairs (1,895 grafts) put into an area that originally had 15,000 hairs. It is absolutely full in one surgical session in our hands, although he has less than 30% of his density returned.
If you are “desperate” as you state, you may consider a consultation with a medical doctor regarding your hair loss so you can map your hair loss and its miniaturization to plan your treatment accordingly. Most doctors offer consulations at no cost (yes, even a consulation with me is free)!
Hair Loss InformationWigs vs Hair Transplants – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
Wigs, when worn by men, can look great at times, but if you’ve ever spotted someone wearing a wig, you know that they also can stand out as pretty bad (the old rug on a head look). Good hair systems are costly (possibly thousands of dollars a year). They require constant maintenance and they do wear out. Everyone having them must have at least two of them, each often costing over $2,000 and those that are made for the ‘upper class wealthy people’ are significantly more, I am sure. The hair grows under the wig, so these wigs must be removed and repositioned with fresh glue after the scalp is shaved. Eventually, the glues used will produce traction hair loss so that all of the hair in the glued areas will be lost. As many as two or three maintenances per month are often required and that costs $$$ if you have your special stylist folks do it for you, pushing up the annual costs substantially. To avoid odor from developing, the wig and the scalp must be washed regularly. Can you imagine wearing a T-shirt day after day and what it might smell like after just a few days? This is a characteristic odor that reflect body oils in decay. The scalp is no different, as it sheds skin at a high rate which also undergoes decay, so it must be scrubbed off with frequent washings, taking off the hair system and replacing it regularly. Many men with hair systems are tense when in intimate situations, as they have a no touch zone around their head. Can you imagine a woman running her fingers through your hair and have the piece come off in her hand, or her finger nails catch on it. No way! So men with hair systems do not allow intimacy to go as far as to let a woman touch their hair.
Hair systems and hair transplants often run neck and neck with regard to costs for the first few years, but after a hair transplant has grown out, the costs end, while those people with hair systems continue to contribute to the profits of a ‘hair club’ type organization to the tune of about $15,000 every 5 years or so. The good rugs probably cost more and I suspect that celebrity costs might be equal to the annual salary of many of my readers. To the credit of many hair system wearers, these systems can look damn good; as good as any transplants I have done. Of course, my hair transplant patients can let their ladies run amuck in their hair. Add the smells and additional maintenance required for a hair system, and there is just no comparison to what a great hair transplant can accomplish.
Hair Loss InformationBio-Matrix from Hair Club – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
i am 27 years old and my hair is thinning. no visual bald spots, only one small spot in the right back side that has been about the same size (size of a quarter) for last 4-5 years. i am very skeptical about medication, but really want to know what i should do to not to go bald. also advise about the bio matrix (is that a good solution ?). thank you very much.
Your bald spot on the back of your head sounds concerning to me and I suggest that you get a doctor to check it out. As for Hair Club’s Bio-Matrix, from looking at their website, the product seems to be a wig with some weaving and customizing it to your head. Weaves and wigs have a tendency to produce traction alopecia which start a cycle of progressive hair loss on a separate time-line of its own. If I have read it wrong, then Hair Club is less than clear about what it is. I’ve written about wigs/weaves/systems in the past, found here.
What Can Accelerate Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman
Dr. I was reading some of the entries on here and saw in one someone had a side effect from propecia and asked about hair system and transplant. You said you thought it might accelerate his hair loss if he used a system. This made me wonder what other kinds of things could accelerate the loss cause it surely seems like I’ve done something that has. My loss started kind of at the temple area and was slow. but seemed like over night the entire top is falling out. I get large amounts on my pillow and in the shower. Even if I just brush my hand across the top of my head pretty softly I usually get a few on my hand. I’m trying to get propecia online. Which I thank you for telling me in a previous post that I could do that because I thought all those sites were scams and didn’t really look at them before you told me about that. Anyway with this rate of loss it seems like it will be completely noticable withing 2 or three months. I would really appriciate anything you might have to say on this matter. Thank you!!
Men go into hair loss cycles; you might just be going into such a cycle. Hair loss is caused by:
- genes (you are fixed with what you inherited)
- hormones (the testicles make testosterone, your body turns that into DHT, which actually causes hair loss)
- time (the longer the time that the hormones and the genes work on the hair, the worse it may become according to your inherited pattern)
- stress
Men who take steriods, who take testosterone or other similar medications, and men who are stressed (from marriage, school, work, etc.) can accelerate the hair loss process.
Before starting Propecia, you should get your scalp mapped out for miniaturization to have the proper diagnosis made and then determine in 6-8 months if the miniaturization was reversing. If you just buy the drug without a proper evaluation, you may never know what you are treating. With regard to Propecia purchases on the internet, I know that they are done, but I can not attest for the products that they are claiming is Propecia. Could be the real thing? It might not be!
The use of wigs tends to produce traction alopecia causing progressive hair loss as the wigs move around on the head, are removed and replaced.
Hair Loss InformationLower the Hairline Without Surgery? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
I’m a fifteen year old guy that has a high forehead. I would like to know if theres any way to lower it without surgery.
At 15, surgery is not really an option, unless there would be extenuating circumstances. The appearance of a lower hairline can be accomplished by shaving the front of your hair and putting glue to hold a wig in place. However, wigs produce traction alopecia (hair loss from pulling the hair), so using a wig will guarantee long term hair loss. I do not recommend doing this, but it is an option nonetheless. You might just have to learn to live with it. When you get to 30, if there is no male pattern balding that shows up, the lowering the hairline may be a good surgical option. You have a few years to wait on this.