Category: Hair Products

Hello Dr. Rassman,

First off – great site and on behalf of everyone, your honesty and integrity is certainly refreshing.

I’m sure you’re sick of the Lasercomb questions by now, but I was wondering if you had a chance to look over the following new macro photos on the Hairmax site.

In order to accentuate the visibility of the results, they actually circle the new hairs that grew as a result of the treatment.

I know one of the previous criticisms of your earlier analysis of the original photos was that the images that you based your assessment on were not high resolution. These macro photos are high resolution and seem to indicate that some growth did occur. Strangely though, there appear to be hairs that existed in the before picture, that are no longer present in the after photos. One might get the impression that there was some ‘selective circling’ going on.

Just looking to get your thoughts.

Much appreciated.

For those that missed it, I analyzed their “results” photos back in 2006 — Analyzing the Results of the HairMax Laser Comb.

I looked at the link you sent, but I am not willing to make the invested time to analyze it again. Is there selective circling? I don’t know. There’s nothing there that will change my negative opinion of the effects of the laser combs. Sorry!

I have been reading through the blog and reading your posts on Low Level Laser Therapy (the laser comb). What I am not understanding is why you are so against it? If it has FDA approval, double blinded clinical trials, and is backed by many hair restoration doctors why do you disapprove?

It does NOT have FDA approval. It has FDA clearance for marketing, and the product was grandfathered in. We haven’t seen lasers work as claimed anywhere and on anyone that could be said to be objective. I’ve written about this topic many times before.

Further reading can be found here.

I have had expierence with the dermaroller. Depending on the length of the needle it can be pretty discormforting although I hear that it stimulates certain growth factors by wounding the area applied. Old news in terms of methods used in Medical fields but new to hair.

Follica has a method however I have not heard much on their progress. Does it work? Well I did not use it long enough because of some concerns in terms of what you mentioned sterile needle. I do however believe that one of your contributing writers has marketed this type of product. Its suppose to make rogaine more absorbable like Retin A in which removes the upper layer of skin. Even Platelet Rich Plasma therapy used for hair loss uses a product similiar to the derma roller. Unproven? Well there was a case of female hair loss that was quite impressive with this therapy. If you are interested I can see if I can find the link. Keep on educating the public Doctor Rassman.

The contributor you’re referencing is Dr. Farjo, as his name was attached to something called the Scalproller in a press release. At the time, he said, “I can not endorse the Scalproller device itself until further clinical research is at hand.” You can read his full response here.

A single case doesn’t necessarily meet the standard for calling something a proven treatment, but I would be interested in reading about it if you have the link. Please keep me informed and thanks for sharing!

I am interested in using a dermaroller to enhance topical absorption. How long can the needles be before there is a risk of damaging the follicle and the surrounding vasculature?

We do not use or have experience with a dermaroller. I had one on my desk to play around with, but it never got use on the scalp, so I am the wrong person to ask about this one. I wrote about that years ago. It still looks painful.

In general, anything with a sharp point or a needle that you use on yourself (or others) should be sterile and used with caution. If there are readers out there that use this product, I’d be curious to know what you think about it.