Hair Products – Page 45

July 18, 2008

Saw Palmetto’s Effect on BPH – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I’ve read that there haven’t been many (if any) conclusive studies about saw palmetto’s effect on hair loss. But what about saw palmetto’s effect on BPH? Do you know how effective it is for that? The Mayo Clinic grades saw palmetto as an A (on a scale of A to F) in terms of effectiveness for BPH.

If saw palmetto has weak DHT blocking ability, and it’s just a berry, why not take like 10 pills a day (instead of the usual 2)?

The impact of saw palmetto on prostate problems has a lot of history that goes back hundreds of years. The product has been studied, but although there is no doubt an effect on BPH (benign prostate hypertrophy or swollen prostate) at reducing symptoms with difficulty in urination, it does not seem to work on DHT. It has been suggested that its mechanism of action is something other than DHT effects and that is why it may not help in hair loss.

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July 18, 2008

Tripping Over My Words with Saw Palmetto – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I stopped taking Propecia 16 days ago b/c of the mental side effects associated with it i.e. loss of wit and tripping over words. I also stopped taking saw palmetto at the same time. After about 2 weeks, I was back to my old normal self, hair still thinning but not any different than usual. I started up saw palmetto two days ago, and I’ve noticed again that my tripping over words has come back, although not as much as before. Is this possible with a “natural herb”??

Also, before I started taking Propecia, I took saw palmetto for about 7 days, and I didn’t notice anything then. I also didn’t notice anything for the first two weeks on Propecia. How can I sort this out?

Try just the Propecia without the saw palmetto. Anything is possible with a natural herb. Many natural herbs can alter mood (see peyote, marijuana, etc), so while I have not known saw palmetto to alter one’s mood, I couldn’t rule it out entirely. Also, because supplements like saw palmetto are not regulated by the FDA, the quality control process might not be up to high standards with regard to safety and effectiveness. I don’t know where you bought it, the manufacturer, the amount you’re taking, and the various saw palmetto sold may have different dosages that do not really reflect what the label says.

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July 17, 2008

Using Couvre to Mask Linear Hair Transplant Scar (with Photos) – Balding Blog

Hello Dr,

First of all,,,a Fantastic/helpful blog. I am 50 years old. I visited 10 different hair transplant surgeons and decided to go with a doctor in Northern California. I think you hit the nail on the head, when you say ‘you have to feel RIGHT about the surgeon’. I did an FUT for 3000 grafts about 1 month ago, and everything has gone great. We just have to wait and see now as to what will be the outcome.

I wanted to contribute ’something’ to your blog,,,so I decided to send photos of my scar before and after application of a masking black lotion (COUVRE). It takes 1-2 minute, it will not come off with water and it is practically invisible from about 12″ away. The photos were taken by my wife. I keep my hair at 1/4″ length (I know I can go to #2 clippers and still mask it good). I send these photos for folks whom are worried about having the surgery and wanting to keep their hair short.

Now to my questions. I am on Propecia (4 months now) and Rogaine. I also have the laser comb, but I am hesitant to use it, fearing it might damage the ‘babe grafts’. What do you recommend to your patients regarding this scenario. I truly believe the comb works, not as much as the hype, but it DOES work (for me anyway). The question is, can it hurt the newly transplanted/asleep grafts

My second question is related to a comment my surgeon made prior to surgery. I asked, what percentage of the grafts are normally expected to survive. The reply was 113-120%!!!! It was explained by my surgeon that they do not believe in ‘dense packing’ of grafts in a CM2 and by inserting no more than 40 grafts (or was it 40 hairs?!), it insures the growth of all grafts + some regeneration of already dormant follicles!!! I found that pretty interesting, what is your opinion on this?!

Thanks again for all your great help on the blog, keep up the great work

Masking/concealing agents like Couvre can work “miracles”, as your photos demonstrate. There are two surgical solutions that also work well:

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) into the wound will put hair into the scar, or
A trichophytic closure could wipe out much of the wound if the laxity is good enough

The telogen count is about 10% of hairs, but as these telogen hairs grow back, others fall out so I would not expect more than 100%. I have read such studies and they are clearly flawed in their methodology. You can’t believe everything you hear or read. Nonetheless, thank you for contributing your photos and allowing me to publish them! The results after the Couvre look great. The photos are below; click to enlarge.

July 16, 2008

Assuming LLLT Works, Is That a Lifetime Commitment Like the Medications? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

as we know minoxidil and propecia is a life time commitment…means i have to use it through whole life or hair loss will appear again. my question: is LLLT also a life time commitment? or is it just for a course like 6 weeks, then i dont have to use it again?

Block Quote

First of all, there is no proof that low level laser therapy (LLLT) works for regrowing hair. If it did, then I would assume that you would have to stay on the course for life just like minoxidil and Propecia. Your questions tells much about the problem and confusion in this field. It would be unreasonable to expect that a limited treatment time (months) would ‘cure’ the balding forever as the claims suggest.

July 14, 2008

Can Toppik Fibers Clog Scalp Pores? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Dr. Rassman,
Not sure if you’ve heard of any negative feedback about Toppik fibers, but I’ve been using Toppik for approx. 1 month now just to help camouflage the thinning areas. As we know, not all of the fibers adhere themselves to the hair shaft and many will fall to the scalp. I also use hair spray to keep my hair in place. My question is, will the Toppik fibers on my scalp along with the hair spray on top of the fibers, suffocate the existing hair and also will it keep any new hair from growing due to the possibility of clogging the pores on my scalp?

Note: I don’t use much Toppik, but when I should scratch my scalp in the area where I’ve applied the fibers, I’ve noticed the fibers under my finger nails.

Thank you in advance.

Toppik takes time to get completely out of your hair, possibly a number of good hair washes. If you wash regularly, Toppik should not cause you problems. Clogging a hair pore is highly overrated as a cause of hair problems, as the direction of sebum movement is from the inside out. The sebum in effect keeps the foreign particles out of the pores.

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July 14, 2008

Where Are the Published LaserComb Trial Results That Lexington Promised? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Has Lexington fulfilled their promise (that they made over 3 months ago on this very site) by publishing their FDA lasercomb clearance study in any peer reviewed medical journals?

You’re right. A rep for Lexington posted in the comments back in March of this year stating, in part –
“We are currently drafting a medical review of the study to be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. We have every intention of publishing the study and making the full results available for public scrutiny.”

I’ve yet to see anything of the sort. We are all waiting…

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July 14, 2008

Worse Case Scenario — I’m Allergic to Minoxidil and Propecia Makes Me Slow – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I’m allergic to minoxidil and Propecia makes me stumble over words. I’ve been off Propecia for 8 days now and I’m pretty much back to how I was before Propecia, wit wise. My hair was thinning before and it still lookes the same now.

The only other real options I have are this saw palmetto and soy/equol. If this equol does inhibit DHT from working, does this mean we have to consume soy everyday? What if we go on a month safari to somewhere in Africa where soy is not prevalent? WHat then?

I am not sure if soy/equol actually inhibits DHT. For that matter I am not convinced that even saw palmetto inhibits DHT, but there are some suggestions that it does impact the prostate and may impact the hair. It might be a good gamble to use this provided that saw palmetto does not produce the same effects on you. I have not seen any good scientific literature pointing to these claims. Here is a seemingly unbiased summary I found from a simple Google search regarding saw palmetto: Pharmacology of Saw Palmetto.

You, the consumers, drive this industry as we are all trying to find the next best thing. The cure for balding, the cure for aging, etc. We latch on to loose associations and circumstantial evidence. We read things on the Internet which are not all true. We like to believe in commercials and promotions (”looks good, sounds good, must be a true” type of attitude).

That’s my two cents worth of rambling, but if you are asking for my personal opinion as a physician, my answer is: I suppose it won’t hurt, but it probably won’t work. I always say “It’s a buyer beware market,” but maybe I should rephrase the last comment as “It’s a price is right market…”. For a few dollars (or euros, pounds, etc) we seem to think it may be worth it.

By the way, who says there is no soy in Africa?

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July 3, 2008

Nizoral (Ketoconazole) and Minoxidil – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Dr Rassman,

If one was to take the information on this article below which you have probably read and any of the other articles online in reference to ketoconazole and hairloss would you consider the following? Nizoral (PDF file)

Compounding minoxidil and ketoconazole? I have seen solutions being compounded of 5-6% minoxidil and 0.3% ketoconazole. Or using a product like extina?

Keep up the good work

I read the article with interest, but I don’t really have any comments on it. The study mentions, “The clinical significance of the results awaits further controlled study in a larger group of subjects.” — and I agree with that comment. If someone will produce good data that shows us that when put together in the concentrations proposed is safe and effective, I would vote for it.

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July 2, 2008

Minoxidil, Vitamins, and Shampoo for $3000?! – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I purchased a package where it contains solutions such as minoxidil 5%, shampoos, scalp cleanser, conditioner and vitamins. Along with that comes a once a month hair spa as well. Total of $3000.00. I have canceled and requested a full refund because i believe i can purchase these solutions elsewhere. I can do all this at home, with out that hair spa which i dont think is a big deal for A LOT less. Your opinion, did i do the right thing? The main thing here is the minoxidil 5%. The others are vitamins/herbs,etc where i still can purchase elsewhere such as rite aid, etc. Am i correct????

It sounds like you made a good decision. I am careful about my pennies as well. The minoxidil is FDA approved to treat hair loss, and is proven to work in some men. Although I don’t know which vitamins and scalp cleansers were included in your $3000 package, I know that none of them will regrow your hair like minoxidil or finasteride.

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July 1, 2008

Recurring Seborrheic Dermatitis – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dr Rassman,

I often hear that Seborrheic Dermatitis does NOT cause permanent hair loss, and that any loss is temporary and usually regrows. However, I have been suffering from persistent recurrent SD now for 8 years, and a thick head of naturally curly hair has all but vanished. Indeed I now suffer from very diffuse hair loss.

My Doctor prescribes me Cocois Ointment but I find that when you rub it on the area of SD, then wash it off, that the hair previously present in that area becomes noticeably thinner. This has been the pattern for 8 years. repeating over and over like a vicious cycle until hair loss is severe.

You are providing a fantastic service via your site across the world, and I would be extremely grateful for your views and advice. Thank You.

Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) does not cause hair loss unless you scratch it. Sometimes the treatment may impact the hair. Cocois Coconut Oil Compound contains contains coal tar, salicylic acid, and precipitated sulphur. These types of treatments are usually used for advanced SD and psoriasis, but they are not as effective as steroids when they are judiciously applied under the care of a physician. You did report loss of hair or thinning of the hair from Cocois ointment, so maybe it’s time to review this treatment with your doctor.

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