Hello Dr. Rassman,
Would there be a negative effect in taking Propecia and a dietary supplement called Biotin 2500, which has about 2500 mcg of biotin, at the same time?
Thanks for your time.
I do not see a problem combining Propecia (finasteride 1mg) with biotin.
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my mother takes rogaine. i have found a herbal shampoo system that is supposed to enhance hair growth.
the ingredients are: cetearyl alcohol, dimethicone PEG-8, meadowfoamate, cocamidopropyl, pg-dimethiconol, lecithin, borago officinalis seed oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, retinyl palmitate, tocopheryl acetate, ascorbyl palmitate, phosphatidyl choline, panthenol, glycerin, phopholipids, niacin, sodium riboflavin phosphate, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hcl, carbomer, papain, hydrolyzed algae extract, biotin, salvia officinalis(sage) leaf extract, ezuisetum hiemale extract, juniperus communis fruit extract, hypercium perforatum extract, arctium lappa root extract, symphytum officinale extract, m humulus lupulus(hops) extract, uirtica dioica(nettle) extract, thymus vulgaris extract, serenoa serrulata fruit extract, yucca schidigera extract, glycyrrhiz glabra extract, rosmarinus officinalis leag extract hydrolytzed wheat protein, benzyl nicotinate, guar hydroxypropytrimonium chloride, citric acid, hydroxyethylcellulose, safflower, sessssssssame seed oil, stearamidopropyl dimethylamine, quaternium-80, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, butylene glycol, menthol, mentha piperita.
can she use this with the rogaine?
Yes, I don’t see why not.
Hello
I just turned 19 and am about a III on the Norwood scale. I noticed a slight receding hairline at 17 and began using Rogaine and taking saw palmetto supplements. My father was V on the Norwood scale by the time he was 28, but his balding was not as accelerated as mine at such a young age. I have been taking finasteride (5 mg dosages cut into 4 pieces) daily for about 5 months and have continued to use Rogaine foam, and my hairline continues to rapidly recede. As I am so young this is very detrimental to my self confidence and image. I was wondering if you think that I should try dutasteride, as the finasteride seems to have had no effect (my balding wasnt progressing this fast before I went on it), or maybe even consider hair transplants to fill in what I’ve lost.
It seems you are very proactive about your hair loss. As such, you need to start with seeing a good, qualified doctor for your hair loss options.
Saw palmetto is associated with improving prostate health and as such the natural supplement community now seems to link it to hair growth, because finasteride (Propecia / Propecia) is associated with prostate health. However, there is no ‘metric’ on the value of saw palmetto that would say just what does blocks DHT.
You need a miniaturization study before you start any medication so that you have a baseline measurement prior to taking any medical treatments. Photographs and general assessments may seem good enough, but you do not know what is going on at a microscopic level without a miniaturization study.
Avodart (dutasteride) is not FDA approved for treating androgenic alopecia (AGA). Just because it is said to be a stronger blocker of DHT does not mean it will be better than Propecia (finasteride). I always point out that the drug dosage is not documented, so every doctor that prescribes Avodart to treat hair loss should be wondering the correct dosage to prescribe. If/when it is finally FDA approved for treating hair loss, the decision to start this medication should not be frivolous.
Finally, hair transplantation in a 19 year old with Norwood Class 3 balding is not recommended. Give it at least a few more years to see where your hair loss pattern is evolving to before considering surgical options.
Four months back i had thick and shiny hair, then it started off falling very severly. I then went to a dermatologist. He advised me SeboWash, but there are many side effects with its usage, so now i am in dilema whether to use it or not. Is it safe to use?
As your dermatologist prescribed Sebowash (fluocinolone acetonide), I suggest you see that doctor ASAP to address your concerns.
Here’s info I found about SeboWash at CiplaDoc.com —
And here’s a little more from Wikipedia —
Fluocinolone acetonide is a corticosteroid primarily used in dermatology to reduce skin inflammation and relieve itching. It is a synthetic hydrocortisone derivative. The fluorine substitution at position 9 in the steroid nucleus greatly enhances its activity. A typical dosage strength used in dermatology is 0.01–0.025%. One such cream is sold under the brand name Flucort-N and includes the antibiotic neomycin.
I am 29 years old man. I am suffering from frontal hair loss. I have come across a product called regen hair revitaliser (claiming to have bio active nutrients)from Raylon industries. Should I go for the same. I am not sure.There is one more product from Marico, Parachute hair therapie.Which one is advisable.
I found the product here, but if you are asking for a medical opinion, the only two products that are proven to work for the treatment of hair loss are topical minoxidil and oral finasteride (Propecia). I know of many thousands of products out there that claim hair growth, but the results are suspect. If it really works better than minoxidil or finasteride, I would think it would be a huge success. It is a buyer beware market.
hi, I’ve been using a herbal product called DABAO from the Nederlands (ordered via New Zealand) for 12 years. It has been independently tested and really works. I can’t believe it has had such little exposure as it’s been around for years. They keep the ingredients to the lotion a secret and I would love to have it tested. When it originally started to work I was in disbelief as you see wealthy people like Prince William losing his hair when he could afford to bathe in it. I would love to know if you have heard of this product and why it is’nt better known.
I have not heard of this product, but did review this page I found via a Google search.
I’m a skeptic and I fully admit that. I have seen hundreds of “hair growers” come and go in the 15+ years I have been in this business, and I’m glad that it’s working for you (or you think it is working for you), but I shall remain skeptical.
Hello,
I am an African American with natural hair. I have splits ends, but have also noticed that my hair follicle is also split in the middle of the shaft. There are areas on the shaft where the hair has not completely separated, however gaps are apparent. What is wrong with my hair?
It seems you have brittle hair. Maybe not split ends, but split middles? This can be due to many causes such as over styling or over drying with blow driers, chemical treatments, genetics, etc. Speak with your hair stylist about the use of conditioners that hydrate your hair shafts.
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In April, 2007 my wife completed chemotherapy for Non-Hodgkins Lymphpoma (R-CHOP Protocal) Her hair began to grow back after her 4th of 6 treatments and was coming in well. Once she had enough hair to color she went to a hair salon to have it colored. Realizing it was ridiculous to pay for the coloring for such little hair, she decided to use a store bought permanent color. She has done it twice since and after the last coloring her hair began falling out. She has spoken to the medical staff at her oncologist’s office and was told NOT to use “permanent” coloring but “temporary”. They acted as though she was nuts but no one ever told her not to. Anyway,she was also told it would come back.
Have you ever come across this situation before? Will it come back at a normal pace?
Thanks
We have answered similar questions in the past regarding hair dye causing hair loss, although not specifically about dying hair regrown after chemotherapy. The reality is that dye can cause hair loss by itself, as it can make the hair fragile. These substances can burn the skin and they can work their way through the follicle from the skin pore and burn each and every follicle causing damage. That is why professional hair dyes in the hands of professionals are the best way to have the process done. As your wife’s hair is in ‘recovery mode’ you must be extra careful. Your wife needs to wait a few months and should grow her hair back if there is no other condition causing her hair loss.
Doc,
Thanks for this site, it’s nice to see I’m not the only one worrying about these things. I’m a 20 year old male whose father has a full head of hair, but there is some balding in members of
my mother’s side. I wear a spiked hairstyle and I’ve noticed that up close many front hairs fall forward and do not spike up with the rest of my hair. This didn’t used to happen in my teens.
You cannot tell unless looking up close. I’ve also noticed some thinning, also when seen up close. The rest of my head is fine. Are these “fallen hairs” something to worry about?
Perhaps you need a stronger hair spray (or whatever product you may use). Maybe apply more product to those “fallen hairs” and see if you can get them to stand upright like the rest of the soldiers. Some hairs not standing up with the rest is not cause for concern, though. Just having balding in your family line isn’t reason to get worked up about possibly losing your hair — genetic hair loss can skip generations. If you see loss though, that is another story entirely…
So if you are concerned about hair loss or balding, you should start by having your scalp hair examined for signs of miniaturization and/or patterns of thinning. This would give you a better idea what is going on with your hair.
Dear Dr. Rassman, et al.,
I hope you are all having a good Labor Day holiday, and thanks for keeping this informative blog.
I am writing to share my experience with DUPA with others who may be affected by the condition, and to ask a couple of questions. This is a long email, but I hope it will be helpful to those who are in a similar situation, and I hope you’ll be able to post a reply.
I was diagnosed with DUPA this past January, 2007, and my doctor prescribed me Finasteride, 2.25 mg/day. I first noticed that I have thin hair about 7 years ago, but since then, while I had been disturbed by the thinness, I had not noticed it getting any worse, i.e., any thinner. Since being on Finasteride for about 8 months, I have noticed no difference in my hair, either positive or negative (which, I suppose, can be viewed as an overall positive). However, I have searched and searched the internet for information about DUPA, and apart from the websites that you have linked to in your previous posts (which themselves contain scant information), there is nothing. Therefore, I hope you can answer a couple of questions:
(1) Are there any DUPA resources that you know of, other than those you have previously linked to?
(2) Have you noticed, in your practice, any common progression to DUPA? (Specifically, I am wondering whether I can expect my thinness to get any worse-considering that I haven’t noticed any difference over the last 7 years (I’m 28 now)-or if DUPA tends to stabilize after a point).
I would also like to share with your readers the cosmetic solutions that I have found to work well for me, and ask you a few questions about them. I have found that both Toppik and Dermmatch work extremely well, both alone and in combination. For my particular situation (general thinness all over, but no large bald spots) I find that Dermmatch is the best cosmetic solution, and is most affordable (Toppik, I found, ended up costing about $60/month for me because of the amount I need to use, whereas Dermmatch costs me only about $15/month).
And the Dermmatch looks absolutely amazing, even after being caught in a rainstorm. My bathroom has a very bright, harsh florescent light, and I often stare at my hair after putting in the Dermmatch, and even though I know it’s there, I can’t detect it.
I have found that the best way to apply the Dermmatch is to use my fingers, rather than the paltry applicators that they provide. After showering, I wet my fingers, load them with a lot of wet Dermmatch, and apply it all over my scalp and hair using gentle circular motions, all the while regularly rewetting the Dermmatch container. Then I dry it and fluff it up with a couple of paper towels, to separate my hair and prevent it from clumping, and to remove the excess Dermmatch. Then I use a hair dryer to finish drying it, and finally I use a fair amount of hair spray to ensure that it doesn’t transfer onto my hands or pillow (or a girl’s, for that matter). The hair dryer and hair spray are essential, or else my hands and pillow become black if rubbed against my hair.
All in all, from the start of application to the time it’s fully dry and I’m ready to head out the door, it takes about 45 minutes. However, I have found that I can keep it in my hair for even up to a week without having to reapply it. I can even shower with it in-if I use just a small amount of shampoo, just enough to wash the sweat and greasiness out of my hair, the Dermmatch is relatively unaffected-all I need do is use a little bit of Toppik as a touch-up afterwards. This leads to my next question:
(3) Do you believe that there is any negative effect to leaving Dermmatch on my scalp for a multiple days and nights at a time? That is, could it accelerate my hair loss/inhibit growth by clogging my pores, or by some other mechanism-is it true what the Dermmatch website says, that “Sebum does not cause hair loss by blocking your follicles, nor do cosmetic products like DermMatch”?
I apologize for the long email, and I thank you and your colleagues again for keeping your informative blog—I have found it an invaluable salve to my vanity and intellect in the face of the misinformation that is rampant on the internet, for you prove that “at the length truth will out.”
Best regards.
Thanks for sharing your story with us. I believe that our original paper first documented the term Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) over 10 years ago. There is not much on this variation of the alopecias which appear in men. When it appears in women, it is called the same thing, but we expect that this is a presentation of the female version of genetic hair loss that impacts almost half of the female population, particularly weighted to the post-menopausal woman.
I personally believe that the appearance of DUPA in men can occur at any time in their lifetime. When seen in the elderly it is called senile alopecia, but I believe that the patients who are very old (75+), are just the sum of men who developed it in each decade (30s-70s), so it is more frequently seen in the older groups. Most of my patients who present with DUPA have what appears to be a stable condition, but that is probably because they come to me later in the process to get the diagnosis. A small number of men with DUPA that I have treated have responded to Propecia, but I do not believe that it is mediated by DHT so there is a questionable value with this approach. Using minoxidil would require a massive application to the entire scalp, but if there are areas that are particularly important, then it is worth trying.
Using DermMatch or other masking products should not cause damage and can be left on the scalp for days.
