Hair Products – Page 94

January 27, 2006

Can Toppik Accelerate Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello Dr. Rassman
Again, thank you thank you thank you for spending the time to provide this blog. It is an oasis in the desert of misinformation on MPB. I have a quick question:

Can products like toppik / couvre and / or hairsprays accelerate hair loss? Are there any negative repurcussions to using such products? I havent noticed any accelerated hairloss but I use toppik and hairspray everyday and wondered if they could be damaging my hair in any way?

Aside from my concern, I strongley recomend toppik to anyone with thinning hair. I’ve found it really helps for cover up / concealing purposes.

Thanks Again

I totally agree. Toppik (color-matched keratin protein fibers) and hair spray (glue, basically) are excellent additions to any hair loss sufferer’s cosmetic arsenal. I also highly recommend trying different styles to maximize the hair that you have (one of the reasons women’s hair loss is underdiagnosed is because they take the time and try different tricks to camoflage it well). As for these adjuncts causing hair loss the answer is “No” – there is no evidence that these affect your loss in any way. Chemical hair loss CAN occur with chronically chemicaly treated hair, but these two products do not fall into this category so you can continue to use them without fear.

January 26, 2006

Himalaya Hair Loss Cream – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr.Rassman,
I am 18 years old.I had a normal hair growth around 4 months back.I stayed in a place called shimoga and for the past six months,I am staying in bangalore pursuing my studies.I have been suffering from hair loss for the past 3 months.I wish to confirm that nobody else in my family is bald.I have a receding hair line and this is worrying me a lot.At present,I am using Himalaya Hair loss cream for the past one month.I even consulted a doctor and he said that it was normal at this age.Is the hair loss due to any diet deficiencies or due to change of water and weather as such?How can I regrow my hair and make it stronger.Please tell me how I can increase the density of the hair follicles.Please reply.Sir,I will send the photos within a week.I am losing approximately 60-70 hairs per day and the hair line has receded considerably.Please help

This is the hair loss cream I am using. http://www.himalayahealthcare.com/products/hairloss_cream.htm

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Himalaya Hair Loss Cream is another of the herbal medications for hair loss with lots of claims and no proof for its impact. The site does not suggest that there is anything new there.

It sounds like you are undergoing male patterned hair loss, but the loss of your frontal hair line may just be the maturing process that occurs in young men through the age of 29. Normal daily hair loss is between 100-150 hairs in the average caucasian, less for Indians or other Asians. Get your hair checked out first and stop the panic. Send me those pictures you were talking about to the address on the Contact page.

January 26, 2006

Contrast Between Scalp and Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Female – I have been thinning for years and as a result, have been bleaching my hair. My rationale is that this lessens the contrast between the scalp and the hair and makes the hair loss less noticable. Recently, I went to a new stylist who told me that my theory is false and that dark hair will make the hair less transparent and therefore less noticable. It’s been three days since she did my hair and I have to say that I think I was right. I think the new darker shade makes the hair loss more noticable. Am I nuts? Should I go back to being a blonde or should I stay a brunette?

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When the scalp and the skin are closer in color (white skin and blonde hair) the impact of thin, see-through hair is less obvious. Styling with puffed-up hair styles are popular in women who also dye their hair to get a fuller look. That is more of a styling issue. Don’t worry, you’re not nuts. If you’re more comfortable with being blonde, I’d say you should go blonde. Go with what you’re comfortable doing, and with what you think looks the best.

January 24, 2006

RK19 vs Propecia vs Minoxidil – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

At age 59 what results can I expect from RK19? Can RK19 be used with Finasteride(propecia) and Minoxidil? Which is a Better program? Is a Dr.’s prescription required?

RK19 is a product that sells over the counter and can therefore be purchased from their website. Minoxidil can also be purchased without a prescription. Propecia, on the other hand, does require a doctor’s prescription. I have no personal experience with RK19, but after reviewing the photographs, I am more than concerned. The blonde picture was foggy, and the other two pictures seemed to have a scalp coloring agent in them. That makes me suspicious. Let the buyer beware, so use this as your guide in trying to figure out what to do. Please review what I have said in the past on this blog about RK19, as well as what I have said about safe and effective hair loss remedies.

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January 24, 2006

Eqyss MegaTek – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Doc:

I am so sorry to bother you again. Can you please tell me if you ever heard of Eqyss Megatek? It is a conditioner & Shampoo for horses that folks claim grows hair stronger & faster. As I have mentioned before, I recently thinned rapidly and I need some help. I am hoping you have heard of this and can comment.

Interestingly, this is the second question I have received on horse hair products (see also: Mane-Tail-Groom Hair Products). I have no practical experience with horse hair products in humans, but from the inquiries I have made, some Europeans who had association with horses know about these products and swear by them. I would add horse hair grooming to what I offer my patients, but they may think that I am a horse’s ass for doing so.

January 23, 2006

MesoHair / Mesotherapy – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Can you give me your opinion about MesoHair (or mesotherapy)? Just from reading this article, it sounds like it is INJECTIONS in the scalp. Is this better than taking a pill?!?! It says “virtually painless” but I can’t see how injecting stuff into my head can be without pain. The article is at http://www.clickpress.com/releases/Detailed/6646005cp.shtml

Thanks

I can not answer this with any authority. I read the page referenced above and am not convinced that problems of vitamin deficiency are a cause of the hair loss in many normal healthy people who have a good diet. There is a suggestion on that website that this therapy “delivers long-acting neutralizing effects on the DHT hormone” and I have a hard time understanding how this is done. If there was proof, I would love to see it, but as it exists, these appear to be just claims. I suggest that you use Google, as I have, to search out the history and science behind this approach and read the above reference carefully. “Let the buyer beware” is an axiom that still applies.

Just to be clear, the above linked “article” is actually just a press release rather than an independent news story.

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January 19, 2006

Rogaine Shedding, Nizoral – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello, I’ve never used Rogaine, in fear of the “shedding” phase I’d heard about. What exactly is the “shedding” phase, if I may ask.

And will this product cause that? And is there a list of the ingredients anywhere or should I not be asking that? I’m just very curious.

Last but not least question, if this products is discontinued, I am assuming everything on the scalp goes back to “as it was” before, and are there any products that shouldn’t be used, such as Nizoral Shampoo?

Your help is greatly appreciated. Sorry, where can I purchase only the “hair grow” product, not the cleaner etc?

To answer your question about shedding from Rogaine use, please see my past response in “Hair Loss Worse After Rogaine”.

I am not completely sold on Nizoral shampoo, although I do believe that it is a good shampoo. I do not believe it is necessarily good at regrowing hair. There is not enough scientific data to support hair growth claims. You can buy Rogaine over the counter and I doubt that minoxidil (generic form) will ever go off the market. The miniaturized hairs become dependent upon minoxidil when you take it and when it works. If you were to stop the Rogaine (minoxidil) and there was a benefit of it, you will go back to your ‘before’ status, plus losing whatever hair you would have lost prior to starting the medication. This may very well leave you worse off.

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January 17, 2006

I Don’t Want to Play Doctor with My Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I’m 22 and over the last year my hair has been thinning fast. Thinning, really bad itching all over my scalp and a receding hair line. This last year i have had three major surgerys and one minor one. Also I have been under extreme stress. Plus both my grandfather and father are bald or going bald. So i really dont know were it could be coming from. I have been to hair loss clinics and doctors and been told and given different things. 5% Minoxidil, Enhanced anti-androgenic pill with saw palmetto and other herbs, some shampoo, laser light therapy and just yesterday i got propecia. What should i do? I’m scared that I am starting to play doctor with all these products. PLEASE HELP

It sounds like you are grasping for straws and may or may not find a solution. First you need to KNOW if you have genetic hair loss, like what is in your family. With measurements on miniaturization made, you can then establish a base line from which drugs like Propecia can be valued by comparing the changes in miniaturization over time. I would drop everything else, and focus on getting a diagnosis before the Propecia gets going too far, just for comparisons. Propecia may be your best approach, but you still need a Master Plan to know what is going to happen to you.

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January 16, 2006

Hair Loss from Procerin – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I noticed hair loss in my hair line back in august and about 2 months ago started taking an herbal supplement called Procerin. Since then instead of just losing it in the hair line the whole top of my head is falling out. I read something about a shedding phase that sometimes occurs when products of this nature are taken. Can you shed some light on this for me please? Thank you VERY much for you time!!

Unfortunately, since Procerin is not regulated by the FDA (as most supplements are not) there is little to no information in the medical literature regarding side effects and very few (if any) scientific studies. To complicate matters, humans will go through a shedding phase naturally and it is nearly impossible to tell if your hair loss is normal or due to some substance (like a supplement) you have added to your diet. You could do a hair count (count all the hairs you shed daily for a week – average should be no more than 100), or you could also just wait and see if the accelerated loss subsides on its own. If it continues, however, I would suggest seeing your doctor (or a dermatologist or a hair loss specialist) to get evaluated for other medical conditions which could be causing hair loss. Get your scalp hair mapped out for miniaturization. Just do not assume that the one thing you may have identified is the only cause of your hair loss; you have too much at risk.

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January 16, 2006

Stopping Further Graying – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I have MBP. To add to the trouble, my hair has started growing gray on my beard and sidelocks (age 23). What can i do to stop further graying? Whatever is gray, how can I make it black….are dyes unsafe?

Dyes in the hands of a good hair stylist, are generally safe. There is no safe and effective cure to graying that I know of.

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