Category: Hair Products

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Hair Loss InformationUsing Toppik to Conceal Transplants After Surgery – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr Rassman… I am thinking of getting a transplant from you as I have met you before. just wondering if you have to shave my reciepient area?? and is it possible to use toppik to conceal the transplanted area?? would using toppik damage new grafts survival rate?? thanks alot!!

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I know that some doctors require you to shave your transplanted area, but I have learned to work around the hair that is still present. Some of my patients who use Toppik can continue to use it, but I’d suggest that you hold off for a week or so after the transplant. I like all of the scabs (eschars) to be off prior to the use of Toppik to stop what is a potential irritant and foreign body reaction if it gets under the eschar. After a week, that should not be a problem. With our small wounds and good washing, everything should be pretty clean at a week post surgery with no scabs and small hairs coming from the grafts that look like a beard, which will just make the recipient area fuller. Adding Toppik, can only help fill it in more for create the illusion that you are trying to achieve.

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Melancor – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hey Dr. Rassman;
Concerning the subject of graying hair…I have look at about everything the internet has to offer on what causes it, and how to stop it, even reverse it. I would like to hear your take on the subject if I may. Do you know anything about Melancor or is it another “snake oil”? And what’s up with gray chest hair?….mine is 3 times as long, seems twice as thick and curlier than my dark brown chest hair. Why is that so? What is taking place here?
Always thankful for you time!

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I know very little about Melancor, but based upon your question, I did research it. The claims appear to me as marketing hype without documented scientific evidence to back up claims of safety or effectiveness that satisfy my scientific mind. That concerns me. The substance is in a pill form and that concerns me even more. I would doubt that this passes FDA or FCC standards and without safety studies, I would not want to risk my health taking an unproven medication.

With regard to your long chest hairs, I can only tell you that this is exactly what I see on my hairy chest. At least there are two observant people watching their chest hair grow far too long for their particular likes.

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No Hair Loss – Should I Be Taking Finasteride? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hey Dr Rassman! I’m approaching 23 years old, and have experienced some thinning at the temple area, and also some receding of my hair line. Although i guess this could be my hairline maturing, i’ve bought some folligen cream, Nizioral shampoo, and some proscar as a precaution. Are these products still safe to taken, even though i might not actually be experiencing any irregular hair loss? Just thought i would nip it in the bud so to speak! Thanks for your time!

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First of all, you need a proper diagnosis and that requires a good doctor to assess miniaturization of your scalp. Do not assume anything. Your hair is too important to play Russian Roulette with. You should first know what is happening to you, then discuss the options with a good doctor. Taking Proscar without knowing what is going in is a mistake.

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RK19 – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

What is RK19 and the obvious question: does it really work?

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Again and again, more products reach the market that do not reflect legal claims allowed by the FDA. In my opinion, the pictures on this site are not believable, which makes the site and the claims not believable to me. The pictures appear to have some scalp coloring in the after pictures, which to me appear as if there was an effort to deceive the observer. I may be wrong, but as a clinician, I hold to stringent standards. Everyone wants a magical cure to balding and this certainly does not look like it.

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Hair Loss InformationPost-Operative Care and Scalp Flaking – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman, I think you are running a brilliant blog. After reading several posts, I am encouraged to share my own views and ask a question. I recently got a FUE megasession done in Europe and am pleased with the results, atleast till now (just 2 weeks post-op). While going through this website, I personally felt that it would be a great idea to start a new category called ‘Post-Operative Care’ since I am going through this phase myself and can feel the need to interact with others out there on the topic. Don’t worry, I don’t think it will scare away any prospective patients. It will only lend credibility to the transplant procedure.

On that note, I also have a question. I am using Minoxidil 5% to help with the growth of new hair. But my scalp in the recipient area shows considerable dryness / development of flakes when the scalp is dry. I was recommended to apply a hydrating lotion on the scalp. Would you agree with this advice and can you recommned a good hydrating cream /lotion meant for hair?

Thanks in advance.

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Thanks for your kind words and for the new category idea. I’ll add a Post-Operative category now.

The results of the FUE will take 5-8 months to show, so then and only then, will you know the value of what you had done. Minoxidil does cause dryness and flaking. Any non-alcoholic creams will work. Also, try a variety of hair conditioners as well. Take risks until you find the right one. Ask your hair dresser, as they may know the best that is available in your country.

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Healthier Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My six year old daughter, had kidney reflux and a UPJ obstruction at birth, both have been surgically corrected. Her hair is shoulder length and has been for three years. I trim it regulary and it remains extremely dry and barely grows. Her hair does come out fairly easy when brushed or pulled (by her brothers). She really wants her hair to grow and I would love to know how I can make it more healthy and have peace of mind that nothing is medically wrong. I would appreciate your time and assistance. Thank you

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Hair loss can be caused by stress (physical and emotional), malnutrition, and multiple surgeries. Brittle hair can be treated with more gentle handling as brisk brushing can pull out or break the fragile hairs. Make sure that your daughter’s diet allows her to get all the nutrients that she needs. It is normal to lose around 100 hairs per day. The length of her hair indicates (assuming that hair grows 1/2 inch per month) that her hair cycle may be as short as 2 years (assuming 12 inch length of her hair) and each hair that falls out gets replaced by another one that starts to grow from ‘scratch’. Everyone has their own hair cycle, which usually ranges from 2 – 6 years. I would expect that as she gets older, the cycle length will change (probably get longer which may mean that the hair will grow out longer as well).

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Hair Loss InformationProCede – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

What have you heard about Procede? Just saw a commercial for it today.

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ProCede appears to be a range of products to:

  1. thicken the hair
  2. darken the scalp
  3. shampoo, condition, etc

The pictures on the product’s official site are clearly the results of a scalp darkening agent (a type of powder or paint). There is a suggestion on their site that it may regrow hair, but I sincerely doubt it. It may be a better shampoo, or a better hair thickener, or better scalp coloring agent, but your guess is as good as mine would be. They do state on their official site that ProCede can give the “appearance of a healthy, thicker, fuller hair shaft”, and that it is a cosmetic product. There does not seem to be anything new here.

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Mederma – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I just had a transplant (3000 units) what is now about 3 months ago for my frontal hairline and is seems to all be coming in very quickly so no problems there. I have very fair skin and have been using “Mederma” for the donor scar on the BACK which is helping fade it considerably. However in the recipient area on the FRONT of my scalp is still discolored with a notable textural change and color (reddish) from the operation (again, I have very fair skin). Sure – my goal here is both new hair (which eventually will cover much of it) but also not to have a discolored or red scalp underneath. so my question is: would using mederma to help fade the redness in the FRONT interfere with the new hair growth?
please let me know asap

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Those people with fair skin sometimes get unusual redness. This is often initially caused by histamine release at the wound level that is causing increased and persistent redness. It is best treated with topical steroids, like Hydrocortisone cream (limit use for 3-4 days so that you do not absorb massive amounts of it in your system). Please note that if you are a professional sports person, the steroids will show up in a blood test.

In searching the internet, I found the following statement: “Mederma is a gel that contains an onion extract which is thought to be the active moiety. It can be used on all types of scars including: surgical, burns, stretch marks, acne, and old or existing scars. It should be applied 3-4 times daily for 2-6 months depending on the type of scar. The data available are conflicting as to the effectiveness of Mederma in reducing the size and quality of the ultimate scar. The question still remains whether the act of massage or the onion extract contained in Mederma will decrease the appearance of unsightly scars.”

That being said, I have no personal experience with Mederma.

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Higher Strength Minoxidil – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I got a prescription for Avodart here in the states.I will start today.I have read on the internet that there is a 12.5% minoxidil lotion and a 15% minoxidil cream that are better than the 5% you can buy over the counter.I want to start a new hairloss program but i want to make sure that im doing the best possible treatment for my hair.Are these stronger creams better or should i use the over the counter 5%.I have been depressed but i can not give up on my hairloss.Your input on this email will be very helpful!

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You can try higher strength minoxidil, but just be wary of the drug’s side effects like dizziness or skin irritation. I have no particular experience with 15% minoxidil, but if you want to try it, I have not heard anyone saying it is bad.