Category: Other

The following post is by UK-based physician Dr. Bessam Farjo:

Written by: Dr Bessam Farjo United Kingdom

The internet is a wealth of knowledge where literally anyone can have their say. Whether it’s a blog, tweet, or status update, men and women have the ability to get their views across to a global audience. This is a fantastic way to find out important information on a wide variety of subjects; however a lack of regulation means that often the information is widely inaccurate.

The other day, for example, I followed a tweet titled “Justifying the Cost of Modern Hair Implant Techniques“. The link led me to a blog discussing hair loss in women which naturally, bearing in mind the subject matter, I was interested to read.

Sadly, my interest soon changed to infuriation – the author was either severely uneducated on the subject or blatantly and significantly economical with the truth; either way I was unsettled by that fact that this misinformation was visible to potentially millions of people.

The author referring to the strip method of donor harvesting stated that: “A number of hair clinics will promote older, less good hair implant methods in order to keep costs down“. Nothing about the aforementioned sentence is correct; not even the grammar, nevermind the scientific information written especially since implying that FUE is the donor harvest method of choice in women.

This reiterated to me how important it is for potential patients to seek advice from trusted authorities on the subject, as it is all too easy for advertisers and novices to pose as educators on the net.

Another promotion from a relatively new provider of one technique only, claimed they are THE LEADING clinic in Europe, that they produce no scars, actually pioneered the procedure and pretty much saved the British public from the dire services of the existing providers (including ourselves!)

For the above reasons, especially when considering surgery, it is crucial that men and women acquire knowledge from reputable sources, such as the Institute of Trichologists, International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, British Association of Hair Restoration Surgeons, Hair Transplant Network and International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgery. I would also suggest looking for scientific research with proven reproducible clinical data, as well as case studies when considering any kind of medical or surgical treatment.

So, even with cutting edge technology, the old age saying is true; be it on paper or online, don’t believe everything you read!

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Learn more about the author of this article, Dr. Bessam Farjo, on his BaldingBlog profile or at his website.

Hi Doc,

I suffer constantly from razor bumps after shaving and just very sensitive skin in general. I get a very bad reaction if i shave more than once a wk. I was considering getting laser hair removal to permanently remove all stubble from my face. What is the success rate of this and have you come across anyone that has had this done with decent results. Thanks Doc.

I do not use the laser in my office, so I’m probably the wrong person to ask. I put in hair… I don’t remove it.

Removing facial (beard hair in men) with a laser can be time consuming and costly. I don’t know success rates off hand, but you can speak with a dermatologist experienced with using lasers for this purpose, or check with facial hair removal “specialists” online. I found one such site using Google that explains various methods, costs, and time involved — HairRemovalJournal.org.

I wish I could offer you more, but laser hair removal isn’t within my field of expertise.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

Hello,
I recently shaved (for the first time) and am experiencing pseudofolliculitis barbae. I was wondering if these razor bumps will somehow inhibit my hair growth or cause hair loss in the prospective future?

I thank you in advance for your generous time.

I doubt a bad shave will inhibit hair growth and your pseudofolliculitis barbae should resolve with time. Wait until it heals before you tackle it again. With the second shave of your life, be a bit more gentle and read up on proper shaving techniques.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

Snippet from the non-hair-loss-related article:

A new study from American Cancer Society researchers finds it’s not just how much physical activity you get, but how much time you spend sitting that can affect your risk of death. Researchers say time spent sitting was independently associated with total mortality, regardless of physical activity level. They conclude that public health messages should promote both being physically active and reducing time spent sitting.

The study appears early online in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Read the full story at ScienceDaily — More Time Spent Sitting Linked to Higher Risk of Death; Risk Found to Be Independent of Physical Activity Level

Initially I assumed it had more to do with obesity and lack of any activity, but the article shows that the “association remained virtually unchanged after adjusting for physical activity level“. The study included survey results from over 123k adults with no history of cancer, heart attack, stroke, or emphysema/other lung disease.

So now not only should you worry about how long you sit during the day… when you sleep, you run the risk of Freddy Krueger killing you in your dreams!

Hello,
I’ve noticed that many bald heads and im 42 and well on my way have lots of brown discolouration spots/blotches on the scalp. Indeed i have them as well near the front hairline where hair has totally gone. This i guess is just part of the whole balding process but what is going on here? Its as if i am watching it advance as hair recedes! Is it an inflammatory response.? Does science know for sure??

Many thanks for your blog and your time.!!

You are very observant. These color changes in the scalp reflect sun damage, and one way to protect your skin is by using a good SPF sunscreen when you’re outdoors. It is unrelated to hair loss, but it makes sense that you’d notice these spots in an area of the scalp where there isn’t hair (like your frontal hairline).

These brown splotches may be precursors to skin cancers if left unchecked by a good doctor yearly, so be sure to get them looked at.

Snippet from the article:

Prince believes playing the electric guitar has stopped him from going bald.

The 52-year-old pop legend – who can play 27 different instruments – is convinced the electricity that flows through a guitar when he strums it is the reason he still has luscious locks.

He said: “Playing electric guitar your whole life does something to you. I’m convinced all that electricity racing through your body made me keep my hair.”

Read the full story — Prince: Playing the electric guitar prevented hair loss

So there you go, folks. The secret to keeping your hair — learn the guitar. Be sure to get a nice electric guitar with a huge, loud amp (bonus points if you live with people that are not musicians, since they will love to hear you learn).

I’m kidding, of course. Hair loss is from genetics… not electricity racing through your body.

Dear Doc.

Once again a question about Matthew Mcconaughey’s hair. I know people have different views on his regrowth. If he’s using a hair piece or have had a transplant. He’s claiming to use Regenix. He must be paid by them. Because if Regenix can cure hair loss like that, the company would be one of the richest companies in the world. Must be fake. I’ve seen the pictures and there’s no doubt he have done something with his hair! He said it himself at Letterman; I was balding. So something has happened.

Do the rich and famous have a secret club of doctors who can make them grow hair again??!! I have never seen such regrowth at a “normal” person. Or do they just have the money to have endless hair transplants. What is your opinion on all the famous people getting regrowth as never seen before? Transplants? Hair piece or what?

I would easy pay 50.000$ to see such a regrowth!

Best regards

No matter how much money you have, you cannot have endless hair transplant surgeries, because your hair will run out and eventually develop scarring one way or the other. Take a look at Donald Trump, for example, as it is widely believed that he had the old hair plug type surgeries from many years past. If that’s the case, he’s likely run out of donor hair and is now stuck with his trademark comb-forward/swirl/whatever hair style.

I’ve performed surgery on many celebrities and some of the richest people in the world, but I cannot give them endless amount of hair. The secret club sounds like it could be great fun, but alas, it isn’t the case.

With respect to celebrities (particularly those in movies or on TV), they are probably rich enough to afford top-of-the-line wigs and makeup artists to look good in public… but up close and personal, right out of the shower in the privacy of their own home, we will never know. A wig can look fantastic, but they can also be high maintenance and expensive. Some do opt to go the surgical route, of course. For celebrities that rely on looking good in front of the camera though, money is no object.

As for actor Matthew McConaughey’s mysterious hair growth years ago, he claimed it was Regenix, but I find it hard to believe. If I had to guess, I’d say hair transplant or wig. It’s been a few years since we’ve written about him, but here are some past posts:

1. Matthew McConaughey’s Hairline… Revealed?
2. Matthew McConaughey’s Hair
3. Matthew McConaughey and Hair Transplants

Hey Doctor

My question is a brief one, in regards to Vellus hairs, how long can they grow?

Occasionally i will find that a hair has fallen out that is quite abit shorter than the rest on my hair, and alot thinner. For example my hair is 5 inches long, and the smaller thinner hair that falls out is 2 inches long. Is this a vellus hair?

Thanks

Vellus hairs are present in every follicular unit (one or two of them), and I believe they are defined as the peach-fuzz like hair usually 2mm or less in length. So if you’re seeing a 2″ long hair falling out, it’s not going to be a vellus hair.

In non-hair-loss, but otherwise still important health news…

Snippet from the article:

According to a trial in older men using testosterone gel treatment, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, using testosterone gel results in a higher risk of adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and high blood pressure (hypertension) compared to a placebo.

The trial was stopped because of these adverse events. The study was supported by a grant to Shalender Bhasin, M.D., at Boston Medical Center from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health.

Read the full text — Testosterone Gel Increases Risk Of Heart Attacks And High Blood Pressure In Older Men

The article points out that the treatment phase of the trial was stopped once the Data and Safety Monitoring Board made its recommendation, so I suppose that is one bright spot.