Hair Loss InformationValue of HairDX Test? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Again, thank you for this informative website. It was in the news recently about having a genetic test done to see if one has the balding genes and what to expect. www.hairdx.com is the website for the company. I have two questions regarding this.

How accurate do you suppose this test is in regards to future hair loss and the likelihood of it occurring on someone who has this exam done?

Secondly, what value if any would you see in having such an exam done?

Thank you for your time as always!

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I am having a problem with the use of this test, but I am not against it if someone wants it. Based upon the test alone, I would not start treatment for hair loss, but when hair loss starts, I would commence treatment in men ASAP. So the test will not drive me to do anything. In terms of accuracy, I suspect it does what it says it does accurately. The issue is what does it mean and what do we do about the test results when there is no balding present?

Hair Loss InformationHair Changing Color – Is The Sun Bleaching It or Is It Connected to MPB? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am 26 years old and I am going bald. My hair is brown on the edges but it has turned blonde on the top. I used to think the sun bleached it but I think going bald has something to do with it. Is the hair turning from brown to blonde in the balding area connected with going bald?

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When the hair miniaturizes, it often loses pigment and will get lighter. I can not tell you what is happening to you without seeing you myself. You need a diagnosis. Get your hair mapped out for miniaturization and find out if you have male pattern baldness (MPB).

Hair Loss InformationDHT Serum Test? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,
Thank you so much for answering my question: After Taking Propecia for 2 Years, Suddenly I’m Shedding

I have an important update. My primary care Dr. said I was most likely shedding from stress (I’ve been experiencing EXTREME stress at work and even in my personal life). The diameter of my hair feels thinner, even in the back of my head down to where my hairline is at my neck. Classic symptoms of TE, I believe. So, I had my Dr. do a DHT serum test and here are the results:

DHEA, Unconjugated 224 Normal in males is 180-1250 ng/dl.
Testosterone, Total 580 Normal is 241-827

So, since my DHT levels are on the lower side (224, probably from the propecia), is there a good chance my hair loss has been halted or greatly slowed down??? I’d appreciate your professional opinion. Thank you so much and keep up the GREAT work!!!

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DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) can increase DHT (dihydrotestosterone) levels, but the DHT reflects testosterone and I would expect that the more testosterone you have, the higher the DHT levels would be. DHT levels have no significance by itself for addressing your problem and it makes no sense to me to obtain DHT blood serum levels.

While I have no doubt that one can get this test, I have to wonder why someone would want it and what it would really do for you. Regardless, I don’t run these types of tests routinely, and thus I am not knowledgeable enough to give you the information you are looking for.

Although there is a direct connection between circulating DHT levels, tissue fixation of DHT and hair loss, I do not know what constitutes an effective drop in DHT. Certainly there is no way to determine if it is working on your hair without mapping out the hair for miniaturization and looking for a reduction of miniaturized hair over time.

Hair Loss InformationReputed Homeopathy Clinic Swindled Me! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Doctor, this is an amazing story that I’d like you to read! Please read, and you’ll be amazed at how some clinics are misleading people into spending hundreds of dollars to cure hair loss.

I’ve had a receding hairline for the past few months, and I’m only 18 years old. So I visit a really reputed homeopathy clinic,and this is what they tell me. ‘Your hair loss is due to bad water in your locality. The water in your locality is too harsh’. Is this true? Does hard water really cause hair loss? If so,then why don’t more and more people lose their hair in my area? I ended up reading a couple of your posts on water quality and understood more.

Then,here was their second reason. ‘There is also a lot of pollution in your area,which is causing this hair loss. You need to be careful about smoke. Also,try not to smoke or inhale smoke, it causes rapid hair loss’. This startled me very much. I felt like everything in this world causes hair loss. They did no miniaturization or pull-tests on me,just directly gave me reasons why I was losing hair-without first checking if I actually was losing or not.

They charged me $100 for this non-sensical stuff.

Now here were the solutions. They prescribed a weird shampoo which was going to combat all my hair loss woes. The shampoo claimed to restore any man’s “crowning glory” within 30 days. This shampoo cost $60. Secondly, they told me to use some strange-smelling oil that cost $35 for a 50 ml bottle. They then prescribed a second sitting a month from the first one.

A friend of mine went to this same ‘reputed’ clinic and told them he smoked. And immediately, they told him that smoking was causing his hair to grey at the age of 18. My friend never knew his hair was greying! And then they tell him that a lot of his hair would grey by the age of 21. They then prescribed him the same shampoo that they prescribed to me.

I’m glad I didn’t listen to them and did not buy any of those strange products. I did go to them for my second sitting (it was included in the cost of the first one). I then told them what I learnt from your blogs-like the only drug approved for hair loss was Propecia, and then asked them about tests for miniaturization and such, and they were dumb-founded. They only mentioned to me that their products were ‘herbal’ and ‘safe’,and that a lot of patients had good results with them. They then showed me before and after pictures of some patients, which looked quite fake.

I then decided to go to a ‘real’ clinic, with internationally acclaimed trichologists. And they told me that I wasn’t even losing hair after doing the tests. They said that I currently had a normal hairline, albeit matured, but it wouldn’t be wise to think that that would be the same for the rest of my life, and told me to get a test done once I turned 19 to see if I need any Finara (which is Finasteride here).

It pains me to see people get fooled this way, and those who actually spend money on the weird products sold. I did waste roughly $100 on stupid things, but well, it was educational after all!

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Thanks for sharing this with us. As I have said over and over again, let the buyer beware! This is an important lesson you have learned, and I hope your story helps others. Some people, however, need to learn the same lessons on their own.

Hair Loss InformationMustache Problems – One Spot Is Growing Slower Than the Rest! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi, I’m 19 and I am trying to grow a mustache. However, theres this one little spot that takes longer than the other hairs to grow out. I can see little hair in that particular spot and it also seems very faint in color. I was wondering what would that mean? Would that spot ever grow out to be the same length as the other hairs or is it always going to be like that? Why is it like that? And does shaving have to do anything with it, like if i shaved that spot more, it’ll come out faster? THANK YOU!

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At only 19 years old, you will see one part of your beard grow differently than the other parts. In ten years, you will wish it never grew out! It is possible you had a scar or burn in that area, or that your genetics are at play here. Shaving it will not get it to grow faster.

Home Laser Hair Removal System Cleared by FDA – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

From the press release —

Home Skinovations Ltd. announced today that the Silk’n™ device was cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for home-based removal of unwanted hair under the direction of a physician. Silk’n™, powered by the innovative and proprietary Home Pulsed Light™ technology (HPL™), is clinically tested and physician approved for safe, quick, and effective removal of hair by patients in the convenience of their home. Silk’n™ will be available exclusively through physicians.

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Silk'nFull text of the press release here.

The product’s website adds, “In clinical trials HPL™ technology effectively removed unwanted hair on the majority of participants.” Just how many of those participants had positive effects was not disclosed, though.

It is worth noting that I am not endorsing this product, nor am I a laser hair removal expert, by any means.

Source: MedGadget.com.

Lice, Psoriasis… Something White and Flaky on My Scalp! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Doctor:

I thought that maybe you could help with this question since my family doctor has been able to answer it for me. I have been experiencing hair loss all over my head and it has been accompanied by some sort of white flaky material. The best way that I can describe it is that it looks/feels like the residue left over from having a pimple. This material appears at or near the root of my hair and falls out anytime I run my fingers through. My family practicioner said that it my be Psoriasis, but I doubt it since I have never had a problem with it before. I also don’t know how I would effectively apply the cream to my entire head three times a day. I have also never have had a problem with dandruff. I was wondering if it could be lice, but I figured that I would try to find out if these symptoms match in order to avoid having an awkward conversation with a dermatologist. Anyway doctor, I appreciate your help.

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LiceIf you have doubts about your doctor’s diagnosis or plan, maybe you need to see another doctor for a second opinion. Doing this over the Internet is virtually impossible. The flakes you get out should be examined microscopically. If you just have seborrhea, then there are a wide variety of over-the-counter shampoos for it. If it is psoriasis as your doctor has suggested, what is the plan in confirming the diagnosis and treating the condition? That is the role of the doctor taking care of you. If it were lice, your doctor surely would’ve noticed that.

While I am a medical doctor, I cannot give you a second opinion (aside from the medical legal issues beyond this Internet platform), because I do not have the advantage of seeing you in person and examining you.

Hair Loss InformationActor Patrick Stewart Discusses Balding on BBC (with Video) – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Here’s an inspirational interview with Patrick Stewart (of Star Trek fame) conducted by the BBC. I think you will enjoy watching it, I know I did. Stewart talks openly about his experience with balding, dating and hair pieces.

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Thank you for sending this! I wish I could embed the video below, but it’s been disabled. You’ll have to click the link to go directly to YouTube —

Parkinson: Patrick Stewart – Baldness.

Hair Loss InformationNitric Oxide and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Will taking Nitric Oxide have adverse reaction on my thinning hair or the opposite?

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We do know that nitric oxide is a vasodilator. Many of the claims that relate to increased blood flow that are reported from the low level laser therapy (LLLT) suggest that it is the nitric oxide that is causing the increased blood supply. Simply, LLLT has been claimed to increase blood flow to the hair follicles through nitric oxide production and release, thereby increasing hair growth. The evidence for this is scant and conjectural. Some people feel that if you take L-arginine supplements, this will help facilitate the process, but be careful as L-arginine is known in high doses to be a dangerous agent.

I hope I didn’t lose anyone. To sum all of that up — no, I do not believe it will have any effect on thinning hair.

In the News – Love Cured Complete Alopecia in Young Woman – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Perhaps I’m just an old romantic, but I really enjoyed this story. Maybe balding people should look for love to cure their hair loss? Likely not, but the story is entertaining for sure.

Hayley BurtonSnippet from the article –

Love has been a hairraising experience for Hayley Burton – in the nicest possible way.

The pretty 20-year-old student had been TOTALLY BALD for seven years before meeting and falling in love with boyfriend Don Timson.

But now her locks are growing back despite her extreme form of hair-loss disease alopecia.

Full text — People.co.uk – The Lock of Love!

In Hayley’s own words — Pick Me Up Magazine – Love made me hairy!

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