Ouch. We got hit with some massive downtime on the first day back from the long holiday weekend — a new server at a new host was just the fix we needed. Thanks to Dreamhost.com for helping getting us back to where we need to be. Comments will be reinstated soon, at least on a trial basis.
We appreciate your patience and look for a full day of posts to resume first thing tomorrow morning (at least, first thing here in California).
Hopefully things will run much, much smoother from here on out.
What is the scratch test you mentioned in a previous post?
I refer to the test as one used to discover a histamine positive skin type. The simple test is done by scratching the skin with a finger nail (for example) with moderate pressure, but not enough to cut into the skin. The skin will develop a red-streak within a minute surrounding the finger nail scratch. This, I believe, is local release of vasodilators at the skin edge. I have noted in my practice that people who react to the scratch with a red streak are the ones who tend to remain more pink after a hair transplant. When I transplant these patients, I will often use copper peptide dressing, which I have found gets the pink out sooner in these patients. I have had patients who were positive to the scratch test who were not treated after their first surgery and then when I did their surgery a second or third time, the addition of (1) copper peptide dressings after surgery and (2) the use of high dose steroids at surgery has helped minimize the pink discoloration over time. My view of copper peptide is not shared by many doctors, suggesting that what I observed have not been their observations and their experience.
It’s the holiday season, so we’re off today to be with family and friends. We’ll still post a few times a day for the rest of the week, and things will pick back up to the normal amount of posts on January 2nd.
Here’s hoping everyone a happy and safe Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or whatever it may be that you’re celebrating.
Happy Holidays!
i understand that you are under no obligation to answer my question, but i am a 27 year old male and just yesterday i had my first hair transplant of 1200 grafts. i went with [name removed], and made the huge mistake of basing my decision soley on their promotional material. now, everywhere i look says that theyre crooks and im going to wind up looking like a monster. could you provide any answers?
Today’s transplant by that particular medical group is much better than their internet reputation indicates. Even the groups which do large scale promotion are now performing much better work. Wait it out and have hope and faith. Next time, follow through with the type of investigation I outline in The Truth About Cheap Hair Transplants. You generally get what you will see when you meet the doctor’s patients and you should see enough of their patients (face to face) to get the type of quality work you need.
In one of your comments you noted that there are certain dermatologists that specialize in the treatment of alopecia areata. Could you please provide the names of any that you are aware of (particularly those on the east coast as I live in the DC Metro area). Thanks.
You need to go to your family doctor and ask that question. Each doctor in each city has worked out the referral patterns for their patient’s best interests. I have a good doctor referral that has built a reputation — Dr. Richard Strick at UCLA in Los Angeles. You might check with the National Alopecia Areata Foundation for other sources.
Hi!
I was just wondering…my dad dyed his beard the other day…and it is now swelling ans pussing yellow out of it…is there anything we can do? What is it that he has?
He may be experiencing an allergic reaction to the dye. An allergic reaction may happen with contact to almost any substance. The first step of treatment is to remove the irritant agent and if possible wash the area with appropriate solution. I guess that solution may be a bit late for your dad now. Allergic reactions are usually present as self-limiting skin irritation with swelling and redness. If the allergic reaction is not improved spontaneously over a reasonable time period, or if it continues to spread rapidly, your dad should be seen and treated by a doctor. Pus coming off of the scalp is very worrisome, so actually, now is probably the best time to see a doctor in case it might get worse.
i have had fungus on my head for a year and i have apply medication. they go away but always comes back. i lose my hair but then it starts growing again. i been to a lot of doctors and they give me a creme but there was this clinic that gave me antibiotic and a creme and it worked but now i dont know what to do. it is very embarrassing walking with that in your head but i need to let you know that i work on removing mold. do you think thats effecting me? please help me. thank you
Fungal infection of the scalp (Tinea capitis) could be difficult to eradicate and often requires systemic antifungal medications for several weeks. The fungus is spread by direct contact with infected patients or normal carries (individuals who carry the fungus, but are not infected) or through sharing personal objects such as hair styling devices, towels, or hats. Tinea capitis could be transmitted from dogs or cats (Microsporum canis) and rarely through contaminated soil (Microsporum gypseum). Any good and caring dermatologist should be able to manage your problem and they have more experience than I do with fungal infections of the scalp. Surgery is not indicated here.
Would propecia affect my performance in the gym, and my muscle gains. I know propecia kills the DHT which is a byproduct of testosterone, but does DHT play a role in bodybuilding?
Propecia blocks conversion of testosterone to its byproduct DHT, the hormone responsible for hair loss in male pattern baldness. DHT also increases the size of the prostate gland and increases the risk of prostate cancer. Although testosterone is mostly responsible for muscle growth, animal studies have shown that injection of DHT can also stimulate muscle growth in animals after castration (see Selective androgen receptor modulator treatment improves muscle strength and body composition and prevents bone loss in orchidectomized rats).The portion of DHT in muscle expansion and whether or not blocking production of DHT alone can affect muscle building are not clear yet.
Philips has patented a new “razor light” to remove hair. The patent states: “The present invention relates to a device for reducing growth of hairs on human skin, which device comprises a source of electromagnetic radiation that emits in a wavelength range between 550 and 1200 nm.” Read more about it here –
Dr. Rassman,
Why are many bald people bitter and mean spirited?
I haven’t been aware of that concept being part of the myths that are associated with bald men, but there are stereotypes that are unfortunately part of our culture. Some are realistic based on history, e.g. the man sick with tuberculosis would frequently become bald because of the wasting nature of the disease, so women looked for hairy men to avoid getting men who would not live long enough to support them and their children. Of course, women with TB also became bald, but as they were not looking to marry other women, the observation never took hold as part of the culture of the times.
Hollywood may be partly responsible for some typecasting. The romantic lover in films almost always has a full head of hair. The audience associates a full head of hair with virility and a high sexual drive. In old Hollywood films, the castrated priests (eunuchs) were often portrayed as totally bald men (this is not genetic unless they have a form of genetic alopecia that is relatively rare and takes the eyebrows, underarm and the pubic hair as well), linking the image of sexual impotency to their appearance, but that was a razor cut by the Hollywood make-up artist, not the impact of genetics.
Prejudice: In an issue of Men’s Health Magazine a few years ago, a study of the linkage between successful politicians and hairiness was made. Less than 10% of bald men got elected and made it to their political office. We see the same prejudice in job promotions, which seemingly ties trustworthiness to appearance. Could this have been the result of some defamatory movie, play, or novel that worked its way into our culture?
Bald men, unfortunately, take more than their share of hits. In the young man who is sensitive to balding changes, all of the issues involving health, sexuality, and styling come forward and feel ‘second class’. They feel excluded from the norm. When there is not enough maturity or a poor self-image, balding becomes a curse in the very young men. Imagine a lion without its mane (it would look like a lioness). For those targeted as victims of this typecasting, please realize that bigotry is bigotry and unfortunately it flies in the face of logic and common sense.
