Category: Uncategorized

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Steroid Shots for Female Hair Loss?

Dr. Rassman,
I am just about bald. I am on blood pressure and thyroid medication for oven several years. Every five weeks over a three year period I have received steroid shoots to my scalp, still my hair is melting away. All the doctors I have visited suggest steroid shoots. HELP !!!!

There are many causes for balding. There are many other diagnosis that must be considered tnat could be indicative of a more serious problem. For example, for diffuse hair loss must rule out the diagnosis of Diffuse Alopecia Areata, not uncommon in women. If your hair is really being lost all over, you might need a biopsy performed looking for a process responsible for the hair loss. Do not play doctor yourself.

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Finasteride not working

I’ve been on fin for about 10 months now, something I’ve noticed is that I’ve literally just been shedding CONSTANTLY the whole time on the drug, like can pull out like 50 or so hairs per day from my top, sides, back if i really bother to, I’ve not really noticed a difference in my hair, maybe the crown has slightly thickened but other than that nothing.

You may be progressing with your balding process and not controlled by finasteride. See a good doctor who knows about this problem.


2020-11-04 08:30:24Finasteride not working

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Stopped Propecia Because of Gynecomastia, Now I’m Seeing Shedding

Hi Doc,

I have been on propecia for over 4 months and had to stop due to side effects (started developing gyno). Couple of months passed and I started seeing massive shed which is probably the catch up hair loss. Since I cannot go back to propecia/fin, is there any topical treatment (other than rogaine) that can help slow down this process? I am not looking for any regrowth at this point, but just want to make sure the catch up hair loss can be controlled at all? Thanks for your valuable suggestions.

I just had a patient who reported gynecomastia along with some sexual side effects from Propecia, and after he reduced his dose to 1/4 of a pill (0.25mg) he was able to continue taking the drug without side effects. It is only a report by one patient though. Most of the patients who have had gynecomastia usually do not tolerate the drug even at lower doses and when there is gynecomastia, there is often other libido and erectile dysfunction side effects as well. A quarter of a pill is better than none, so I would recommend trying a lower dose of Propecia before completely quitting on this medication. Minoxidil (Rogaine) is the only other FDA approved hair loss medication, so your choices are limited.


2009-06-19 10:13:44Stopped Propecia Because of Gynecomastia, Now I’m Seeing Shedding

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Finasteride side effects went away

I started fin 13 months ago 1mg /daily. At first I had sides, loss of sex drive, runny ejac, and shitty boners. I’m a vain man, I work in sales and I figured this was all worth keeping my head of hair. Fast forward 3 months and they went away. I was hesitant to celebrate but it’s been 9 months and they haven’t come back. Fin not only stopped my balding dead in its tracks, also got some regrowth. I’m 31 so hair loss is pretty normal at this age but I still get the “you lucky bastard” comments from the less hairy lol. This might sound dramatic but good looks are an insane advantage in our society and finasteride saved my life lol.

This is a positive story, something about side effects one doesn’t hear often

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Stopping Rogaine

doctor,
i have been using rogaine for about 4 years. i went to the 5% a couple of years ago, not too long after that, i only have been applying it a night, because it does tend to irritate my scalp. i thought it was helping me keep the hair i have, no regrown hair at all, but now at age 40, in the last 6 months i have seen an increase in hair loss. i have a good amount of hair on the top, but it is thinning worse and my bald spot has gotten bigger. should i stop rogaine even though i only use it at night, and if i do stop it will it accelerate my hair loss because i have been using it for the last few years? i realize i should have kept up with my dermatologist. any info is appreciated.

The use of Rogaine once a day has poor value. Twice a day is the recommended dosage. If you are a male and you have not started Propecia, then I would suggest that you do so,as it is the best way to control the crown loss and possibly reverse it. That does require a doctor’s prescription and should be accompanied by an examination of your head for miniaturization. If you have any Rogaine dependence (unlikely with a once a day treatment) then withdrawing it might risk more hair loss. So if you are a male, then continue what you are doing and make only one change, taking Propecia for 8 months. If you are a female, then there is no other choice but to go on Rogaine twice a day.


2005-12-13 11:16:22Stopping Rogaine

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How do I find out if I am a good candidate for a hair transplant (with photo)?

To determine if you are a good candidate for hair restoration, you need to know the following and put it all together (1) donor density, (2) degree of balding (you are advanced), (3) the thickness of your hair shafts (fine, medium or coarse, (4) the color of your hair compared to your skin (you have a high contrast between your brown hair and light skin which is not great) and (5) the degree of waviness of your hair (the more wavy, the better. If your donor density is low, the you might not have enough hair to cover the entire balding area and if you should continue to bald further, you may run out of donor hair before finishing. All of the hair in the center of your head is probably miniaturized and will sooner or later fall out. At 35, your hair loss should be slower. With all of this put together, your doctor can build a Master Plan for your hair restoration to account for not only the central hair that will almost certainly be lost, but the sides which may work their way down further than they are now.

class 6


2017-07-14 06:23:15How do I find out if I am a good candidate for a hair transplant (with photo)?

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Stressed 16 Year Old With Thinning Hair

I’m 16 years old, I first noticed my hair loss, probably early this year. I was worried, but not to worried as it wasnt that bad, and I figured it was natural for your hairline to shift. But I went the get my haircut and the guy cutting my hair told me I had “better brace myself for early baldness” that striked me as odd, because, while I knew something was happening with my hair, I didint realize that it was that noticable. I told my parents that I was concerned, but they pretty much brushed it off as me being paranoid. So I thought that maybe that was it for a while… then I noticed how much hair was on my hands everytime I shampoo in the shower, and no matter how long I do it there is always hair on my hands, and then on the towel I use to dry my hair. SO I begain to research on the internet, but I didint find anything that great, except for this site, and maybe a few others, the rest where just sites trying to sell miricle potions. I read up as much as I can on this. mainly the hair on the top and front of my head seems to be the hair that is falling out, and it almost looks like back of my head too, wear I part my hair, but I am un sure. I’ve become so self concious, and scared. I’ve spent many a night, laying awake in bed, almost in tears, trying as hard as I can to fiure out a solution. At first I was just gonna live with it and when I had to, just cut what hair I had left really short, or just shave my head all together, but when I really looked at it, looked at myself, that just wouldnt look good. There are men who can pull off being bald, and look great, but I just cant. I hate going to school and just looking around and seeing all these full heads off hair, and I’m sitting there trying as best I can to cover up my thinning hair. I look at it, and I dont care if I (in a perfect world) lost my hair in my 40’s or 30’s. My father is bald, his father is not, but his grandfather was, and my other grandfather on my mothers side is. I’m just very stressed out, and didnt know where to turn… some days I feel like “eh, just gotta live with it” while others I cant stand to look at myself, and mope around pretty much in tears. right now, I’d love to just get a hair transplant, I know I cant, but I wish I could, because from the things I’ve seen at other transplant websites, the hair is pretty much a natural head of hair, and it looks great. I appologize for this long, drawn out, and horribly put together thing, but while I write this, I’m extremeley stressed out about my hair. Well thanks for this blog, and helping us guys out.

First you need to know that balding can start in the teen years. As I have said many times on this site, you need to get a diagnosis and have your hair mapped out for miniaturization and then you will know if you have just developed a fine hair (natural) or are thinning in the balding sense (many miniaturized hairs will be seen). If you have miniaturization, then you probably will follow the bald side of the family. There is good news here, because a daily pill of Propecia will likely slow it down or prevent it. At that point you could be doing something about it, but there is no point to worry about something that may not be. Your parents are like many of the doctors out there who do not really understand balding and its management. Show this blog to them, select particular sections on it and then get to see a good doctor who will map out your scalp as I have suggested here.

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Fish Oil and Hair Loss in Asian Populations?

Great site. I have always thought that large amounts of fish oil can cause diffuse hair loss. The reason I think this is because of observing Asian woman and men. I have notice a LARGE amount of this population have diffuse hair loss, on the sides and back. I’m actually surprised of how many. I live in a major city and live in the ChinaTown section. I understand they have different hair characteristics ect…like skin color and dark hair but am convinced that this group of the population suffer from more diffuse than any other. I am convinced large amounts of Omega 3 can cause diffuse hair loss. It is interesting that GSK’s new prescription fish oil also list hair loss(Alopecia) as a possible side effect.

Lovaza Product Info PDF

Just thought I would get your view.

I do not think large amounts of fish oil cause diffuse hair loss. Are you implying Asians consume large amount of fish oil because they eat more fish and fish products than non-Asians? If we were to entertain your argument, I would think the Eskimos have a very high Omega 3 fish oil diet. I do know that they have less balding than the general population of Caucasians and American Indians. I can not address any suggestions by some manufacturers of fish oil supplements that hair loss is a known side effect, because I have no personal or professional experience one way or the other. The information PDF you sent (linked above) doesn’t have an actual percentage of those that experienced it. It could’ve been 2 people out of hundreds, but I have no way to know.

Asians (non-balding) generally have less hair than their Caucasian counterpart and also have less balding than their Caucasian counterparts according to studies I have researched in the past. Asians also have straight black hair which contrasts with their light colored skin and may look thinner. These factors can sometimes make non-balding Asians look as if they have thinning hair.

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Subcapsular Orchiectomy (Removing the Testicles) to Prevent Hair Loss

Hello Doctor,
I am soon to be 25 yrs old. My hair line is beginning to recede at my temples. I am extremely concerned with this. For many years I have considered having a subcapsular orchidectomy procedure to prevent any further hair loss. I have researched the side effects of this procedure and am willing to accept them. Can you recommend a doctor who will perform this outpatient operation? Thank you for your time.

Any urologist should be able to help you, but I doubt they would do so. There is likely more to your story than you are telling me here. Taking out your testicles is an extremely radical way to prevent further hair loss… though it will work.


2008-10-24 13:09:18Subcapsular Orchiectomy (Removing the Testicles) to Prevent Hair Loss

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Do I have folliculitis?

My doctor said I have folliculitis and he started me on antibiotics, is that the right thing to do

Yes, you have classic folliculitis and it must be treated, first with a drainage of the pus pockets, then a culture must be taken to be assured that the antibiotic selected is the right antibiotic, then wet/warm soaks three times a day until the infection seems to be under control.


2017-09-12 07:34:09Do I have folliculitis?