Category: Uncategorized

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What Can I Do at 16 Years Old If I’ve Been Receding for 2-3 Years Already?

I’m 16 years old and I’ve been receding for about 2-3 years now. But last year I started thinning and it got worse over time. I’ve been currently using Kevis 8 for about 2 months and was wondering if this doesn’t work for me then what are my options at such a young age? And I also have carry the genetic hair loss gene as well.

Genetic hair loss for men can start with puberty. If you started losing hair at 13 or 14 years old, that is rather young, but it isn’t impossible (as you can attest). If what you’re seeing is male pattern baldness, then unfortunately, it is the genetic hand you were dealt. But are you sure it is actual genetic loss and not some other factors?

There are medications such as Rogaine and Propecia that treat hair loss, but you would need to be seen by a doctor with the permission of your parent/guardian for a diagnosis and a possible treatment plan. At 16 years old, you are likely not a candidate for Propecia yet, as it is theoretically possible that it could stunt growth for those young men still going through puberty.

In general, herbal products, magic lotions, and special shampoos do not work. It is a buyer beware market.

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Head Tingles, Hair Loss, Infections, and Bleach

hi there – i’m only 19 yrs olds and in the last year i have started balding all over the top of the head, espeically at the back in quite a serious way. i have thought that it was because i used to bleach my hair alot as a child but recently my scalp has started to itch alot. i am using pills, expensive “thickening” shampoo and other products on a daily basis to try and stop this balding but none of it is working. i was wondering if you think if its from the bleaching or is it possible that i have a scalpal infection causing the balding and itching. if so what can i do.

thank you for you time

First, you may want to stop much of what you are doing, as you may be causing your own problems. Then, if it continues, seek out a good dermatologist. If you are experiencing genetic hair loss, none of what you are doing will address the cause of the balding or thinning. People who treat themselves are gambling without the education or skills needed to address the problem.


2006-02-03 15:05:56Head Tingles, Hair Loss, Infections, and Bleach

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What Do You Recommend for the Frontal Hairline?

What do you recomend for the front Line. I am on Propecia and Roggain right now. Will those medications help me?

If you are genetically balding, then Propecia (finasteride 1mg) should work to slow down or stop the hair loss, even in the frontal hairline. It depends upon where you are with your balding pattern. You should get your hair mapped out for miniaturization, which will show where you hair loss may be going. Once you know where your hair loss is going, then you can make decisions about Rogaine or Propecia (or both). They both have value, but a doctor needs to tell you the value and what to expect.


2007-02-22 15:03:35What Do You Recommend for the Frontal Hairline?

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Heavy Drinking Blocks Finasteride Effectiveness

New study showing heavy alcohol usage blocked effects of finasteride (half way down page): Prostate cancer and alcohol

The link has quick paragraphs about a variety of topics, but here’s the relevant info from the page (the bold emphasis added was mine) —

    “This study analyzed data on 10,920 men. In a seven-year span, prostate cancer was detected in 2,129 of them, including 564 men with high-grade tumors, which grow and spread quickly. Those who consumed, on average, four or more drinks a day (totaling roughly two ounces or more of pure alcohol) five days a week in the year before diagnosis were more than twice as likely to have developed high-grade prostate cancer as were those who did not drink. No link was found between prostate cancer and more-moderate drinking. Also, among men who had been randomly assigned to take finasteride (Proscar, Propecia) as part of other research to test the drug’s ability to prevent prostate cancer, heavy drinking blocked the effectiveness of the drug.“

This is interesting, but it doesn’t necessarily prove that heavy drinking blocks finasteride effectiveness. Heavy drinking (4+ drinks a day) in itself can cause higher grade cancer. It should go without saying, but heavy drinking is not good in any case. If there is indeed an association with finasteride not working when you drink heavily, I would say it is a good idea to limit your alcohol intake!


2009-09-15 15:31:23Heavy Drinking Blocks Finasteride Effectiveness

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High Anxiety and Hair Loss

If I have been using Propecia religiously but also been experiencing anxiety to the point of palpitations and twitching, would Propecia blunt any possible stress-related hair loss? If stress is what has lately been causing thick hairs to fall out when I gently comb my hair with a wide-tooth comb, are those hairs gone forever?

anxiety

Propecia is only for the treatment of androgenic alopecia in almost exclusive men. It has no effect on other types of hair loss and no effect on most women. Hair loss from stress is not androgenic alopecia.

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What Happens to Surrounding Skin After the Strip is Removed?

Dr. Rassman,

I know that this question is probably answered in many FAQs, but I’ve been watching your blog for two years straight and do not recall seeing it:

What happens to the surrounding skin when you cut out the donor area? I’m particularly concerned with knowing exactly which areas of skin are going to get “stretched” to make up for the missing skin. For example, does my face get tighter? Does my neck feel tighter? Does the skin regenerate to compensate? Can this lead to minor sagging/stretch marks in areas behind the head? More importantly, can it shift parts of your face slightly out of line?

This is a great question, one that I am asked when I do consultations. Your face doesn’t get tight, your neck isn’t stiff. You don’t even get tighter buns. The stretch that occurs is so uniform that most of the time there’s nothing that can be detected. Some people who have good laxity will notice a slight decrease in the looseness of their scalp.

I only wished that my own strip excision would’ve produced even a small face lift, but the answer is that there is really no shift of anything. I dream of doing a hair transplant and giving a person a facelift, which would allow me to increase my fees and offer more value, but alas this does not happen.


2009-10-13 12:04:28What Happens to Surrounding Skin After the Strip is Removed?

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Histamine Positive Skin and Hair Transplantation

Hi,
I would first like to thank you for this very informative site. My question has to do with post operational side effects. Specifically, I had FUE/FUT 1.5 months ago. Unfortunately I have something my doctor called histamine positive skin. As a result there is redness in the recipient area. My first question is related to that.

How long would it take for such redness to fade away and what can I do to reduce that amount of time? Additionally, in the donor area, there is a significant amount of redness and the hair growth appears limited. Is this to be expected? And what is the time frame for full recovery of the donor area? My doctor is quick to say it will all be fine in a few months but I wanted a second opinion as well as anything I should keep an eye on to better facilitate the recovery of that area.

This was my first surgery and I only had 1000 grafts transplanted.

If your doctor was helpful enough to explain a histamine reaction to you, how is it possible that you were not told how long it would last? I often do a scratch test to the scalp or forehead to preselect those patients who are histamine positive. In general, every patient is different and the redness can last several weeks to months. 1 to 2 months would seem on the long side.

Unfortunately this is not a place for second opinions as I do not know what you are really experiencing. All hair transplants are not the same, especially FUE, as there are many variables such as size of punch, techniques of extraction, the drugs you take, the allergies you have, etc, etc.

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What is a Flowbee?

what is a flowbee? Does it help keep the hair healthy?

According to Wikipedia:

The Flowbee is a vacuum-powered device made for cutting hair invented by San Diego carpenter Rick Hunt in the late 1980s. The product was touted as being capable of performing “hundreds of precision layered haircuts” and was frequently displayed on late-night television infomercials.

It does nothing for hair health — it is simply a way of cutting your hair evenly at home. Their official site is at Flowbee.com.


2007-04-02 13:26:15What is a Flowbee?