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Body is Very Hairy, Head is Very Bald

Most of my hair on the top is gone except for some baby fuzz, and very thin on the sides and back. Will I see benefit from the use of minoxidil or propecia?

PS: my body is very hairy (face, chest, back, etc) will taking any of these medications increase body hair?

Since I hardly have any donor hair on my head, is body hair transplant a possibility? Where can I get good information on this subject?

Thanks for your assistance.

Best regards

MonkeyThe medications of topical minoxidil or systemic Propecia (finasteride 1mg) should not cause more hair to appear on your already hairy body. If you have a full Norwood Class 6 or 7 balding pattern, then chances are that these medications may not help. The marginal edges are where such patterns may see benefit, but you need to get a good doctor to help. Body hair transplants are not the solution (see Body Hair Transplantation for more). To see a Class 7 patient who had enough donor hair to cover his balding head, see Is Hair Transplantation too Risky for Older Men? Each person has different hair characteristics and densities, so you need to be evaluated to find out where you stand.

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Mummy 7200 BD found in Chili

This Mummy found in Chili dates back to 7200 BC. It is clear that he had a good head of hair that lasted a long time.


2021-03-18 17:44:21Mummy 7200 BD found in Chili

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Braids, Dreadlocks, and Hair Loss

I am 29 and female. My hair is thinning since I started creating dreds on my hair. What should I do?

Your braids may cause traction alopecia. To find out about this, you need to get a diagnosis with a good dermatologist or hair doctor (you can use the physician search at ISHRS.org to find one in your area). Without more information, there is little that I can do.


2007-04-27 08:35:00Braids, Dreadlocks, and Hair Loss

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My boyfriend doesn’t realize he’s balding

My boyfriend is 22 and is quite noticeably balding on the top of his head. I’ve never said anything about it because I figured he was probably already aware and bringing it up would just come off as rude and hurtful. I really don’t care — sure, I like his hair, but that’s a very minuscule part of what makes him attractive to me.

Recently, though, he mentioned to me that he took creatine briefly while trying to bulk up for a role in a play where he had a shirtless scene. He said he stopped taking it pretty quickly after his doctor advised him to avoid that stuff. He said “I heard it can make you lose your hair and my hairline is already going a bit.”

Take a read of these post: https://baldingblog.com/combover-madness/ and here: https://baldingblog.com/goodbye-combover-hello-hair-with-photos/. Many men practice denial all the way from early thinning to complete balding as suggested here. Some eventually with the help of a wife or child, find out. I, for example, didn’t know my crown was bald until my oldest son (about 18 at the time) commented on my bald spot in the back of my head. When I became a hair transplant surgeon, my wife told me that it would be bad for business if I had a bald spot, so I fixed it. Some men just don’t pay attention while other deny it.


2020-05-04 12:53:51My boyfriend doesn’t realize he’s balding

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Bridging the Generation Gap

I’m 22 and my dad is very very bald. When i look in the mirror, I see my dad and his dad. I love my dad and grandfather, but i dont want to look like them. Much of my front hair line is gone and I am starting to look far older than i am. When I spoke to my dad about a hair transplant, he told me that I should just accept my fate and go on with life. He also said I was being immature and going bald was just a natural thing. I’ve lost my confidence with women and have become shy and less social in general. What can I do to change my dad’s opinion?

There is a generation gap here. I can not change what your father thinks, nor the years of whatever the relationship is between you and him. First, I would ask you to look at how the two of you relate on other issues. IF this communication situation is unique to the balding problem, I would be surprised. Good communication is important. I have seen these problems often. Sometimes it reflects cultural issues. Many young men who are first generation Americans, see a different world than their parents who still may have a foot in another culture.

Many times I ask the young man to bring his father or both parents into the office to meet with me. I will sometimes work it out that I see them just before an open house, where the parents can get some sense of what other people can do and how they can change their balding appearance. These open house events serve to tell those that attend, that the people who get hair transplants are normal people, working people, lawyers, doctors and professionals of all sorts. Meeting other transplant patients that come from such a world does a great deal to bridge the communication gap between generations. The key here is not to confront your dad, but to ask for his help in evaluating the modern day alternatives to balding. Controlling what he sees, meeting with a good doctor (not a salesman) and meeting successful transplant patients might change his mind, or make him slightly more open minded. As you are still young, take your time in the process for a transplant at this time may not be the right thing for you to do. Consider taking the drug Propecia and see if it stops or reverses the hair loss. That approach, may be the best approach for you, as it will show to your dad that you have maturity on your part and a cautious skeptical approach to the problem and the solution. He can be a good friend and assist your decision making in more ways that you might think. Be optimistic, and approach the entire process cautiously.

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My Dermatologist Just Told Me to Use Minoxidil and Didn’t Run Any Tests for My Female Hair Loss

Hello – I hope I’m not being redundant with this question but I didn’t see a similar question on your site or on the many others I’ve searched (have also read lots of books). I’m 54, female and am not yet in menopause. About 4 years ago, I noticed that a relatively thick layer of my bangs would no longer grow past my eyebrows. In general, this layer of shorter hair extends to both temples and stops at the front of the ears (although it is obviously most noticeable right in front and makes styling a hassle). I have become much more careful with heat styling and have been taking supplements (Black Currant Oil, Bio Available Silica , EFA’s, Multi-Vitamins, Special Hair Formula Vitamins, Calcium, and have recently adjusted my diet to include salmon, nuts, good fats, etc — and I’ve seen some overall thickening and lengthening.

I recently went to a local dermatologist who is a specialist in hair and he diagnosed me with androgenic alopecia and prescribed rogaine for the small area at the hairline. If I recall correctly, he said I had a brief anagen phase. I show no signs of shedding or thinning and I have a very thick head of fine hairs (I know I’d be an excellent candidate for transplants should I need them!). I asked him about whether I could take birth control pills (low androgen ones) or spirodactone instead of or in addition to the Rogaine (which seems like a mess and hassle — for the rest of my life). He said no no no and wouldn’t run any tests for ferritin, hormonal issues, etc. I would think that the fact that I’m 54 and still menstruating (and have a very large uterine fibroid that’s still being fed by estrogen; I’m being watched by my ob/gyn) would suggest some hormonal atypicality for my age, but what do I know?. Although he was very nice and kind, I’m not 100% confident in his diagnosis because the hair has improved significantly since this problem began. Is it possible that I have a different problem? Could I first try to treat this issue with anti-androgen medications before I sign on for life with Rogaine?

Thank you for time and best wishes.

Your dermatologist is probably correct with his assessment. Many people will have a shorter anagen phase as they age. This means that as hair grows at about 1/2 inch per month, if your anagen phase is shorter (let’s say to the tip of your nose in the front), then you can calculate backwards the length of the anagen cycle by dividing that distance by 1/2 inch.

You should have the battery of tests run, which will rule out other causes of changes in the anagen cycle other than genetic causes. These blood tests include:

  • Sex Hormone tests
  • SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin) used to test status of male hormones
  • Estradiol is a sex hormone
  • FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) *not hair follicle but follicle in the ovary*
  • LH (Luteinizing Hormone) is a sex hormone
  • Free Testosterone
  • Total Testosterone
  • ANA (Anti Nuclear Antibody) used to test for Lupus or other autoimmune diseases
  • TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) used to test for hyper or hypo-thyroid disease
  • Test Iron status
  • TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity)
  • Ferritin
  • Iron

As you are using a variety of other substances, I can not tell you what has worked, but clearly it sounds like something is working to increase that cycle time. Go back to your dermatologist and be more forceful with getting him/her involved in the diagnosis. For more information, please see Female Genetic Hair Loss Is Different From Male Genetic Hair Loss.


2008-07-24 16:23:16My Dermatologist Just Told Me to Use Minoxidil and Didn’t Run Any Tests for My Female Hair Loss

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By 26 years old, how likely will I develop a Class 6 or 7 pattern of balding?

I don’t have the study done by Norwood and Shiell, but my memory is good that 7% of balding men (which is half of all men) will be a Class 7 by the age of 26. I suspect that the number for a Class 6 will be in the 15-25% range, but I don’t remember for sure. I did find this on the internet chart to point you to the age distribution for the Norwood Class 2-4 by age distribution to 40 years of age


2020-04-02 18:59:16By 26 years old, how likely will I develop a Class 6 or 7 pattern of balding?

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My Doctor Just Told Me to Use Rogaine If I Was Concerned

I went to my Dermatologist because i was concerned about my recent hair loss. He told me i didnt look too bad and to use rogaine if I was concerned. I have been using it for a month and I know thats too soon to tell but from everything i have read it does not work on the hairline above the temples and that is where the hairloss is visible. i may have so slight thinning at the crown but it is not visible.

i am a 27 year old male and began to notice visible hair loss above the temples about 5-6 months ago. Should I consider using propecia? Do you need pictures?

Propecia (finasteride) might be a possibility, but without seeing you I can’t make that recommendation. It’s a prescription medication and one of the two hair loss medications approved by the FDA. You’re not guaranteed to regrow your hairline with Propecia, but hopefully it could slow the loss. The earlier you start the medication into your hair loss process, the better.

Rogaine (minoxidil) is the other FDA approved hair loss medication, but regrowth at the hairline/temples isn’t a sure thing with that one either. It is available over-the-counter without a prescription, so perhaps your doctor didn’t want to prescribe you any medication (so he just told you to use Rogaine)… or maybe he just doesn’t know much about treating hair loss. In any case, if you feel that your doctor was dismissive and didn’t give you full consideration, you might consider seeing another doctor.

Hair transplant doctors are a good source for hair loss info since they specialize in the field, as opposed to general dermatologists. Just don’t get pressured into having a surgery. You can find a transplant doctor in your area using the physician search at ISHRS.org. Or if you’d like to send us photos and setup a phone consultation, our email address is on the contact page.


2010-07-30 10:07:55My Doctor Just Told Me to Use Rogaine If I Was Concerned

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Can a person have both Norwood balding + DUPA ?

Yes, both can simultaneously. That means that if you have DUPA, you should never have a hair transplant because the grafts will eventually fail sooner than later.


2020-07-21 14:24:25Can a person have both Norwood balding + DUPA ?

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My Doctor Suggested I Take Generic Propecia

Hi Dr, many thanks for the excellent blog. I just had a question regarding generic propecia. My doctor in the UK approved me as a good candidate for propecia and advised me I could now buy generic 1mg propecia online to save money. I’m currently on merck’s product and haven’t experienced any serious side effects.

The generic manufacturers on the site he suggested are Sunrise and Cipla. I can’t find much info on these companies and was wondering if you were familiar with them and if they are reputable, or furthermore if you think buying generic 1mg is a good idea in the first place, even if I have been examined by a Dr?

Any advise would be much appreciated. best

The generic should be the same as the name brand. The 1mg generic finasteride isn’t legally available due to patent restrictions in the US, but the 5mg generic is off patent and available. Things could be different in the UK. I suppose that if you get the generic from a reputable source it would be fine, but many online pharmacies are suspect since they don’t require a prescription in the first place. I’m not a fan of that.

As for the companies you asked about, I think Sunrise is US based, but I’m not too familiar with them. All I could really find was their website and an FDA warning letter from last year about the use of excessive active ingredients in some medications they made. I am more familiar with Cipla since I’ve been asked about them a few times before. Cipla is a very large pharmaceutical maker out of India and their biggest claim to fame is that they’re the world’s largest producer of HIV/AIDS fighting medications.

For more info on Cipla:

For more info on Sunrise:


2011-08-04 09:46:17My Doctor Suggested I Take Generic Propecia