Category: Uncategorized

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Could SMP Be Used for Beards?

Thanks for the great website and all the effort you and the rest of the team put to answer questions on a regular basis.

My question is regarding SMP. Could the same method be used to artificially create a stubble for men with patchy facial hair? I understand that it is a permanent look, but could the technique (or something similar) be used on the face?

Thanks again for your time.

I guess it sounds like a reasonable thing to do when small bald spots exist in a beard and the patient does not want hair transplants. But you’re going to limit yourself to always having the same facial hair length forever, or you’ll have tattooed spots on your face. Having said that we have done a small size spot (1cm) for a former patient.


2012-06-20 15:29:03Could SMP Be Used for Beards?

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Could You Tell If I’m Going Bald Based on Hairline Photos?

I was just wondering if I sent you a few pics of my hairline do you think you could give me an answer to if I’m going bald or not?

We do not diagnose people on BaldingBlog, as that would be a poor practice of medicine. If you want to send in your pictures for me to post and comment on, feel free. If you want a virtual consultation, you can send good photos, I will look at them, and then established a dialogue with you over the phone.

In general, hairline pictures do not tell me much with respect to predicting the balding process. It’s kind of like sending a picture of your hand and asking me if you will have arthritis later on in life. I am not a fortune teller (or misfortune teller).

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Peyronie’s Disease and Propecia

Dr.,

I have been on propecia for a around 2 years now. Recently I have developed Peyronie’s disease, which is utterly demoralizing and far worse than any hair issue I could imagine. Immediately I began searching for possible links between DHT deficiency and structural abnormalities that can dispose a person to penile fibrosis. I didn’t have to search long or hard:

Effect of androgen deprivation on penile ultrastructure

Recent insights into androgen action on the anatomical and physiological substrate of penile erection (human study)
^^^ more proof that androgens are necessary for proper sexual function in men

The Effects of Transdermal Dihydrotestosterone in the Aging Male: A Prospective, Randomized, Double Blind Study (human study)
^^^ take away DHT, you lose sexual function/libido — restore it, you recover function

Dihydrotestosterone is the active androgen in the maintenance of nitric oxide-mediated penile erection in the rat
^^^ DHT is necessary for NOS production so you can get an erection

My penis is hardly functional and I am quite upset that nobody showed me these studies before I took the drug. I acknowledge that it is not definite propecia is the cause. But does this research not certainly point in that direction? I feel betrayed by the FDA. This is not on any warning label, and I must live with this for the rest of my life.

Thank you

p.s. I am 20 years old

I am sorry for the problem that you are going through. As a physician all I can do is to follow the evidence based medication before convincing myself to prescribe a medication and that is pretty much true about every medication. As of yet, there is no evidence to show any ‘stastical’ association between finasteride use and Peyronie’s disease. The data that you found during your search points out different aspects of the effects of male hormone on sex function. Based on all available literature, there is really no evidence that can associate Peyronie’s disease to the use of DHT blockers.

The sexual side effect of finasteride is well documented and the question for us is whether we should include this type of disclaimer for all patients considering the use of finasteride. I personally spend a long time explaining the potential side effects of the medication to my patients, as well as discussing the commonly known and published potential complications. I make sure that patients can make an informed decision before starting the medication. I also offer methods for my patients to minimize or treat side effects should they occur. I appreciate your symptoms and belief that there is a connection in your case. I will send this blog posting to Merck, maker of Propecia, for any comments that they may have and will post a follow-up if/when I receive a response.

For more on Peyronie’s disease, see University of Virgina – Urology.

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Phytocyane

I am 23, female, and have been losing quite a bit of hair the past few months likely due to stress. My middle part became noticeably wider and my scalp pretty visible. I began using Phytocyane treatment for the hair loss (it is for hair loss due to stress, hormones, pregnancy, fatigue), which consists of shampoo, and 12 serum ampules to be applied to the scalp 3 times a week.

Once I began a week ago I noticed over 2x as much hair loss than before treatment, so about 100 strands in and after the shower compared to about 40 before treatment I asked Phyto if this was normal and of course they replied that it’s normal to lose more hair in the beginning of the treatment as it is cleaning out the pores and any dead hair caught in the scalp will be released. I feel they are supposed to say this to encourage you to continue to use their products, but I want to know whether this is likely true. I’ve read a lot of reviews and most people had experienced an immediate decrease in hair loss. It’s scaring me to lose this much hair. What is your opinion?

Thank you so much.

Phytocyane’s main ingredient appears to be grapeseed extract, which is presently being pushed for a variety of medical problems. In my opinion, you are wasting your money and hopes on a product that cannot deliver. It is in a nice packaging and they have a nice website to look credible, but in the end it is just an expensive lotion (among the other products in their line).

It’s probably good for your hair, but certainly will not regrow it. I see nothing listed in the ingredients that is a proven hair loss treatment. There are no regulatory agencies to police and validate these claims and since it is a free economy, someone is getting rich!

Sometimes you just need to go with your gut, and if you’re losing even more hair since starting these products and the online reviews don’t seem credible anymore, your answer should be obvious. It sounds like you’re asking me to vouch for this product line, which is something I won’t do. For women, there’s unfortunately only one FDA approved hair loss treatment (minoxidil), and if you see hair loss following pregnancy and a bout of stress, your hair could even regrow on its own in time.


2010-09-23 09:46:13Phytocyane

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Planning for your hair transplant

Currently 23 and seriously looking to get an FUE of about 2000 grafts done in the winter or spring of next year. I’ve had consultations a few months back, some doctors saying I’m too young but others giving me a price point with a conservative outcome I would be happy with.

At this point in time, it is good to get an assessment of your donor supply and your hair mass value so that you know, for your lifetime, what is your donor supply from a practical matter. I do this routinely as a person thinks about a hair transplant, even if it is a few years away. It give the patient the ability to plan, budget and obtain realistic expectations.

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Daily Low Dose Aspirin Reduces Cancer Risks

“Regular, long-term use of low-dose aspirin is linked to a small decrease in overall cancer risk, with much of the reduction due to decreased gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, particularly colorectal cancer (CRC), new research involving more than 135,000 adults indicates.” This was reported in the March 3 issue in JAMA Oncology.

This is so simple, and has benefits to reduce the risks of stroke and heart attacks as well. Just take one baby aspirin each day

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Politician Declines to Campaign Due to Baldness

A reader sent us an article on Huffington Post. Take it with a bit of sense of humor but there really have not been many bald presidents considering that about 50% of the male population has some degree of balding.

“To more completely describe his actual beliefs, Congressman Gohmert notes the Kennedy-Nixon debates created a line of demarcation beyond which television became the critical factor in being elected President which also meant there would be no more bald Presidents in his lifetime.”