All I can say is “Don’t hold your breadth!”
L-Carnitine and Hair Growth
hello dr rassman,
first thank you for your help. i found this on some hair loss forum.L-carnitine-L-tartrate promotes human hair growth in vitro
Source: Experimental Dermatology, Nov 2007
Thank you for sending this. This is an interesting read. It is important to recognize that things that work outside the body do not necessarily work inside the body. Pinpointing these stimulants has value in ongoing research.
Adverse Event Reporting in Clinical Trials of Finasteride
A new meta-study finds the following:
“Of 34 clinical trials, none had adequate safety reporting, 19 were partially adequate, 12 were inadequate, and 3 reported no adverse events. Funnel plots were asymmetric with a bias toward lower odds ratio for sexual adverse effects, suggesting systematic under detection…”
From Wiki definition: A meta-analysis comprises statistical methods for contrasting and combining results from different studies in the hope of identifying patterns among study results, sources of disagreement among those results, or other interesting relationships that may come to light in the context of multiple studies.[1] Meta-analysis can be thought of as “conducting research about previous research.”
The report is interesting but a Meta Analysis is only as good as the clinical trials it is analyzing. All studies have its advantages and pitfalls. If adverse or sexual side effects were being examined, I question why other (much larger and comprehensive clinical trials) of finasteride 5mg was excluded.
Laser Resurfacing for Scalp Scars
Dear DOC, what do you think of LASER FRAXEL SR1500 resurfacing of scalp scarring?
Any resurfacing of the scalp will damage the pigment cells and cause the color of the skin to lighten. It may also change the character of the skin surface and this may be more true when used for the treatment of a scar, which will require a deeper burn to get below the scar. I am not excited about resurfacing the scalp skin. I am not an expert on this though, so do ask your doctor for what his/her goals are — and specifically if the potential problems I discussed here are reasonable concerns.
After 8 Years on Propecia, I Think Stress is Causing Noticeable Thinning
Dr. Rassman,
Thank you for providing this informative blog.I have a question, I have been taking Propecia for 8 years now. But in just the last 3 months I lost hair noticeably in the entire area from the mid section to the front hairline. I think this is the result of stress, lack of proper sleep and not using Minoxidil since the beginning of the year. Can I “hope” that if I start Minoxidil 5% (I had used 2% for over 12 years), reduce stress and get more sleep, I may see some of that hair back? My experience so far is that once I lose hair, it’s gone, I just try to keep what is there.
I’m 48, male, and have had 5 transplant procedures over the last 14 years.
Thank you!
There’s no clear cause for the rapid hair loss you’ve seen in the last 3 months. Since you have had multiple hair transplant surgeries, perhaps you should follow up with your transplant doctor and get a good examination.
The hair loss could be stress related, but it can be anything. You can try getting your stress under control to see if that helps slow the loss down, but I cannot provide more input from such limited description.
2010-10-05 10:50:192010-09-30 12:09:35After 8 Years on Propecia, I Think Stress is Causing Noticeable Thinning
Length of Time on Finasteride Determines the Risk of Post Finasteride Syndrome
This is an important article because it explains why I probably have never seen a case of post-finasteride syndrome in the thousands of patients who were prescribed the drug by me over the past 2 decades. When someone complains of ED, I either reduce the dose until the symptoms go away, or discontinue the drug. According to this article, it takes years on the drug to get PFS. Since I am responsive to recommending withdrawal of the drug, the incidence in my practice is non-existent. The article itself has limitations in its methodology and as a definitive statement about the existence of post-finasteride syndrome or a disclosure of the risks, so it must be taken with a grain of salt.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/28289563/
2019-01-18 05:50:332019-02-14 10:32:12Length of Time on Finasteride Determines the Risk of Post Finasteride Syndrome
After Years on Propecia, Does Hair Loss Start Rapidly?
I keep reading everywhere how many men were able to maintain their hair on Propecia for years and even a decade but they always state that once the drug can’t maintain their hair anymore they start to lose it rapidly! Why is it so? Why can’t it just gradually thin? This really is bad because once it appears the drug wears off before you know it you’re like half bald!
Where are you reading these things? I do not recall seeing any of my patients losing hair “rapidly” after taking Propecia for years… nor do I recall a case where the medication simply “wears off”.
Genetics play a large part in how men lose their hair. Propecia slows it down for all ages of adult men. It sometimes grows hair back and even seems to halt it for some time, but in the long run it is a slow process.
Is There a Limit as to How Many Hair Cycles a Man Can Have?
Yes, but the normal, non-balding male’s number of life cycles are not limited. In a balding male, they may be limited in the balding area to between 5-8 depending on the length of the cycle and the age that it kicks in. My grandfather, at the age of 102, had the same hairline as when he was 5 years old. I suspect, if he did not die then, his hair would have kept growing and growing.
2018-06-26 05:29:412018-06-26 10:06:39Is There a Limit as to How Many Hair Cycles a Man Can Have?
All Medications Have Side Effects
I was watching TV last night and saw a commercial for a depression medication called Abilify (aripiprazole). I often treat and see patients on anti-depressant medications and it is a great benefit for them (for treating their depression). What struck me about the TV commercial was the lengthy side effect warnings, including stroke, high fever, muscle rigidity, high blood sugar, higher risk of infection, etc. These side effects are very rare, and many other anti-depressant medications have very similar possible side effects.
Then I turned on my computer to look up the common side effect of a popular erectile dysfunction medication most of you probably heard of: Viagra (sildenafil). Some reported and documented side effects include blindness, heart attack, hearing loss, etc.
Which brings me to the controversy of Propecia (finasteride) and its negative sexual side effects. I acknowledge there are websites devoted to the unreported side effects of Propecia (as well as other medications) and that there are men who are experiencing something. I really cannot say if what they are experiencing is due to Propecia, but for the sake of argument, let’s give them the benefit of doubt. I think we can all agree the chances of getting these side effects are relatively low. From personal experience in treating thousands of patients for over 10+ years I personally have not seen any permanent side effects associated with Propecia, and about 1 to 2% of men do experience negative sexual side effects (which have been all reversible). Again, this is from my personal experience among thousands of patients I have seen.
My point is this: ALL MEDICATIONS HAVE SIDE EFFECTS. You must understand this and discuss the benefits as well as the risks with your doctor and make an educated and informed decision. Millions of people use Viagra knowing that they can go blind or have hearing loss… but the risk of this happening is extremely low! If you believe the extreme side effects associated with Propecia, it is your choice not to take it. To some, sex may be more important than their vision or hearing. And to others, hair is more important than their sexual activities. Of note, I can say that I have prescribed Viagra to men who are taking Propecia and they still have their hair, sight, and hearing.
2011-02-15 14:54:432011-02-15 15:12:29All Medications Have Side Effects
How Long Do Hair Transplanted Grafts Last in Women?
It depends on the cause of the woman’s hair loss. If the woman had miniaturization of the donor hair, then this hair may not last a long time. If the donor hair is normal, it should last a woman’s lifetime. Many women with genetic balding have miniaturization in the donor area and, when this is more than 20%, I consider that woman not to be a candidate for a hair transplant. The miniaturized hairs may not last, and any woman asking for a hair transplant other than a hairline lowering procedure should ask the doctor to evaluate the donor area for miniaturization.
2018-09-04 05:00:542018-09-14 08:30:36How Long Do Hair Transplanted Grafts Last in Women?