Category: Uncategorized

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Hair Regrowth After Waxing Scalp, Part 2

Hi i recently sent you a question about waxing. [see Hair Regrowth After Waxing Scalp]

For some reason the waxed area appears worse. I am worried that I may have developed folliculitis on my scalp as a result. My entire scalp itches. It would be helpful if you could give me some information about folliculitis as well as the differences if any between folliculitis and folliculitis decalvans. Also it would be helpful if you could tell me what to do to contain the hair loss to only the waxed area basically prevent it from spreading.

Folliculitis is a condition where the hair follicles get infected because of bacterial invasion, often secondary to some irritation or wound of the skin. Folliculitis can spread from one hair follicle to another by touching or scratching it, making it worse. It is a fairly common condition.

Folliculitis Decalvans is a rare condition affecting mainly the scalp leading to scarring alopecia. The cause of the condition is still unknown, abnormal host response to Staphylococcus aureus (a bacterial infection) has been postulated. Folliculitis Decalvans causes scarring with hair loss (alopecia). There are areas of “corn stalking” (grouped hairs arising within the area of alopecia), redness (erythema), crusting, and pustules. Due to severe scarring, permanent hair loss occurs in the involved sites.

As you may be aware, this is a diagnosis not for the amateur. Get a good dermatologist to take care of you, starting off with a proper diagnosis. Appropriate antibiotics will be recommended by the doctor, if indicated.

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Two pictures of my hairline are 5 years apart, what is happening to me? (photo)

The two pictures are when I was 13 years old and I’m and 18 girl. My hairline shape is changing. Should I be worried about this?

The 18 year old picture needs better quality, but it does look like the shape is changing. This is not uncommon. I studied children from the age of 5 (both boys and girls) and saw rounded hairlines if preadolescent children change in both boys and girls as they got well into their teens. The rounded hairline when you were 13, has flattened out now and that is very common and normal. If you think that you are losing hair, then see a hair doctor.

juvenile hairline2evolved hairline 18


2017-10-10 19:27:12Two pictures of my hairline are 5 years apart, what is happening to me? (photo)

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Hair Thickening, Thinning, and Thickening Again from Minoxidil

Doctor

Just read a recent post regarding someone who notices his hair thickens and thins and thickens again. I’ve noticed that for years and just assumed it was from Rogaine. That it was either synch shedding which happened after first using the drug and just continued through the years or that at times realized I’ve been missing areas and after reapplying those areas came back. But again that was Rogaine not Propecia which the previous post was on. Wonder if other minox users noticed this.

After reading your reply made me wonder if TE tends to reoccur in people. It would make sense if it is in response to a stress. People who have physical ailments in response to stress tend to have the same physical responses repeat throughout their life. I wouldn’t be surprised if some people are predisposed to TE under stress. Just as some develop IBS that comes and goes.. acid reflux.. back pain.. IF TE happened once it will probably happen again under stress.

Thanks for your comments. I’m posting this to hopefully get other readers to share their experience with back and forth shedding from minoxidil, as you describe.

To put this all together, a good relationship with a doctor is a good idea. Yes, telogen effluvium can reoccur in some people. See eMedicine for more info.

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Unethical Hair Transplant Doctor Transplanting Hair On Patient Who Did Not Need The Surgery

This is a note I sent to a patient I saw today.

You have had previous hair transplants done by a Los Angeles doctor who has since lost his license. You received 3400 grafts in the front of your head. You were very frightened about the prospect of being bald at that age of 23. Now you are 31 years old and started Propecia 4 months ago. You want to know the status of your balding situation.

Today’s we used the HAIRCHECK instrument on your head. Measurements indicated that you hair bulk in the frontal 3 inches of your scalp exceeds the hair bulk of the donor area by 30%. Comparing the crown and the back of your head, the measurements were comparable.
This tells me two things:
  1. You are not presently balding
  2. Your hair transplant done years ago was done on a young man that probably was not balding but driven to have a hair transplant out of fear of balding. Frankly, you were taken advantage of for the money. I am ashamed that doctors in this field would take advantage of your youth and naivety.You agreed with me that in hindsight, you were driven by fear, not balding
The good news is that you should stop the Propecia and if you are ever concerned again about balding (which I believe will be unlikely for your future), please come back and let me retest you with the HAIRCHECK instrument.
As a side note: I would agree to (1) help him file a complaint with the medical board if the doctor was still licensed in California and (2) I would put him in touch with a lawyer to facilitate a malpractice action against the doctor and act as an expert witness on his behalf.
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I use a dye on my hair I purchased in the grocery store about a month ago, and lost a lot of hair, what should I do?

Dyes can produce chemical burns and ‘kill’ hairs permanently. If it does not grow back in 6 months, then you may have produced a chemical burn to your hair follicles and they may not grow back. If there is going to be a recovery, the hair cycle usually kicks in and starts growing within about 6 months or less after the injury or earlier. See a specialist either now or certainly in 6 months?


2018-01-14 10:32:27I use a dye on my hair I purchased in the grocery store about a month ago, and lost a lot of hair, what should I do?

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After a Hair Transplant, Is Maintenance Required?

Hair loss is a progressive process. If your hair loss progresses after a hair transplant, you might want to see if you need more transplants to keep up with the new hair loss. However, the hair transplants themselves stay without medication or support of any kind since it is relatively maintenance free. Drugs like Finasteride will protect you from the hair loss that may normally occur.


2018-06-26 13:27:45After a Hair Transplant, Is Maintenance Required?

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Using Chest and Back Hair When Scalp Density is Low?

I am Norwood 6/7. I had a nice transplant to the front 1/3 of my head, which frames my face well. Unfortunately, the density of my donor area is on the low side. I have VERY heavy body hair on my chest and back.

Would this be an acceptable situation to transplant body hair to crown area?

Body hair is a difficult call for me. I have tried using it and have not done well with it. Aside from the physical characteristics of the body hair, the growth cycles are different from that of scalp hair.

There are a few doctors who claim to specialize in using body hair for scalp transplanting, but I am skeptical that the results are as good as claimed. The patients I’ve seen in my office with body hair transplanted to the scalp at other clinics have been less than impressive. If you’re considering body hair transplants, just be sure to meet with patients that have had it done by the doctor you’re considering so that you can see the results for yourself in person.


2010-10-07 10:51:14Using Chest and Back Hair When Scalp Density is Low?

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Hair Transplant Results Just Days After Surgery (with Photos)

I wanted to show some very early after from two patients that came in today. Both patients have given me permission to post their photos, and I appreciate them allowing me to do so. From time to time I post photos of patients just days or weeks after surgery, and I hope these types of posts help to answer one of the more popular questions I receive almost daily — “What will my head look like right after surgery?! I need to get back to work and I don’t want anyone to know!”

Patient 1 — 1 day after surgery:
This young man had around 1500 grafts placed in the crown and around 600 grafts in the front just 1 day ago. His skin is white and hair is blonde. There is almost no swelling and no sign of the surgery other than a faint pink hue which should go away for him in a day or two.

Here are two photos of his hairline. Click the photos to enlarge.

 

Patient 2 — 10 days after surgery:

This patient had frontal work to drop the corners of his hairline. Just 10 days out after 1040 grafts and you can barely see anything. Note that I had to hold his hair back on the left corner just to show the transplanted area. His hair naturally falls over that area, and as such, it provided him a perfect cover during the first day or two when his skin was pink in the transplanted area.

Click the photos to enlarge.

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Using Minoxidil and Nizoral Before a Hair Transplant?

I use minoxidil and nizoral shampoo and am considering a hair transplant procedure in the future. Will it be necessary to suspend use of these products before or after hair surgery? If so how long before and how long after?

I just tell patients to continue on their treatments up until the day before surgery and then restart them about a week after surgery. Withdrawal effects from minoxidil will not occur in 1 week. Always discuss pre and post care with your surgeon, though.