Category: Uncategorized

Posted on

August Is National Hair Loss Awareness Month

This August marks the 13th year for National Hair Loss Awareness Month, which was established by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) to raise awareness about this treatable condition that affects an estimated 60 million men and 40 million women in America.

The above snippet is from a press release I was sent, and I want to elaborate about how this is a treatable condition.

For those of you who look into the mirror every morning and see the signs of hair loss, you should know that there are many options available for you to slow, stop, or reverse hair loss without surgery by using medications such as finasteride (for men) and minoxidil (for men and women). Additionally, there other modalities that can make your hair look thicker without surgery, such as Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP). Of course, there is also hair transplant surgery, an example of which can be found here.

Granted, many readers of this site are knowledgeable about the treatment options available, but just in case some of you weren’t familiar with them, I hope the above was helpful.

Posted on

Azor, Toprol-XL, and Hair Loss

Hi,

I am currently taking Azore for high blood pressure and occassionally toprol xl for heart palpatations. Can these medicines cause hair loss of a significant nature?

Azor (amlodipine and olmesartan) does list hair loss as a possible side effect. Taking Toprol-XL (metoprolol succinate) can also lead to hair loss in rare cases, as we’ve mentioned before. With the combination of these two drugs, you do have a higher likelihood of seeing thinning hair.

Posted on

Bald dad, hairy son?

Fully bald father and a son with a full head of thick hair? What do you think Dr. Rassman?

Inheritance from the mother’s side of the family is likely here. He could have inherited his father’s maternal hair as well.

Posted on

Bald Spot Started Growing Dark Hair Amongst Blonde Hair!

My son is 19 years old he had a spot the size of a half dollar on his head that went bald. after a few months the hair started growing back, but its real dark. His hair is Blonde.

Patchy spots of hair of a different color may be associated with a genetic predisposition or a mole or can be just normal. He may have had ring worm and the regrowth of the hair came in pigmented differently. You may want to have your son follow up with a dermatologist.

Posted on

Minocycline and Hair Loss

I have been on Minocycline for 7 months, 200 mg daily. I noticed, at month 3, my hair was starting to fall out in round patches. Also, at month 6, the hair on my face is falling out in round patches as well. My dermatologist told me to stop right away and one is not to be on this drug for more than 30 days at a time. I read that it takes 3-12 months for hair to grow back!!! I’m getting steroid injections from my dermatologist in all my balding spots. I was told this should speed the process for hair growth. Please don’t take this drug! BALDING!!!

Minocycline has been reported to be associated with hair loss.


2018-08-15 08:13:18Minocycline and Hair Loss

Posted on

Balding in Mixed Race Men

Hi, i’m a 21 years old male, and i’m mixed caucasian/african.

Here’s my question. My dad’s (caucasian) been balding since age 30, and is now completely bald at age 60. He is the worst case of MPB in my entire family. On my mom’s side, there is no history of hairloss whatsoever. Myself, i’ve got a lot of hair, semi-african and semi-european, but very dense, with a kind of “coarse” afro look (very far from my dad’s hair). I have my mom’s hairline (mature, typical from her race, where there are no hairloss), and thick hair (i think).

I’m afraid i might end up as my father, but is there really a risk? If i ever go bald, at what age it might happen? Don’t the african genes dominates caucasians’ (i’m dark skinned)? What about mixed people in MPB?

Thanks a lot for your help!

There’s no way to tell if you will be bald simply based on your race… mixed or otherwise. Even with a family history, it is never truly clear. It’s possible that the balding gene exists somewhere in your mother’s family tree, too (and it can skip generations).

The best thing to do is to go see a doctor for an examination. Tests such as miniaturization studies and bulk measurements can establish a baseline so that you can track what is going on with age. You can also get a genetic test called HairDX, which is about 70% accurate, to find out if you have the gene. It won’t tell you if/when it’ll express itself, but it’s a start.

Posted on

Minoxidil and Propecia in 22 Year Old

Hello Dr.,
I’m 22, experiecing thinning of the hair and a receding hair line. I’ve been using Propecia since the beginning of the summer. While I haven’t noticed any changes yet, I wanted to know the effect of taking Propecia along with Rogaine or Minoxydil. Does it help if you take both at the same time? I’ve been using Minoxydil since the summer also, and I’m not satisfied with it. I’ve experienced itchy hair and excessive dandruff. So does it help if I take both of them as treatments together? I was hoping to get your suggestion on this matter…Thanks so much for your time.

I generally advise young men to start with Propecia first, wait out a full 8 month course and make a reassessment at the end of that time. I always measure the degree of miniaturization to quantify the amount of thinning and loss, as well as the progression or reversal of the hair loss. I would suggest that you get that assessment before you make further decisions. The side effects of minoxidil is as you described in your question, making its use probably unacceptable in your case.


2005-12-02 09:33:03Minoxidil and Propecia in 22 Year Old