Category: Uncategorized

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Is Toppik Causing My Hair Loss to Speed Up?

I have used the “cover-up” product, Toppik, for a couple of years with pretty good results. I have recently read — albeit online, so of course I am quite guarded in my reaction — that there is aluminum in this keratin fiber product which may actually clog pores and cause or speed up hair loss/miniaturization. While I have continued to thin in the front and temples where I use the product, I atrributed that to the progress of MPB, not this product. Do you have thoughts on this? Do you ever suggest these types of products, of course, in conjunction with other treatments (HT, finasteride, etc)?

Also, can one use a product like Toppik in the recipient and donor areas after an HT to camouflage the scabbing/markings until healing — particularly in FUE procedures?

Dr, thanks for providing this service. You are setting yourself far apart with this type of service to those with hair loss issues.

I also welcome other readers to post their thoughts if they have used Toppik or other similar products. Thank you.

ToppikTopical “cover-up” products like Toppik or DermMatch do not cause hair loss, nor would it cause an increase in loss. Male pattern hair loss is from genes. You’re using these products so it’s likely you’ve got genetic hair loss… and that loss is progressing.

Some patients use Toppik or DermMatch after a hair transplant surgery to cover the scabs during the healing process. When removing it, you must not scrub the scalp harshly or you can pull out your existing hair. You can use either of them in conjunction with finasteride.

If any reader would like to contribute information about personal experiences with these camoflauging agents, please feel free to post a comment…

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Semen back to normal in 3 months

Just to say that my semen is back to normal viscosity (as attested by the GF), almost three months after starting finasteride (it was watery).

That’s about par for the course for people who stop taking finasteride


2020-04-20 17:56:45Semen back to normal in 3 months

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9 months topical finsasteride (photos)

This is a nice result from treating the hairline with topical finasteride. The hairline in the corner came down to it normal mature position.


2020-07-06 12:05:419 months topical finsasteride (photos)

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I’ve Been Pulling My Hair for 6 Years — Will It Grow Back?

Hello. I’ve had trichotillomania for about 6 years now. I’ve pulled non-stop because it is REALLY hard to quit, but I haven’t pulled any hair out in a week now. I have a large bald spot on the top of my skull and there are several others scattered elsewhere. I am seventeen years-old. I can’t even go to the hair dresser’s to get my hair done because I’m so ashamed and I always worry someone might say something. I’ve adopted the name ‘bald spots’. I was wondering if my hair was going to grow back if I let it and if not, if there were any options available for me. Thank you.

If the hair loss has been there for around 6 years, I doubt that the hair will come back. First, you must get control of the pulling (not just for a week) and you may seek help from your doctor for medications that will help you through this. Once you have gone a year or more with no further hair plucking, then you might consider hair transplantation, assuming that your donor supply is adequate. But if you should start pulling again, then any transplanted hair can be lost by the exact same mechanism.

There’s a great reference site you should visit to read more — Trichotillomania Learning Center.


2009-05-05 15:57:21I’ve Been Pulling My Hair for 6 Years — Will It Grow Back?

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I’ve Had Diffuse Shedding Since Starting SSRI?

Had a slight thinning of hairline and a diffuse shed since starting an ssri. i have heard this is due to high prolactin caused by the ssri medication. could the thinning/receding hairline be the result of the medication?

While some medications can cause hair loss, medication is generally the last consideration among the list of other causes of hair loss. You may just have genetic hair loss that can cause thinning in the hairline. There is a reason why we call it male pattern baldness. Genetic balding has a pattern to it — like a receding hairline.

It’s even possible that you have a combination of things going on, with your genetics causing your hairline recession and the SSRI causing a diffuse shed elsewhere on your scalp. Many SSRIs are known to have hair loss as a rare side effect, but you really need to speak to your prescribing doctor about the medication and any issues you may be having because of it. I’ve written about this before here.

I simply don’t know enough about your case history, including your age, how long you’ve been taking the SSRI, family history of hair loss, etc.

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A Patient that Followed Hair Transplant Aftercare Instructions

Dear Dr. Rassman:

Thank you for a very comfortable and professional session yesterday. You and your competent staff made my day enjoyable; quite different from my prior experience in the early 1990’s.

I experienced no pain last night before bed at 9 pm and took no medication, until I became a slight bit uncomfortable around 1:30am. I took one Vicodin and one Valium, and slept until 5:30am. This morning I took the Prednisone.

I used one half cup of hydrogen peroxide and one half of cup of water for 5 minutes, as directed. I washed my hair; the donor and recipient areas as directed, and experienced very minimal bleeding in the donor area, a couple of drops in one location in the frontal area, and none in the crown area. There was minimal crusting in the donor area, and it was cleaned with a cue tip. This will be done again tonight. My wife also applied the anti bacteria ointment, as directed. I have not taken any Vicodin today, and am not experiencing any pain at all.

I will wash my hair again before bed as directed.

Best regards

I don’t usually post testimonial style emails like this, but I just received this note from a patient who had 2159 grafts earlier this week. I wanted to show how a patient is following my post-operative instructions for washing and medicating, and isn’t experiencing any pain or heavy scabbing.

The lesson here is for anyone interested in getting a hair transplant — follow your doctor’s aftercare instructions!


2009-03-27 09:23:37A Patient that Followed Hair Transplant Aftercare Instructions

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I’ve Tried Propecia 3 Different Times and Keep Getting Side Effects

Dear Dr. Rassman,

Thank you for this informative website. I visit everyday, and my wife just gave me your book for the holidays. Unfortunately, I am one of the few who have experienced side effects with Propecia. I was orginally on 1mg per day, and then I tried 1mg every other day, and .5 every day. But everytime I had to stop. Luckily, all three times the side effects disappeared after I stopped taking it (the last time I was on propecia, was about a year ago). I would like to try to get back on the medication again, but I was wondering if you had any advice on how I should approach this. I am only 25 years ago, and plan on getting a transplant in the near future, but would like to stabilize my hair as much as possible before hand. Thank you for your help.

I hope you enjoy the book, and I’m glad you find this site useful… but I am afraid that I have no good news for you. Those few patients who have sexual side effects or breast pain and/or enlargement that persist after numerous attempts to restart their drug program, will continue with the same outcome.

Be sure that your hair transplant surgeon maps out your worse case hair loss with miniaturization studies before you start the transplant process. A good Master Plan is critical to looking good for the long term.

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A Year After My Hair Transplant, I Still Look as Thin as Before!

Dr. Rassman. I’m 41 years old. I got a hair transplant done in April 2006. After the transplant i was vcery happy with the quantity of hair that i got transplanted. I know the doctor told me that i would loose my hair because of the body reacting to the surgery. Now it’s Jan 2007 and i find that the amount of hair that was transplanted is not as much regrown. Now that i’m approaching my one year period soon, why is it that the amount of hair that was planted as not all regrown back. I was expected a least twice of what i see. When i comb myself i still look like someone who is loosing is hair, and i hate it, especially when i go under a light or out in the sun. What is your suggestion to my situation.

Setting expectations is as much the ‘art’ of what I do as doing the surgery. That is why I have open house events every month, so that people who are going to have surgery can see and meet someone with a similar balding pattern and hair color. Then, and only then, will expectations be set properly. If you expected too much, then the error was on setting expectations. If the hair did not grow, then the question should be ‘what went wrong?’. You can always get a second opinion, but first, ask the doctor who did it and find out if your doctor’s expectations were met.


2007-01-10 07:27:39A Year After My Hair Transplant, I Still Look as Thin as Before!