Category: Uncategorized

Posted on

Trying 15% Minoxidil

I am a 46 year old balding man presently at class 5. I have tried minoxidil up to the 12.5% concentration (Xandrox) but has not worked for me. I also have had one transplant session of about 400 grafts (not NHI) but most of the grafts are gone and obviously am not happy with the result. I just wanted to know if you would recommend my continuing the 12.5% minoxidil or even try the 15% treatment just to slow down the balding process and keep me from going to class 6 or class 7.

Your question is troubling me. Transplanted hairs are permanant and very successful so if yours failed, something is wrong. It is also troubling that you only had 400 hair grafts when you state you are a Norwood Class 5. That would hardly have an impact on your appearance. If your hair transplant was a failure, it is my opinion that you should follow-up with your original hair transplant doctor to discuss the failure with him/her. There are instances where patients believe their hair transplant was a failure because they also had ongoing hair loss. Could that be your situation?

Furthermore, if minoxidil 5% or 12.5% didn’t work for you, what makes you think 15% will work? Minoxidil, like all drugs, has its limitations and higher concentrations may have adverse side effects. Depending on your medical history and a good diagnosis of hair loss, I would also consider finasteride (Propecia) as another option.

Posted on

Hair Problems from Bleaching

I am a male and I did a bad job of bleaching my hair and it burned my scalp. When I used the bleach I used it only on the top of my head. The hair on the top of my head seems to be growing slower than the back and sides where I applied the bleach. I am only 18 so can the hair loss be due to the bleach?

It would be unusual for any long term damage from a single bleaching episode on your hair. Assuming that you wait a year or so, everything should resolve. Make sure that you do not have male genetic hair loss, by getting your head mapped out for minaturization. If you do have genetic hair loss, thinning could have been precipitated by the bleaching and proper medications may be in order (like Propecia). Get a good doctor to evaluate you.


2005-12-19 08:30:29Hair Problems from Bleaching

Posted on

Hair Systems and how to avoid hair loss from them

How fussy do you have to be with placement of it though? If you have a hair system or only applying in certain spots you can’t be too consistent?

You have to be fussy! If you apply the hair system, make sure that the clips are never in the same place or you will end up with traction alopecia.


2021-01-14 09:58:25Hair Systems and how to avoid hair loss from them

Posted on

Uncertainty In Hair Loss Pattern and Testosterone Levels

Part 1:

I really enjoy the website and find it very informative. I have read on this website many times, that many individuals who are destined to be a norwood 6 or 7 and eventually do become either of those stages, are typically men under the age of 30. Moreover, the final balding pattern is established or completely stops typically between the ages of 40-50.

So, how come there is so much uncertainty regarding hair loss between the ages of 30-40 and what will happen and if further progression of hair loss will occur? I would think if an individual has reached their 30’s with a significant amount of hair, then balding should stop.

Part 2:

My situation is like this, I started balding at 19 and am currently 33. I have been on finasteride for the past the 14 years and have remained a norwood 2-2A. I don’t have much body hair or facial hair and have always felt I have low testosterone. What am I a destined to become then, any ideas?

testosterone

Thank you for following BaldingBlog!

There is no firm rule on what age you will lose your hair. For most men, genetic male pattern hair loss occurs in their 20s and30s. But it can also happen in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. Hair loss does not completely stop. We don’t necessarily fit neatly into a box. This is why patients go to doctors for an examination.

If your hair loss is a Norwood 2 there would be questions of why you would have needed to be on Propecia in the first place. A Norwood 2 hair loss pattern do not progress to a Norwood 6. Norwood classification is not a chart for “progression” of hair loss. It is merely a pictorial description of your genetic hair loss trait. In the end only your doctor can tell you about your treatment plan. If you suspect a low testosterone level you should discuss your concerns with your doctor and have a test to confirm this (…if it is an issue). Testosterone levels have nothing to do with genetic male pattern balding. You can have a very high testosterone level and have no balding and no beard. You can have a very low testosterone level and be completely bald with a full beard. There is no correlation with facial hair and testosterone levels.

Posted on

Hair Transplant and Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia

Hi. Yesterday i was diagnosed with Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia. I was wondering if you know anything about having this disease and hair transplants. Since I was born with this can insurance cover it? I have spots and places where my hair will not grow. It requires me to wear hair extentions , and im thinking about a wig. Anyway , i was wondering if you knew anything about this.

Thank you

Yes, I do know about ectodermal dysplasia. It is a genetic trait which can affect hair (among other things). I do not know how insurance coverage plays a factor in this, but I doubt that hair transplantation will be an option. With ectodermal dysplasia there are defects in the hair and skin that may make hair transplants not possible.


2010-10-29 14:18:06Hair Transplant and Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia

Posted on

Update: Reversing Frontal Hair Loss with Propecia (with Photos)

We originally profiled this patient last year to show his remarkable frontal hair regrowth from Propecia… and now that another year has passed, the results are even more impressive!

This patient had no hair restoration surgery. The results you see are from taking Propecia (finasteride 1mg) daily, and although the amount of regrowth he has should be considered rare, it is exciting for the patient and I wanted to share his photos below. Click to enlarge.

After 3 years on Propecia (no surgery):

 

Before:

 

Posted on

Hair Transplant Horror Stories

As i am concerened by hairloss, I have looked at your site and read some useful information. The one question I had was, while going through the Horror Stories link [note: on our sister site, TheBaldMan.com], are there any horror stories which have occured after about the year 2000, and the development of FUE and FUT. I can understand that an operation which cuts a large chunk of skin out of a persons head is going to run the risk of causing a large scar and other related complications, but has the development of new techniques like those above which allow the removal of single hairs got away from these problem or has got other ones? Also why do so many people choose to keep the name of a bad doctor to themselves?

Thank you

You are correct that fewer and fewer horror stories are appearing because today’s techniques are much better than those of the 80s and early 90s. Certainly, the quality of the work of the top notch surgeons has improved to produce virtually undetectable transplants. The focus of those surgeons is now on improving the growth of transplanted hair. There are still some failures with these modern techniques because today’s FUE and FUT techniques require exacting methods which, if not followed, will cause the transplant not to grow.

Well trained doctors using modern techniques should produce not only undetectable transplants, but a very high survival rate. Still, there are some doctors who do not know what they are doing, and I still see some terrible complications which reflect a doctor’s lack of training, skills or ethics. I am also seeing more and more patients who are being transplanted that should not have been transplanted and those who being sold more grafts which are put in beyond the balding area and into the permanent hair zone, just to increase the fees. Find yourself an ethical doctor who uses modern techniques and be sure to meet with some of his patients before you take him/her on.

I often ask the same question that you did in this email: “Why are the names of bad doctors kept secret?” The answer here is that men are generally not confrontational, and they do not like to be reminded that they made a mistake. They do not want to relive a bad experience over and over again. Just sharing their stories to prevent others from making their same mistakes is not a pleasant experience for these victims.

Posted on

Using Anti-Estrogen Drugs to Combat Propecia Side Effects?

Hi,

Just wondering whether you can comment on the use of anti estrogen drugs to combat side effects related to propecia (lowered libido, gynecomastia etc)?

I have just started on 0.5mg of Arimidex twice a week. I tried lowering propecia dosage but this decreased effectiveness and did not reduce side effects. Are any of your patients on Arimidex? what dosage?

cheers

Arimidex is an anti-breast cancer drug. I do not prescribe Arimidex or know of any of my patients who are on Arimidex. You should consult with your doctor before considering any changes to your medication. Also note that Arimidex can cause it own set of side effects. It is not a ‘walk in the park’ solution.


2007-06-01 11:34:29Using Anti-Estrogen Drugs to Combat Propecia Side Effects?

Posted on

Hair Transplant Research

Dear Doctor,
I have been doing a lot of research on hair transplants. I got 2 questions

1) what would you say as the minimum age for transplant? I saw you mentioning most people under 22 as too young.

2) I have seen a lot of amateur transplants by doctors. Which is why I want to get it done by best doctors. What is the transplant policy for your institute. How do you overcome issues such as post transplant check ups after few months?

Cheers

Before you undergo a hair transplant, you need to have a clear idea as to what degree your balding pattern will eventually go. This is not easy to determine on anyone under 25 years old, so that is a rule. All rules can be broken, of course and the examination and the Master Plan you and your doctor will determine will define what, if anything, should be done with regard to hair transplants.

Hair transplants generally do not need follow-up after the actual procedure is done. Most people just grow their hair and I like to connect with the patient at about the 8th month. Using digital photography, it is easy these days to connect over the internet.

A good reference point can be found in my blog post from November, 2005 — The Truth About Cheap Hair Transplants.