Category: Uncategorized

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RepliCel

Greetings from a loyal reader! I did a quick search, and saw that this topic hasn’t been covered on your blog. I was wondering if you’ve ever heard of Replicel? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks!

I haven’t heard about it before, but I’ve looked into it since your email. RepliCel recently completed the acquisition of TrichoScience, a company that worked with hair multiplication. This sounds like more of the same. From the FAQ: “With RepliCel’s treatment a very small punch biopsy is taken and new hair cells are replicated eliminating the need for a large hair donor site to be moved to the bald area.”

Their site says that they’re currently conducting a clinical trial with data expected to become available in the first quarter of 2012. So there’s really not much to know yet, as they’re still testing things and have months of work yet to go.

I would want to know if the investigators obtained an approval from an Institutional Review Board for the research on humans. That might make them credible as these boards are very tight giving approvals on anything less than solid evidence.

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Does minoxidil only work on the crown as the brochure seems to suggest?

Minoxidil works almost any place you put it and sometimes where you don’t put it as women who use it on their hair find that they may develop increased facial hair. The FDA approved it for the crown and that is why it says that in the insert.


2019-11-06 15:03:18Does minoxidil only work on the crown as the brochure seems to suggest?

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Results After 3365 Grafts Transplanted About 15 Years Ago (with Photos)

This patient came back to see me some years after he had his last transplant with NHI. He had 3365 grafts transplanted over two procedures in 1995 and 1998 (grafts placed throughout the frontal hairline and top of the scalp).

This patient visited the office recently to ask about some thickening in the area behind the transplants where he believed he is thinning. He has been on Propecia since the transplants were done, and although most of the hair has been held, the genetics has been persistent at taking some of his hair away.

Click the photos to enlarge.

2012 (after):

 

1998 (before *):

 

* Note that the “before” photos above were actually from just before his 2nd procedure in 1998. The photos from before his 1st surgery in 1995 are not available (they weren’t digital), and although the quality of these 1998 photos isn’t the best, I really just wanted to show how the transplant looks after a lot of time has passed.

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Does Rogaine Cause Libido Issues Like I’ve Had with Propecia?

Hi Dr Rassman,
I’m 29 yrs old and have been on propecia since 1st Aug 08, so its just coming to 7.5 months now. My hair growth has gone from strength to strength since then, mainly on the top and cranium of my scalp where the hair was thinning. However i’m suffering from sexual side effects mainly erectile dysfunction (ED) and a libido drop. I got them in the 3rd month but i thought I had to give it a fair period of time to see whether it was a passing phase. But the problem has persisted and the volume of semen has gone down and my erections are not as full as before I started taking it. I have decided to half the dosage. What is the best way to incorporate this? Shall i stop taking propecia for say 3 weeks or perhaps longer or shorter and then start taking half a pill on a daily basis instead?

Also, I never tried minoxidil but I have read people complaining about dark circles and skin roughness on the face as permanent side effects. And apparently the results are nowhere near as good as propecia? Is this true? Also, does it also cause ED & drop in sex drive? If i do decide to go on Minoxidil would you recommend the 5% solution or the 2% solution?

If you have just erectile dysfunction (ED), Viagra might help. If you can not solve your libido problem with Viagra, you may have to stop the Propecia. Cutting the dose in half often helps and even 1/4 of the dose might help further. You should discuss this with your prescribing doctor.

Rogaine is not a DHT blocker and as such, stopping your Propecia will cause a significant hair shed even if you take Rogaine at the same time. Rogaine does not have the sexual side effects you are experiencing with Propecia, but it also doesn’t work to halt the hair loss (though it can grow hair). You can start with the 2% and go up to 5%, but it’s up to you. Both are available over the counter (at least here in the U.S.).


2009-03-17 08:34:30Does Rogaine Cause Libido Issues Like I’ve Had with Propecia?

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Retrograde Alopecia

I’ve been on minoxidil for about 7 months now and it doesn’t seem to be helping. Is retrograde alopecia not androgenic? I always just thought it was a weird pattern of genetic hair loss but some people on this thread are saying there can be causes… is that true? What kind of causes?

I think that this may be some ill defined inherited issue where particular hairs undergo Apoptosis based upon programmed death. This also happens in genetic male patterned balding but that was defined for a huge population. I haven’t seen anyone who has ever done a study of retrograde alopecia with with inheritance as a focus.


2020-12-07 11:06:49Retrograde Alopecia

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Does the Age You Start Balding Affect the Final Pattern?

Hi Doc,

Two-part question for you: Does genetics determine what age we get MPB (for example, was I destined to start losing my hair at 21), and also, how does a mans’ age at which he begins balding affect his final pattern, if at all?

Norwood 4AThe start of hair loss is mainly genetic (according to our general understanding), but recent studies suggest that diet, lifestyle and other factors such as stress, will also impact the start and rate of balding. It is believed that our final pattern is predetermined. That means if it is meant to be a Class 4A (see image at right), then the variable will be the rate of achieving that final pattern. A Class 7 will not evolve out of a Class 4A genetic pattern if the genes are not lined up that way.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis and Hair Transplants

Hi Dr. Rassman

I’m a 46 year old male and had an operation about 2 years ago with apprx. 2000 grafts. I had pretty good results after 1 year my hair had grow in fairly thick in the front where most of the grafts were placed. I have Rheumatoid arthritis so I’ve been on Methotrexate, Embrel, prednisone and a lot of vitamins for about 4 years. I’ve also been taking Finesteride for about 6-7yrs. On 5/14 to 5/17 I had tried a new drug (hydroxychloroquine) it is suppose to help the methotrexate for the RA. I had to stop it due to the many unpleasant side effects, which I think has something to do with my recent dramatic hair loss. Just in the last month my hair has been shedding dramatically and has thinned everywhere and very thin on the top crown area now. We are not sure if it is the hydroxychloroquine that caused the hair loss, but it’s very suspect. I’m still shedding 1 month after I stopped the (hydroxy- ) maybe a little less, but maybe because there is less hair now. Have you heard of hydroxychloroquine and hair loss?

1. My concern is does it hurt the chances of the hair that fell out from the medicine, if the case, from growing back when we put new grafts in or on top off the potential dormant hair?
2. Should I wait a little longer to see if some of the hair grows back before I do another procedure?
3. My other concern is would I have two scars or do you take just below the 1st donor area and somehow minimize the size of the 2 scars into one.

Thank you for your time…I’ve found some great info on this blog!

Yes, hydroxychloroquine (marketed as Plaquenil) can cause hair loss as a side effect (see About.com). In your situation, waiting a little bit on a hair transplant makes sense. It does not pay to have a hair transplant when you’re experiencing active hair loss, possibly from a drug. I can not comment on your scarring without seeing you. Usually, we can minimize the scars into one, but it depends upon what kind of scarring you currently have.

As you indicated that you are in Los Angeles, I would be pleased to see you and give you an opinion in my LA office.


2008-06-26 10:19:27Rheumatoid Arthritis and Hair Transplants

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Can I get balding from Paternal Grandfather and Uncles?

My paternal grandfather went bald in his 40-50s, one of my uncles in their late 30s and the other one in his 40s. My dad on the other hand was a NW 7 by 32. A lot of people here say mpb comes from your maternal side but that doesnt always seem to be the case(my maternal grandfather went bald in his 60s). Im currently a NW2 maybe less idk, which isnt bad I wanted to know if there are any high chances i keep my hair until at least my 30s because i dont really mind being bald after than that but being bald so early sucks.

Your uncles and grandparents just tell you if the balding genes are in your family line. Then you have to determine who you might take after.


2020-03-18 09:15:31Can I get balding from Paternal Grandfather and Uncles?

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Rogaine foam has hair all over my fingers when I apply it

My hair follicles must be so weak, that my hair is falling out excessively while applying rogaine foam. Hands are covered in hair when finished. I’m nervous, especially along with the initial shed that I’ve heard of. Will rogaine strengthen these follicles, is this normal?

If you just started using it, I would not be surprised by your comments. Give it a few months but be gentle applying it to your scalp as rubbing can pull out miniaturized hairs that are falling out now. I actually prefer the liquid to the foam which is applied directly to the scalp and need not rub it into your hair


2019-03-26 18:22:36Rogaine foam has hair all over my fingers when I apply it

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Was My Donor Area Overharvested with 4500 Fue Grafts? (Photo)

4500 FUE grafts are most likely too many grafts for most men. The typical Caucasian’s limits are around 3600 grafts based upon an average donor density and medium weight hair. Without knowing your original donor density, I cannot tell, but I can predict that you will most likely have a see-through donor area. See: https://newhair.com/donor-area/


2018-05-16 13:17:59Was My Donor Area Overharvested with 4500 Fue Grafts? (Photo)