Effects of Hard Water and Hair Loss

Some variation of this question has been posted on this blog before but I would like to ask:

Can hard water indirectly cause hair loss? I am not asking about the effects of hard water on genetic baldness but whether hard water can aggravate scalp conditions in sensitive subjects, thereby accelerating hair loss. I suffer from seborrheic dermatitis and I am noticing more aggressive hair loss when washing with hard water compared to soft (my parents have a water softener).

If so, what do you recommend doing? Is there any benefit to washing with soft water or distilled water? Is this hair loss permanent?

Hard water just means it has higher mineral content in general. It does not cause or accelerate hair loss as far a I am concerned. If you think it is affecting your hair, you can always try soft water. But I personally do not see its benefit with respect to genetic hair loss, more of a washing issue

Scars from FUE (Photo)

Scarring from FUE is common. If it bothers you, the best treatment is Scalp Micropigmentation. I don’t know how many grafts you received, but if it exceeded 3,500 FUE grafts, it is likely that you were over-harvested. We have performed SMP on many people with all types of donor scars including for FUE, see here: https://scalpmicropigmentation.com/scar-covering/

fue scarring

 

Libido and Hair Loss

My husband is considering a transplant operation as one way to address his waning male libido – and yes, he has thinned quite a bit since he turned 50. A friend told him that since he (the friend) had hair transplants he was feeling more confident in ALL areas of his life, including his sex drive. Is this true? Better than Viagra?

Libido is a complex characteristic of the human male or female and is not related to just one factor. Clearly, what men think of their manhood, their attractiveness, their self-esteem, the influence of the woman in their life, directly impacts their libido. One of the important determining elements for libido has to do with a man’s emotional state and sense of well being. The second, is a man’s reaction to his hormonal influences and brain regulators that drive libido. We know that Testosterone is the most potent hormone that in determining the sex drive in men (and in women). Third, is the physical ability of a man’s penis to react to his sexual wants and needs. Penile function is another complex process and the failure of a penis to become erect, even in the motivated sexually driven male, will perpetuate (or make worse) sexual dysfunction.

With regard to your comment on the increased confidence of men who have had a hair transplant, well, this is a very common message my patients pass on to me. For example: One well known, rich, successful and happily married businessman came to me with a Class 6 (fairly bald) pattern. He had two transplant sessions totaling about 5000 grafts. He was dynamic and was known for his charismatic style in public – but there was a piece of the inner, sexual man what was influenced by his hair loss. His wife came to me a couple of years after I had finished his hair restoration process. When he told her of his decision to have a hair transplant, she was outwardly supportive, but secretly did not feel it was necessary. She told me that after her husband had his hair back, the man she married came back and her confession brought tears to my eyes. She told me that her love had never diminished as he was balding, because he was still the same man she fell in love with and married. Now she wanted me to share her joy in the decision and to thank me for my role in his restoration two years earlier.

This story should shed light on the secret inner man which is in every man. The inner man does not like aging, Balding is a reminder of the aging process that men hate. The problem for most men, however, is that the transplant route is imbued with negative connotations and men tend to be averse to the idea that their vanity is a problem for them. Facing their vanity without the support of a loving and understanding wife, can be a difficult decision for a married man. For the recently divorced man, on the other hand, hair transplantation is a common process during the post divorce period and with the change in their image (even the possibilities of a potentially painful surgery), a hair transplant is often moved to the forefront. With a change in the physical appearance that comes with a normal looking head of hair, comes a confidence and a libido to match provided the plumbing is in good condition.

Seborrheic Dermatitis in Women

I had curly very thick hair all my 56 years. now out of the blue i got seborrheic and it is in my scalp. my hair is falling out. I’m going to the dr. but not much you could do but creams and hard shampoo. it’s not getting better. what can I do? it has been over five weeks. The dr. said this is something I have to live with. I’m not upset. I’m very blessed then other people. thank you if you can give me some feedback. God Bless

Please read the many entries on this blog for female hair loss. First and foremost, you need to have yourself and your health checked out. There are many diseases that can cause hair loss in women and you have to make sure that you do not have one of them. Women, like many men, can get genetic hair loss. In women, it usually is diffuse and not in one of the typical patterns that men show. Women generally thin out, but do not get bald. Some develop a pattern of thinning that can be treated more successfully with Minoxidil and possibly even hair transplants under certain conditions. First, get your self checked out medically and then find a good dermatologist or hair expert physician.


2005-12-07 09:56:11Seborrheic Dermatitis in Women

Estradex for Androgenic Alopecia?

I have just been diagnosed with AGA and given some Estradex. This is very costly and i’m wondering if I could get the same effect by using Minoxidil and taking a high oestrogen pill, or a pill that helps inhibit Androgens? Also, do you believe Estradex to be more effective than using Minoxidil alone? My fear is that it may just be an overly priced lotion. Thankyou

I do not understand or appreciate what Estradex is, so I can not comment on it. As you were prescribed this by a doctor, ask that doctor. Androgenic alopecia, also known as AGA (female genetic hair loss), needs to have an extensive evaluation. Have you had it? See previous Female Hair Loss posts for more.


2006-09-20 15:35:03Estradex for Androgenic Alopecia?

Does Semen Cause Vaginal Problems When a Man Is on Finasteride and Does a Man Have to Stop Taking It If He Wants to Get His Wife Pregnant?

Supposedly, very little (if any) Finasteride comes across with semen, so I doubt that this is causing her problem. She should see her gynecologist. The levels present in the ejaculate of patients taking 1 mg appear to be negligible. From the literature I have read, there does not appear to be any need to stop 1 mg of Finasteride in those patients trying to conceive or in those whose partners want to be or are pregnant.

Finestride and semen from tressless


2018-06-22 05:57:19Does Semen Cause Vaginal Problems When a Man Is on Finasteride and Does a Man Have to Stop Taking It If He Wants to Get His Wife Pregnant?

Excellent article on microneedling

This article discusses microneedling and shows many photos of men before and after its use

https://www.hairliciously.com/blogs/news/the-best-before-after-microneedling-and-derma-roller-results-for-hair-growth

 

Sex Drive and Erections

I am a 36 year-old male. I have been taking 1/5 of a finasteride (Proscar) pill daily for about 6-7 years. I have heard that Proscar can have harmful effects on male sex drive and erections — my question is, when this does happen, can it happen gradually or does it happen in the immediate days/weeks/months after starting the drug?

I ask because there has been a noticeable decline in my sex drive as well as the frequency and quality of erections over the years, and I don’t know if it’s normal for my age, or possibly due to the drug. I’m still quite functional sexually if I pick my spots, but those spots seem to be less and less frequent, and when I do get involved I’m prone to lose it unless I take Viagra beforehand (1/4 of a pill seems to work very well for me).

Please help! Would greatly appreciate any insight you can offer on my situation. I’m not sure but I think 36 is too young for this stuff.

Every man over 25 knows that their penis does not behave like it did when we were 15. There is an interconnection between our erections and our sex drive. If our erection is not strong enough, if we do not last long enough, or recover fast enough, then what we may call erection problems (Erectile Dysfunction / ED) may become a matter of our focus. From the impromptu polls I have done in my mostly male practice, many men in their 30s find that Viagra improves their erections. Question: Does it improve from a 15 year old vantage point or a 36 year old vantage point?

Your “sexual problem” (I only used quotes because I am not sure to what extent there is a problem) may be ED or it may be caused by Propecia (but that usually comes within the first month of taking the medication, not after years necessarily). If you stop the Propecia for a few weeks, and the ED and sex drive goes away, then you can assume it was Propecia induced. You can check your testosterone levels; hopefully they will be normal. If you have some aging effect and you are satisfied with Viagra, then use it. There are doctors that specialize in ED, so if all alse fails, you can see one of them so if you go this route, you are best starting off with your family doctor. If you decide to stop the Propecia for 2-3 weeks, the drug will be out of your system in a couple of days and within a week you should see some benefit if it is Propecia related.

EXT From Hair Club

I currently use the EXT product line from hair club. Are there any other products comparable to EXT?

You should dissect each element of their EXT approach:

  • Cleansers on the scalp do not do much
  • Lasers, in my opinion do not work
  • Lotions that contain minoxidil work just like minoxidil without the packaging
  • Scalp massage feels good but doesn’t grow hair
  • Finasteride works well
  • Vitamins have limited value in a person who is not vitamin deficient
  • Miniaturization studies tell you where your hair is going and how fast
  • Hair transplants work very well with the right Master Plan

I do not offer many of these elements because they may not work, take too much time, and will raise the costs for most people.

Shedding Different Hair Lengths, Scalp Pimples

I have about 2 1/2 inches of hair, im a 21 male and when i shed, i see short hairs and long hairs, is this normal? and also get about 5 to 10 new pimples every other week or so on my scalp, they are tiny and usually filled with white pus. i wash my hair everyday before i goto work, in the mornings and sometimes at night. could the pimples be causing the different length of hair to be shedding, and do pimples cause damage or hair loss? thanks to whomever read this, would really be appreciated

If you are experiencing folliculitis (pimples filled with pus) then it could be causing your hair shedding. You need to be examined by a good dermatologist and I am certain that once that doctor examines you, he/she will know what is wrong and how to treat it. I can not do this over the internet.