Category: Uncategorized

Posted on

Revivogen’s Study

Dear doctor,

Please go through the clinical study URL given below. I want your comments on this:

Revivogen clinical trials

Regards

As the article says, the study was conducted on reconstructed tissue samples. In other words, the study was done in a petri dish (not on live humans), in order to “assess the effects of the test compound on the metabolism of testosterone in reconstructed human epidermis.” Nothing about growing hair, stopping hair loss, etc.

The study doesn’t show anything about actual hair loss treatment results on living humans, so if the Revivogen makers are using it as a sales point, I hope people actually take a moment to look at the study first and judge for themselves. I’d expect most consumers would want the treatment they purchased to actually have proof that it works as advertised on living people… not just in theory based on lab results. Also, the study was not peer-reviewed, which means it wasn’t checked for errors or reliability.

I’ve already made it clear about the hair loss treatments I’ll give a thumbs up to (FDA approved finasteride and minoxidil), but if you want to try unproven treatments then please, by all means, do so. Revivogen ingredients include saw palmetto and numerous vitamins in a topical treatment and they claim no side effects. While that could be true, if this was the magic bullet to hair loss treatment it would be universally recommended. Instead, the product is just another in a long line of “all natural” treatments that I wouldn’t expect to provide much help aside from lightening your wallet and dashing your hopes.


2010-08-06 12:07:12Revivogen’s Study

Posted on

Does Wind Cause Hair Loss?

My question relates to wind exposure. I’ve read on this blog (and elsewhere) that there is no correlation between exposure to high wind gusts and hair loss.

However, I’ve also read here that most of the hairs shed daily “blow out in the wind,” and from showering, styling, etc.

I live in Chicago where I have been exposed to wind gusts in excess of 30 mph. Can this cause hair loss or would I only be losing what was already bound to be lost?

Thanks Doc!

wind
Wind does not cause hair loss other than the fact it may blow away falling hair. Hair loss in men in most cases is due to genetic male pattern balding. Hair loss occurs in a pattern (thus the term). If your theory of the windy city (Chicago) is true, you would see more bald men and women in Chicago. I don’t believe Donald Trump is from Chicago.

Posted on

Rogaine and finasteride, How long do they work?

I’m just curious if anyone knows how long the regrowth will last on finasteride before it stops and if there’s any possibility of regrowth beyond maybe 10-15 cm up top for people in my position. thanks all.

Both Rogaine (minoxidil) and Finasteride have peak actions in about 2 years. They usually maintain the benefits provided that you continue to take the drug, otherwise, all of the benefits are lost in a few months.

Posted on

Donor area messed up in Turkey. How do I know who can do SMP well so I don’t make another mistake

Hi i am considering scalp micro pigmentation for an over eager fue transplant by Maralklinik in Turkey. Will post pics below for advice. It’s been 18 months since and am open to all advice. Ps I reccommend never getting a transplant. But that’s another story for another day.

Be sure you get an expert and always ask to see some of their patients that had SMP as too many providers do it poorly and the best protection you have is seeing people who had it done yourself. We offer these experiences along with hair transplants at monthly open house events held at one of our two office in Southern California. See: https://scalpmicropigmentation.com/


2019-03-26 18:18:09Donor area messed up in Turkey. How do I know who can do SMP well so I don’t make another mistake

Posted on

Roman Skull ~2000 years old

The hair was preserved. I wonder why? In many digs with skulls going back thousands of years, wigs have been found on the skulls


2021-01-23 14:16:13Roman Skull ~2000 years old

Posted on

Don’t You Get Tired of Answering Questions on Propecia?

What question do you get tired of being asked the most on this forum?

I’m guessing it’s about propecia. I think you should have a Q&A page on the drug on this site.

When I first started BladingBlog, I thought the same thing. You’d be surprised how many different ways one can ask a question on Propecia and hair loss in general.
I believe we have at least 800 different questions and answers on the topic of Propecia: see HERE and HERE

You can also search for “Best of Balding Blog” on top and popular Topics on the right side of the screen.

Posted on

Dr Rassman Can’t Say Anything Bad About Merck, Propecia, or the FDA?

Comment in response to Finasteride Induced Depression?:

I found that reply highly inadequate. It seems Rassman, as valuable a resource as he is, can say nothing bad about Propecia (or Merck or the FDA). The sensible reaction to a study that shows a statistical difference in depressive symptoms among finasteride consumers ought to be a warning to depression sufferers. I find it peculiar for a man with a scientific background to (rightly) show severe skepticism toward alternative approaches to hair loss, but to conspicuously lack such skepticism about a drug whose only safety guarantee comes from a manufacturer-funded study from a corporation that has been shown to suffer from sponsorship bias. It’s unfortunate. More could be said beyond “this problem is rare [evidence?] and this drug is totally elective.” It’s the equivalent of, You don’t like it? Don’t take it! That option is obvious. Dr. Rassman should instead state the plain truth: The health consequences of long-term finasteride use (including irreversible biological changes) are uncertain, because that cannot be established by such minimal clinical study, and therefore taking the drug is a gamble.

Read the referenced study about finasteride and depression and you’ll find very clearly that it states, “In conclusion, this preliminary study suggests that finasteride might induce depressive symptoms. Although our data suggest a slight change, the side effect should be considered specially when the medication is prescribed for patients, who are more susceptible for it.”

If someone is going to get worked up about what could amount to nothing, simply not taking the medication would be the only logical solution. I don’t know what more I can tell you. Propecia is not a lifesaving drug and taking it is completely elective. I don’t downplay possible side effects, but the fact is, they are very rare in my practice. I have seen some cases of increased depression in previously depressed people, and changes in feelings or the way they think have also been noted. And of the few patients that have reported these side effects, all have elected to stop taking the medication for a month or so to see if the problem subsides. The drug has been available to the public for over a dozen years, so there is a massive number of patients taking it all over the world. The US FDA requires that drug companies report new side effects as they are reported by prescribing physicians.

It’s unfortunate that you feel the need to try to discredit me, but I’ve already written in the past about how the FDA isn’t perfect, I’ve got nothing to gain by kissing up to Merck, and common sense should tell you that some degree of gambling is involved when you take any drug. As I’ve said in the past, everyone can react differently to medication. With that in mind, Merck makes the only FDA approved oral hair loss treatment, and if it seems like I’m talking that medication up quite a bit, its because I’ve seen it work wonders and continue to see it daily in my patients.

Posted on

Why are my scabs still on my scalp

What you have are not scabs but necrosis of the skin in the recipient area. This means that these black areas have skin that has died as a result of your hair transplant. You need so see your surgeon as this will require wound care and eventually you will be left with a scar in that area with no hair growth in the blackened area.


2019-01-14 13:48:29Why are my scabs still on my scalp

Posted on

Dr Rassman’s Willingness to Show Opposing Opinions

Doc,

I brought up my questions about the value of miniaturization studies which you responded to. Though I’m still not convinced, you posted a response from another doctor who also questioned it’s value giving his reasons. Your willingness to post those suggests you’re a true scientist. People often portray science as consensus when it’s just the opposite. Those who claim any debate is over are restricting knowledge not expanding it.

Thanks for you’re continued effort to expand all of our knowledge.

Sometimes the opposite opinions are from people who completely made up their minds and there’s nothing I could possibly say that would make a difference. This is my blog and the readers are generally a bright group who come here for answers and insights, and that is why I love doing this. Teaching is my responsibility to give back what I have learned over the years to those balding people. Thanks for your comments.