Category: Uncategorized

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Short Tapered Hairs Falling Out, Is This A Sign Of Balding?

I’ve noticed recently in the shower that short hairs are falling out that are tapered at the end of my hair, not the root. I’ve noticed more of these recently. Some are thinner and some are thick. All my uncles are balding on my mothers side. Are these hairs a sign of future balding? Thanks.

Hair loss in men occurs in a pattern and that is why it is called “Male Pattern Balding”. How a hair looks don’t really mean much unless you are looking at miniaturized hairs will look thinner for people who are balding. We all can lose up to 100 hairs a day normally and if you do the math, 100 hairs per day is 36,500 hairs per year and as the average Caucasian male has 100,000 hairs on his head, that means that his hair cycle is 3 years as he replaces all of the hair on his head every three years.

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Female and I Developed a Spot on My Hairline

I’m a 47 year old female. About 7 months ago, I noticed a thin spot on right side hairline, then a few months later, the left side seemed thinner too. It is the area underneath, temple up to the sides of my widow’s peak. It seemed to occur rapidly because last summer I had full hair there. I’m so upset. I don’t know if it’s from my father or hormones. I have had no prior hair loss. I don’t know when it will stop or if I need Mixoxidil. I’m taking stinging nettle and pumpkin seed oil. My thyroid seems ok but I have not checked my iron levels because it resembles male pattern hair loss. I wonder if it’s too much DHT. Please help.

Don’t assume anything. I would see a dermatologist or a hair expert like me. You must rule out diseases that cause spotty hair loss. Doctors with expertise can make this diagnosis when examining you.

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Should I Increase My Saw Palmetto Intake?

I am taking saw palmetto to slow my hair loss, but it seems to not stop the hairs from falling, rather when they do fall, they have a bulb on the end with the saw palmetto, but without, they are bulbless. Does this mean I should increase my saw palmetto intake?

Saw palmettoSaw palmetto is not proven to work for treating male pattern baldness, so increasing saw palmetto will likely have no effect. Traditionally, food supplement companies jumped on the bandwagon to promote saw palmetto for hair loss, as they made a connection that the herb helps with prostate issues. In fact, there is no clear evidence that even that is true. Now for years people have been taking saw palmetto for prostate problems, but no study I’ve seen has been able to prove that it really works, even though it has been embedded in our popular culture to be true. Somewhere along the road someone made the connection that since finasteride and saw palmetto are for prostate problems, saw palmetto may also work for hair. This is not true!

To put it into perspective, finasteride 5mg pills (marketed as a brand name Proscar) is a drug that helps with prostate conditions. A side effect of finasteride 5mg (Proscar) was that it grew hair on balding men who were taking the medication for their prostate conditions. The drug company saw the marketing potential for such side effect (of growing hair on balding men) and marketed finasteride 1mg (as Propecia) for genetic male pattern baldness. Propecia and Proscar are the same medication in different doses. You don’t need the higher (5mg) dose to grow hair. As such, some patients take Proscar and break up the pill in 1/4 pieces (ideally it would be 1/5, but that is difficult) to take for hair loss. If your hair is important to you, consider the use of Propecia rather than saw palmetto.

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Female Hair Loss from Iron Deficiency?

I am 29 years old and am losing hair. After the shower I can see lot of hair fallen around. In my diet, I dont include iron-rich food. Would it be a possible reason for hair loss? Can you suggest a good diet for preventing hair loss?

Speak to your doctor and have your iron levels measured. This is an important step if you think that you have an iron deficiency, a common occurrence in women. Historically, women needed to eat meat to replace the iron they lose from menstruation which is why iron deficiency is not uncommon in women. A good general diet with red meat may be all that you need if your iron levels are bordering on the low level, otherwise, see you doctor and get his/her recommendation. If you have hair loss, then as I’ve suggested many times in this blog, you need a good examination for miniaturization to get the best diagnosis for cause.


2006-01-11 22:41:40Female Hair Loss from Iron Deficiency?

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Should I Use Propecia and Rogaine Together?

Dr. Rassman:
What is your opinion on Rogaine? Do you think it should be used with Propecia or is Propecia by itself sufficient?

Some people use both together, but I recommend using one at a time so you can figure out which one is providing benefits. If you see some results from Propecia, you can add Rogaine later to try for a maximum benefit. If you start with both and see results, you’re committing to a lifetime of using both medications (otherwise you won’t know which one is providing the results).

Rogaine can work, but I’ve seen better results from Propecia… particularly in men with early hair loss.


2012-01-17 13:26:05Should I Use Propecia and Rogaine Together?

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Female Mature Hairline?

Is there such a thing a female mature hairline ? It seems quite common for a woman in her mid-twenties/thirties to have a larger forehead than she did in her teens, like Britney Spears or Cameron Diaz seem to have for instance. Or is this just the effect of using hair extensions, harsh treatments and the like over a long period of time ?

I do not believe that there is a maturing hairline for women, but some form of reshaping of the hairline may be seen.

In women who have had considerable plastic surgery, the corners of the frontal hairline often thin so significantly that I perform fill-in procedures for that area. Another possibility is as you suggested — traction alopecia can develop from the tight pulling caused by hair extensions, wigs, weaves, and similar.

Finally, some women are also just born with a higher hairline, and it’s possible that wearing wigs or professionally styled hair made it hard to notice in these celebrities’ younger years.


2010-08-23 14:17:39Female Mature Hairline?

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Side effects from oral minoxidil

What do the side effects generally feel like, for lack if a better word. ive been monitoring my blood pressure daily, and ive been keeping an eye on my heart rate as habit for a while now. Both have been consistent and continue to be consistent 3 days into oral minox, but i cant shake the feeling that somethings a bit off. Ive been experiencing mild chest discomfort for months since starting adhd treatment, but having had a full check up done on my cardiovascular health (ekg, bloods, xray), everything was fine. This discomfort feels more pronounced with oral minoxidil, but I cant tell if its in my head or not. It will go away and come back occasionally, and i can exercise for a while feeling fine until i start getting worried about it and then it becomes noticeable.

could it be a result of heavy weight lifting? I lift regularly, but i feel like the discomfort should be uniform across my chest then right? When i press the cartilage near my breastbone, there is pain on the left side, as well as when i press the area of my left pec near my collarbone.

You need to have a serious discussion with your doctor


2021-01-14 09:59:07Side effects from oral minoxidil

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Fibromyalgia and Hair Loss

i have been suffering a lot of hair loss for the past 2 years. my hair is noticably thin. i have also been suffering from joint and muscular inflammation for 2 years as well. all my blood tests are clear. i was wondering is there a link to the inflammation and hair loss? i have been recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia. could that be the the cause?

Fibromyalgia is an immunological disease “characterized by diffuse or specific muscle, joint, or bone pain, fatigue, and a wide range of other symptoms”. These types of diseases are known to cause fragile hair and perhaps even hair loss. You should consult a good dermatologist.

For more, see Wikipedia


2007-09-10 09:33:46Fibromyalgia and Hair Loss

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Single Bald Spot on the Side of My Head

Yes hi, i’m 20 years old (male). i went to get a hair cut a few months ago and i noticed a bold spot on the side of my head. it has a little bit of thin hairs but you can totally noticed that i have a bald spot. its the size of a quarter. its been a few months now and the hair hasn’t grown back. can you help me with my problem?

thank you

You may wish to see a dermatologist. If it’s just a single spot on the side of your head, there could be a variety of reasons for it to occur — anything from stress to disease. There isn’t much else I can provide without an examination.

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I Have Been on Finasteride for 3 Months and My Right Nipple Breast Looks Bigger Than the Left. Do I Have Gynecomastia? (Photo)

Yes. If this is a change, then it is possible that you have developed early gynecomastia of the right breast. If there are no lumps (painful or otherwise), then you should see your doctor for advice on what to do.


2018-07-19 05:38:59I Have Been on Finasteride for 3 Months and My Right Nipple Breast Looks Bigger Than the Left. Do I Have Gynecomastia? (Photo)