Category: Uncategorized

I hear about a substance called RU in a bunch of the forums on the internet.Many of the people using it swear it helps the hairline. Do you have any on this at all?

I assume you’re referring to RU58841, which I still don’t know much about besides that it is an experimental anti-androgen out of Europe. I mentioned it earlier this year in a post, but I can’t comment on forum members swearing something works or doesn’t work. I prefer published proof in peer-reviewed medical literature, which I haven’t seen yet.

Snippet from the non-hair-loss article:

Men with prostate cancer who consumed green tea prior to undergoing prostatectomy had reductions in markers of inflammation, according to data presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held in Anaheim, Calif., Oct. 16-19, 2012.

“Our study showed that drinking six cups of green tea affected biomarkers in prostate tissue at the time of surgery,” said Susanne M. Henning, Ph.D., R.D., adjunct professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles. “This research offers new insights into the mechanisms by which green tea consumption may reduce the risk for prostate cancer by opposing processes such as inflammation, which are associated with prostate cancer growth.”

Read the rest – Green Tea Reduced Inflammation, May Inhibit Prostate Cancer Tumor Growth, Research Finds

This small study of 67 men with known prostate cancer showed a significant reduction in serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate tissue PSA protein expression in those that consumed green tea. It seems to build upon an earlier study from 2009.

It’s too early to suggest that green tea can prevent cancer, and further research will be necessary to evaluate the connection.

Hi, where in the world would you recommend getting a transplant for an Afro-Carribean? Australia? USA or here in New Zealand ? I am happy to travel to any country..Thanks

This would be a biased answer since we at NHI routinely perform hair transplants, including curly hairs (African men, etc). I would like to think we are the best in the world, but I generally leave that up to our patients to be the judge.

We also can do follicular unit extraction (FUE) on this hair type, something that few doctors can offer. I realize choosing a doctor or a medical group may be difficult but if you do the research, you will get a good idea. You can also refer to our guide, Selecting a Hair Transplant Doctor.

I am searching for legal help!

After applying “Minoxidil” to a bald spot on my scalp I had a severe life threatening reaction. My pulse rate gradually climbed to 240+ at which time my wife dialed 911. I could not be moved from my home until EMS and an EMS physician who was rushed in could lower my heart rate. I am now in constant fear of a recurrence and will not be without emergency medication that I carry in my wallet. I came very close to death!

The worse part of this scenario is the fact that the EMS team (2 were in my home) did not know how to stop the rapid pulse rate, my wife and I heard them ask the ER physician what to do the next time they have a similar situation! My health has been permanently and adversely affected, I have an almost constant irregular heartbeat and I’m unable to be involved with any activity that causes stress, have not been able to work since the initial adverse reaction.

I’m just now inquiring about a possible lawsuit after an associate mentioned hearing about the connection between rapid uncontrolled pulse rate and Minoxidil/Rogaine, the EMS trip to the local hospital took place March 18th 2010, my medical condition is worsening. Until now anyone associated with this disaster ever relayed the connection or any info between this dangerous drug and what happened to me, not in the ER or our family physician?

Please advise…

I am not a lawyer and the purpose of the blog is to give medical information, not legal advice.

Minoxidil can drop blood pressure if greatly absorbed from heavy applications; however, I have never heard of anything like you reported.

doctor rassman, this question might sound stupid, but does taking propecia with a glass of water make it less effective? or should it be take wuthout liquid at all?

I’d assume most people take Propecia with water or some other kind of liquid. Water doesn’t change the efficacy. Just avoid taking it with grapefruit juice.

Do the people who are destined to become a Norwood 7 start balding early? i mean around what age do they usually start balding?

Yes, I do believe that the advanced balding patterns like a Class 7 pattern does start to show up earlier.

The best step for you if you think that you are in that category, is to get miniaturization studies and bulk measurement studies done on various parts of your scalp. Any early miniaturization or bulk studies will help you follow the changes over the years with good measurements… and best of all, it will tell you what the diagnosis is and how you are doing with any hair loss medication you’re using.

Hi Doctor

I am a 23 years old female. I used to suffer from hair loss 3-5 years ago but now I feel better with the hair loss although it seems to me that the hair that fall doesn’t grow again because I am noticing the shiny scalp. I had been using revivogen for around 8 months and I noticed new hair growth but not many. Then I stopped it one year ago. Three months ago I did hair test from Hairgrowth UK which shows the toxicity and they found out that food like wheat, animal milk and alcohol causes toxicity and they recommended that I take omega3:6:9 twice a day and oxylift and Royal Jelly as well. I’ve not noticed that my hair is getting better at all. I really don’t know what I am supposed to take to be recovered. plz help me

There is a lot of money to be made by testing victims for bogus hair loss causes. I really do not know anything about this particular company or the value of taking the products that they recommend. Buyer beware.

If you’re concerned, I’d think you’d want to see a doctor that can examine you and perhaps run some real tests for female hair loss.

Doc,
Odd question,
I’ve noticed that some men tend to actually look good when their hairline recede to a NW3. Hollywood has a few examples with Christian Slater, Thomas Jane, Josh Lucas, and Patrick Wilson. I’m just curious is there any way of telling who will be good looking with a balding pattern prior to the baldness? BTW, I’m a woman, so I do think those men are good looking!

Your opinion has been noted. If you have a fella and want to find out what he would look like with a NW3, then you can ask him to shave his hair to conform to that look. Or use Photoshop.

The hairs I see fall off during brushing are thin and short, between 1 and 3 inches, as compared to my ‘normal’ hairs on the side and back of my head. Is this an unmistakable indication of miniaturization and evidence for MPB? If Propecia and Rogaine are working (I’ve been on them for a year), should I expect to see increase in thickness and length in those fall-off hairs? Thanks

Hair loss does occur on Propecia and it could be ‘accelerated cycling’ of your existing hair. That being said, I don’t know what is happening to you, since there is no way for me to tell over the internet.

When people lose hair, the hair may be lost early in a cycle, but there is no way to tell. When hairs are miniaturized, they frequently slow down their growth rate and may just start growing in the beginning of its cycle when the “genetic axe falls”.

Dr. Rassman,

I’m a 25 year old male that noticed a few months ago that i was starting to thin on the crown of my head. I started using rogaine foam. About a month or so into using the foam I read about Propecia, and vistited my doctor who said that he thinks Propecia would work the best for me. My question is; since I’ve only been using Rogaine for two and a half months, do you think I’d be okay quitting the foam and just using Propecia (which I’ve been on for the last month)? I haven’t noticed any improvements with the rogaine yet(which makes sense to me since the package says it could take many months to start seeing results). I’m just wondering if I can quit the foam without losing hair. I figure I should be okay since I haven’t seen improvements yet.

Thanks so much, doctor. I appreciate your blog very much.

I would hope (though I am not sure) that you did not build minoxidil dependence on the miniaturized hairs. For men of your age, Propecia is a better choice.