Category: Uncategorized

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Do You Actually Believe That There Will Be Stem Cell Breakthroughs?

Do you actually believe there will be a stem cell breakthrough in the next few years doctor? I want to believe this, but I have come to see these predictions as moving timelines. It is very disappointing that science has not be able to develop more effective treatments for genetic hair loss. Progress has been at a stand still since finasteride. I want to believe that one day I can have my hair back, but I think it is just wishful thinking.

Yes, I believe that there will be some breakthrough, maybe not stem cell but possibly something else. There are many people working on drugs that stimulate the growth of dormant hair follicles and I believe that is where the breakthrough will come from.

 

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How do you know if you need a hair transplant?(from Reddit)

The key here is to find an honorable doctor who can build a Master Plan for your short and long term future. It may not mean a hair transplant so you have to find a doctor who can tell you NOT to do a surgery so that you don’t make a mistake if it is the wrong decision for you. The amount of hair that is moved, is another issue of good planning. Hair loss is progressive, so you must not waste the limited donor hair you have.

Question about Hair Transplant from tressless


2018-09-21 09:17:57How do you know if you need a hair transplant?(from Reddit)

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Advanced balding reversed (photos)

I’m 25 years old. I was starting to lose my hair when I was 16. It was very rapid process so when I was 20 my situation is almost NW7. 132 days ago I decided to take this regime ( I don’t want to mention about decision phase)

first 120 day, I started with the big 3 + dermaroller 0.5 mm x1week (dut(0.5) once everyday+ minox %5 twice everyday + nizoral 2-3 times per week with no side effects) biotin(10000) + zinc(50) + d3(5000) + collagen peptides(tablet) + omega3(with fish oil) all of them x1 everyday ogx biotin shampoo

Everything was good for me. It was like a miracle you know. My hair like born again. My head was full of baby hair and they were getting stronger day by day (or its just it seemed to me like that) On day 118, I just noticed to shedding, probably it has began before that then I shaved my head to zero guard. In this 14 days I shed like crazy. It’s like the first day when I was start this, I read something about shedding but I’m still worried about that this will be failure for me. So I bought something and added my regime. It’s been 2 days since I started using. Apple cyder vinegar tablets(750mg) x1 everyday, l-cysteine (500mg) x1 everyday, vitamin A (25000iu) x1 everyday, iron (65mg + 325mg fer.) x1 everyday, Ubiquinol (100mg) x1 everyday, Collagen peptides powder 15g with cold water everyday, dermaroller upper to 1.5 mm x1 week, Castor oil x3 days of week with massage 2 hours waiting, hyaluronic acid after dermaroller

I uploaded every angle and lights position of my head with day numbers. https://imgur.com/gallery/E0KiyIz. So I just need your help. What should I do? Should I continue or It was just a good short dream that end with failure? If I will continue, what would you suggest me to add?

Amazing results in just 80 days. It seems to be working. I would love to see better focused photographs. My recommendation is stick to it.


2020-06-12 09:38:03Advanced balding reversed (photos)

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Laser Comb, Again

I have recently began using the new lazer comb. It was given to me as a gift. I was curious if it has been effective in the hair loss fight? Any comments, advice, side effects would be greatly appreciated.

I have not read any impartial scientific papers that verify the effectiveness of laser combs. I tend to discount any reports that claim the combs work, if they are written by those who have a vested interest in the success of the laser comb industry. On the positive side, I have not read any papers that claim that is unsafe to use the laser comb. Since the comb was a gift, and you plan on using it as recommended, I see no reason for you not to try it. However, if you see any adverse reactions or have continuing balding, you may want to have a doctor examine you and see if there are any recommended and scientifically proven methods that may help you.

I’ve previously written about this in a previous blog entry, Hair Lasers.

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After 3 Months on Propecia, My Hair is Oily

I am a 24 year old male, and have experienced mild hair loss for the past 2 years or so, mostly in the temple region. However, the rate of hair loss has significantly increased in the last 8 or 9 months, and has expanded to the entire top of the head. The front is now very thin, and my scalp is plainly visible all over when the hair is wet. I began taking Propecia 3 months ago, and have not noticed any slowdown in the rate of hairloss. What I have noticed recently, is that my hair has become very oily (it has never been very oily before), and mild acne is beginning to form at the hairline.

So my two questions are:
1) Is the increased rate of hair loss, and sudden expanded hair loss region normal?
2) Is the oily hair and/or acne side effect of Propecia? Normal symptoms of hair loss? Or something else?

Thanks a lot for your great blog!

These are questions for your doctor. Remember, you’re asking about a prescription medication. You should pose questions about this sort of thing with your prescribing doctor.

In my experience, what you are reporting for the first three months with regard to seeing a benefit on Propecia is usual as it takes almost a year to see value. With regard to the oily nature that you are reporting, I have not seen this reported by my patients.

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Left Side of Scalp Is Different From My Right Side

Dr Rassman,

I am a 26 y/o asian male who started experience significant hairloss in the last couple years. My right temple is receeding and there is slight thinning on the top of the crown. I started taking propecia about 3 months ago. It has been effective in the crown area but not for my frontal hairloss. The odd part is that I do not lose any hair at my left temple (or the left side of my head in general) but I am experiencing significant hairloss in my right temple. I would also like to mention that i have straight hair on the left side of my head, while the right side of my head is more wavy hair. I also notice some dandruff and bulbs in between my hairs on the right side of my head. My hair loss is causing me much emotional distress and i am almost afraid to even touch the right side of my head b/c i am afraid of losing more hair. It depresses me just looking in the mirror b/c my hairline is nothing close to straight. it appears as if i have my hair combed over when in actuality it is standing straight up. I know you mentioned that you recommend being on propecia for 8 months prior to getting a hair transplant. I really would like to get a hair transplant to fix my hairline. If i stay on propecia for 8 months, will I experience any shock loss? I am concerned b/c although there is noticable recession of the right temple, it is not drastic. I appreciate your help, and I do not know what I would do without your blog!

You should be evaluated by an honest and competent doctor. Depending upon the hair loss and what it looks like, a good doctor can usually predict what will happen to you and build a Master Plan around that. Transplants may be in your future, but there is no substitute for a good doctor/patient relationship. Since we seem to be bonding, you can send me photos (good ones) and I will give you an opinion (which will not be posted here without your permission, so do not worry about that).

Timing is everything. Yes, you might be able to get a hair transplant provided that you are on Propecia. There is often a difference between the two sides, one side being more advanced than the other. If you let nature takes its course, the retarded side will catch up, but the key here is to not let it catch up. Stop it with Propecia and eventually (timing is everything) fix both sides of the frontal hairline.


2006-08-21 08:27:04Left Side of Scalp Is Different From My Right Side

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After Taking Propecia Daily for Years After My Transplant, I Think I’m Losing Hair Again

I have had two procedures in the past at Dr. Rassman’s NHI facility. The first about 8 years ago, the second about 6 years ago. I have used Propecia, or Finasteride as a substitute, religiously since before the first procedure.

About a year ago I started to notice substantial thinning in the areas that had become filled in from the procedures. I have assumed this to be loss of original hair. Is it common for Propecia/Finasteride to stop working at some point? Does substituting Finasteride have a negative effect?

Last, I have read that Propecia (Finasteride) dosage can be reduced from 1 mg a day to .2 mg per day with no negative effect, and that it may be possible to take the med every other day. True?

Hair transplants are permanent and lifelong, but those remaining hairs you had in the balding areas (not the transplanted grafts) will continue to fall out. When you have surgery, we transplant the hairs in between any existing hair to blend it in so that if the existing hairs fall out years down the line, you will still have the transplanted hairs to keep things looking natural without an abrupt demarcation.

Propecia is just a brand name for the finasteride (in 1mg dose). There should be no difference between generic and brand name other than possibly the strength in dose of the active ingredient. It’s possible that there are different fillers. Propecia/finasteride does help hold on to the existing thinning hair as long as possible, but eventually your genetic predisposition catches up with you. This does not mean it just stopped working, but rather, you are getting older and your predestined hair loss fate is winning the battle.

The medication is about 70 to 80 percent as effective at half the dose of the recommended 1mg daily, so you can theoretically cut the pill in half (0.5mg) and still see some benefits. There have been some patients who have seen side effects, and cutting the dose in half has allowed them to experience good results without the side effects.


2011-10-25 12:45:38After Taking Propecia Daily for Years After My Transplant, I Think I’m Losing Hair Again

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Lichen Planopilaris (LPP) is an autoimmune disease of the scalp (photo)

This patient should not have a hair transplant as his disease, LPP, will kill any transplanted hairs. The previous hairs were replaced by scar tissue. This disease is evident by the shinny, scar ridden skin, the lack of vellus hairs around the hairy edge as it transitions into normal scalp. This disease is thought to be present more than most doctors realize and could be found in men in their late 20s or 30s. We have thought that women were more susceptible to having this disease in the past.

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Alcohol and Testosterone Levels

Dr. Rassman,

Below is a study that links alcohol and testosterone levels- Does an increase in testosterone levels necessarily accelerate hair loss in men who are predisposed to lose their hair? Thank you-

Study abstract: Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003 Apr;27(4):682-5. Testosterone increases in men after a low dose of alcohol.

We have known for some time that alcohol is metabolized by the liver, as is testosterone. I can not connect the dots between the casual drinker and the hair loss victim.


2011-01-27 09:52:14Alcohol and Testosterone Levels

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How Long Does Finasteride Work?

I’ve used Min and Fin for 18 months, and it’s worked well. It’s slowed recession to 85-97% – though it’s hard to be objective – and there’s some light Min regrowth around my hairline. If it kept working like this indefinitely, I’d be rapt. … and that’s what I’m wondering. Many users – and, IIRC, studies – report efficacy of both these medications to at least somewhat dip over time. But I’ve anecdotally seen people on other forums talk about 10-15 years of use.

So how many Fin users ( and/or Big 3 users ) have reported good results from the drugs that have simply maintained anywhere near the same level of results over 5-10+ years? In other words: who has kept near to what they started with and had decent-to-strong long-term results – and/or even gains?

I have seen the Finasteride work for as long as it has been on the market. I know that because one of my patients, 62, was on it since it was released, but decided to stop it and got “catch-up hair loss”. He was devastated. He went back on the drug, but did not get all of his hair back.


2018-05-14 09:25:41How Long Does Finasteride Work?