GNC Men’s Mega Men and Hair Loss, Follow-Up

Doctor,
You recently mentioned (GNC Men’s Mega Men and Hair Loss) that a certain GNC multivitamin contains DHEA, which can produce hair loss as a side effect. I use the GNC mega men multivitamin, and I can’t find any mention of DHEA -or the full name of Dehydroepiandrosterone- in the ingredients. Does it go by a different name? I suspect one or more of the following ingredients: L-Arginine, L-Carnitine, L-Glutamine, L-Taurine, L-Valine, L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine.

I also take a protein shake that contains much larger quantities of L-Isoleucine, L-Leucine, L-Valine, and L-Glutamine. In addition, I take a creatine supplement with L-Glutamine, Taurine, Glycine, K-Arginine, and L-Methionine.

Ironically, I usually take these supplements alongside of a DHT blocker (first propecia, more recently Avodart) because I was experiencing thinning hair a while back. I’m under the impression some of these may increase DHT production in the body.

I would appreciate it if you could tell me which, if any, of these ingredients produce hair-loss, or increase DHT, as a side-effect.The good news is that I haven’t noticed any additional hair loss, but I would like to cease use of these products ASAP if they accelerate the hair loss process.

Thank you very much.

My comments that reflected the presence of DHEA in the product GNC Men’s Mega Men come from the GNC.com website, where it states “Features DHEA, one of the most abundant hormones produced in the body and is a precursor to other hormones.. ”

DHEA can cause hair loss and that is all I have said about it. I am not against this product, just looking for things that cause hair loss and reporting what I learn to this audience.

With regard to the other listed nutrient supplements that you asked about, clearly a deficiency of any essential dietary elements in your diet can, by themselves produce hair loss.

L-Glutamine: There is a suggestion that high amount of this can cause increases in growth hormone, which could therefore produce hair loss if that association bares out.

Taurine, Glycine, K-Arginine, and L-Methionine : There is no direct association that I know of between taking amino acids supplement and hair loss. Any deficiency in these however, will produce hair loss. Good diets should alone produce adequate amounts of these essential nutritionals.

2006-06-26 14:38:482006-06-26 08:57:43GNC Men’s Mega Men and Hair Loss, Follow-Up

January 1, 2023

Testicle Pain 3 Months After Taking Finasteride

You could be developing some problems with your testicles that may be or may not be related to Finasteride. You should see a doctor and not assume that it is due to the drug. The doctor will examine you looking for testicular torsion or other abnormalities that some men may be experiencing and who are not on the drug Finasteride.

Why are my balls hurting after 3 months? from tressless

2018-07-06 06:27:462018-07-19 06:29:35Testicle Pain 3 Months After Taking Finasteride

January 1, 2023

Not Hair Loss News – For Cigarette Smokers, Read This

Reported From Medscape, September 10, 2014: Scientists contradict WHO criticism of e-cigarettes

The benefits that E-cigarettes don’t have the tar and poisons from burning tobacco is the point of the article. E-cigarette-do not pose a “significant health risk”, say the scientists. The risks of nicotine addition is still present and there is legitimate concern that this is a ‘gateway’ drug that might lead to smoking tobacco, especially in children

January 1, 2023

Testosterone Therapy and Hair Loss

Hi Doctor:
Since being on Testosterone therapy for about a year now, I am suffering from serious male pattern baldness. I am 49 and realize it is natural to lose some of my hair but I know it is coming from the testosterone. If I discontinue the treatment (against my Doctor’s wishes) will the hair loss stop and perhaps even grow back as the testosterone level drops or is the damage already done?
Thanks

Once the testosterone has precipitated the hair loss, the loss is not reversible. Maybe your final hair loss pattern has not occurred, and if that is the case and you stop the testosterone and go on Propecia, maybe you can still save some of the hair that will eventually fall out. Please discuss this with your doctor more or see another doctor for a second opinion.

2008-01-09 09:36:402008-01-09 09:36:40Testosterone Therapy and Hair Loss

January 1, 2023

Hair Loss And Propecia – Revisited And Updated

Hi doctor Rassman. you have an amazing blog and are so informative when it comes to hairloss.

I have been taking propecia (the brand version from merck frost) for 6 months and 3 days to be exact. (I started taking it on June 1 2011, and today is december 3 2011). I have seen no change in my hairloss at all. My hairloss has not gotten better, or it hasn’t gotten worse. It is at the same rate prior to taking propecia. So basically its like I have taken the propecia for nothing. They say you are suppose to see less hairloss by month 3. this is now month six and still nothing.

I went to see my dermatologist and he told me that since I haven’t seen any results within these 6 months that I should stop taking it if I want and further treatment with it will make no sense since it has done nothing in the first six months.. he basically left the decision up to me. These were his exact words, “If I were you, I would stop taking it because since it has done nothing, i don’t think it will be of any benefit, but its up to you. you can keep taking it for another 6 months and see where that goes”.

Now this is my question to you doctor rassman. I know you can’t give medical advice and such, and I completely understand. I just want your opinion on the matter. Since you are a hair restoration specialist, I feel that your opinion is far greater than any dermatologist.

do you think 6 months is to soon to give up? should I continue in your opinion? Have you had any patients who started seeing the benefits after 6 months and such. what do you think? I just want your opinion. I really appreciate it. thank you

Without an examination or documentation of how your hair loss has progressed in the last 6 months, I really would not know what to advise. I can’t tell you whether you should or shouldn’t take a medication I didn’t prescribe to you, but it could be worth sticking with it for a little while longer before making a decision either way. Your doctor gave you the same advice.

We advocate miniaturization studies, bulk measurement studies, and even take photographs under consistent lighting. These tests, while not perfect, are an attempt to quantify and scientifically track hair loss. Hopefully one day we can accurately measure and document hair loss more accurately. As a matter of fact, we have just been granted a U.S. Patent on such method a method (see here).

If you want an evaluation of hair loss and options, I would seek a hair transplant surgeon in your area. Your situation may not be hopeless as finasteride almost always works to some degree, even if it is just slowing the process down. I generally tell my patients that they need to take Propecia for 6 to 12 months before the effectiveness can be assessed but that same advice should extend to a few years with Bulk measurements taken yearly. I also make it a point to tell those patients that while they may not notice any difference (or even notice more hair loss), that could mean the genetic predisposition to hair loss is winning out over what the drug can offer. It’s possible that the medication has slowed the rate of your loss, and had you not taken it for these past 6 months you’d have even more hair loss than you have now. Really though, I don’t have any way to know unless you get two measurements for hair bulk over a 12 month period.

January 1, 2023

The Damage Produced by Sun Exposure (with Photos)

This is a 70+ year old man who had blonde hair in is youth. He was a lifeguard for 15 years and constantly got sun burned. The price he paid for this sun exposure is monthly visits to his dermatologist with many, many skin cancers. Notice that his hair loss could not be worse, with hair not only in the front and top, but also the sides to just behind the ears. I suggested that he was not a candidate for hair transplants. You can see the many scars resulting for removal of his skin cancer. The message to take from this is to stay out of the sun and certainly be careful that you don’t get sun burned!

Click the photos to enlarge.

January 1, 2023

I Like Being Bald What’s The Big Deal

I am a 33 year old woman who has been completely bald (by choice) about eight times. I have been shaving my head since 2008, and my hair is usually about a number 1. I did not do this to raise money for cancer research, or anything similar. I shave my head because I love having short hair. I think it is very sad that so many people consider hair loss to be a bad thing, and spend ludicrous amounts of money just to have more hair.

I shave my head myself every week and spend about 30 cents a week on shampoo. I own a few beanies for Winter, and in Summer I never have that disgusting feeling of sweat-soaked hair.

Why have hair, when you can just shave it all off? I used to have beautiful long hair, but it is more fun to NOT have hair.

If you are worried about hair loss, you must have a very boring life!

Thank you for sharing your experience. I think bald can be beautiful too! But hair loss does bother many men and women and at least they have a choice to do something or nothing about it!

January 1, 2023

The limits of hair graft calculators (from Reddit with comment by W. Rassman)

This is nice to see, however, it doesn’t take into account a few very important factors:

1- Your hair thickness (fine hair has 1/4 the value of coarse hair) so the calculations are different based upon hair thickness

2- Your hair density in the donor area: We are all different with different hair densities. The density reflects the donor bank so if you take out say 3000 grafts, and you only have 3000 to donate, then you have used up your reserve. A good doctor will tell you how much hair you have in your donor bank and as you use it, how much remains.

3- What can you expect in the future as hair loss is progressive. Today, for example, you have some frontal loss and you transplant it with 2000 grafts. In a few years maybe you have more frontal recession behind the area that was transplanted and you also develop some early crown loss. If you transplant these two areas, then maybe in time, the crown loss will become more and wider, what do you do then? Did you leave enough hair in the donor bank to manage future hair loss?

The hair transplant conundrum is not so simple as a graft calculator can easily solve. A good doctor who has experience, will address this for you and give you a realistic assessment of your short term and long term needs. I always tell my patients don’t think a year out, because balding is a lifetime problem.

HOW MANY GRAFTS Do You Need? Try this 30 Second GRAFT CALCULATOR! from tressless

2019-08-22 08:15:252019-08-22 08:19:29The limits of hair graft calculators (from Reddit with comment by W. Rassman)

January 1, 2023

Vigorous Transplant Growth with ACell?

Thank you for the information regarding the ACell trials and your own research at NHI. I noted that some of the published research indicated that ACell seemed to promote vigorous transplant growth when utilized in the recipient sites of traditional strip harvest grafts. I was wondering if NHI is researching this aspect of ACell or offering it as an option to your traditional strip or FUE patients.
Thanks again for the information you provide and for taking questions from the public.

We have not been using A Cell for traditional strip harvesting in the recipient area since it does not work. See update of our Acell research HERE.

2014-07-04 08:20:162014-08-14 18:35:57Vigorous Transplant Growth with ACell?

January 1, 2023

The story of discovering finasteride (girls became boys)

The case of the ex-girls

By ELENA CONIS

OCT. 16, 2006

12 AM

Little more than a decade ago, men afflicted with enlarged prostate glands — which can block urine’s flow and lead to dangerous infections — had essentially one treatment option: surgery. Now, drugs can often be used to reverse benign prostate enlargement. These so-called prostate pills are available thanks in no small part to a Caribbean population of pseudo-hermaphrodites.

In the early 1970s, Dr. Julianne Imperato-McGinley, an endocrinologist at Cornell Medical College, traveled to a remote mountain village in the Dominican Republic to study a group of children with a unique condition.

The sex of the children was ambiguous at birth, but to the best of the villagers’ knowledge they appeared to be girls, and so they were raised as such. But at puberty the girls’ baby fat gave way to muscle, their voices grew deep, testes descended and penises grew. The condition — which affected about 2% of the region’s children — earned the nickname guevedoces, or “penis at 12.”

The “girls” developed into adult men with all the expected physiological traits, save a few: The guevedoces men had minimal facial and body hair, unyielding hairlines and prostate glands that stayed unusually small. They also had low levels of the male sex hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), despite normal levels of testosterone.

Ultimately, Imperato-McGinley and colleagues traced the condition to a genetic mutation that caused low levels of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, or 5AR.

Without 5AR, a body won’t make DHT. And without DHT, hair doesn’t sprout on the face, arms or legs, baldness stays at bay and the prostate doesn’t enlarge. (DHT levels are much higher in the prostate than they are anywhere else in the body.)

That last clinical feature of a 5AR deficiency caught the attention of scientists at pharmaceutical firm Merck & Co., shortly after Imperato-McGinley’s findings were made public. If 5AR’s absence kept the prostate small, they deduced, then perhaps getting rid of 5AR later in life could stop the prostate from becoming dangerously large, as it does in nearly 20% of men older than 55.

Sure enough, a drug to do just that was developed over the next 15 years. Finasteride, a 5AR-inhibitor that ties up 5AR so it can’t convert testosterone to DHT, was approved in 1992. A second 5AR inhibitor, dutasteride, was approved in 2002.

The 5AR-inhibitors are proving to have other important uses too. A study published in 2003 showed that prostate cancer prevalence was reduced by 24% in men who took finasteride compared with those who took a placebo. (For decades, scientists have known that hormones can play a role in signaling cancerous cells to grow.) Investigations are underway to determine if dutasteride (which is more active than finasteride) can reduce prostate cancer risk even further. Finasteride is also widely prescribed for halting male-pattern baldness.

The guevedoces, meanwhile — and populations like them in Turkey, New Guinea and elsewhere — continue to pique the interest of researchers. They’ve revealed dozens of mutations that can affect 5AR, but they’ve also been of interest to psychiatrists and sociologists struggling to tease out the interplay of hormones, environment and culture in gender identity.

Gender, the guevedoces appear to have proved, is not always black or white.

2019-10-25 02:43:492019-10-24 10:48:17The story of discovering finasteride (girls became boys)