Balding Blog

People with autoimmune diseases like Lupus, LPP, FFA, alopecia areata, and alopecia totalis can’t be treated with hair transplants while the disease is active. For all of the diseases mentioned (except alopecia totalis, which is not transplantable), the disease must be inactive for 3 years. There is always a risk of recurrence even after 3 years, in which case, if it should happen, all of the transplanted grafts would then be lost.

I am a cosmetologist and have been so for over 25 years. I’ve been doing extensive research on hairloss for several years. Recently I’ve been experiencing hair loss myself. I have rosacea, the kind that results in acne like bumps. It creeps into my scalp also. After finding out that I have an inflammatory condition found in my lungs, it’s all starting to make sense. My pulmonologist is drawing lines connecting inflammation in my skin and scalp to this. Many people who have acne or other inflammatory conditions also experience hair loss. This is believed to stem from inflammation brought in by either infection, autoimmune disease or allergic response. I have rosacea and hair loss. I’ve not taken any oral antibiotic for this, although it has been prescribed (minocyline) . This drug is used to treat inflammation, not so much as an antibiotic. I’ve used metrocream on my face with no great results. My dermatologist switched me to soolantra and it is working wonders on my breakouts and redness. She says this cream works to fight against the allergic response to skin mites. It is so interesting that the inflammation is due to an allergy. It’s probably also in my scalp too. If you have an inflammatory skin condition, you most likely also have the same in your scalp. Because of the cycle of the hair growth and shedding, you might be experiencing hair loss a while after the inflammation began at least 6 months or so. I’m curious how many of you have experienced other inflammatory problems like IBD, joint pain, high blood pressure.

Stress from inflammatory disease can be a cause of hair loss. It sounds like you solved the problem. Your story is a good one so thanks for posting it!

Taken from the British Medical Journal. This man was treated with penicillin and within 2 weeks the scalp problems disappeared. This is shy, if you develop such a problem, you don’t want to be your own doctor. Just on encounter with a woman who has the disease can cause this.

These are two pictures of bio-fibers or artificial hair placed in the scalp. You can see previous scarring from earlier bio-fibers which will be the consequence of these as well.

If half-life of fin is 6-8 hours in the blood but 5-6 days in tissue (scalp) why don’t people apply topical every 3-4 days to minimize systemic?

Topical finasteride goes systemic. Perfect Hair Health has shown the relationship between systemic DHT level drops with higher and higher topical finasteride dosages as the effective topical dose increases. For men highly sensitive to finasteride, the standard topical finasteride will not change their problems by switching unless it is the liposomal preparation. Tissue levels remaining after stopping finasteride. Officially symptoms’ like sexual side effects should disappear within 6 days, but from my experience, it can last a month or more.

It’s been 5 months since I’m applying topical minoxidil, now planning to switch to oral as it’s much more simpler to pop a pill, What all things should I consider before switching to oral and hope it’s safe to take oral and there are enough studies for same.

The oral is fairly safe, provided that your dose does not exceed 2.5mgs. Look up the side effects on Google, well defined. The worst of the side effects are cardiac, so make sure that if you get swelling of your feet and legs, that you speak with your doctors and probably stop the oral minoxidil.

Doctor I want to ask you a question. 29 years old, no smoking and no drinking at all, in good shape and eat very healthy , and for 3 and half years been on brand name propecia 1mg finasteride with incredible results and absolute no side affects at all. But brand name propecia is expensive as I spend 45 dollars per month. my doctor gave me a script for proscar and told me to cut the pills in pieces which will save money. But he said that I must cut properly so I don’t get fluctuations in dose and such. I am very obsessive and compulsive when it comes to my hair and I don’t want to take a low dose by cutting wrong etc. So anyways cutting the 5mg finasteride tablet in half which will be 2.5mg of finasteride is way easier than doing it in 4 or 5 pieces to make 1 mg finasteride. I have a pill splitter device at home and it can cut it in half no problem. I rather take the 2.5mg as its way easier to perform. my doctor told me to try it, and is ok with that route. I just want to know your opinion as if it can cause hair shedding all of a sudden? I don’t care at all about the side affect increase risk because I know I wont get them by taking 2.5 mg of finasteride which is only 1.5mg more than the traditional 1mg dose. I am not doing it to get more benefits because increasing dose is negligible to hair gain, but only to save money. my only concern is that will it cause a shift in hair shedding and ruin my hair status by taking 2.5 mg finasteride over the 1mg brand I take right now? from your experiences what are your thoughts on it? can it cause a dramatic change in the status quo of the hair?

Although finasteride 1 mg per day(Propecia) is the recommended dose, a slightly increased dose (cutting a Proscar 5mg in quarters to make it 1.25mg) will be as good as a 1mg dose per day. Even 2.5mg or 5mg should be of no issue with respect to the treatment for androgenic alopecia, other than a small increase in a possible side effect. To be clear, a higher dose does not equate to better hair growth. There are studies that show that even a lower dose 0.5mg finasteride is just as effective for hair.