Balding Blog – Page 1562

October 12, 2007

I Was Diagnosed with Stress-Related Hair Loss or Alopecia – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Doctors,

I’m new to this blog, as I just started noticing my hair loss about 3 months ago. I’m a 30-year-old woman, and 3 months ago I had a healthy head of hair. Now it seems that every time I look in the mirror, more and more is thinned out along the part. I have a bald spot now. I’ve seen a couple dermatologists and one GP, and they’ve wavered between diagnosing me with just stress-related hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia.

I’m a little skeptical about the alopecia diagnosis because the hair loss is so fast. Like I said, 3 months ago, I was fine. I was wondering if it is possible that I may have a fungus or bacterial infection on my scalp? I travel a lot and have just returned to the US from living in Africa for the past year. It would not be the first time that I’ve somehow contracted a fungus or some sort of skin infection.

I mentioned this to my doctor and he may do a scalp biopsy. Do you happen to know, whereabouts, how much such a procedure costs? I have no insurance at this time, but regardless, it would be worth it to get it done to save my hair.

Thank you so much for any information you could provide.

You clearly have a problem and you need a good, knowledgeable doctor to manage your situation. Much can be learned by getting a hair pull test and a miniaturizationstudy. This can be done at the time the doctor visit occurs. Cultures of the scalp (to check for diseases that you may have contracted in Africa) need to be assessed as well as looking for chronic telogen effluvium, diffuse alopecia areata, and others. Good luck.

October 12, 2007

Heartburn from Propecia? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Doctor,

Having GI problems wondering if they’re related to Propecia. My doctor is not aware of a connection and I don’t see it listed as a common side effect. But you’re much more familiar with the drug in clinical practice than my MD. Symptoms are diarrhea and heartburn. Is cutting back the dose to say a quarter and try slowly increasing it an option?

Thanks.

I have never heard of diarrhea and heartburn complaints from Propecia.

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October 11, 2007

Rogaine Destroyed My Hair! – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

doc with all the posting of rogaine and how rogaine is destroying people hair ..do you still see rogaine as a safe product…i have found in my case rogaine not only destroyed a other wise heathly head of hair but i lost eyebrows nad eyelashes as well… the makers of rogaine cannot say for certain how this drug works therefor cannot know all the sideeffects. Minoxidil. has been known to cause heart problems.. so please explaine how or if you endourse rogaine.

I only report what I see. I do endorse the use of minoxidil, as it is one of the two FDA approved drug treatments for hair loss. However, it is not for everyone. There is propylene glycol in most preparations of Rogaine and some people develop allergies to it. Rogaine contains minoxidil and as many people know, minoxidil was developed originally as an antihypertensive agent (hair growth was just a side effect). Some people get light headed when they use it, because it can drop blood pressure.

As for discussing Rogaine destroying your hair, if you had a problem with it, you should have stopped using it. There are many people who get skin allergies to this medication and continued use can cause problems. If you are self medicating, then look in the mirror and ask yourself why you are taking it.

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October 11, 2007

Propecia and Stress Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

hi can propecia protect your hair from hair from stress.. please let me know…

The relationship between stress and hair loss varies a great deal. Propecia certainly protects the hair from those factors that cause or accelerate hair loss — and stress is one of those factors.

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October 11, 2007

Minoxidil Drips Onto My Forehead, Now I See Fine Hairs Growing – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Im a 21 year old guy currently studying in Malaysia.i have been suffering from hairloss since a year ago most prominently around the temples and vertex of my head.I started using regrow a generic drug for minoxidil 5% 4 months ago.My friends commented that the centre of my head and frontal appears to be thicker.However around the temple region not much growth has been seen.Is minoxidil not effective at all for hair loss around the temple region?Whenever i bathe i notice small fine hair around the forehead area just beneath the temples.This could be from the minoxidil that leaked from the temples when i aply the medication.Could this be a sign of regrowth.However it is really hard to appreciate if there is any new hair growing around the temple regions.I would like to describe that my temples are not exactly bald.They just have very much less hair compaired to the rest of my head and are much further apart.And i also noticed that a yellowish solidified oil like structure is usually found on the distal part of shedded hair.could this mean any pathologic symptoms?To add on , i noticed flaking of the skin around the temple region where i applied my medcation.is it advisable to continue?

Any minoxidil leakage can cause hair to grow on the area it leaked to, but it would have to be done regularly. This drug was originally introduced as a treatment for hair blood pressure and it is known to drop the blood pressure when it is absorbed. When given to the patients for high blood pressure, hair grew on the face and other body parts, particularly detectable in women.

Minoxidil does not always work for the treatment of hair loss and when it does, it can sometimes take a year or so to see the results. With any of the hair loss treatment drugs like minoxidil or even Propecia (finasteride 1mg), they are not predictable in any absolute sense. You must be patient.

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October 11, 2007

Ibuprofen to Prevent Shock Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Since shock loss is caused by inflamation and swelling, do you think ibuprofen (600 – 800 mg doses) could be as effective at preventing shock loss as propecia?

Do you think that there is any adverse interaction between ibuprofen and propecia? Thanks.

There is no connection between ibuprofen and preventing shock loss after hair transplantation. To my knowledge there is no connection between Propecia and ibuprofen either.

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October 11, 2007

How Can I Tell if My Bald Spot Was From a Chemical Burn? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

(female) I just noticed this past week that I have a bald spot in one area of my head, the top left. The area is smooth and tender. (Tenderness may be a result of the products I’ve been applying to stimulate growth.) I am assuming that this baldness occurred after a no-lye chemical relaxer was applied, since I now vaguely remember a patch of hair coming out at that time. How can I know what caused this area to become bald and when will the hair grow back if it will? By the way it looks, it seems that nothing is happening.

Smooth skin suggests a burn (it could be other conditions, but with your memory of history a burn sounds likely). See a good dermatologist and you may get some good insights into the bald spot. If it will grow back (not a third degree burn or one that killed the hair follicles) it may grow back in 3-6 months.

October 11, 2007

Boehmeria Nipononivea and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I was wondering what is your opinion on Bohemeria Niponivea:

PDF file – The Effect Of Herbal Extract On Hair Growth In Female Androgenic Alopecia

Many thanks and have a wonderful day.

An excerpt from the article states, “A specific extract from leaves of Boehmeria nipononivea (a plant of nettle family from Japan and China, well known in traditional medicine) has a very effective 5-a-reductase inhibitory activity for the presence of several specific fatty acids.”

While this is an interesting article, I really know nothing about this herbal plant. I am concerned that the authors show a connection between DHT and blocking DHT with the relationship between sebum production and hair loss. Some of the material is suspicious and I had problems connecting the dots on the logic. If the herbal is safe (I don’t know that it is) then trying it may be worthwhile.

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October 10, 2007

Rogaine Foam Not Suitable for Women? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Could you please explain why Rogaine foam is unsuitable for women. My daughter, on the recommendation of her dermatologist, was using Rogaine 5% until she developed an allergic reaction (confirmed by an allergy test) to the propylene glycol.

If he suggested Rogaine 5%, why then is the foam, which contains 5% minoxidil, unsuitable?

I believe that the Rogaine Foam does not contain propylene glycol (which is the most allergic component with minoxidil). I don’t see a problem with women using Rogaine Foam, although it is not marketed towards women. I’d expect a Women’s Rogaine Foam to be available at some point with a slightly different formulation (similar to how Rogaine and Women’s Rogaine are the same, yet different).

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October 10, 2007

Propecia Gives Me More Erections and a Higher Sex Drive – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I noticed that for the 3 weeks I was on Propecia, I have more frequent erections, strong ones and a higher sex drive. Is this normal? I really don’t mind the side effect and my wife actually likes the change!

I actually hear about this from about 10% of my patients on Propecia. This results from a raise in testosterone, reported as high as 18% on average. The testosterone levels generally do not stay higher than normal and will eventually come back down to normal. Tell your wife… well, maybe don’t say anything. Ha!

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