Balding Blog – Page 1669

February 16, 2007

Doctor Said I “Probably” Have Female Pattern Baldness – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am a 24 year old female. After a 7 minute consultation with a dermatologist I was diagnosed as “probably” having female pattern baldness, and I could try rogaine. Yeah, I’m looking for another doctor who might be interested in looking into exactly what’s happening and treatment options beyond minoxidil.

My question though is, some of the hairs that I shed have a weird kink in them about 1.5 inches down. I have my hair dyed and have done for about 6 years but the kink doesn’t seem to fit into any dying or styling pattern so I was curious as to whether this might be an indication of what is causing my balding?

Female pattern baldness is discussed in many posts in this blog (see Female Hair Loss). In this condition, hair is miniaturized in a pattern that may or may not be similar to the man’s pattern. The more common type of balding/thinning is female unpatterned hair loss where the hair loss is spread throughout the scalp without a clear pattern. The donor area (the fringe area around the back and sides of the hair) is often included in the balding process when the process is unpatterned and the quality of the donor hair is poor because of the high degree of miniaturization present, so women do not make good candidates for a hair transplant in the this unpatterned form. In some women, the donor area is not uniformly thin, but over time it may become thin. So if a hair transplant doctor uses this hair for a hair transplant, when the process of thinning spreads, the transplanted hair may become thin or fall out.

Diagnosis of this unpatterned condition is not always easy and the other causes of hair loss, such as iron deficiency, thyroid disorders, and autoimmune diseases should be ruled out before making the diagnosis of female pattern baldness. Above all, the patient’s hair needs to be mapped for miniaturization to confirm the diagnosis.

Kinks in your hair may be related to the miniaturization that may at times change the hair’s character and color. Again, if in doubt see a hair specialist to confirm your diagnosis and to get started on proper treatment.

February 15, 2007

Hair Loss InformationWhy Are You Suspicious of the FDA and the LaserComb Now? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Personally, I though the laser comb was just a joke!

I was very suprised to see the FDA’s results. Why are you so suspicous? The FDA is govt’ buracracy that is very conservative. Why would you not honor its results? Aren’t they “independent”?

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I too was surprised to see the level of endorsement for the use of the term ‘hair growth’. I have read a massive number of articles on Low Laser Light Therapy and it is clear that the articles seem to show some benefit in the 10-20% range. Each article, however, was sponsored by people or organizations that may have something to gain. What is needed is a completely independent analysis. I have had a laser in my office for some time, and some of my patients find that it helps. I do not charge for its use and the use is confined to my patients who have had surgery with me in the past. So now, I must confess that the use as a stimulant for hair growth seems to have some merit. I still go by my gut feeling, an application three times a day by a comb going through the hair just does not sit right with me and my intellectual judgment (which dictates a great deal about why I think that way). I wonder if sitting in the sun may have more value? I will try to keep an open mind.

February 15, 2007

Age vs Hair Cycles – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr. Rassman

I am a 22 year old male who has been having chronic telogen effluvium for almost a year. Now I am finally correcting the underlying condition, and hopefully the 60 % of hair I have lost will grow in.

During this time my hair has gone through short truncated anagen cycles (maybe 2 or 3), does this mean the hair follicles have aged for many years so that genetic balding will start a lot sooner than it is supposed to?

In other words: is it the number of hair cycles or the person`s actual age which signals the onset of male patterned baldness?

I think many men who experience CTE or TE are worried about this, hope you can give a definite answer.

Thanks

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Some doctors believe that hairs have a certain number of hair cycles in their lifetime. That would indicate that you are correct — more cycles might mean acceleration of genetic hair loss. Drugs like Propecia and minoxidil are thought to prolong these hair cycles, theoretically keeping the number of cycles lower over a given number of years.

February 15, 2007

Iron Deficiency and Female Hair Loss – Balding Blog

Black 42 yr old female: Have several medical conditions fibroids, take cardia xt for irregular heartbeat. I have been to two dermatologist here have had a biopsy of the scalp.The doctor just ruled as thinning hair.?? I have for the past 3 years been balding in the crown of my head and thinning only on the left side of my head. I get the bumps on my scalp with puss. I also have a low iron deficiency. Could all or one thing be making my hair fall out and not grow?

Iron deficiency typically causes diffuse hair loss in patients, but be sure that this is all you have by obtaining a complete evaluation by a good doctor. This condition can also trigger pattern hair loss in genetically prone patients. Treatment of iron deficiency is easy with supplemental iron (don’t pick it up at the local scrap iron dealer — wink, wink). You need to complete your treatment course and wait six months to see if your hair grows back.

February 15, 2007

I Think My Hair Transplant Was Placed Too Low – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Dr. Rassman, I recently had a HT with a “top doc” but I’m concerned that my hairline may have been placed too low. I’m 32 years old. My hairline sits 3 inches above my eyebrows and recedes about a 1/2 inch higher than that as it goes back. Where is the right stop for an adult hairline? any comments will be greatly appreciated.

If you look at the post Maturation of a Hairline, you will see where the adult hairline belongs. It should be one finger breadth above the highest crease of the wrinkled brow. There is not a fixed size for distance between the hairline and eyebrows; instead there are guidelines that could be used to determine where your natural hairline used to be and where it should be after a hair transplant.

One method is to measure the distance between the tip of the nose and the chin (let’s say in ‘Fred’ the distance is 7cm) and compare it to the distance between the upper bridge of the nose — Fred’s mature hairline should be found 7cm above the upper bridge of the nose. The other method is to use the highest crease of your forehead when you are looking upward and go about one finger breadth above it to determine where your natural mature hairline should start. I personally think that the second method is the best way to know where the mature hairline belongs.

Some patients do not follow these rules and may have a wide forehead or a bigger chin to start with. In these cases, old pictures from patients could be used as a guide. Nevertheless, the judgment of the surgeon and his/her artistic view is always crucial for the design of the most natural looking hairline. If you ended up with a too-low hairline, it can be a real problem, since as I’m sure you’re aware, hair transplants are permanent. Send me a photo with your eyebrows lifted high up and I will venture an opinion and keep your identity confidential, of course. Please reference this blog post when sending your photos.

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February 15, 2007

Does Brushing Prevent Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

does brushing help prevent hairloss?

Brushing will not prevent hair loss, but it will cause hair loss if you pull your hair while doing it. Use a brush with tongs that do not dig into the scalp and be gentle. Hair that is miniaturized or near the end of its life, will come out and not return with little coaxing.

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February 15, 2007

Can I Take Avodart, Then Switch to Propecia to Maintain the Benefits? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi doc.. Im a male aged 22years.. Im having thinning and falling of hair in the crown area since last two years. i Still have a significant amount of hair left. I’ve started taking generic 1mg finasteride called Finax mfgd by reddy’s laboratories. i’ve been taking it since last 5 months. Im still losing around 50 hairs a day. while taking shower, combing etc… I have a doubt regarding Avodart! Its a known fact that avodart increases hair count significantly while using it for six months but it’s long term use and side effects are not known. so i have a plan. wat If i start taking avodart for six months and after i get a good result from using it, i switch back to propecia and maintain the benefits i got from avodart(duasteride). is that a good plan? will be waiting to hear from u.. thanks in advance doc… by the way ur site is simply Amazing!!!

Loss of 50 hairs per day is normal. Propecia may very well sustain the benefits you got from dutasteride or Propecia (finasteride) may give you benefits without evening needing dutasteride. You sound like a person who wants to experiment on your head. It is your head, but I ask you why you’d want to be a guinea pig? What you said makes no sense to me, but if it makes sense to you, then so be it. It has been said that a person who treats himself has a fool for a doctor.

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February 15, 2007

Am I Experiencing New Hair Growth on the Crown? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dr Rassman,

thanks for all your blog has done, its really a great resource and place for answers. Its been a great help for me.

I am turning 25 soon, and for the past year have been driving myself crazy because my hair has thinned. I did catch it very early, its far from noticable to the naked eye, and ive been on propecia for almost 10 months.

Heres my question, I recently noticed what feels like short spikey hairs on my scalp, my hair is long so i cant see them, only feel them.

would this be considered new hair growth? I know all about miniaturization (thanks to this blog) but these hairs feel very hard and spikey. And im sure they werent there a few months ago. The spikey hairs are only on the crown and other areas my hair has thinned.

any comments you have to help answer my question are greatly appreciated

You could be experiencing new hair growth. Follow it over the next few months and get some good photographs if you can ASAP and then more later on to compare.

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February 14, 2007

High Hairline on Nicolas Cage – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Would it make sense to get me “only” back to a higher NW 3 instead of a mature hairline (a forelock with partially receding sides), so as to preserve more hair for a possible follow up hair restoration in the future, or is that not the way it is done? I look at pictures of actor Nicholas Cage, for instance, who was clearly balding 10 years ago into what appears to be my current hairline, but who now has a decent hairline that looks like a NW3. It looks quite natural and very subtle.

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There is a long story where patients were polled to find out if they would have a preference with hairlines that are high. Those with a normal mature hairline looked better and the patients themselves prefer that look. The mature hairline has a slight corner recession as its natural look — it gives a convex look to the hairline.

Disclaimer: I have no direct knowledge of Nicolas Cage’s hair.

This is purely speculation based on photographs that I have seen, but I am under the belief that actor Nicolas Cage has had hair transplant or uses some scalp coloring agent to make his hairline very strong. In his case, it seems to me that the hairline is clearly not in the correct position and it is very straight without a good transition zone. I disagree with you that it is “quite natural” and if you look carefully at the picture, you will see what I mean. Hair in the high position should be a finer quality of hair, reflecting the thinning process that goes with genetic balding as the hairline rises. His high hairline does not have finer hairs, which draws the attention when looking at his face — my eyes go directly to his hairline, which for its position is far too strong. There is a negative connotation in the minds of many people when they they can detect a transplant. Saving hair for future transplants just to go to a higher than a normal location does not frame the face well. It draws the eye to the hairline. My goals always include having a hairline that no one pays any attention to. I personally think that a thinner, lower hairline looks more natural that a high, stronger hairline.

February 14, 2007

Where Can I Buy Apple Polyphenols and Procyanidin? – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman,
Could you please suggest places that someone could find apple polyphenols and procyanidin capsules and topical solutions? I have only been able to identify one supplier and I cannot tell if their prices are reasonable. Thank you!

There appears to be a complete listing here: HairSite – Where to buy apple polyphenols or procyanidin B2?