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Switching from Finasteride to Dutasteride – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

If i’d like to take dutasteride instead of finasteride. Can i switch immediately? I mean, can i stop taking finasteride?

This is not a good idea. Dutasteride is not approved for the treatment of hair loss by the FDA. Some doctors and some patients use it, but I usually advise against it (there are conditions where we might recommend dutasteride, however). If you use it, please use it with caution. Dutasteride has a very long half life (the time it take half of the drug to be cleared by your blood stream) that lasts for weeks. Just because dutasteride may be stronger than finasteride, it does NOT mean you will get better results. Before changing any medication, you need to talk with your doctor and understand (not just read on the internet) all of the implications.

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Hair Loss Information » Hair Loss After Sedation Following Car Accident – Balding Blog

Im a 21 year old male and recently had a serious car accident managing to get a double fracture of the pelvis amongst other less serious injuries.

Initially doctors thought I had neck injuries so i had a neck brace fitted and was on me for only three days. Apparently i was vigorously thrashing about in the bed between the times i was sedated and a 6 inch across patch of my hair fell out.

It has been 4 weeks now since the hair fell out, no other hair loss has occured i am just worried as to whether the hair will grow back, bits of stubble have appeared round the edges of the gap but not much at all in the middle. I am grateful for any response.

This condition is called pressure alopecia. Pressure alopecia is typically seen after a long period of immobilization that patient’s head stays in a fix position. It is more common in Intensive Care Units patients after long periods of sedation and after surgical procedures that require a patient’s head to lay in a certain position for a long time. This patchy baldness is usually transient and hair should grow back in a few months (3-6 months). Many Intensive Care Units use various mechanical systems (special rotating air mattresses) to keep pressure off of various parts of the body that had, in past years, produced ulcers and skin problems. Pressure baldness is no different and it could be prevented by a periodical change of the position of the patient’s head during surgery or when sedated. The key is not to allow long term pressure to any part of the body for extended periods of time.

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Hair Loss After Coloring, But I’ve Colored It Before Without Problem – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I dyed my hair and it came out in clumps. I’ve colored it before and never had a problem. I’m only 20 yrs old and female. Why would this happen?

Coloring hair is not one of the causes of hair loss, but skin irritation due to chemical agent sensitivity could speed up hair loss in some folks. Some people can also become allergic to dyes after repeated use. Get your hair mapped for miniaturization and that will tell more about the nature of your hair loss. A hair specialist can examine your hair and see whether you are vulnerable to female pattern baldness or find out if there is something else causing you to lose hair.

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Effexor XR and Hair Loss – Balding Blog

Hello to All!

I will begin with ……I am petrified of going bald. I recently began taking an antidepressant called Effexor Xr. Now, I began taking this med in late August of 2006 and have noticed increased hair loss as time has passed by. Especially, the months of Oct., Nov., and Dec. When I part my hair I can really see my scalp and it really began receding at the temples ….
although since this has occured I have been really stressed and began having bad anxiety as it does not subside. I have always had fantastic hair, blonde and below my shoulders. I am a female that really does take care of herself and this continuous hair loss is really effecting me seriously.

So, if there is anyone out there that could give me some advice as to what to do I would be most thankful.

Warm Regards to All.

From the tone of your email, I can tell you are “petrified” (as you say) of going bald. However, I can also sense that you have a component of anxiety issues and the antidepressant medications may be beneficial. But, antidepressant medications are known to cause hair loss. You should start out by having a complete physical exam and/or even seeing a good doctor with knowledge and interest in hair loss. Dermatologists are often the best place to look. You should have your scalp hair examined for miniaturization for specific pattens of hair loss, but you need a diagnosis and the internet is not the place to get it.




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BaldingBlog’s Growing Pains – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Ouch. We got hit with some massive downtime on the first day back from the long holiday weekend — a new server at a new host was just the fix we needed. Thanks to Dreamhost.com for helping getting us back to where we need to be. Comments will be reinstated soon, at least on a trial basis.

We appreciate your patience and look for a full day of posts to resume first thing tomorrow morning (at least, first thing here in California).

Hopefully things will run much, much smoother from here on out.

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Hair Loss InformationDermatologists are Clueless About My Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’ve been experiencing excessive shedding off and on for the past 1-2 years. When the hair falls out is almost always has a large ball of white/yellowish skin on the end. Sometimes there will be 2 hairs attached to one ball. What could this be? I’ve been to dermatologists and they seem clueless to what it is. I’ve had the standard blood work done and it all seems normal.

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The yellow/white “balls” at the end of your fallen hair are just sebum, wax, and dead skin. It is normal to lose around 100 hairs a day (as there are other new hair growing constantly). That being said, if you are concerned about losing hair in specific pattern and notice excessive loss or thinning, you may want to see a hair restoration doctor who can map your scalp for more signs of miniaturization and/or pattern of hair loss. There are many competent doctors out there who can help you. Don’t get discouraged. Take command!

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Balding Like My Grandfather? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hi dr. my dad is in his early 50s and has a full head of hair, but his father had a noticable receding hairline at sides of the crown(not completely bald). do i have to be concerned with my grandfathers receding hairline….or just my fathers?

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You need to find out if your balding pattern (if you have one) parallels your grandfather’s pattern at the age his started. That may point to your answer. Hair loss can skip generations, and the gene can be carried from either the maternal or paternal side.

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Hair Loss InformationScratch Test for Histamine-Positive Skin – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

What is the scratch test you mentioned in a previous post?

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I refer to the test as one used to discover a histamine positive skin type. The simple test is done by scratching the skin with a finger nail (for example) with moderate pressure, but not enough to cut into the skin. The skin will develop a red-streak within a minute surrounding the finger nail scratch. This, I believe, is local release of vasodilators at the skin edge. I have noted in my practice that people who react to the scratch with a red streak are the ones who tend to remain more pink after a hair transplant. When I transplant these patients, I will often use copper peptide dressing, which I have found gets the pink out sooner in these patients. I have had patients who were positive to the scratch test who were not treated after their first surgery and then when I did their surgery a second or third time, the addition of (1) copper peptide dressings after surgery and (2) the use of high dose steroids at surgery has helped minimize the pink discoloration over time. My view of copper peptide is not shared by many doctors, suggesting that what I observed have not been their observations and their experience.

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Hair Loss InformationRemoved My Hairline with Laser Removal, Now I Want to Cover the Scars – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman…..I have a bit of a problem and I’d like your advice. I recieved two hair transplants in the 90’s and wound up with a low hairline. I’m 32 years old and a natural norwood 3/4. I just recently removed my hairline via laser hair removal. I’m now dealing with the underlying skin which is scarred. It’s not terrible but I’m very self conscious. I’ve decided on another hair transplant. I’d like to bring the hairline down to where it was to cover any scars. I’m thinking low density with good coverage. My doc estimates that I have about 4000 donor grafts left. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

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It is difficult without pictures or seeing you in person to render an opinion that has real value to you. You can excise the frontal scarred hairline (done frequently) and then have those grafts transplanted with a normal soft transition zone of 1, 2, and 3 hair units. As you are on the east coast, Dr. Robert Bernstein in NY might be worth visiting for a second opinion. If you make it out to California, I’d be happy to see you.