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Accutane Hair Loss is Permanent? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr. Rassman last you told me to go to a doctor in ny, I went to see him but he stated that he just didn’t know. I a 3rd round of accutane over 2 years ago, and have experienced hair thinning since.. I am very distraught since I thought the ny doctor could give me more answers and explanations as to how accutane could possibly damage hair follicles forever. I’ve been researching but its all about people like me complaining aobut the accutane induced hair loss, but no reason how it could do this damage. I was told that accutane works by reducing your sebacous gland. I had no idea that sebum would play a role in thinning or damaging hair.. I don’t know why doctors are saying it can be permanent, when in the past they said its only temporary.. and its been over a year, my hair is so thin. I’m taking biotin and I’m not even sure if that will work. I have no one to turn too. Can you explain to me what needs to be done, or how it can damage the hair follicles, if accutane only effects the sebacaus glands. thanks.

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Medical clinical science is as much a descriptive science as a biological science. That means we describe what we see, possibly more than we understand what we see. Do not be too hard on the doctor, because I am sure he told you what he knows. As for scholarly doctors, that doctor is as scholarly as they come. We know that Accutane does, at times, cause permanent hair loss (that is what we see) but if we really knew why, then we could surround the cause of it and maybe fix it. I do not have the answers you are looking for, nor do others I have asked. Sorry!

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Nourkrin – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dear Dr Rassman

Great blog. Here’s my question:

A supplement called Nourkrin is being advertised a lot in London at the moment, and claims to combat pattern baldness in both men and women. It basically seems to be a nutritional pill, and the key ingredient in Nourkrin is a protein compound of marine extracts. It is is blended with an organic, soluble silica and vitamin C.

I would like to know your thoughts on whether this would help someone like me: 30 year old male, who is receding at the temples (norwood 2, not on crown), and has a history of male-pattern baldness on both sides of my family. I’m also looking at taking finasteride.

Thank you very much!

Nourkrin is as you described here, but I know almost nothing about these ingredients. I did some Google searching for it and came up with page after page of sites selling it, but nobody discussing it. Maybe you’ll have better luck in your own search, but I came up empty. Nothing else I can really add regarding the product you asked about, but I can advise you that you should have metrics taken (miniaturization) to see how bad your hair loss actually is, how it is progressing over time, and the value or non-value of this pill if you elect to take it.

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My Hair Loss Became Aggressive Quickly, Follow-Up – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Doc,

I wrote in a few days ago about receding hairline: “My Hair Loss Became Aggressive Quickly.” I gaurantee I have what is “minimization.” I can see like at least an inch deep into my hair in the front but not on the sides. I am dirty blond like you asked, but I cannot imagine it is 90% gone. 50% maybe. Now I am on day 10 of Propecia. So according to the literature, from here, I have ~80 days before I see any “changes,” if I see any at all. From what I’ve read about Propecia, the more hair you have there, the better it works. So, say I go from 50% to 60% (for instance) by the time this stuff really starts being effective (the 80 days), are my chances of getting my full thickness back LESS than if i started a month ago? Two months ago? Could it be happening that quickly? I mean I started with propecia when it was 50%, right? Which number matters, the number now or the number later? Is propecia really working this whole time, but its just not “noticeable” for 3 months? Or should I assume things will continue to get worse (thinner) before they get better?

Thank you.

If you keep counting down the days for Propecia to take effect you’re going to lose your hair out from the shear stress. Remember, Propecia will take at least 8 months to see the benefits of it working. More importantly you may STILL lose your hair even on Propecia. Propecia may help by slowing the rate of your hair loss. I have no way to tell how fast or how much.

It seem you are very concerned and perhaps even obsessed with your hair loss. You may consider seeing a dermatologist or even a hair transplant doctor for your questions and concerns. Make sure that no one sells you a surgery without, in your case, waiting out the results of Propecia. Having a quantitative (not just your estimate) measurement of your hair by mapping your scalp for the degree of miniaturization may help you and your doctor in documenting the efficacy of your Propecia therapy.

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Is Missing Facial Hair a Side Effect of Rogaine? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I have been using Rogaine 5% topical solution regularly for about 6 years now. It has worked marvelously for preventing the thinning of my hair at the back of my head.

Just recently I noticed two large, circular patches on my chin and neck where facial hair no longer grows. I grow a goatee and didnt mind the two empty patches but now another small, circular patch has developed in my goatee area. Could this be a side effect of using Rogaine?

Thank you for any assistance you can offer.

I would worry more about alopecia areata or fungal infection as a cause, which require a good doctor to make the diagnosis. I would doubt that this is a side effect of Rogaine.

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Did My Using Minoxidil Mess Up Propecia Benefits? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

In October I noticed slight thinning on the vertex and purchased 5% minoxidil. I applied this twice daily to the vertex for 2.5 months at most. I did not see any change at this time, but was tired of applying minoxidil twice a day and switched to propecia. I have now been taking propecia for 4.5 months and there is noticeable thinning on the vertex. I am also shedding quite a bit more than I ever have which has been going on for almost 2 months. I know that Propecia can awaken follicles and increase shedding, but how long does this last? Also, even though Minoxidil did not regrow any hair for me, can it have a negative effect on Propecia possibly reversing hair loss on the vertex even though I used it for only a short period of time and it did not produce any hair regrowth and thickening? Basically, did I screw myself by using minoxidil before Propecia?

No.

You may subjectively notice thinning and changes in your hair. However, it is impossible to tell what is working or not working. Consider the fact that you may be just progressing to losing more hair and taking those drugs may be slowing the process down (even if it does not seem to be). In other words it can be worse, but not because of Propecia and minoxidil. You may also consider seeing a doctor who can examine your hair under a hair densitometer to see its miniaturization pattern and quantitavely track the effects of what Propecia is doing.

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Taking Propecia May Increase A More Aggressive Form of Cancer? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dear Dr. Rassman,
I met with you last month at your office in L.A. and am planning to have a procedure this summer. You recommended that I take Propecia before and after my surgery to, 1) prevent “shock loss” and, 2) lower my risk of prostate cancer over the long term. As to the second issue, I’ve read the studies on the internet and they seem to say that while taking Propecia does reduce one’s chances of getting prostate cancer in the first instance, taking the drug may increase one’s risk of suffering from a more aggressive form of the cancer. How do you view these studies in terms of balancing the risks and benefits of taking Propecia over the long term?
Thanks

There is no doubt that Propecia will play an important role in preventing shock loss from a hair transplant surgery.

With regard to the cancer issue, the study that I am aware of shows what appears to be a more aggressive cancer with people taking Propecia, but that conclusion is based on the interpretation of the cancer by the way it looks under the microscope. The pathologists usually review the microscopic slides to determine how mean a cancer looks. The pathologist scores prostate cancers and classifies them based upon criteria establishing a Gleason Score, which tries to predict prostate cancer’s aggressive nature. The patients who had the high Gleason Score were followed since the diagnosis was made in 2001 and the cancers did NOT behave more aggressively than the cancers that were present in the placebo group studied at the same time. Anything can be agrued and this is just what is happening here. Two camps are squaring off so any absolute final word has yet to be written.

My conclusion (as well as many experts in the field of cancer) is that the Gleason Score is not reflective of the agressiveness of prostate cancer and that people who are taking Propecia are not at risk of developing an aggressive cancer more than the control group (made up of people not taking Propecia). For that reason, one of my sons and many members of my family are taking the drug.

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Shock Loss in Donor Area After Transplant? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I had a transplant procedure 2.5 months ago—I am experiencing very little if any growth of the hair located below the donor scar area—my doctor assures me that this is related to some type of shock caused by the procedure and that in time it will regrow—-Is this normal??

This is not normal, but not a reason to worry. Wait it out and the hair around the donor wound should return about the same time that the transplanted hair will start growing.

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My 16 Year Old Daughter Has A Small Scar – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I was wondering if I could bring my daughter in for a consoltation, because she has a small scar on her scalp that she would like to get filled in, and we were just wondering what kind of treatment options there are. It is a very small scar, but it seems to bother her a lot, and I just want her to not worry about it anymore. She is only 16 but she is begging me to set up a consoltation. Would this be okay, or is she to young?

She is not too young and I would be happy to see her. Hair transplants work very well for scalp scars. The FUE technique works well here. That means that there will be almost no pain for the transplants or after the transplants are done.

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Less Body Hair After Propecia Use – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

BigfootHi Dr. Rassman, just a quick question. Upon starting propecia 7 months ago i noticed a definate decrease in body hair. Have you come across this in your practice and what would you make of it.

Many thanks

Yes, through people that have written in to this blog, I have heard that this is a side effect. I have had one patient of mine who (like you) reported reduced body hair with Propecia use. I just wish it would have done that for me because at times I feel that I look like the picture on the right.

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