Balding Blog – Page 1831

April 5, 2006

I Was Told To Put Vaseline on My Transplanted Grafts – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am a 33 year old female and just had a hair transplant 3 days ago. I was told that I had to put vaseline on the grafts and on the donor site twice a day for about a week. This keeps my whole head really greasy and I can’t go out without a bandana or hat on. I washed my hair with shampoo (very lighly where the grafts are) but it seems that it doesn’t get clean. Is this really necessary? How can I get the vaseline off my hair? If I could have clean hair, I would be able to go out and it would “hide” my transplant but I feel like the vaseline just plasters my hair to my scalp and the “wet” look really makes the transplant stand out. What would you recommend?

I never use or recommend Vasoline, because it is difficult to manage and remove. The general purpose of the Vasoline is to keep the grafts moist to prevent crusting, but I generally believe that it is best to take off the crusts by a good washing technique before they form and get fixed in place. It is impossible for me to get to you in a timely manner and it would be inappropriate for me to give you advice on a piece-meal basis without a doctor/patient relationship established and the internet is not the place for this activity. As you have a doctor, best to follow his recommended course. You might ask him why he does what he does so that you can understand his/her thought process.

April 5, 2006

I Lost My Hair When I Switched from Rogaine to Propecia – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dr. Rassman,

I’m 25. When I was 19 or so, I noticed some serious thinning and began using Rogaine. It seemed to stabilize the situation for me, until I started noticing more and more hair in the bath tub. 8 months ago I decided to give propecia a shot and I’ve been on it since. When I began propecia, I stopped applying the minoxidil and I’ve since noticed some significant hairline reduction! The rear top seems to have thickened, but all of the sudden my hairline got far worse.

I’m concerned that the follicles near my hairline (admittedly, I applied most of the minoxidil to the front of my scalp) got minoxidil dependant in some sense? Is this possible? What should I do now? Resume the minoxidil or kiss it goodbye?

Thanks!

Provided that it has not been too long (a few months at most) restarting Rogaine may restore some of that Rogaine dependent hair. Rogaine is known to produce hair that depends upon its twice daily use. Give it a try.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

April 5, 2006

Dreadlocks Causing Hair Loss in Woman? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I have a dear friend, young, beautiful girl (caucasian) who has come to believe that her really long dreadlocks – which she has been growing for 7 years…is causing perhaps permanent bald spots on her scalp. She is really beside herself about it, and wondered what she could do to be sure, and if so – to cure the problem.

Dreadlocks can produce traction alopecia (hair loss from constant pulling). The best thing for her to do is to get rid of them and then wait for recovery of the hair. After 7 years, the hair loss may be permanent, but until the pulling stops, you will not know one way or the other. Recovery from traction alopecia may take up to a year.

April 5, 2006

Does Wheat Grass Eliminate DHT? – Balding Blog

I’ve heard that drinking wheatgrass juice eliminates DHT completely from the system. Is this true?

It appears to be recommended as an alternative or a dietary supplement for individuals with prostate problems. Like all herbal remedies, there is more folk lore than facts backing up such claims. I would presume that claims for blocking DHT would deal with prostate problems and hair loss, just like proven approaches with the drug finasteride.

April 4, 2006

Tricomin – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

what do you know about the shampoo Tricomin, is it useful in fighting hair loss or another propoganda?

Block Quote

To date there have not been any FDA approved medications other than topical minoxidil or oral finasteride 1mg (Propecia). The company that produces Tricomin talks about phase 2 clinical trials (the company states, “this product was initially intended to be released as a hair-growth compound. The early-stage Phase II clinical study of the product had very positive results on some of the 36 male subjects who, applied the treatment topically twice a day for 24 weeks. “), but without completed trials, this type of hype does very little for the safe minded men who want an effective medication for their hair loss. I suggest that you wait for the results of the clinical trails to know what is going to happen to this drug rather than speculate on it.

The shampoo should be no different than the ‘medication’.

April 4, 2006

Hair Loss InformationAny Special Creams I Can Apply to Scar Right After Surgery? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello,I have just had my third hair transplant.The one befor this last one was about ten years ago.The doctor removed the old scar and alot of scar tissue,and he stitched me inside and out and closed the cut pretty nice from what I can see.I still have the stitches in and wont have them removed for another week and I was wondering if there any kind of cream or gel I can apply now or after the stitches come out to reduce the appearence of the scar.I am in the army and I am being deployed to Iraq so I have to shave my head and would like not to see a big scar on the back of my head. Thank you for any advice you can give me.

Block Quote

Everything takes time. There is no way to accelerate the healing process you are going through. If after the stitches come out you are still red, then you can apply some 0.5% hydrocortisone cream every 12 hours, but only apply it three or four times and then wait 5 days to see if it resolved. You can then repeat the process again, waiting another 5 days in between each treatment cycle. Do not continue this for more than a month.

April 4, 2006

Repeated Bleaching Causes Follicle Damage? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Bleach - art

Is it possible that hair follicles could have been damaged/destroyed by hair chemicals, such as repeated bleaching of hair? If so, is it possible to restore damaged hair follicles?

Hair follicles grow through the skin. These follicles arise from the bulb which is located 5-6 mm below the skin edge. Between the skin edge and the bulb, there is a ‘tunnel’ which allows the waxy sebum to rise out of the follicular unit to the skin. In theory, this tunnel could become a two way highway allowing chemicals, dyes or bleach to find their way deep into the hair follicles (note: the drawing is simplistic for illustrative purposes only). Through this route, it is possible to damage the machinery that grows hair either by killing it, or damaging it so that the hair that grows out might be a smaller gauge hair that has a different character to it. The question you ask is whether or not this process be reversed, and the answer really depends upon how much damage was produced. Generally the hair is quite a robust organ and will recover from insults. Hopefully in your case, the damage is such that it is reversible.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

April 4, 2006

Propecia Gives Me Pimples – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Whenever I take finasteride 1mg I get these red pimples on my face almost like acne. I think it is probably reflex hyperandrogenicity. Is there any solution to this? Without finasteride I can’t fight my hairloss. How can I stop this reflex hyperandrognicity without stopping propecia? I tried reducing the dosage to .5mg .25mg even .10 mg. But all those dosages still made me breakout in my face.

Check with your dermatologist, for you are guessing the diagnosis here. This is not a common complaint with Propecia, but we do see acne in teenagers that is clearly hormonal.

April 4, 2006

I Had a Hair Transplant, But I Want the Corners Lower Than “Normal” – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello, I had 1200 grafts last year, and they have done well, but the hairline is too far back in the corners. It is probably just fine for most men, but I wanted a more rounded hairline. I think that I got the male “template.” I have a widows peak, it does not, nor the area of about 1 inch to either side, need to be lowered, just the area in the corners. I have heard of hair line advancement, could this help? Most literature says that all men should look the same, as it comes to hairlines, its just not what I want. I travel to Sacramento and San Jose frequently. Hope to hear from you.

Picking a hairline is a negotiation between you and your surgeon. I have restored the original hairline in men and if this is part of your Master Plan, then it can be done. Be sure to get a great doctor, because these rounded corners can be a difficult part of the art of hair restoration.

Here’s Patient NU, whom I have featured on this site previously. The corners of his hairline were lowered dramatically and the patient wanted his central frontal hairline to look like actor Andy Garcia. Each of us has a different look and different taste, thank God. If we did not, then the world would be farily dull. The patient shown below had let his hair grow out to shoulder length for a number of years, and then recently cut it to crew cut length. He clearly enjoys the freedom of having his hair just the way he wants. Also, it is worth noting that he had temple transplants many years ago, and his results are available here and here.

Other examples include patients EO, KB, and IU.

April 4, 2006

Facial Hair from Rogaine for Women – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi,
I am 26 years old, female, and hair loss seems to run in my family. After turning 21 my hair started to fall out. My hair is very thin now all over, but more noticeable on the crown. I beleive I have diffused hair loss. I have tried Rogaine but, unfornately had unwanted facial hair growth. The hair grew in but fell out a month later. I also plan to have a child in the next year and hear that hair loss is associated with pregnancy. Is there any other treatments (pills or topical) besides Rogaine than can regrow hair? How much hair loss is expected and will it grow back?

thinning and desperate

Rogaine does get absorbed through the skin (as will any medication you apply to the skin) and facial hair is a rare but known side effect.

There is no way to tell if you will lose hair with pregnancy and I would not revolve my life around what may happen. A baby is a major life changing experience. If you lose hair with pregnancy, you will probably grow it back and I would expect that regrowth to match what you had prior to the pregnancy within a year or so. Unfortunately, there are few good solutions for women in your situation at this time.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):