Balding Blog – Page 1894

December 14, 2005

Itch on Scalp from Rat Mites? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

For a couple of months now, my head has been extremely itchy, and my hair is falling out much more than it should be. I don’t have any bald spots, the hair just falls out all over the head. The itch is so intense and sometimes it feels 100 times worse than the itch from headlice. I’ve been to the dr’s twice, and hairdresser and many friends have checked, all have confirmed that i don’t have headlice. My 2 teenagers just told me tonight that they have been having the same symptoms. Hair also can just pull out without feeling a thing. I’m making another dr’s appointment, but i think the dr might think it’s all in my head (no pun intended). He says my scalp is in great shape, no flaking or anything. I’m just more concerned now that 2 of my kids are complaining of the same thing. Someone suggested it could be something called rat mites. We do have a lot of mice in our house, as we live in the country, now i’m wondering if rat mites could be the problem. Thanking You in advance for your reply

That certainly is an interesting one. You should look into finding someone that specializes in skin problems, rather than just a general practitioner. I would see a good dermatologist and have your scalp and hair evaluated. There is a hair pull test that the doctor can do for you, which I would recommend having done rather than going to the Orkin or Terminex folks to get your head fumigated. Clearly, fomr my answer, you can see that this is not an area of my expertise.

December 14, 2005

Does Hair Transplantation Hurt? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hair transplanting looks like it hurts! Does it hurt is my question? I saw the video and almost threw up. So please respond to my question! Does it hurt? Especially with at least a couple of thousand grafts! Please respond! Thank you for your time.

Yes, part of the process is painful. The first part (with anesthesia) hurts for about 1 minute. This part can be subsidized with appropriate medications to reduce the pain and possibly eliminate it if you choose this option. The more medications, the slightly more risk you may experience with side effects. Pain is also present after the surgery. If you elect to have an FUE procedure, the pain is very minimal and rarely takes any medications after surgery. If you have a strip harvesting procedure, then there is pain in the donor area, particularly more on the first night, which is easily treated with strong medications that are supplied by us. Some doctors do not like to use the word ‘pain’ because its meaning might frighten patients away, so the word discomfort is used instead. Discomfort = Pain!

On the other hand. there is also the pain of hair loss. This pain is often described by our patients as far worse than anything that they experienced in the surgery. As the old saying goes, “No Pain, No Gain” which essentially means that you need to weigh what you are willing to experience against what you are not willing to experience. A 2,000 graft procedure does not really hurt more than a 500 graft procedure. I prefer the larger procedures, because the patient has to invest less time and have less surgeries to get the final end product of their hair restoration desires.

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December 13, 2005

Prostate Cancer, Diabetes, and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am 72 and have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and diabetes. My hair is thinning rapidly and my scalp is itchy and greasy. Washing only accelerates the loss. Do you think there is any connection and is there anythig that can be done about the hair problem.(It is very fine and “flyaway”).

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Many people with prostate cancer will be treated with finasteride. If your doctor is willing to add this to your treatment, the hair loss may slow, stop, or reverse. If the cancer is not under control, it might contribute to hair loss. Stress is a major cause of hair loss and I can only imagine that the stress you are going through is adding to this process. Diabetes, if it gets out of control, can contribute to hair loss as well.

December 13, 2005

Where to Apply Minoxidil? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello Dear Doctor:
I’ve been using Proscar for several years and it works for me. A year ago I started to use Minoxidil 5%, twice a day. It works too, noticiablly in the topical area, and possibly thickening other areas. But recently, I started to apply Minoxidil 5% once a day. I’ve been doing so for about 2 months, didn’t see any bad effect. Should I continue to apply it once a day, or change back to twice a day? Another important question, I usually try to apply it everywhere not only the topical area. Do you think that helps more? if not, I wouldn’t waste the time. Or, even if I only apply it to the topical area, it works the same as I apply it in other areas too? Can you define the topical area more precisely for me? You answer will save me lots of time each day, so change my life significantly, I appreciate it.

Apply the minoxidil twice a day to the area that you want to see the benefit from it. Although there is some systemic absorption, minoxidil’s greatest impact is at the point it is applied regularly.

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December 13, 2005

Taking Multivitamins with Propecia – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dr,
I was wondering if a multivitamin or calcium citrate pill would interfere with the workings of a propecia pill. Would it be safe to take all three pills together in the morning? Also, because of my schedule I find it impossible to take propecia the same time every day. Am I doing myself a disservice? I’ll appreciate any comments, take care

You can take multivitamins or calcium citrate with Propecia. The time of day you take Propecia is not critical, but mornings are best because testosterone levels are highest then.

December 13, 2005

Stopping Rogaine – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

doctor,
i have been using rogaine for about 4 years. i went to the 5% a couple of years ago, not too long after that, i only have been applying it a night, because it does tend to irritate my scalp. i thought it was helping me keep the hair i have, no regrown hair at all, but now at age 40, in the last 6 months i have seen an increase in hair loss. i have a good amount of hair on the top, but it is thinning worse and my bald spot has gotten bigger. should i stop rogaine even though i only use it at night, and if i do stop it will it accelerate my hair loss because i have been using it for the last few years? i realize i should have kept up with my dermatologist. any info is appreciated.

The use of Rogaine once a day has poor value. Twice a day is the recommended dosage. If you are a male and you have not started Propecia, then I would suggest that you do so,as it is the best way to control the crown loss and possibly reverse it. That does require a doctor’s prescription and should be accompanied by an examination of your head for miniaturization. If you have any Rogaine dependence (unlikely with a once a day treatment) then withdrawing it might risk more hair loss. So if you are a male, then continue what you are doing and make only one change, taking Propecia for 8 months. If you are a female, then there is no other choice but to go on Rogaine twice a day.

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December 13, 2005

Red Dots on a Burning, Itching Scalp – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

i’m female and have been getting red dots on me that get a circle then the hair falls out, it burns and itches. Do you think I will go bald? Or will my hair grow back?

Based on your description, an itchy, red, circular ring lesion with hair loss might be due to a fungal or bacterial infection. If it is a fungus on the head, it is called Tinea Capitis. If the lesion is located on your body, it is called Tinea Corporus. If the infection is due to fungus, then the hair will grow back. You should see your doctor to get the diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

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December 13, 2005

I Want a Hairy Body – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am a male, 24 years old. My problem is that i dont have a single hair on my entire body, to my surprise i dont have a moustache. I feel so embrassed when i remove my shirt. Please help me with this major problem. Please suggest something to me so that i can have a hairy body like others and enjoy my life happily by removing my shirt.

Is this present in any other member of your family? First, I would want to know if your eyebrow and public hair is still present. If not, then you might have a medical condition called Alopecia Totalis, in which case you need to see a dermatologist who specializes in Alopecia. If you are late with beard and body hair and the eyebrow and pubic hair are sill present, then I would suggest that you wait out the DHT effect, which should eventually come sooner or later. People like me envy people with low beard growth. All of my sons went through the period that you are talking about, thinking that it will never happen. I even remember that when I was 22 and my father was a hairy beast.

December 13, 2005

Hair Loss from Crash Dieting – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

In response to the blog posting Female Hair Loss After Braids…

Hi Dr. Rassman i just wanted to know about the recent 18 year old girl who is losing her hair because of the braids… I wanted to know if it could be possible that she could be suffering from Telogen Effluvium, because of her taking diet pills causing her to crash diet and her hair falling out as much as it has?

Yes, this is possible. Crash diets are a major cause of hair loss in young women, especially compounded with the braids, if there is substantial pulling on the hair.

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December 13, 2005

18 Year Old Female with Thinning Hair – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am an 18 year old female college student and I have been noticing for about 3 months that right at my bang area, my hair is thinning and I can see my scalp. It not real bad, I mean you cant look at me and say your going bald.I am the only on that notices it. So yeah its not in horrible condition to where it is noticable. I just see it because of cousre I am a girl and look for things like that. What could it be: stress, diet, dying my hair? How can I help my problem? Please help me it bothers me so much even though its hardly noticable except by me when im staring at it…HELP!!

There is a typical female pattern of hair loss just behind the first 1/3 inch of hairline, in the area of the forelock. Whatever you have, you need to see a doctor who can evaluate you in person for miniaturization and determine if you do have female genetic balding. For your peace of mind, you should know that there are things that can be done for it. Overall testing of women for a variety of conditions are well discussed in this blog (see Female Hair Loss category).

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