Balding Blog – Page 1896

December 9, 2005

Eyebrow Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I’ve got male pattern baldness. Am 23. Lately i have been losing hair on eyebrows. My dad had lost his eyebrows in young age due to side effect of some thyroid medicine. My query is, is loss of eyebrows a part of male pattern baldness? What should one do in eyebrows loss. Thank You

The more common causes of eyebrows hair loss are genetic causes which run in families, or hypothyroidism. I recommended that you check with your primary doctor for blood work on thyroid level, TSH, & FT4. There are other causes of eyebrows hair loss, such as ezcema, imflammatory skin disease, plucking of the hair (trichotelomania), drugs, infection, and autoimmune disease. Like hair loss on the top of your head, eyebrows can be well addressed with a good modern hair transplant as well. I recommended that you may first do some blood work to rule out diseases causing the hair loss. Then, a trial of Propecia and Rogaine may help, but I doubt that these drugs will return eyebrow hair. After that, you may come to see me for free consultation and consider a hair transplant.

Here are two examples of eyebrow restoration:

December 9, 2005

Doctors Who Treat Themselves – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

“HI DR. RASMAN, I was thinking of you today and I have to tell you something that makes me and it should all the people are there just how important hair really is and the importance of taking propecia. Here is a DR. 63 yrs old who takes propecia still and really doesn’t have to for many reasons…. it is probably a good bet 99% chance his hairloss has stopped. This DOC also has ha made made money in his transplant clinic and has more than enough to get get more transplants if needed, and has good friends like Bernstein that would do more transplants if he need them for nothing. This DR. is a good guy but will not even take that little bit of chance of losing more hair. I think if he still takes propecia then beyond shadow of doubt none of us with hairloss issues should skip a day and not take our propecia… do you know who this Doc is??????? I BET YOU DO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS

The above email is from one of the prolific writers to this blog. Of course, I am 63 years old and I do take Propecia. Having had scalp reductions years ago (a big mistake) and two sets of hair transplants, I want to hold on to what I have. As I have already stated, I do not work for the drug company Merck. In fact, I do not work for any drug company.

December 8, 2005

Green Tea to Treat Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,
I am currently 24, I have been orphaned since 4 years old. so I have no idea if this problem of mine is linked to genetics. At about 16 years old I notice my hairline receeding, I was kind of ignorent then. About a year ago someone mentioned the (dreaded fact) since then I’ve been looking for alternatives to Medical drugs. I came across an article written about the 5-alpha Reductase inhibitors found in EGCG (green-tea)I was wondering if you know if and when there might be conclusive evidence with American Science, I do hope I don’t come off sounding like a (Jack-ass), but it really scares me to think that especially in (starting my own family )is lost due to the American Standard. Oh yeah on the Norwood Diagram, I am currently Type II.

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What should scare you more is letting the hair be lost while you, as an amateur, try to do what hair professionals do every day. You need a diagnosis (even more important for you, because your genetic family line is unknown) and you need your scalp mapped out for miniaturization to find out if you are balding from genetic causes.

As far as green tea is concerned, I frankly do not know. If it really worked, more and more people would be using it and telling me about it. Just something to think about. I am curious, does one drink it or pour it on their head? Ha!

December 8, 2005

Chemical Induced Thinning – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi I’m a 21 yr. old male who is experiencing a form of chemical induced thinning and breakage. In August I had colored my hair and it had come out very dark. I frequently washed it and damaged it further, thinking it would fade the color. Needless to say once I started to notice some breakage I did everything I could do to condition my hair. The thinning was a very rapid affair, only taking a week. Since then there was no unusual hair loss. I was prescribed a topical steroid for redness in my scalp and I had some bad dandruff for about a month. Now I notice some new hairs coming in around the hairline and I still feel a diffuse thinning on top of my head kind of near my crown. It is hard to tell the new hairs from broken off hairs. Also I don’t see any kind of scarring. What advice can you give me to help my condition? Also what can I expect?

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If you truly have hair thinning, you need a complete evaluation of your scalp and hair to determine if there is a genetic component to this process. It may not be due exclusively to the impact of the chemicals you used. If it was, then the chance is very good that most of your hair will grow back as long as no significant damage to your hair follicles and surrounding skin (which is probable). To determine if you have an underlying male balding pattern which may have exacerbated further hair loss by the chemicals which you have used, it is best getting a scalp and hair examination for miniaturization by a doctor that specializes in hair.

December 8, 2005

Excess Sebum on Top of Scalp – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,
My scalp produces too much sebum and there is a wax like build up around the hair follicles. As a result I am losing hair. My hair roots are not nourished properly and then fall out very easily. Surprisingly there is no sebum or wax build up on the sides and rear of the head and the hair is perfectly healthy in that area. Its the vertex part that is effected. Nothing seems to help. I am writing with a lot of hope…please suggest me something. I have started taking zinc sulphate and B6 and sebum production have reduced a bit. Thank you.

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Sebum does not cause hair loss, contrary to what many people say, but the things we do to keep it down, does often cause hair loss. Shampoo regularly, possibly twice a day to keep the sebum down. Have your scalp mapped out to determine if your have miniaturization and genetic hair loss. Let’s be smart about how this is approached. Get a good doctor and get a diagnosis in your hand so that you know what has to be done.

December 8, 2005

Transplanted Hair Characteristics – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Dr Rassman,
Does hair from the neck change structure when it gets on the top of the head? And how long will that take if it does ? I mean does hair fit in properly with your original hair in the front of your head or is there a permanent difference ? The micro “scars” you will get in recipient area will they ever heal 100 % ? If you later in life choose to shave your head can one notice something on the skin in recipient area ? Best regards

Scars are scars and they always show. Depending upon what type of scars and where they are placed, the scars may be less obvious. Scars in the neck always widen and are always visible. The neck hairs used for transplants are often lost with time as these hairs are not permanent like the hair above, in the back and sides of the head. Transplanted hairs usually follow what they looked like from where they were taken. On rare occasions, the hair becomes wavy or curly. I remember one case where a patient’s transplanted hair became kinky, and he loved it. It was what he wanted and that made me happy because I always want to please the patient (but I personally did not like the look). Clearly, the grown characteristics are not in the control of the doctor when a hair transplant is done. The good news is that changes beyond what the original characteristics of the hair are rare.

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December 8, 2005

Revising Donor Scar – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I had a strip hair transplant done a couple of years ago, was unhappy with the results, and now shave my head. The scar on the back of my head is 5-6″ long. What are my best bets for revision?

Many thanks

A scar, which is present in 100% of all patients who have strip harvesting, is usually under 3mm in width and although noticable with a shaved scalp, they can be well covered with any reasonable hair length. With that said, if your scar width exceeds 3 mm, then you should consider seeing an expert to have the scar removed and the incision closed with a ‘fascial’ closure and without another hair transplant, minimizing the tension on the wound. If the scar is 3 mm or less, than an FUE procedure would be a good technique to use for your scar revision, which would transplant hair directly into the scar from the surrounding areas. The FUE technique, which has been defined by us, will eventually cover the scar, but it might take a few small procedures to get there.

December 8, 2005

Lateral Slits and Transplanted Hair Direction – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Suppose a patient has had two non-lateral slit transplants by doctor A (who is reputable), and goes for a third operation with doctor A (who now advertises use of lateral slit)-should doctor A perform a lateral slit transplant on the same patient, or continue with the same method of the previous two surgeries? Also, does the lateral slit method deserve the positive “hype” it receives on hair transplant sites? Or, is the difference slight and subtle and even overrated? Finally, when a transplant has been completed and the required one year waiting period ends, if hairs appear to grow straight up from the scalp, would you deem this to be a poor transplant? In my case, it appears that the hairs come straight out of the scalp, but lean or lay down-perhaps because of the weight of the hairs and also because of how I comb the hairs.

Switching between lateral and vertical slits are not a problem, but the learning curve for staff is a problem and those with experience in vertical slits will not just simply become experts in lateral slits without some experience.

I like the idea of lateral slits because it forces a bend of the hair as it exits the scalp forward and downward. In addition, the concept of fencing (where hair within a follicular unit appear like a fence/wall) should enhance the value of the grafts. Now with that said and the great theory, the realities are that no one has really demonstrated the value of lateral vs vertical slits, side by side. I have massive experience transplanting with vertical slits beyond 4 years ago, however I do lateral slits because it makes sense and it is in vogue, not because I am convinced that the results are better than those of the vertical slits.

If transplanted hairs grow straight up or to the sides, it usually reflects the way the surgeon put them in. I have seen people who had radial placement of hair with straight, strong hair and the hairlines look like bicycle spokes — not a normal hairline. Last week, I saw a patient where the hair was put in pointing to the right. The patient wanted to comb his hair back but because of a strong hair character, it always pointed to the right creating an unnatural appearance. This is a problem of strong haired people, not soft haired people. Hair characteristics tend to dominate in some people, impacting the way hair can be groomed.

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December 8, 2005

Is Chlorine in Water Causing Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi,
I came to Dubai 2 months back and from the beginning I am losing my hair very fast. When my hair is wet during the shower, it falls out even when I just touch them. I never had any problems with my hairs in my life. My hairs were very strong but dry without dandruff. After a month in Dubai I was feeling a little itching and I saw I was having dandruff, although I don’t have much dandruff now, but it has started. I heard Dubai water is not good for hair because it contains chlorine. I don’t want to lose my hairs and want to grow them big. I was using Vatika shampoo before Dubai and now here I have started using Sunsilk egg and also use oil to keep my hairs soft. My hairs are just falling, how to stop them and make them dark, strong & black. Which shampoo should I use. How is Head & Shoulders? Help me.

Again and again, I tell my patients that they need a diagnosis. You are grasping for straws until you get properly evaluated with a mapping of your scalp for miniaturization. Please see a good doctor first, get examined and have a proper diagnosis in hand, then look for causes if the hair loss results from other outside factors. This, a good doctor can tell you. Chlorine should do no more harm to your hair in normal therapeutic doses than water without the chlorine.

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December 8, 2005

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dr. Rassman,
I am very concerned about my hair loss. I am 19 years old. I have been diagnosed with hashimoto’s thyroiditis; however, according to my most recent blood test a few weeks ago, my hormone levels are currently at a normal level (and have been for almost 6 months). The levels have been moving up and down over the past few years (hyper/hypo/normal). I am still experiencing a lot of hair loss to the point where there are some bald patches. The level/amount of hair loss actually has seemed to be increasing over the past few months. I am on no medication. Do you have any suggestions/advice? Would going on synthroid be a good choice? I am in college in Washington DC and am originally from Connecticut. Can you recommend a doctor or specialist for me either in DC or CT or a surrounding area? Thanks so much!

I would recommend Dr. Robert Bernstein in New York and New Jersey. You clearly need a good clinician to help you evaluate the various contributing factors associated with the fluctuating hormones and the patches of hair loss, which might point to other autoimmune causes of hair loss.

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