Balding Blog

ive been on Fin for a couple months with great regrowth. 1 month ago i started noticing some scalp inflammation, and it got really bad last week. Although i couldnt see alot of hairshedding, some parts of my hair took a big hit, and thinned out really fast. Anyone know how long it will take to regrow after ive adressed the inflammation?

See your doctor. This is important to understand and get the right advice.

I am a cosmetologist and have been so for over 25 years. I’ve been doing extensive research on hair loss for several years. Recently I’ve been experiencing hair loss myself. I have rosacea, the kind that results in acne like bumps. It creeps into my scalp also. After finding out that I have an inflammatory condition found in my lungs, it’s all starting to make sense. My pulmonologist is drawing lines connecting imflamation in my skin and scalp to this. Many people who have acne or other inflammatory conditions also experience hair loss. This is believed to stem from inflammation brought in by either infection, autoimmune disease or allergic response. I have rosacea and hairloss. I’ve not taken any oral antibiotic for this although it has been prescribed (minocyline) . This drug is used to treat inflammation, not so much as an antibiotic. I’ve used metrocream on my face with no great results. My dermatologist switched me to soolantra andnit and is working wonders on my breakouts and redness. She says this cream works to fight against the allergic response to skin mites. So interesting that the inflammation is due to an allergy. It’s probably also in my scalp too. If you have an inflammatory skin condition you most likely also have the same in your scalp. Because the cycle of the hair growth and shedding, you might be experiencing the loss a while after the inflammation began at least 6 months or so. I’m curious how many of you have experienced other inflammatory problems like IBD, joint pain, high blood pressure.

Thank you for writing. There has been microscopic evidence that some inflammatory process is present in female hair loss. We also have seen many autoimmune conditions such as FFA, LLP, Alopecia aerata, etc. that are known inflammatory autoimmune diseases that attack the hair. I would not be surprised that the presence of other inflammatory conditions could overlap to the hair follicles. Unfortunately, our clinical science is not there yet.

I am 51 years old, i do not have anyone on my parents side that have male pattern baldness. I have always had a lot of hair, about 2 or 3 years ago i started to have this redness, inflame irritation at my vertex on top of my scalp. it has thinned out so much that you can see my scalp and my hair has thinned all over. I have been to several derm doctors but all of them are bald their self and they don’t take the time to help me. one doctor did a patch test on my back but everything was normal. i have oily and hair that has to be washed everyday because it is so fine. I have used head and shoulder shampoo which seems to work, but when i use it i feel a kind of a tingling burning feeling at the vertex, where the inflame, redness is at, but it will go away and feels better. does head and shoulder shampoo suppose to do this? It will return unless i keep using it. Should i continue to use this shampoo? I dont know what to use, Please help.

I have given up on derm doctors because it takes so long for a appointment, and they seem that they don’t care. I even dread to wash my hair everyday, but i have to because it is so fine an sweaty and oily. I have tried rogaine, but it irritated my vertex area so bad that i can’t use it. i am losing a lot of hair in the shower, I don’t know what to use. Right now my vertex is irritated and red. Please help. Thanks

I would like to help, but there is no way to diagnose your problems or even guess at what you may be experiencing without an exam. Daily hair washes with shampoo for oily hair is important for you to use. If your hair is fine, get a gentle shampoo.

I realize a good doctor may be hard to come by, but start with your primary care doctor and ask for a recommendation. I wouldn’t think that any doctor would want to be seen as a non-caring physician so you should try hard to appeal to their caring side. Speak frankly if you feel that they are not paying you the attention you want and need. Being direct is critically important to the doctor/patient relationship.

I developed an infection and met with my doctor who put me on antibiotics. It seemed to get better. I am worried about it harming the grafts in the recipient area. Is that a problem?

It is hard to tell from the pictures if the infection is under control but your doctor will tell you that and you should see no significant pimples or redness. If the infection was promptly treated, it will not harm the grafts. The good news is I see early growth already.

You will not know if the hair will grow back until the hair cycle time has passed, which is usually between 4-7 months from the onset of the infection. If it does not grow back, then another hair transplant into this area should grow.

I have a few painful spots on my head. Probably ingrown hair. They full of pus and sore. Any tips for treating them?

Frequent hot wet compressed should make them drain. If not, see a doctor

This patient’s recipient area became infected and had this been my patient, I would have drained these infected cysts and place the patient upon antibiotics. I would have cultured the cysts to be sure that the antibiotic I would use is the correct antibiotic. If this infection is not treated quickly., the infection could kill the transplants.

Hello Dr,
I found this new article from India Times that says dandruff is a hair loss cause. You said it wasn’t.

IndiaTimes.com

This reads like a brief article with bits of truth and bits of confusion all mixed together. I would doubt that this was written as a means to educate by someone who is an expert. The term trichoanalysis (or as the article calls it, Tricho Analysis) indicates the analyzing of hair (tricho) which is really not informative on any level. Look at one of my recent posts on dandruff for the real scoop — What is Dandruff and Why Do I Have More of It Than My Friends?

For a typical Indian, assuming that you actually had 5,700 hairs, which would extrapolate to ~3900 grafts, this would be considered over-harvested. The average “Indian” hair density has an original hair population of about 80,000 hairs. The photos confirm your suspicion of over-harvesting. The maximum FUE for a typical Indian should be limited to about 3,000 grafts or 4,700 hairs with another possible 3000 grafts or 4700 hairs performed with a strip surgery to prevent donor area depletion.