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Body Dysmorphic or Just Needing Hair, That Is the Question? (From Reddit)

I did two hair transplants on a very bald psychologist who was age 52. After he got his hair back, he felt like a hairy person, not a bald man with low self-esteem. He told me that he underwent 18 years or psychoanalysis for his self-esteem problem and was angry that he thought he could have had a hair transplant 18 years earlier and solved his problem. I have performed hair transplants on many celebrities. Many of them felt that they could not be themselves without hair and once they got their hair, the never focused on hair but their careers. They each told me, regardless of their age, that the hair made them feel like themselves and freed up their creative side. Thanks for the nice write-up.

Body image issues and why getting your hair back isn’t going to change your problems. from tressless

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Body Building Supplements Like Creatine or Androstenedone Increase Risk of Testicular Cancer?

Men who use muscle-building supplements (MBSs) that contain creatine or androstenedione may have up to 65% increased risk of developing testicular cancer, according to a case-control study published online March 31 in the British Journal of Cancer. So many of our readers are focus on body building and use these supplements as a way to enhance the benefits of working out. This is a disease that hits many who are just too young.


2015-05-01 12:53:43Body Building Supplements Like Creatine or Androstenedone Increase Risk of Testicular Cancer?

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Are body builders more prone to sexual side effects from Propecia?

Body builders are at the same risk for sexual side effects as the general population from the drug finasteride (Propecia) which is between 2-3%. They are at more risk for hair loss if they take anabolic steroids regardless of the use of Propecia (Finasteride)


2017-01-13 09:37:29Are body builders more prone to sexual side effects from Propecia?

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Boar Bristle Brush, Water, and Wheatgrass

Dr Rassman, like many others, I keep an eye on my head every day, not liking what I see. I’ve already been on propecia for a couple of yrs, seemingly with no significant benefits. This has lead to explore other options, theories etc. That being said, I would really appreciate your thoughts on 3 things and whether they earn a spot on the list of possible contributors to hair loss. They would obviously be an aside to the most common ones ie genetic, infection related, stress

1. The first is not drinking enough water, because generally speaking there are a number of ramifications for not doing so.

2. Second one is, benefits from using a boar bristle brush with the theory being: “The other excellent feature of a boar bristle brush is the massaging effect. The hard bristles stimulate the scalp, increasing the blood flow which can be very relaxing and soothing. The stimulation of the scalp also spreads the natural oils of the scalp – the sebum through the hair and down the hair shaft. This results in smoother, healthier hair that is soft and manageable. Increasing the blood flow to the scalp has been linked to stimulating hair growth, creating thicker and longer hair as well.”

3. And last, possible benefits from “supplements” such as drinking wheatgrass or matcha based drinks, both of which seemingly have a number of overall health benefits.

Thanks very much in advance for your time and valuable input!

We have said many times that genetic hair loss is not a curable or completely reversible process. It is what you are born with. Drugs such as Propecia (finasteride) work, but in the long run your genes will catch up. I’m not sure what benefits you’re looking for from Propecia. Are you merely looking for regrowth? Or have you seen continued loss at the same pace?

  1. Drinking water and hydration have nothing to do with hair loss.
  2. Massaging the head with brushes do not impact hair loss (either positive or negative). Blood flow is not the issue. Your hair follicles are programmed to die due to their inherent genetic programming tied to a particular number of hair cycles.
  3. I realize supplements are a big thing in our society, but it really does not impact the hair in my opinion.

Sorry for the negativity, but it is how I see it. Everyone is free to try their own remedies in hopes of stumbling on the cure.

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Blueberries, Free Radicals, Antioxidants and Hair Loss

My brother and I have a bet; he says that the antioxidant properties of Blueberries have been shown to slow hair loss, I say he’s crazy. Who’s right?

Could a Blueberry topical be on the way?

This is probably more of a business question, than a medical one. Would people buy a blueberry topical for hair loss? I suspect with good marketing, a well done informercial, and a bit of a larcenous tendency from the promoter, it might sell and work as well as many of the potions and lotions out there on the market today.

There are many berries and other foods that have antioxidant properties, but there is no proof to my knowledge that these antioxidant properties will help solve the hair loss problem. In fact, considering that hair loss is an affliction of young men (young men are impacted proportionally worse than older men), free radicals which build up in our body as we grow older, should be less of a problem for the young man. Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons and can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. Once formed, these highly reactive radicals can start a chain reaction, like dominoes. It is believed that their chief danger comes from the damage they can do when they react with important cellular components such as DNA, or the cell membrane. Cells may function poorly or die if this occurs. To prevent free radical damage the body has an internal defense system of antioxidants that clean up our waste as it builds.

Antioxidants are molecules which are believed to ‘safely’ interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction before vital molecules and/of cells are damaged. Although there are several enzyme systems within the body that scavenge free radicals, the principle micronutrient (vitamin) antioxidants are vitamin E, beta-carotene, and vitamin C. Additionally, selenium, a trace metal that is required for proper function of one of the body’s antioxidant enzyme systems, is sometimes included in this category. The body cannot manufacture these micronutrients so they must be supplied in the diet and good diets usually solve this problem.

Antioxidants are intimately involved in the prevention of cellular damage — the common pathway for cancer, aging, and a variety of diseases. The scientific community has begun to unveil some of the mysteries surrounding this topic, and the media has begun whetting our thirst for knowledge. Athletes have a keen interest because of health concerns and the prospect of enhanced performance and/or recovery from exercise. The 18 year old who loses his hair is not aging in the sense we think when we talk about a 90 year old. These young men are the least impacted by the toxic effect of free radicals.

Source: https://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/antiox.html

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Blow dryer burn when I was 15 (photos)

Do you have photos when the blow dryer burned you? To have had long term damage, there should have been a significant skin burn. This looks like male patterned balding to me from this photograph


2021-03-05 09:52:10Blow dryer burn when I was 15 (photos)

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Blood Tests to Determine if Propecia is Working?

I’m 19 and have been experiencing hair loss for about 4 months now and been on Propecia for about 2 and a half months. Since going on Propecia I feel like I’ve been shedding more (which I’ve read may be an indicator that its working, and may not). I’ve yet to get my scalp mapped for miniaturization and my hairline is not receding, just overall very noticable thinning. I’ve been told, the effects of Propecia won’t become noticable for 3 to 6 months, but its a pretty helpless feeling not knowing if its actually working. Are there any blood tests to measure your body’s DHT level to see if the Propecia is infact blocking it well enough to stop hair loss?

There are no blood tests that will tell you that it is working. At 19, I am sure that you expect everything to happen on command, but patience is a virtue and you have no choice but to wait. If you want to know for sure if it is working, you should have your hair mapped out for miniaturization and then take readings 8 months apart. If you do not establish the metrics, then just wait patiently for the 8th month and you should see the shedding slow down or the hair loss stopped (other than the normal 100 hairs or so everyone loses each and every day).

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Blood Supply and Hair Loss

I recall reading a couple years back that some doctor interviewed in a mens health mag said that taking a baby aspirin is recommended as it increases blood flow which may be of benefit to men losing there hair

your thoughts on this theory? as well as the whole concept of blood flow bringing nutrients to the hair? perhaps MPB is directly correlated to poor blood circulation? ok this is far fetched but can it be ruled out?

I do not know of a scientific correlation. The concept of blood flow contributing to hair loss has been well disproven. The hair gets what it needs, but the genes that cause balding will cause the cells to die (medical term is apoptosis — see ResearchApoptosis.com).


2008-09-10 11:38:56Blood Supply and Hair Loss

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Blood Pressure Medication and Female Hair Loss?

(female) I have been taking Hyzaar 50/12.5, a high blood pressure medication, for several years and I am experiencing balding in the top of my head and thinning around the edges; before taking this medication I had a full head of hair. Is there a high blood pressure medication that would possible not cause hair loss or thinning?

Hyzaar is known to cause hair loss in some people (“alopecia” is listed as a side effect). The pill is a combination of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and losartan, and I’ve written about HCTZ before. That being said, blood pressure medication is not generally the first thing doctors look for when evaluating hair loss in women. There are many other medical conditions that contribute to hair loss in women and these should be evaluated by your primary care physician. Some (but not all) of the causes can be anemia, thyroid conditions, menopause, genetic, lupus, etc. (see here).


2009-07-08 12:23:56Blood Pressure Medication and Female Hair Loss?

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Blood Pressure Drop, Fatigue from Finasteride

Hello Dr. Rassman! First off, I would like to thank you for the time you take to give hairloss info/advice. My question is: I have been on Proscar .5mg daily for several months and have had several side effects such as mental cloudiness, fatigue and a drop in blood pressure. I am 29 years old. I always have to give my body a break from the Finasteride where I go off it for 3 days and My blood pressure goes back to normal. If I take 1mg every other day, will that still provide results while cutting down side effects? I really, really would like to keep my hair although the sides are really tough for me and Minoxidil inflames my scalp to no end. I understand the Finasteride is the best treatment. It know it is important for me to speak with my Dr. however I know he will just tell me to stop the Proscar altogether. Thank you and look forward to hearing from you!!

Sounds like you are trying to be your own doctor. As the saying goes, a person that treats himself has a fool for a doctor. You are doing things that are not clear. One place you say you are taking 0.5mgs Proscar a day (1/10th of a pill?). The side effects you are discussing sound psychosomatic. Did you really record a drop in blood pressure? If so, you have problems that are probably not finasteride related. I’ve seen drops in blood pressure with minoxidil — but never with finasteride.

If you take 0.5mgs of finasteride (1/2 of a Propecia pill, or 1/10 of a Proscar tablet) the overall effect of the drug is estimated to be 80% of the full 1mg dose. Anything less than 0.5mgs will reduce the effect of the drug significantly. If there are side effects from the drug, the smaller dose might work for you.