I Am Noticing Thousands of Hairs Falling Out

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

Hi my name is Nick (male) i’m 17 years old and i have recently notice thosands of hairs falling out from all over my head. I have long blonde hair and have recently been waking up and there are loads of hairs on my pillow. My dad started balding at 16 does this mean i will to? also my mums dad had a full head of hair when he died at 50. do you inherit the hair gene from mum or dad? Although alot of hair is falling out there is no signs of receding from the top what so ever. do you think i’m going to go bald are these the symptons. Thanks for taking the time to read this e-mail.

It is certainly not normal to lose THOUSANDS of hairs. The average person has 100,000 hairs on their head, so if you are really losing say 3000 hairs per day, you would have been bald in a month or so, losing 2000 hairs/day would put you at bald in a couple of months, and losing 1000 hairs/day would cause you to be bald in three months. It is typical to lose 100 hairs a day. At the rate you are describing (I think it is less than you think it is) and with your father’s history of balding starting at about 16 years old, you may be progressing to some sort of hair loss. I cannot comment on whether you will be bald, because I have not examined you. Furthermore, you may want to pay particular attention to the areas of your scalp where you are losing hair. A typical male pattern hair loss spares the back side of your scalp. If you are losing hair on the back side of your scalp there may be other medical cause that you may want to see a doctor about it and get your hair mapped out for miniaturization to obtain a diagnosis. The good news for those who are balding is that when the diagnosis is confirmed, drugs like finasteride work well to slow down or stop the hair loss, particually in the young man like you.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss

Email from Inventor of Rejuvx

/by William Rassman, M.D./1 /,

I am the inventor of Rejuvx and after selling thousands of bottels of my product i guess i must have a formular that must give some results other wise people would not keep on buying it, my product has never been sold to regrow hair as i belive as a chemist that is never going to happen but it has helped thousands of people have a fuller healthier head of hair

Regards Edward Horton
Presient c.e.o RejuvX

Soap BoxThank you for the letter and finding BaldingBlog. First, I need to point out to readers that I have no way to verify if this is a legit email from the actual inventor of Rejuvx, but I have no reason to think otherwise so I’ll take it at face value.

I am a bit confused that your letter states Rejuvx has “never been sold to regrow hair“, because I just visited your website which states: “Within weeks of using Rejuvx, people experiencing hair loss will notice improved growth“. There may be a fine line from a legal FDA point of wording here, but that is not my specialty.

Back in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s the Helsinki Formula was advertised to treat hair loss and was one of the best selling products for hair grwoth on the market at the time. What most people do not know is that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 filed a suit against the makers of Helsinki Formula stating their advertising constituted a deceptive trade practice. The court concluded that the product had a “placebo effect”. In other words, many companies have sold great amounts of product and have yet to do what they claim, so pointing out that you have sold “thousands of bottels [sic]” really holds no meaning but suggested value.

There may be laws and regulations, but manufacturers advertise what consumers want to hear. Desperate people spend money in hopes that a cure for balding is as easy as 1, 2, 3. Most of these claims will go under the radar of the Federal Trade Commission, because there is an art to stating certain claims without breaking the law and the FTC cannot possibly prosecute all of those that are in violation (they pick and choose their battles).

The Rejuvx website states, “The abandonment of artificial ingredients additionally makes Rejuvx prescription free, since it does not cause any significant side effects.” — No significant side effects imples there are SOME side effects and I would love to know what they are and so should potential buyers for proper disclosure. If there are side effects of any type, then I would be happy to contact the FDA’s enforcement arm to look into the language you are using and in pursuing a full disclosure so that the public will know the safety factors about your product. I believe that the FDA is empowered to investigate and report on the safety of products sold that have side effects and only they can judge what is and what is not significant.

I am pleased you have a successful business. It illustrates the fact that we live in a society obsessed with hair loss, and the appearance and worship of youth. While my statement may trigger a spectrum of theories and opinions about our vanity, it is also a catalyst for many to profit from our insecurities. My ultimate point is that it is (and it always will be) a buyer beware market.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, rejuvx, ftc, helsinki formula, fda

What Should a 23 Year Old Male with Norwood 4A Pattern Do?

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /,

Do you recommend that a 23 year old male with a receding hairline and visible thinning to the point of resembling a Norwood 4A should hold off on transplant options or begin preparing for treatment?

Assuming that you already started Propecia at least 8 months ago, then you need to see a good doctor to build a Master Plan. If you and the doctor hit it off and bond and he/she develop that plan, a hair transplant may be appropriate. I generally do not like to do surgery on 23 year olds, but I do violate my rule based upon the needs of my patient and the Master Plan that is built between us.

Tags: hair transplant, hairline, hairloss, hair loss

Hair Regrowth Cycles

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /,

Dear Dr. Rassman,

I am a 43 year old lady with increased hairloss usually between 150-200 hairs a day at the moment.

3 years ago I had two lots of traumas which caused my initial hairloss. After eventually seeing a trichologist and starting estradex lotion (containing minidoxil and phyto hormones)my hairloss reduced this took 3-4 months to see benefit. Initial the estradex made more hair come out which trichologist said normal as the estradex gets rid of the bad hair making room for better quality hair. I was also put on a antidepressant dotheipin 75mg. 12 months ago I stopped estradex, hairloss returned, not that it totally stopped but hair did look thicker. I have started back on estradex about 3 months on side of head but the partening looking slighlty wider on one side so started using estradex along this area for last 6 weeks. Still taking dothiepin 50mg – 75 mg alt days. I have recently started vitamins saw palmetto and pygeum and stinging nettle root. Sure my telogen as increased within a day of taking this vitamin could it be related. Taking high doses off this up to 2000mg. Or do you think its the estradex getting into my system (which contains 5% minidoxil)?

BarkingWhen I woke up yesterday, the birds were chirping and the air was crisp and I had a great day. Today when I woke up the dog was barking and the air was smoggy and I had a bad day. Do you think I had a good day because the birds where chirping or the air was crisp? Do you think I had a bad day because the dog was barking and the air was smoggy?

Your guess is as good as mine.

There’s too many variables and no direct proven relationships in the information you provided. It is normal to lose 100+ hairs a day. For most normal people, the regrowing hair will start at about the same time as the hair is lost so that the total hair count of hairs growing on the head stays constant. If you do the math, 100 hairs lost per day is about 109,500 hairs in three years (36,500/year) and that is the normal adult hair population. The hair cycling we have discussed before on this web site, is responsible for the fall out and the regrowth that is every person’s normal. The average growth cycle is 3 years for most people, so that means that in three years, most people replace 100% of the hairs on the head with new hair, one day at a time.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, hair cycle, hair cycling

How Can I Get a Proscar, Procerin Prescription?

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /,

Dr Rassman,
I had a couple questions. First, I have done some research and am interested in purchasing either Proscar or Procerin. Procerin seems to be less costly. Is Procerin as/more effective as Proscar? Second, if Proscar is the better alternative, how do I go about obtaining a prescription? Can I see any physician or do I need to see a hair loss physician? I am 21 years old and am just starting to experience the beginning stages of hair loss, but I would like to do something soon. Thank you for your time, I really appreciate it.

Proscar (5mg finasteride) and Propecia (1mg finasteride) are medications that requires a prescription from a licensed medical doctor in the US. Any medical doctor can prescribe them. The only caveat is that in our practice, we generally like to document the degree of miniaturization of scalp hair with a computer video densitometer to quantify and record the state of your hair before you start the medication, so that there is an objective record to compare the effects of the drug after a given period of time.

Procerin is NOT a medication. It is a cleverly named herb, vitamin, and mineral formula that claims to treat hair loss. You do not need a prescription for Procerin, because it is not a medication. The name Procerin just sounds like Propecia or Proscar.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, proscar, propecia, finasteride, procerin

Using Aloe Vera to Speed Up Recipient Area Healing After Transplant?

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

Dear Dr. Rassman:

I’m very interested in an HT to fill in my hair line but I am concerned about the redness in the recipient area after the procedure. Is there anything I can do to speed up the healing? I’ve heard using Aloe Vera can help as well some specific items such Graftcyte or Bioton spray. What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks very much and thanks for writing this blog…..it’s a great source of info for me.

Aloe vera has been known to have good healing properties. I had a great number of these plants growing in my garden in Hawaii and the leaves can be broken. One rubs the broken leaf on your wound or whatever you want to cure and according to local Hawaii folk lure, it cures everything!

I do not recommend its use but I do not see any harm by its use either. In my practice I often give a shampoo containing copper-peptide to decrease the redness after a hair transplant.

Tags: hair transplant, aloe vera, copper peptide, redness, healing

Does a Maturing Hairline Show Miniaturization Too?

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /,

Hello,

I have some recession in the front and sides of my scalp. I have always had a bit of a recessed hairline. But now it seems, now that I look close, hair around the area of recession is thin and short (some hairs are very small, lacking color and are almost transparent). It appears, form a distance that the hairline is not defined well.

Is this part of a normal receding hairline or rather the onset of male pattern baldness.

I am 30 years old and the remainder of my hair is very thick and full.

Thank you in advance for you reply.

A maturing hairline generally appears in the late teenage years to the late twenties. A small degree of recession in the corners can certainly be normal, but that always seems to be determined by the individual’s perception. To answer your question, miniaturization of hair may occur as the frontal hair slowly falls out or more often just starts falling out front to back with a slow rise in the frontal hairline that is very subtle in those without frontal balding. It is normal for hair to go through cycling phases of rest/shedding (catagen/telogen). In conclusion, a maturing hairline may show miniaturization, but not always.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, mature, maturing, hairline, hair line, miniaturization

Initial Hair Loss Acceleration from Minoxidil?

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

I have used propecia since the late 90’s and I believe it has effectively slowed my hair loss. But recently I began using Minoxidill due to some accelerated loss I experienced in some areas in the temples and crown. I have been using the minox for @ 4mos. Initially it appeaered that I was losing hair at a faster rate due to the minox use. But after 3 mos I began to notice the return of hair in the areas I was concerned about prior to using minox and the areas that began thinning more with the initial use of minox have also begun growing again. Here’s the question. Is an initial acceleration of hair loss to be expected when you begin using the minoxidil followed by growth due to minox use?

Some people have observed initial shedding with minoxidil and even with Propecia. You were smart to hold the course and stay with the medication to pass the shedding phase.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, minoxidil, shedding

If I Get Transplants, I Want a Perfectly Straight Hairline

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /,

So, I’m one of those losers losing his hair at 24 :(

I hear that after you get hair transplants you will always have a hairline that looks like it is receding. I do not want that- I want the hollywood straight nice hairline.

Is this possible with hair implants if I find the right surgeon?

Please advise

Thanks kindly

DraculaGenerally, transplanted hairlines should not be perfectly straight. To be completely normal you need a transition zone between the forehead and the thicker hair with a gradual appearance of hair, not an abrupt Count Dracula hairline (see right). With that being said, I will transplant a straight “Hollywood” hairline (as you call it), but it will take some convincing that what you want is reasonable and natural. Had I transplanted Dracula’s hairline, I suspect one night when he woke up, he would realize that he was a Vampire. That’s ok for Dracula, but not for one of my patients.

I decided to show you photos of patients that look perfectly natural with a transplanted mature hairline, as opposed to the straight across hairline you’re asking about. They say that pictures are worth a thousand words, so here’s 17 thousand for you…

For what it’s worth, I noted that your location was in Northern California. NHI will also start working out of Oakland next month and I expect to have a Sacramento office shortly thereafter.

Tags: hairline, hair transplants, hair transplant, hair restoration

Transplanted Hair is Different From Rest of My Hair

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /,

Please do not use my real name. I’m female, aged 54. I was born with a very high wide forehead. 8 years ago I had a scalp advancement which brought my scalp 1/2 inch lower. Two years ago I had hair transplanted from the back of my head to my my hairline. The transplanted hair became infected. Some of it fell out & never came back. The hair that stayed is course, dark, kinky & curly. It doesn’t resemble the rest of my forehead hair which is fine, straight & medium in color. Why is the transplanted hair so different from my natural hair? I also have lumps & red irritated skin where the transplanted hair grows. Did my doctor do something wrong?

Generally, if the technique of transplanting hair is done correctly, the frontal hairline should blend in with the rest of your hair. That being said, on occasion it may grow out a bit more wavy and on rare occasions it can become kinky or frizzy (very rare). Your prior surgery on your forehead and the complication of an infection may have played a part in the overall result. A good examination of the hair with thickness measurements may help understand what you think you are seeing. These are subjects that you need to discuss with your doctor who performed your surgery. If that is not possible, you should seek out another doctor for a formal medical opinion.

Tags: hair transplant, character, hairloss, hair loss, female, women, woman

Any Way to Counter Propecia Side Effects?

/by William Rassman, M.D./1 /

I have tried Propecia twice for about 15 days each. Both times I stopped as I devleoped breast enlargement. Is there a way I can use Propecia but avoid the side effects (i.e. counter medication)?

You should consult with your doctor who prescribed you Propecia to address these issues. There are medications to counter abnormal breast enlargement, but I have not personally used them to treat my patients. Most men who have breast lumps from Propecia (about one in 500 users) stop taking the medication.

The interesting part about your question is that you state you have only taken Propecia for about 2 weeks and noticed breast enlargement. This is not typical and it is more the reason why you should follow-up with the doctor who prescribed Propecia to you.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, finasteride, propecia, gynecomastia, breast

Scalp Biopsy as Child Resulted in 2 Bald Spots on Side of Head

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /, ,

HI, I hope you can help me..im a 22 year old male and i have two bald spots on the sides of my head, one 4 times larger than the other. From what i can gather this is a result from a biopsy i had done when i was a baby due to pimples on the head. My mother took me to the doctor because they would swell up due to the chlorine in the pool. The doctor told my mother the hair would grow back and boy was he lying..to this day i have to wear black eyeshadow and keep my hair longer to keep it hidden..please tell me you know an answer to this..
thanks in advance!

Small scars on the scalp can generally be treated with a hair transplant with good results. It is dependant on the location of the scar, the size, your hair color & characteristics (wavy, curly, and straight). FUE is an easy way to treat small scars.

Tags: hair loss, hairloss, scar, repair, biopsy, fue

Slight Anemia — When Should My Hair Regrow?

/by William Rassman, M.D./2 /,

I am a 47 yr old female with very thick hair and no family history of female hair loss. Three months ago my hair started thinning drastically. What is left has become much lighter in color. A blood test showed “slight” anemia, says the doctor, and he prescribed iron pills. I have been taking them for almost a month and still the hair is falling out. When should I see a stop in hair loss? When will I see regrowth? Could I eventually lose all my hair before the iron starts to work? I’m really trying not to stress over this!
Thanks.

The hair loss may reverse and it could take months or years in some women. It is possible that the anemia may not be the cause of the hair loss or that the anemia precipitated genetic expression of hair loss, in which case it may not return to normal. It is also important to review the use of medications that can cause hair loss, such as oral contraceptives, beta-blockers, Vitamin A, thyroid drugs, coumadin and prednisone. The following laboratory tests are often useful if underlying problems are suspected: Estradiol, FSH, LH, SHBG, Prolactin, T4, TSH, ANA, Iron, TIBC, Ferritin, Free and Total Testosterone. If your doctor has any questions, please encourage him/her to call me at 800-NEW-HAIR. You need to make sure that you have a full medical work-up. If the hair loss does not return and all of the above testing is negative, your hair loss could be a sign of a genetic predisposition to hair loss which may have been precipitated by the defect (in this case anemia) or just the changes in your overall hormone balances.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, women, woman, female, anemia, iron

16 Year Old is Losing Hair, Wanting Transplantation

/by William Rassman, M.D./1 /,

I am a 16 year old male. When i turned 13 I dyed my hair about 5 times, and bleached it once. The following year I began to lose my hair. You can see my scalp on the back of my head, not greatly, but very noticablly. The hair on top of my head is very thin now, and u can almost see through to my scalp. My hair has stopped falling out since then but the damage has been done. I have been to several doctors, and dermatologists, they all say it’s hereditary, since my father is bald. My questions are, if the hair loss is hereditary why did I start losing my hair at such a young age? If my parents and I consider hair transplantation am I guaranteed to have a full head of thick(er) hair? If we decide to have the surgery should I start taking Propecia to prevent any future hair loss? I would love nothing more than to have a full head of thick hair again. This has been a very stressful situation, being in my prime teen years, and entering my junior year of high school in September. I would greatly appreciate it if you respond to my message. Thanks for your time!

You are almost certainly too young to have hair transplants. Seeing through the hair to the scalp means that you hair is probably very, very fine. This is a common look, something that my generation called a towhead. I would not be surprised to hear of balding in your family as 50% of men in their lifetime do have some form of balding. Before you start on a treatment plan, please read Miniaturization: Critical to the Master Plan for Hair Loss and develop a Master Plan for your hair.

Tags: hair transplant, hairloss, hair loss, towhead, tow

Propecia, Minoxidil, and Age for Hair Loss Protection

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /,

hi dr… do you think you increase you chances of stopping the hairloss if you use minoxidil with propecia???? also does hairloss tend to slow at age 40… please let me know .. thanks

The combination of minoxidil and Propecia may make a difference in a few patients, but I personally do not recommend its use together unless the Propecia is failing to achieve the goals. Hair loss does slow down (on average) at about 35, more so at 40 and rarely is it very active in the 50s. There are exceptions to this rule and I do see men at the ripe age of 50 who experience hair loss for the first time.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, minoxidil, rogaine, propecia, finasteride, age