Transplanting to Eyebrows with Seborrheic Dermatitis

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

hi doctor ,I’m a 48 year old male who’s had seb derm in my eyebrows for the best part of thirty years .this has caused shedding of the eyebrows over the years as the scales seem to lift the hairs and they fall out . I’m now desperate as the loss is obvious and the patchiness makes me depressed and very self concious .I’m considering a transplant after having read of your success in this procedure ,but I’m concerned that the condition will continue and then I’ll lose the transplanted hairs . In your opinion ,do the transplanted hairs have more strength in the brow because they are implanted deeper ? have you had any feedback from patients who underwent this procedure as a consequence of eyebrow loss from sebderm like mine ?

The transplanted hair will behave like the hair in the back of your scalp (the donor hair) and they may be more resistant to the effects of the dermatitis. Scalp hair transplanted to the eyebrow will continue to grow long (as your scalp hair does in their original position) so you will need to trim it.

Tags: eyebrow, hairtransplant, hair transplant, dermatitis, hairloss, hair loss

Transsexual Male to Female and Propecia

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

I am a transsexual(male to female) who was experiencing hair loss before transitioning. I took Propecia, and was pleased with the results. I am now using many hormones including a much more powerful anti-androgen Spironolactone. I was curious as to whether you think it would be safe to stop taking Propecia now?

I would think that Propecia (finasteride) is still a good choice drug for you, as it has already proved itself in your situation. It is safe and there are no contraindications against its use — or am I missing something here? If you stop taking it, you will lose your hair all over again and there’s a chance that this time it will not hold.

Tags: finasteride, propecia, transsexual, lgbt, hairloss, hair loss

Rogaine for Different Races?

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

how would you recommend rogaine for black women? could i get by with washing my hair only 2-3 times weekly with its use?

I am not sure I understand your question. Rogaine (minoxidil) does not discriminate between races. Use it as directed. You should use it daily, but I would try to wash your hair to remove the residues at least 3 times a week.

Tags: minoxidil, rogaine, hairloss, hair loss, race, black, women, woman, female

Successful Hair Regrowth After Treating Hypothyroidism?

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

I am a 35 year old female who was recently diagnosed with “borderline” hypothyroidism.

I discoved this issue after I sought medical attention for sudden diffuse hair loss that had been going on for about 5 months. (I finally stopped believing people who told me it was just stress!)

I am starting with a .025 Synthroid treatment.

My question is, Is there a chance that my hair loss will stop and reverse? This is a huge concern and I have not seen very many success stories on the internet. My Dr. says it is very likely that this will happen once we treat the underlying issue (hypothyroidism) but what are that statistics of successful hair regrowth? Are there other treatments I should ask my Dr about regarding this side effect?

Thank you.

The answer is not a simple yes or no. The hair goes through cycles and the rest period between cycles is 3-7 months. That means to me that if you wait out this timing after the thyroid has returned to normal, then you will probably know the answer. The variable is your genetic clock. Are you carrying the genetic hair loss gene? Did the hypothyroidism trigger expression of that gene? No way to really tell, unfortunately.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, hypothyroidism, thyroid

Spots Suddenly Appearing in Moustache and Beard

/by William Rassman, M.D./3 /

I am a 25 year old male. A couple of months ago i noticed a tiny bald spot in the moustache after shaving. I ignored it then. Today such spots have appeared all over the moustache and beard. My hair is perfectly fine. I am extremely worried. Please advise what i should do.

See a dermatologist to make a diagnosis. Things like fungal infections or autoimmune problems could be the cause. Get an expert opinion.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, moustache, beard

Scared to Lose My Hair with Chemotherapy

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

I’m a 22 year old girl who will be starting chemo the first week of November ’07. While the thought of treatment is really scary, what’s scaring me the most is knowing that I’ll be losing my hair outwardly looking ill. I’ve been doing a huge amount of research on any ways to retain my hair during treatment. I keep ending up hitting a product called Thymu-Skin. I can’t find any sites that discuss if there are any side effects to using this product while on chemo.

Can you please help me out with this? I’d really appreciate it!!

thanks

Chemotherapy does not necessarily mean you will lose hair. Hair loss depends on the specific drug used in chemotherapy. Your doctor who will be overseeing your chemotherapy treatment should be able to answer all of your questions and tell you how chemotherapy will affect your health and hair. The good news is that if you lose your hair, it will probably come back strong after the growth cycle is invoked.

To my knowledge, there is no FDA approved product to prevent hair loss from chemotherapy. With respect to ThymuSkin, I have heard of this product from patients and readers like you. Most accounts of its success/failure are based on anecdotal accounts. Despite the claim of ‘research’ and publications, they are rarely in peer reviewed mainstream journals and even if it is, the design of the study needs to be scrutinized for biases in the research. A theme that often echoes here on BaldingBlog is that it is a “buyer beware” market.

Of note, the ThymuSkin website seems to account the expertise of Dr. Morton Walker. Dr Walker is a doctor of podiatry medicine (D.P.M.) I am confused how a foot doctor came to be an expert in hair loss and the thymus.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, thymuskin, chemotherapy, chemo, thymus

Percentage of Patients That Actually Have Shock Loss?

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

Hi,
In a follow up to the shock loss posts what are the percentages of patients that actual suffer a degree of loss. I realise that everyone is different in terms of age and miniturisation but what are the overall figures for those on propecia and those not on it.

I am 26 have been on propecia for 4 months and have a degree of miniturization but would like the front of my hair restored as it looks terrible.

What are the risks? high?

I would suspect that with 4 months of Propecia under your belt, the odds are in your favor (80/20) for preventing shock loss. If at the time you started taking the drug the hair loss was very active, then the risks rise slightly, but are still in your favor (better than 50/50). Just a guess of course, as there is no data to reference, other than my years of experience in this field.

I have experience from the days when I was doing hair transplants prior to the availability of Propecia on the market (8 or so years ago). The young man undergoing rapid hair loss, when having a hair transplant, would accelerate his rate of hair loss in almost 100% of cases (these are men in their 20s). As the person’s age increased into their 30s and 40s, the shock hair loss reduced in most men who stabilized their hair loss, because they lost much of what they were going to lose. Men in their 40s and 50s rarely experienced shock hair loss.

Tags: finasteride, propecia, proscar, shockloss, shock loss, hairloss, hair loss

Hair Dye Allergy Caused Hair Loss — Will it Regrow?

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

Hello,
About 6 months ago, I started to dye my hair black (it is naturally blond – what can I say;) ?) Anyway, I’ve just discovered that I am allergic to PPD and have stopped using the hair dye. My now last treatment (which was a week ago and the reaction was really bad) has caused me to lose hair. Its not breakage, as the whole hair including the root, comes out. Its not what I would consider very severe as it is not coming out in clumps, but it is certainly very noticable, especially when I wash it as I have a nice size “wad” I have to take out of the tub.

Is this something, that hopefully, will subside soon, and what are the odds of that hair growing back?

Thanks for any help you might be able to offer
Calendar

If you hair loss was from a local allergic reaction to a hair dye, then it should grow back. Typically, you will have to wait 3-6 months, but you may have to wait as long as a year to find out.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, allergy, dye, hairdye

Diane-35 and Hair Loss in Women

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

Hi,I hope this get to you because I’m at a desperation state for help!! I’m 22, female and have been taking diane-35 for 5 years, as well I have done alot of bleaching to my hair in the past,and just this past year I have been losing massive amount of hair, I’m constantly shedding throughout the day,especially after showers. I know this is not genetic because no one in my family is bald. Do you think this pattern of shedding is due to the pill? and what do you recommend I do?
Thank you for your time

Hair loss can be genetic without anyone in your family being bald. This is because hair loss gene does not follow a predictable Mendelian genetic inheritance pattern.

Hair loss in women is more complicated than hair loss in men, because it does not manifest itself in a specific pattern. While birth control pills and extensive hair coloring/bleaching may have a contributory factor in your hair loss, there may be other medical issues that should be expored before blaming a pill or a hair treatment. You should see your family doctor for a good physical exam and rule out any medical causes.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, diane35, diane 35, hormone, women, woman, female

How Long for Scalp Biopsy Results?

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

I am just wondering how long it takes for a dermotologist to get the results back from a scalp biopsy. I had one done a couple of days ago and am anxious to hear the results. I tried calling the doctor today and was only able to leave a message. I am a 33 year old female experiencing hair loss. Thank-you for any information you can provide for me.

The time it takes to get a biopsy back depends upon the doctor who is reading the biopsy. This is not a test that one get by running blood in some meter that gives a reading. It is a meticulous test where an expert doctor (dermatopathologist) prepares slides from the biopsy source (3-4 days) then looks at it under a standard staining process (1 day — not on a weekend day), and then if the diagnosis is not evident the entire process may have to be repeated with different colored stains (1-2 weeks) before a final diagnosis is available. Depending upon the complexity of the disease being tested, the time does vary between doctors, patients, diseases, facilities.

Tags: biopsy, doctor, results, dermatologist, scalp

My Dermatologist Says Amantadine, Aricept, and Adderal Are Causing My Hair Loss

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

Hi,

I am a ‘young’ 50’s woman who has lived with Sjogren’s for 20 yrs. along w/the medications to control its symptoms. I’ve had fairly normal hair loss until the last 5 yrs. Since then, the loss has increased at an alarming rate. The biopsy revealed chronic TE. My dermatologist thinks it’s due to 3 of my meds; amantadine, aricept & adderal. I’ve taken these meds forever. I’m going to ask my Rhuematologist to change them. Meanwhile, he told me to discontinue the minoxidil because he doesn’t think it works, but I thought it was helping w/the shorter hair along the face, but… is there anything that helps with the itching that goes hand-in-hand w/the minoxidil? That is almost unbearable on top of the itching from the TE.

When you get a symptom like chronic itching when you are using a medication like minoxidil, your body is telling you that it is not good for you (it could be that you are allergic to the medication). Sounds like you have good doctors, so focus your questions to those who are treating you. Hair loss is complex in your situation, as it coexists with your other problems and treatments.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, minoxidil, allergy, drugs

Hair Loss from a Haircut?

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

I’m 42 and I’ve never had any problems with my hair.Infact there is no history of hair loss in my family.I had my hair cut with thinning shears 3 times within a two month period(this was 9 months ago)My hair never grew back on the top as thick as it was before. Is it possible the repeated thinning haircuts could still be affecting my hair?

The haircut may have shown you hair that is on its way out. This miniaturized hair often does not grow, so when you cut it, it just hangs there until it eventually falls out. Thinning the hair with scissors should not impact healthy hair.

Tags: haircut, hairloss, hair loss, hair cut

Female Hair Loss Doctor in Los Angeles?

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

I am a 39 year old female. I have been experiencing hair loss over the past two years. I’ve seen two different dermatologists and was told the hair loss was due to teleogen effluvium . I’ve also had blood work done. Everything came back normal. My scalp is itchy all the time and it’s very oily. I did have dandruff for a while but it’s gone now from using over the counter dandruff shampoo, like Selsun Blue and Head and Shoulders. How long does teleogen effluvium usually last? I really want to see an expert in female hair loss and see if it is genetic female hair loss and check for miniaturization. Could you please recommend a good doctor? I live in the Los Angeles area. I appreciate your time and your help. Thank you.

We are doctors in Los Angeles. I hope that we are good ones and we certainly do miniaturization mapping as part of our routine treatment. I look forward to meeting you. You can call 800-NEW-HAIR to setup an appointment, or visit this page if you’d like to be contacted to setup a consultation.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, doctor, los angeles, losangeles, miniaturization

How Would Hair Multiplication Grow Hair In the Right Direction?

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

I have been reading many articles on Intercytex recently suggesting that a ‘baldness cure’ is on the way. I am aware that it may be a fair few years away until it becomes a possibilty, but I had a technical question that might be of interest. I know that the company’s aim is to inject hair inducing cells into the skin. This sounds great in theory, but how would they create a crown, seeing that hair in that region of the scalp grows in different directions? How do you think problems such as that could be overcome?

Over a decade ago, Dr. Walter Unger reported that a group in England was successful in cloning hair in mice. The mice then had the hair injected into the skin and as the hair grew, all of the mice died from massive infection. It was as you said, the direction of the hair went every way possible and the bacteria in the vicinity went wild, causing infection and abscess formation, eventually killing the poor mice. According to that report, the research was abandoned. I will see him this week and ask him for a follow-up of that problem, hopefully getting information to give you are more focused answer to your question.

Tags: hair multiplication, hair cloning, mice, direction, hairloss, hair loss

Does Drinking Alcohol Contribute to Hair Loss?

/by William Rassman, M.D./3 /, ,

Hi Dr. Rassman,

I am a 26 y/o male in the early stages of genetic hair loss. I have a quick question for you. Does the consumption of alcoholic beverages (whether it be beer or liquor)contribute to hair loss if you have genetic balding? Also does smoking cigarettes cause hair loss if you have genetic balding? Do they have a synergistic effect if used together? I notice that everytime after a night of drinking and smoking (I only smoke when I drink), more hair tends to fall out the next day. I looked through your past postings but did not see anything relative to this topic.

Also, are there any hair transplant doctors that you could recommend in the DC/MD area or the NY area?

I appreciate your help Dr. Rassman, I read your blog everyday!

With people who drink excessively, diet and vitamin deficiency commonly becomes a cause for hair loss. After heavy drinking, there are stress reactions that can precipitate hair loss. The more of these bouts of drinking, the greater the stress on your body. Drinking does impact the liver and the liver is a critical organ in managing hormones in your body’s metabolism. As for smoking, please see previous posts regarding that.

Dr. Robert Bernstein has offices in New York and New Jersey and is a great hair transplant doctor.

Tags: hairtransplant, hair transplant, doctor, drink, smoke, cigarette, alcohol, vitamin, diet, hairloss, hair loss