Should I Be Concerned That My Hair Falls Out with the Slightest Touch?

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

Hello, Im a 20 year old male with very blonde thin hair. I know that it is normal to lose roughly 100 hairs daily, but i notice that when i run my hand through my hair, hair seems to fallout more extensively then one would consider normal. Also i know you strongly suggest miniturization, but this loss of hair happens all over my head, not just in the typical balding areas. I am concerned because my hair is falling out so easily, the slightest touch or force applied to my hair will cause me to lose hair. Also, my grandfather on my dads side is bald, but my dad isn’t, and my grandfather on my mothers side is bald. So my question is should i be concerned about balding in regards to how easily my hair falls out all over my head, and based on genetics as well?

We emphasize on miniaturization studies because at this time it is one of the most accurate predictors of baldness. The number of hairs that you lose on a daily basis could be changed due to the physiologic alterations.

Although family history of baldness could be helpful to anticipate the balding pattern, it is not always a perfect method. You need to be seen by a good hair specialist and only after a thorough evaluation and considering all variables one can say whether you are balding or are only experiencing a physiologic shedding. It does sound like you may be obsessing over your hair, so an objective mapping of your scalp for miniaturization would be helpful to understand what is really happening to you.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, miniaturization

Will Finasteride Harm My Growing Body?

/by William Rassman, M.D./6 /

hey doc, im 19 and i just recently started propecia for my thinning crown. Is this too young to start fin? i think that my facial hair is only about 70% in, because im so young will fin effect my facial hair? and will it affect my height if im still growing? will it stop me from broadening out as most plp do in around my age?

its a bit scarely to be losing hair at this age plz help me out

Propecia (finasteride) may affect facial and body hair growth. I do not believe it is a clear published fact, but I have seen and heard anecdotal stories. In women with Polycystic Ovaries where hirsutism (excess body hair) is a problem, finasteride has been tested and is moderately effective at reducing body hair. Based upon this observation, Propecia MAY diminish facial and body hair. While it is my personal opinion that it is a very low possibility because of the thousands of young men I treated over the past 8 years, only one patient reported reduced body hair (he was over 40). If you are concerned about growth of body and facial hair issues, I would advise you to:

  1. Talk with your doctor about these concerns
  2. Continue Propecia and see if it is an ongoing problem (when you stop it everything should reverse)
  3. Consider stopping the Propecia (but the risks of hair loss then have to be balanced in the decision process)
Tags: finasteride, proscar, propecia, hairloss, hair loss, facial hair

Why Would Propecia Prevent Shock Loss After a Hair Transplant?

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

Is there any data to suggest that if your a young male taking propecia prior to a hair transplant that you will have less shock loss? I only ask because I read your comments about this subject. What would be the mechanism behind this, other than the usuall effects of finesteride on 5-alpha-reductase enzyme?

The information I have is based upon my observations from a large number of surgeries I have done both prior to Propecia (finasteride 1mg) being available and then after it came on the market. Prior to using Propecia, almost every young man (under 30) who underwent a hair transplant had some shock loss. Since I have placed almost all of my patients on Propecia, I have rarely seen shock loss. As to why it works, I do believe it is because of the protective effect of finasteride on the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme in the miniaturized hair covers the ‘stress’ of the surgery.

Tags: finasteride, propecia, hairloss, hair loss, hairtransplant, hair transplant, shockloss, shock loss

Rogaine vs ScalpMed

/by William Rassman, M.D./7 /,

What is the difference between Rogaine and Scalpmed?

ScalpMed contains minoxidil 5% solution, plus other stuff. Rogaine is minoxidil and comes in 2 and 5% concentrations. ScalpMed is far more expensive than over-the-counter minoxidil. If you prefer to pay more, the ScalpMed may be the better choice.

For more, see: Infomercial Evaluator – ScalpMed

Tags: scalpmed, scalp med, rogaine, minoxidil, hairloss, hair loss

Do You Think Hair Transplantation will Become a Defunct Practice?

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

Doctor Rassman,

Do you believe that hair transplantation will ever become a defunct practice (due to a cure or a commercially viable alternative)? Do you believe this will happen in YOUR lifetime?

If there is a medical cure for balding (medicine, cloning, etc), I think I would become a very rich man. After all, who else is better equipped to treat balding than the doctors who are already in the practice? I should hope that there will be a cure in my lifetime!

Tags: hairtransplant, hair transplant, hairloss, hair loss, cure, cloning

My Doctor Said There is 0% Chance My Transplants Will Not Grow

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

Dr. Rassman,

How likely is it that transplanted grafts do not survive after the surgery? I’ve heard from my doctor that there is virtually 0% chance that they will not grow, but I have seen no evidence of new growth at over one year from my surgery so I am at a loss to explain my outcome. Thanks.

There is never certainty in anything in this world. Hair transplants usually grow (greater than 99% of patients will experience good growth) provided that the doctor and team perform the surgery correctly. If you have not had growth one year after a hair transplant, then something went wrong. Get a second opinion and you will then know.

Tags: hairtransplant, hair transplant, growth

Taking 2.5mg of Finasteride in the Morning, 2.5mg at Night

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

I have been on Proscar quartered for 3 months and now in months 4 I started to cut them in half and take one half in the AM and the other half in the PM. Do you think this may be a benefit or not? Also I have been using Minoxidil for almost 2 years. I am 37 yr old male and just went to a Norwood 2 – 2 1/2. I do not have a camera to send you a pic. Thank you for your time Doctor and for having a great forum.

If you are not getting side effects from the high dose of the drug, I doubt that this high dose will hurt you, but you do not need to take it twice a day. Try it just once a day (1/2 pill).

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

Can My Female Hair Loss Be Reversed with Minoxidil?

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

sir,
I am a 25 yr old asian female and suffer from androgenetic alopecia(aga) for last 4 yrs. my question is when you say advanced thinning what do you mean by that?? i mean approximately after how many yrs after the process of miniaturisation has started will the chances of reversal thru minoxidil will be difficult?? lets say in my case i have lost more than half of my hair and in the front where scalp shines vellus hairs (thin fine white in colour less than 1cm) are present. would you call it advanced thinning or extensive miniaturisation making minoxidil difficult/impossible to work??

For women, there are no good rules to follow so I can not answer your question. Try the minoxidil and watch it over a 12 month period and you will then know the answer to your question. Time must pass and twice a day use needs to be maintained.

Tags: minoxidil, women, woman, female, hairloss, hair loss