3 Months After My Hair Transplant, A Bald Spot Appeared Between the Crown and Donor Area

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

Hello

I find your website informative

Here is my scenario. My surgeon is on holidays for two weeks. I had a scar revision and small graft session into the crown 600 grafts.

About three months after the procedure………I developed a small bald spot (size of a penny) about an inch below the crown diagonally betwween where the grafts were put and a few inches above the actual donor scar line. It was native high density hair.

The area in question is still very numb and tender. I all of a sudden developed a thick scab…………it came off with a bunch of hair and it is very pink skin below and a bit rough in texture and completely devoid in hair.

I have put emu oil on it for the time being……..

1. What do you think it is
2. Will the hair grow back

Thanks…….take care

I would have to see your hair loss patch to give you a better opinion on what it is. Can you send me a picture to the address on the contact page? Please reference this blog post when sending. Thanks.

Tags: hairtransplant, hair transplant, bald spot, baldspot, crown

My Genetics Suck — I Am Losing Scalp Hair and Can’t Grow a Beard!

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

Dear Dr. Rassman.

I am 24 years of age and have been losing my hair since I was 17. However it has been a very slow process and I am now a NW II moving to a III but with no frontal receeding. However I can not for the life of me grow a full beard or moustache, infact my cheeks except by my jawline are pretty much bare of facial hair with a couple odd ones here and there. ( I have black hair and many of my facial hairs are red and transparent). I thought DHT was responsible for facial hair growth and thus if I was losing my hair, I would at least be able to grow a beard. I feel totally ripped off by my genetics. I can’t keep all my hair AND I can’t even grow a beard to frame my face a bit better as I deal with my rounded out hairline. What gives?

If you have scalp hair loss with good donor hair in the back of your head, you might be a good candidate for hair transplantation (which can work on the beard as well). Look on the bright side — having less facial hair may not be such a bad thing. Personally, I would trade with you and give you my beard if I could. I’m tired of shaving every day. Ha!

Tags: hairtransplant, hair transplant, genetic, genes

Any Updated Laser Info?

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

Hello!
I have been using a laser comb for about 6 months, and it has grown more hair than anything I have tried in the last 25 years. (I am 54). It’s not a lot of hair, but it’s clearly new hair growth. Your article on Lasers is very good, but I notice it was dated 2005. Will you be updating the article soon? thank you!!

Our understanding of the role of lasers in hair growth and hair restoration has not been changed much in the last two years. There has not been sophisticated research published in a peer reviewed journal on the effect of this particular type of laser on hair growth as of yet. When and if such information ever becomes available, I would love to post about it on this site.

Tags: lasercomb, laser, hairloss, hair loss, hair growth, laser comb

Xalatan (Latanoprost) for Regrowing Hair?

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

Hi doctor,
I just wanted to know your opinion on xalatan (Latanoprost) on its effectiveness to regrow hair?
I ask because I have sparse eyebrows from overpluckig and was wondering if theirs anything I can do to regrow them.

Thank you

Xalatan is a prescription drug used to lower eye pressure in people with high inner eye pressure or open-angle glaucoma. The stimulating effect of this medication on the growth of eyebrows and eyelashes and pigmentation of hair was accidentally found in a group of patients who were using topical Xalantan for treatment of glaucoma. This finding was published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology in 1997. Since then, many other studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of Xalantan on hair growth in human and animals. Here’s one — Prostaglandin analogs for hair growth: Great expectations

Despite the above mentioned reports, Xalantan is currently not one of the recommended medications for prevention and treatment of hair loss and probably more studies are needed for its efficacy and side effects in comparison to other available hair loss medications.

As for the second part of your message — sparse eyebrows from over-plucking will likely result in permanent hair loss over time. Aside from using eyebrow makeup, hair transplantation is a possible option.

Tags: latanoprost, xalatan, hairloss, hair loss, eyebrow

I’ve Been on Finasteride for a Decade — Is It Time for Me To Try Avodart?

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

I have been using Finasteride successfully for the last 10 years. In addition I recived progesterone scalp injections every 3-4 months in the same time frame. Lately ( the last 4 months)my front is thinning and something aint working anymore. I think the scalp injections may be novel and maybe never worked? However I split a 5mg finasteride, and take a 1/2 every other day.

Is it time to try the avodart? It looks like the dosage might be suspect.Can you take it at 0.5 mg everyday, as I realize the 1/2 life is longer than proscar? I am a 56yr old male,good health. please help!

You need to discuss these issues with your doctor! I do not prescribe or inject progesterone in my practice since I see no medical or clinical benefit from doing it. I also do not recommend 2.5mg of finasteride since 1mg works just as well for the treatment of MPB. In other words, there is no benefit that I can see and the reports on the 1mg do seem reasonable. Furthermore, I generally recommend taking finasteride as directed once a day, since the medication is cleared from your bloodstream within 24 hrs. Before considering dutasteride (Avodart), I would try taking finasteride in the correct dosage and correct regimen. You suggested that the finasteride may fizzle out and become less effective. That may be, but are you willing to deal with more side effects with dutasteride? Before changing any medications, please consult with your doctor that prescribed you these medications.

Tags: finasteride, dutasteride, hairloss, hair loss

I Have So Many DUPA Questions…

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

Hello,
I am a 23 year old male and am fairly certain I have DUPA. The hair on the sides and back is still pretty thick I think. However the hair on the top is thin from the normal hairline to the crown. It still isn’t that bad, I don’t think anyone would ever think I was going bald when it is dry, however whenever I exercise or go swimming it gets wet and almost looks as if I am malnourished or something; seriously. And God forbid it rain (I get extremely concerned when it rains and I’ve forgotten an umbrella) cause when it hits my head you can see straight to the scalp. My hair has always been very thin/fine ever since I was a child, but now I feel that it is getting worse. What I would like to know is if DUPA is not always caused by DHT, then what is it caused by? And it seems as though there aren’t many solutions to this type of baldness, except possibly Propecia, is there anything else? Also I have begun using Rogaine, is it worthless for DUPA? I know that’s quite a few questions, but to be honest that’s just the tip of the iceberg for me, I’m sure I’ll ask for more, Thank You so much.

You should see a physician to get a firm diagnosis of DUPA (diffuse unpatterned alopecia). You may not have DUPA if you have thick hair as you describe in the back of your scalp. Propecia (finasteride 1mg) in particular works by blocking the DHT hormone which causes AGA (androgenic alopecia) or MPB (male pattern balding). Since DHT may not cause DUPA, Propecia may not be of any benefit. BUT… I generally recommend male patients try a course of it, as some patients with DUPA do get a response from the drug. Keep in mind, nobody really knows what causes DUPA and drugs such as Propecia and Rogaine have not been studied for the treatment of DUPA.

Thank you for all the questions, but please keep in mind this site is NOT meant for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical conditions.

Tags: dupa, diffuse unpatterned alopecia, alopecia, hairloss, hair loss, finasteride, propecia

Can I Lose Hair From a Roller Coaster?

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

Dr. Rassman,

Is riding on a rollercoaster at an amusement park a smart thing to do when I have MPB? Would the stress (but it’s ‘good’ stress because the ride is fun) from the ride accelerate hairloss?
Does it depend on each person? FYI, I’m a young man.

Wow, I have answered some strange questions here before, but this one is a bit silly.

Male pattern baldness (MPB) also known as androgenic alopecia (AGA) is due to genetic causes. A hormone known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is mainly responsible for hair loss in individuals with MPB. Baseball caps, masturbation, swimming, showering, blow drying, dandruff, and even roller coasters will not cause MPB.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, rollercoaster, amusement park, theme park, roller coaster

Spina Bifida

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

Hi. Im 15. I was born with spinabifida. About a year ago I started noticing my hair falling out. It wasnt much. Just a little but here and there when I combed it out. Then as time progressed, the amount of hair I was losing increased alot. Now every time I take a shower, I usaully comb my hair in the shower after I put conditioner on it. Massive amounts of hair come out. Its really scaring me. Is this normal or is there somthing wrong with me? Or does this go along with the spinabifida?
Thanks!

Hair loss in men and women usually has genetic causes that could be accelerated by other factors. There is no report to show that spina bifida is causing hair loss or that hair loss is one of the coexisting factors in patients with spina bifida as of yet. You can also see another posting on this topic here: Spina Bifida and Hair Loss.

Tags: spinabifida, spina bifida, hairloss, hair loss

Dry Scalp and Hair Loss?

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

Hi, I was wondering if a dry scalp can cause hairloss. Since starting Rogaine my scalp has become really dry and I am willing to put up with it, however, is a really dry flaky scalp a cause of hairloss? Thank you for your time! It is quite appreciated.

Having a dry scalp focuses additional attention to your scalp area where you are losing hair and you may be doing things that could cause hair loss (like rough brushing). With that said though, a dry scalp or dandruff are not related to male pattern baldness (MPB).

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, dry scalp, dry, dandruff

My Hair Fell Out for Months After Chemically Treated

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

Dr. Rassman,

About 3 years ago, after having my hair “professionally colored”, I asked my hairdresser when it was safe to apply a relaxer to my hair.After following his advice of 2 weeks,I applied the
relaxer myself, (like I had done many times before with absolutely no problems), only to have my hair fall out in clumps for approximately the next 9 months. Fast forward 3 years later, I
have finally gotten my hair to stop falling out and back to its healthy natural state, my only problem now is that it refuses to grow and it is still very thin in the places where it came
out the most? I am so frustrated. Any help?

It seems the chemicals “stressed” your hair follicles and after three years they have generally recovered. It may get better, but there is no way to tell. There are few medications that will help it grow, possibly with the exception of minoxidil.

Tags: minoxidil, hairloss, hair loss, chemical