Why Does DUPA Effect People Aged 16-23 More Than Others?

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

Hello i have a few questions about DUPA, i was wondering how long it took for your patients who responded well to propecia to notice visible result, coz ive bin on it for about 3 months and was wondering if i should quit.

also why do people aged 16-23 get dupa the most, what is causing this do you think?

And also i heard you say once that you prescribe dutasteride to patients with dupa if they dont respond to propecia why is this? has there been someone with dupa who has responded to dutasteride and not propecia.

please can you answer these please i would be most pleased

I do not believe that DUPA (diffuse unpatterned alopecia) is most common in the 16-23 year old age group. I believe it is found in people of all ages. The effects of drugs like Propecia (finasteride) or Avodart (dutasteride) are not confirmed for the treatment of DUPA, but they are the only things available for it. I have seen some benefits from Propecia on DUPA patients.

Tags: dupa, propecia, finasteride, dutasteride, avodart, hairloss, hair loss

I Had My Large Intestine Removed — Now I Have Hair Loss

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

Hello,
I’m 25 years old female. i had my large intestine remove about 3 months ago. I started noticing my hair falling out in the middle of june. I have thick curly hair and now i’ve probably lost about 75% of it. Im thinning a lot on the back of my head where its really noticable. I’ve seen my family doctor and got some blood tests done and my iron is still low. So i was put on perscription iron pills. It’s at the point where im going to have to buy a wig. It doesn’t seem like it’s going to stop falling out.. im losing handfuls of hair a day. Is this normal. My family doctor hasn’t been that helpful. Please help!

White it is normal to lose 100 to 150 hairs a day, losing handfuls of hair as you’ve described does not seem normal. Sometimes major surgery, like having your intestine removed, or a major illness can cause hair loss (acute telogen effluvium). While this type of hair loss from stress can be temporary, you may never fully regain all of your hair. Other medical causes such as low iron levels can cause hair loss and you should be under the care of a good physician to address these and other medical issues.

Tags: stress, surgery, hairloss, hair loss, intestine, acute telogen effluvium

What is the Next Big Development in Hair Loss Treatment?!

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

Hi there,

I have a question about new developments in the treatment of male pattern hair loss. Apart from the clincial trial of Dutasteride, has there been any news in the field of novel medical
hair loss treatments which are being developed, tried and/or tested? Or is everything subject to strict confidentiality?

Thanks

No new groundbreaking developments that I am aware of at this time. At the ISHRS meeting later this month, I will be able to probe many people for answers and will ask about what is coming down the pike.

Tags: drugs, hairloss, hair loss, ishrs

Some People Use an Extensive Treatment Regiment — I Just Take Propecia

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

I have recently begun usage of propecia and am happy to see noticably less hair falling out of my head however when i’ve researched hairloss medications online I have come upon forums in which people talk and regiments, xandrox 15, procerin, nizoral and all manner of things i’ve never heard of (eg. hairlosshelp.com forum post). My question is is my regiment of once a day propecia pill adequate or should I be using a regiment of extensive drugs and shampoos like these people to combat my hairloss? Thanks

I do not give much credence to the value of the other approaches mentioned. One pill of Propecia each day should be adequate and it is certainly less complex.

Tags: finasteride, propecia, hairloss, hair loss

Finasteride, Prostate, Muscle, and Hair Loss

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

I am 43 with some recent thinning in the back crown area and slight thinning in the front although it is not noticeable. I am in an industry where my appearance is important. To look at me, though, you’d never notice hair loss. Dr. Bernstein prescribed Propecia but frankly I am concerned about:

  1. Muscle loss/decreased ability to build muscle
  2. Affect on prostrate
  3. Study indicating higher risk of higher grade prostrate cancer

Can you please comment. Thank you

You can also ask these questions to Dr. Bernstein (in New York). He is a very reputable doctor and would trust his judgment.

  1. Propecia does not cause muscle loss or ability to build muscle.
  2. Propecia is finasteride in 1mg dose. Finasteride in the form of Proscar is a 5mg dose and it is used for men with benign enlargement of their prostate. It is also thought that finasteride in 5mg strength decreases prostate cancer risk by about 25% (Source: New England Journal of Medicine – July 17, 2003; vol. 349 no. 3). Men should NOT take finasteride to prevent prostate cancer.
  3. The same study stated that when prostate cancer was found the grade of cancer was higher at the 7th year of the study. The reason for that disparity was not clear. I personally do not believe the reports of higher grade prostate cancer with finasteride, because it is based upon somewhat dubious standards and a scoring system that is, in my opinion, outdated. When genetic testing is established (just like breast cancer), then the grading should be more reliable.

My opinion is that finasteride is a good medicine for both hair and prostate. Taking 1mg of finasteride (Propecia) is certainly a much lower concentration than the Proscar (finasteride 5mg) which was cited in the above study. The 1mg dose was determined to be equal to the 5 mg dose for hair loss. You must always judge the risks versus the benefits when taking any medication.

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

Chemical Burn from Antifreeze Caused Hair Loss

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

I have a patch baldness on the front left side (left side of hair line)on my head. I have gotten burned there a few years ago by antifreeze, fresh from the car radiator. The result was after a good half hour, the skin began to peel off at the spot the antifreeze touched. I was wondering, will my hair ever grow back again or do i have to take another route to solve this issue? I have another issue, I am losing hair on top of my head, I do not know why it is happening but I want to solve this issue too. It is said that it runs in the family. Do you have any suggestions in solving both problems? If so please inform me along with prices. Thank you.

It sounds like you have a couple of things going on. The chemical burn might be secondary to genetic male pattern baldness. To get the diagnosis of genetic balding, you should get your hair mapped out for miniaturization and consider taking Propecia (finasteride 1mg) if indicated by your doctor. I really can’t tell you if the hair will grow back after the chemical burn, as I haven’t seen the area you’re talking about. You may be a good candidate for hair transplantation, but again, there are some factors in play that I don’t have the answers to yet without knowing more about you.

If you are in California (or willing to travel), I have offices in Los Angeles and San Jose and can be reached at 800-NEW-HAIR if you’d like to setup a free consultation. If you are not in California, you can send me photographs here (please reference this post when sending).

Tags: antifreeze, hairloss, hair loss, chemical burn, burn, hairtransplant, hair transplant, propecia

Does Better Blood Flow on Side of the Scalp that I Sleep On Lead to Thicker Hair on that Side?

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

After 4700 FUs one side of head is clearly thicker then the other.

Hi Doctors,

I’m curious to see if you’ve heard of this before. I had two hair transplant sessions totalling 4700 FUs in the past 2 and 1/2 years. I’ve been noticing that the hair on the right side of my head are much thicker than the ones on my left. Someone said that it is because much more blood flows to my right side, since that’s the side I sleep on. I thought this was foolish, but I’ll try anything to get the left side as thick as the right. So I started to sleep on my left side and I’m hoping this will help. Do you think it is because more hairs ont the left side are going into the rest cycle? Any suggestions?

Thank you.

I do not believe that there is any difference with respect to sleeping on one side versus the other. What I do know is that in a hair transplant, the right side often grows more hair than the left. This is related to the teams of people placing the grafts — right handed people place more efficiently on the right side of the head and the left side is often a slower process. Most technicians are right handed and prefer to work on the right side. This is an important element in the quality control of the doctor’s team.

Tags: hairtransplant, hair transplant, blood flow, hairloss, hair loss, graft

If I Get a Hair Transplant, Will the Volume of My Long Hair Be Noticably Thinner?

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

I am a 42 y/o male,(Norwood 3)no “V” as of yet and I have long hair that reaches past the middle of my back. Should I ever require a transplant procedure will the volume of hair that flows down my back be noticibly reduced since follicles must be harvested from the back of the head? BTW, I have taken Avodart for 2 years with great success. I was getting a little thin in the crown area and now the crown has filled in very nicely, however, no such luck with the receding hairline.

Thanks

There should be a minimal reduction of hair volume from one hair transplant. I am curious to know why you are not taking Propecia (finasteride 1mg). Stronger medicine does not necessarily mean it works better. You may have had the same impact from Propecia alone.

Tags: propecia, avodart, hairloss, hair loss, hairtransplant, hair transplant, dutasteride, finasteride

Miniaturization Mapping on the East Coast?

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

Hello Dr.,

I read your post on mapping the scalp for miniaturization. I have been to several hair clinics, and no one provides the type of service you are describing. (mapping the scalp for miniaturization, and taking microscopic photos) I wish I could visit your office to get this type of service, where i could gauge my progress on propecia. But it is across the country.

Is there anyone in my area (NJ/NY/PA) that you know of that provides this service? I saw you recommend Dr. Berstein several times on this site, but i have visited him already, and he definitely does not do this.

I don’t understand why others don’t do it. One does not have to take pictures, just make an assessment of the degree of miniaturization by the anatomy of the scalp. I am sure Dr. Bernstein examined your hair with the densitometer, which is a manually held instrument and can give the exact same information. I have spoken with him about doing a more formal mapping of the hair for miniaturization and he has agreed that if you ask for it, he will do it.

Tags: bernstein, hairloss, hair loss, miniaturization

Going Through Menopause and Losing Pubic Hair

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

I have been having thinning pubic hair for about a year, I am 59 and have gone through menopause, although I still have the hot flashes, just not as strong as they use to be. I take no horomones at all, I am just managing on my own. Could this problem be hormone related, or is alopecia as you sometime refer too? I have no other hair loss at all, I have always had very thick head hair and still do. What do you think? thank you

If the loss is just limited to your pubic area (or underarm area), then I would assume that it is hormone related. Many people feel fortunate to have thinning pubic hair in today’s culture. If it bothers you and you are healthy, hair transplants from the scalp to the pubic area is something that is available. We do a few of these each year.

Tags: pubic hair, underarm, hairloss, hair loss, hormone, menopause, female, women, woman

Male-to-Female Transsexuals and Hair Loss

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

I am very happy to have found your website which clearly has much to offer for people trying to tackle hair loss. I am writing to you because my question about male pattern baldness is rather specific and perhaps more unusual in your pile of e-mails. Also, I want to obtain further expert advice.

I am a 25-year-old transgender identified person. I noticed some signs of hair loss when I was seventeen, as such, I believe that I started to go bald earlier than many men. I have been on Propecia for nearly ten years now and I have been able to keep my hair, probably because of the drug. A dermatologist examined my scalp and confirmed that I am a male pattern baldness patient (receding hairline is the only presentation at this time). He suggested I continue to take finasteride to prevent further loss of hair.

I have been thinking about a hair transplant to fix my hairline. My hair loss is still not visible without close examination, so I think I will wait and see what the situation is like a couple of years from now.

Because of my transgender identification I am looking into the possibility of receiving hormone treatments (feminising hormones and anti-androgens) and perhaps sex reassignment surgery. Do you think this treatment will have an impact on scalp hair growth? I am told many male-to-female transitioners stop losing hair along with hormone reassignment therapy. Also, please comment on your experience with creating female hairlines.

I realise that you receive a lot of questions from people, and I believe your blog is a very helpful forum for discussing hair loss. I greatly admire you for all you do to help people combating hair loss. I never thought I would respect hair loss professionals as much as I do now.

TransgenderMale-to-female transsexuals who have hormone reassignment may slow down the hair loss. The chemical castration that is obtained with antiandrogens should augment your present Propecia (finasteride 1mg) intake and it may be effective enough to eventually stop Propecia altogether.

I have done hair transplants for many male-to-female transsexuals with good results and it is a reasonable solution to the receding male hairline. Creating a female hairline can be easily done with a good hair transplant when and if you find it appropriate and timely for your life’s agenda. The creation of a female hairline is common in my practice as I repair many plastic surgery disasters that have wiped out the hairlines in women (complications of traditional brow lifts).

Tags: lgbt, transgender, transsexual, hairloss, hair loss, hair transplant, hairtransplant

Weightlifting = Accelerated Balding?

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

Hi Sir,

I have been doing weight lifting exercises for the last one year, I heard that weight lifting exercises increase the testosterone levels by 40%; it will in turn produce 40% more DHT, there by baldness accelerate. I like to be a body builder, please suggest me.

I also heard that finasteride helps to decelerate bald ness by 30% only,as it inhibit 5AR-2 by 70%, but, how can I stop, the baldness aggression, more than 90%,

I would like to ask you two options, which one is better to supress baldness as much as possible

  1. Taking finasteride two tabs (morning & night)
  2. Taking Dutasteride

Please suggest me. Waiting for reply…

Thanks

The data on dutasteride for treating hair loss is not available although many doctors feel it is more effective than finasteride. The dose response relationship between finasteride and hair growth shows that the maximum impact occurs at the 1mg level. There is no evidence to show that the higher dose is better, but other than sexual side effects, there is no problem doubling the dose.

I did have a patient come into my office today who was on Propecia for a year with no sexual side effects and then switched to Dutasteride (Avodart) about a year ago with significant libido and Erectile dysfunction reported. This is not an unusual report, but he personally did not care about his sex drive, while most of my patients do express sex as one of their priorities and would not accept the decreased libido.

With regard to weightlifting, I am unaware of any direct connection to normal increases in testosterone from physical activity and hair loss. Many of the hair loss related complaints tend to come from men who take supplements that have some steroid type substance in it.

Tags: steroid, weightlifting, exercise, hairloss, hair loss, supplement, testosterone, dutasteride, finasteride

I Lost 80% of My Hair in 6 Months!

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

Hello Doctor,

I am 26 years old guy from India. I am facing a very severe hair loss problem. I have lost almost all my hair (about 80%) in just a gap of six months. Is this normal or there is something else behind this?

I have a very severe dandruff problem as well, the skin from the scalp keeps on coming like anything and no matter how freuently i shampoo, it comes back. I had jaundice an year ago.

It is not common to lose 80% of your hair in only 6 months. I do not have the luxury of examining you, but it sounds like you may have underlying medical problems that are contributing to your hair loss. Your history suggests a severe liver problem (jaundice is not normal — it usually indicates problems with your liver) that could have kicked in the genetic elements of MPB on an accelerated basis). I would certainly see a physician in person for a full exam.

Tags: liver, jaundice, hairloss, hair loss

Losing Hair from Laser Brush

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

Is it possible that the laser brush can cause hair to fall out? I have use one for three months and it seem my hair is falling out faster than before use?

The laser brush/comb probably has nothing to do with your hair loss and is probably either coincidence or just the normal progression of your hair loss. However, I suppose it could be possibly linked to a loss of hair. I have read a great deal about laser applications to hair. The Europeans have been using it for years, but no there’s been no satisfactory science produced. Nobody really knows if it works (it is all conjecture and subjective). We do not know the mechanism for its action (good or bad) so there is nothing more I can tell you.

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