18 Year Old Taking Propecia and Ritalin

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

Hi doc,

I’m 18 years old and have been taking propecia for 5 months now, but the treatment doesn’t seem to work… My hair stopped falling during a while (I think) but I’m losing it worse than ever (find about 50 on the pillow every morning and 10 when i pass a wet hand through my hair, can’t imagine in the shower). I started Ritalin 3 weeks ago and got sunburn on my scalp, could either of these two have a negative effect?? I really thougt propecia would work because of my young age.

I also suffered from eczema these last 3 years and from excessive sweating from the armpits (use sudaxyl). Could all this be due to any kind of hormonal problem?? I lost more than half my hair on the frontal part of my scalp in a period of six months… Can’t imagine going out without a cap anymore, and quit my job for cause of depression… People my age give me 5 to 7 years more and I find all this very hard to come over.

Thanks for your precious advice.

This is when a direct examination is critical for a doctor in determining what is happening to you. I honestly couldn’t just guess on these things without examining you. Given the chance, I’d provide an exam and map out your hair for miniaturization. Propecia should protect you to some degree. Ask your doctor about what he/she would recommend and if you are in California, come pay me a visit (no charge to you).

You can call my office at 800-NEW-HAIR to setup a consultation (and this goes for any reader that would like a free consultation).

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, propecia, teen

7 Months After Hair Transplant, There Are Some Hairs That Never Fell Out and Aren’t Growing

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

7 months after transplant surgery in my crown area I still have hairs that never fell out after surgery but have never grown since. Is it possible that they will ever grow or will they eventually shed?

They should eventually shed and at 7 months, new hair should be in the process of growing (and I would expect 1 inch hair length on the new hair by 7 months). You should follow up with your doctor who performed your surgery for an examination.

Tags: hairtransplant, hair transplant, hairloss, hair loss

Will Alopecia Areata on the Body Mean It’ll Appear on the Scalp Too?

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

If a person has alopecia areata on his legs, will they most likely show signs of it in their scalp or can it be just isolated to certain areas of the body?

Alopecia areata can be found in many body parts. Most of the areas can be localized and there is no way to determine if it would move from your legs to your scalp. Visit the National Alopecia Areata Foundation for more information.

Tags: alopecia areata, alopecia, hairloss, hair loss

Just 2 Small Patches of Scalp Are Itchy and Flaky…

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

Hi,I am a 26 year old female and need your help desperately. About 7 months ago I had 2 small patches of scalp that was itchy and flaking on each side of my head, but the rest of my scalp was fine. Over time it spread everywhere except the top and back of my head. Now my hair is falling out on the sides of my head. I have tried every over the counter dandruff shampoo but nothing has touched it. What does this soundlike to you? I have read that scratching can make your hair fall out, but will it grow back if I stop scratching? Thank you so much for your time.

You should seek the services of a good dermatologist to examine your scalp. Unfortunately, I can not tell much just based on what you’ve told me.

Tags: itch, flake, scalp, hairloss, hair loss

Do Hairs Grown from Rogaine Not Get Very Long?

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

I’m a 23 year old male, and my hair is thinning out some all around my scalp, and from what i’ve read in various forums, and through other sources here on the web, that losing the “juvenile hairline” is a common problem in men. I’ve looked around at people and i’ve noticed this is true. Male pattern baldness doesn’t run in my family, having thin hair, sorta fine hair does though in some men in my family, but so does really thick hair, more thick then thin. I’ve been using extra strength rogaine for about a week now, the 5% percent stuff, and i’ve read lots of good reviews on it. But there is one review that concerns me some, it’s from amazon.com. The review is here: Amazon.com – Warnings they don’t tell you about

I’m wondering if this is true, I’ve done some other research and could not find anything that says this other then this review. I still have a pretty good head of hair, is my existing hair going to fall out if I continue using this product? or will I grow back some of what I believe to be dorment hair?

RogaineI am unclear if you are even balding. A maturing hairline is not genetic balding and Rogaine (minoxidil) will likely not help you if a mature hairline is the extent of your loss. Minoxidil does not work in a few days or weeks. It takes a good year to work and will only work on some people who have lost hair, not everyone. Everybody reacts differently to medication, you have a very small chance you will regrow your dormant or juvenile hair in the frontal area. If you have naturally thin hair and no miniaturization, minoxidil will not have any value for you. If you are losing hair, then it might work for you. Just remember that after you stop it, you will lose the hair you grew.

Hair grown from Rogaine will never grow as long as your other hairs and most of the time that I have seen hair growth from Rogaine, it was smaller hairs that had less thickness to them. It is a lifelong commitment if you want to keep whatever benefits you received.

Tags: minoxidil, rogaine, hairloss, hair loss, hair growth

I’m Taking Propecia — Can I Still Have Shock Loss After a Hair Transplant?

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

Its been 8 months since my 2nd HT and I got 2100 grafts. of those 2100, i got 400 grafts in the temple area with left side getting 250 grafts and the right side 150 grafts. My recipient temple area was fairly dense but the doctor suggested that I should get 400 grafts in the temple region. Can the newly placed grafts in the temple area destroy my existing hair follicles?

I had this HT in september 2007 and I have been on propecia since september 2005. can this HT still damage the existing surrounding hairs?

Whatever damage you had from the hair transplant (shock loss) should be over by now. Ask your doctor these questions. What you are seeing with your eyes is real, so he should be able to comment on what he sees when he examines you. Although the use of Propecia has shown good value at preventing shock loss, it is not 100% the case. When it comes to hair loss, there is no sure thing.

For more information about shock loss, please see:

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

How Do I Know If I’ll Have Enough Donor Hair for Another Transplant Later?

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

Dr. Rassman, i have had a hair transplant using the strip method. I have a long scar across my head. You can not see it however as it is unnoticable. My question is, i only had a transplant in the temple area for a receding hair line and the areas are very small. I had good density however the length of the scar looks massive in relation to how many hairs have been transplanted. If i need another transplant later in life will there still be enough donor hair. Obviously you havent seen me so you couldnt tell me , but with strip methods is there any left over hair as they can determine how many hairs there will be. Im worried that they have used all my donor supply. I am happy with the transplant.

Most people will be able to get about 5,000 grafts from their donor area. Clearly, that depends upon the donor density and the scalp laxity you have. I have seen some people exploit their donor density after 3,000 grafts, but that is unusual. I have taken as many as 10,000 grafts in others. The efficiency of the harvest is critically important. Discuss this with your doctor and he/she should give you good answers to this question, as it relates to your donor supply and scalp laxity.

For more, see:

Tags: density, laxity, hairloss, hair loss, hairtransplant, hair transplant

Can I Start Propecia Now or Should I Wait for My Scalp Infection to Go Away First?

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

Dr. Rassman,
Ive had a skin infection for about a yr on my scalp. Ive been on many prescription meds like Ketoconazole, Selenium Sulfide, Salicylic Acid and Clobetasol. Ive gone through symptoms from heavy irritation, flaking peeling of oily skin on the scalp and hair-loss, scaling, buildup, dead skin-white buildup. Lately I primarily have inflammation and buildup but it is very little and very tiny and very thin flaking during combing when scalp is dry. I’m concerned about my hairloss, thinning, shortening-Its noticeable now and continues to progress from the hair line to about 1 inch inward but is not perfectly symmetrical. Most of the hairs that fall out are with the bulb attached and I do notice very tiny hairs remaining at my previous hairline. The only thing that gives me relief is clobetasol, because I still have lots of irritation/inflammation which Ive been taking for 2 months with 6% salycilic Acid. Is it a good idea to start Propecia or should I wait for the scalp infection to go away? I took a blood test that came back Normal. Thanks

Sounds like you have a major hair/dermatological problem. These medications (like the clobetasol) are heavy duty stuff. I can only guess at your diagnosis. Taking Propecia (finasteride 1mg) will not hurt and might protect you from some of the ‘stress hair loss’ you are experiencing. I would check the use of Propecia with your doctor, but I suspect he/she would go along with it.

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

If I Miss Taking Propecia 1 or 2 Days a Week, Will That Cause More Hair Loss?

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

I have been kind of thinking that propecia has quit working for me, as I’ve just recently notice a considerable loss. I have been using it for around 8 years and it’s worked amazing. I also added rogaine to the roster a few years back and it got even better. But, as I’m sure most readers would agree one becomes more and more complacent and less regimental after continued periods of success. For instance if my girlfriend stays the night I sometimes find it hard to run to the bathroom and apply. I also have been missing some days taking propecia. I actually looked back at when I purchased the prescription, the date today and of course divided by 4 (I break proscar pills) When I extrapolated, I noticed I’ve been missing at least a day or 2 a week. Could that maybe be why I’m now noticing more loss, or do you think it might just be as you’ve said in the past my mpb fighting back harder?

Thanks for you time, I appreciate you and your site lots

You seem to appreciate the subtle nuances, so I am not sure what I can add. “Stay to the plan” is the only advice I can give you. If you stop the minoxidil or the Propecia completely, the hair loss will really accelerate. Missing a day here or there will not likely cause any great problem, but I’d stick to the recommended dosage as closely as you can.

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

Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Hair Loss

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

Dear Dr Rassman, I am a 22 year old male a few months ago I noticed I was receding around the temple. To be sure I went to see my GP and he agreed there was some thinning particularly around the sides. To be safe he sent me for a couple of blood tests and found out that I have a vitamin B12 deficiency. I started a program of vitamin replacement therapy about a month ago. As I understand things vitamin B12 deficiency can sometimes cause hair loss, but it could also be a coincidental in my case. My question is generally how long does it take before I would notice any regrowth as a result of my treatment? I am asking mostly because I am considering using Regaine if hair regrowth does not occur.

I would want to perform a mapping of your scalp hair to determine if you have male patterned balding. The question is reasonable, but treating the B12 problem is the right thing to do. If you don’t have male pattern baldness, then maybe the B12 will reverse your hair loss in a year or so.

Tags: vitamin b12, b12, hairloss, hair loss

Less Ejaculate When Taking Propecia

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

Been taking Propecia for almost six months, although I don’t think I’ve really noticed a difference, perhaps it takes longer, but I haven’t seen it worsen, just kinda stayed the same. However, my question or issue is and I’ve noticed on other sites seems to be a common complaint with no concrete or firm answer, and that is sexually, there is delay or hardly an ejaculation. There’s gotta be an alternative, it’s like you can have one without the other.

The reports vary. Many patients discuss a reduced ejaculate volume, a few see it wipe out. I would suggest that you discuss this with a urologist, but I don’t have the answers other that it does happen to some men.

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