Some of the hairs on one side of my head, located at the hairline by a part, are shorter than other hairs on my head and do not seem to grow out to the same length. Are these hairs miniaturized, and I will lose them, or is this just the way those hairs are. They seem to be similar to the naked eye in every way except the length.
We all have different hair lengths because of hair cycling. It can, I suppose, be regional.
You know how the literature says that Propecia takes a few weeks at most to leave the body because of tissue fixation? How come when people start a new diet, such as cutting out milk, gluten, or soy, they say to wait 90 days in order to see results? An herbalist told me the threshold is 90 days because that’s the time it takes for the blood to recycle/cleanse completely or something.
Of note, red blood cells have a life span of 120 days, but this really has nothing to do with tissue fixation. Red blood cells are not tissue nor do they carry Propecia.
You are asking me about starting a new diet and things that herbalists practice. They generally do not have any good science behind them. Let me reiterate with an example: A few of my acquaintances heard about colon cleansing (colonics) and how it rids the body of toxins, so they went as a group to try it since they thought it was a great idea. Now personally, I find it a bit disturbing to go with a group of friends to have a stranger in a white coat put a hose up my bottom, followed by flushing gallons of fluid up there for a good sum of money just so I can watch the fecal waste come out. Granted, I’d find it equally disturbing if it wasn’t a stranger… but the point is, there is no good science behind colon cleansing. All of this is a bunch of B.S. (pardon the pun).
I realize I’m going off on a tangent, but people will believe what they want to believe. I also realize there is a community of alternative medicine supporters out there, but I’m a Medical Doctor. There are some alternatives that have been shown to work just as well as claimed, but there are also many of them that are just don’t work at all.
I come across this web site. Please mention your remarks about the various products related to hair. Especially an oil called anti-graying. Can gray hairs be prevented through topical oil applications and reversed? Your general opinion about all the hair loss products in that website is needed for me. Because without your advise Iam not going to follow any treatment relating to hair. Unlike all the other herbal remedies they didn’t use Saw palmetto, which you normally wont recommend, that’s why this site will be of some interest to you.
Oh boy. Herbal balding remedies simply do not work as claimed. That should be the end of it, right? You are asking me as a resource to recommend a herbal product that works for graying or hair loss. Just like there is no herbal remedy to change the color of your eyes or to make you taller or to make your penis longer/larger, there is no herbal remedy to reverse graying of hairs or balding. By the way, if anyone out there thinks there is an herbal remedy to make your penis longer, that is another issue for another forum.
Gray hairs come about due to genetic predisposition. There is no topical oil that reverse your color permanently. If this oil does anything, it probably colors your hair.
Dear Dr.,
I really appreciate your taking the time with this web site and the questions I have sent in that you have answered. I am 29, about to turn 30, and have been on Propecia for about 6 months now, which I started when I saw noticable thinning in the crown/Vertex area. I’ve had good results thus far, some thickening and reversal in the crown area. I have a strong juvenile hairline and in some lighting look like I have a full head of hair – under very bright electric or sunlight my crown looks a bit patchy and there’s a line of thinning/scalp on the top. As I stated in an earlier post, I was turned away from the Aderan’s trial because they said I have too much hair.
My Question is, after I turn 30, what kind of restoration results could I get from an FUE procedure? I’m a bit confused, since you state that extensively bald people should have limited expectations, but that you are reluctant to transplant someone with thinning who wants fill-in work. There is also all the advice I read on the web saying to wait for better treatments down the line if you’re in the early stages of hairloss.
Thank you very much
I don’t know how much or what type of hair you have, so I couldn’t begin to give you any kind of remote guess as to what you can expect from a FUE procedure. You’re getting ahead of yourself.
Every rule has exceptions and to determine what you should do, first get examined by an honest doctor who cares more about you than his wallet, and if he says go for surgery… come to me for a second opinion (you indicated that you’re not too far from my San Jose office).
I am a 65 year old woman. For a number of years now I have been experiencing much greater hair loss than I ever had. From what I have read, it could be due to DHT, since I am post-menopausal. I am using Rogain for the 2nd time around (I did seem to lose alot of hair several months after I stopped using it, and seem to be losing more hair now that I started again, but am staying with it as it did grow hair for me before). I’ve been on it again for about 2 mo.
My question is, is Propecia safe for women? I am taking so many vitamins and herbs (again, started about 2 mo. ago, don’t know of they will help) but wonder if it would be easier to just take the Propecia (and probably cheaper). Any women out there with experience with this? I am taking Silica, saw palmetto (supposed to suppress DHT), Biotin, extra B, and my usual multi, Calcium & C. Wow, expensive! Anyway, any comments or info much appreciated. I’m glad I found your site!! Thanks in advance.
There have been studies on the use of Propecia in post-menopausal women and the verdict is unclear. Some reports say it has value, while others say the opposite. There is a safety issue for the various female cancers (breast, ovary, uterus) that are tied to genetic causes and in those women, I would be very concerned about the use of this drug. But I would like to invite women with experience in using Propecia to post a comment with their experiences…
Hello Doctor
could shampoo mixing cause problems ? . I would like to wash a first hand with a cheap shampoo before applying my medicated shampoo ( for seb derm )
Thank you
No, it shouldn’t cause any problems. That is, unless you use a baking soda shampoo followed by a vinegar shampoo… causing a volcano on your head. Sorry, bad joke. Wouldn’t the medicated shampoo by itself be fine though?
if i know for a fact that i am going to go through male pattern baldness can i just start taking propecia to completely prevent it before it even starts and if i do will i keep my juvenile hairline?
p.s. i have a phobia of going bald
You’re not alone in having a fear of going bald (not to be confused with peladophobia, the fear of bald people). I see that fear every day in the eyes of my patients and I certainly read it every day in the emails I receive through this site. There are a couple problems I see with going the route you want to take:
As I’ve said time and time again, the best way to track if you are going to bald is to use a video magnifier to map your scalp. Watch your hair for the appearance of miniaturization, which is the first signs of balding. When and if this happens, you should see a doctor and then start Propecia.
I just came across the diagnosis of trichostasis spinulosa, which I have seen in my practice on occasion and have failed to come up with a diagnosis.
eMedicine states, “In trichostasis spinulosa (TS), clusters of vellus hairs become embedded within hair follicles, with resultant elevated, dark, spiny papules on the face or trunk. Trichostasis spinulosa frequently is discovered as an incidental finding, and often it is confused with keratosis pilaris or acne comedones.”
This condition is more common in men, but does not cause risk for the people having it, just some cosmetic deformities of varying degrees. To see the various forms that it takes, see Google Image Search. Maybe you have seen these on your own body and wondered about it.
I would like to know whether it is possible to do hair transplants to someone who had radiation therapy for 6 weeks. The area is about the size of the palm of a hand. Balloon expander was suggested… but 6 months and 2 “operations†is too long and not worth the result…or is it?
Thanks for your advice.
Hair transplants may work in the radiated area, but that depends upon the status of the quality of the skin in the recipient area. I can not render an opinion without seeing you, but it seems like you got advice already from a doctor and an area as large as you report seems appropriate for a balloon expander at first blush.
When I transplant a patient’s hair into an area that received radiation, I often do a test transplant to be sure that the transplants take 100% and are strong and robust.
Hey Doc, love the site.
Question: What is you opinion on taking minoxidil for preventive measures if a man has significant hairloss in his family and has marginal miniaturization.
I have no objections, but there is no point to using it if you’re not seeing hair loss. It would be a commitment issue for you to do it religiously every day, twice a day, plus you’d have a risk of side effects that all minoxidil users have. I’m not sure what you mean by marginal miniaturization, but I wouldn’t suggest you take a medication if you don’t need it. You don’t take insulin because your family history has diabetics, right?
Dr. Rassman,
We are repeatedly warned that traction alopecia results from pulling hair too tightly. What exactly constitutes “too tight?”
I have thick, long hair (to just above mid-back) and I use a hair-tie at about neck-level to keep it in a ponytail. With a hair tie, only the outer portion of the ponytail hair contacts the actual tie and thus supports the weight of the entire ponytail. For example, the hair at the front of my head and base of my neck often feel the brunt of the weight. Could this be this too much weight? I wonder how much of my thinning is due to years of wearing my hair like this in professional settings.
I assume that “too tight” refers to only to VERY tight hairstyles such as braids, dreadlocks and cornrows. Should I have reason to worry?
Are you losing hair along the outer rim of the pony tail area? If not, then don’t worry. It’s all a matter of perspective. I can’t put a number to it. If you feel excessive pulling, then don’t keep the hair that tightly pulled.
Hello Dr. Rassman,
I was fielding some of the questions about future hair loss treatments, and I’ve noticed all things considered, there are a few (supposedly) options in the pipeline.
My question is out of the prospective treatments (cloning, more effective medication, genetic treatment), which do you think is the most likely to materialize? Or put another way, given your experience, which do you think has the highest probability of reaching the consumer level?
Thanks
You are correct in stating that there really are only a few treatment options available. Medically there is Propecia and Rogaine. Surgically there is a hair transplant procedure. These treatments are not a complete solution in itself, but it does work with its own limitations.
For the future, your guess is probably as good as mine. We all know genetic cloning research is being carried out, yet there is no definite light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. In my opinion, for something revolutionary to reach the consumer level, I would say it could take another 10+ years (and I only say 10+ years because that’s a time frame that is pretty far for me to think about). Maybe we will see new drugs in less than 10 years. I certainly hope so.
Dear Dr. Rassman,
It seems funny how all the effective hair loss meds (propecia, minoxidil, dutasteride) were discovered for hair loss by accident and were meant to treat something else. Is the next step in hair loss treatments a drug designed for hair loss from its inception? Just curious what you think the future holds here.
Thank you again
In medicine and in science, many things were discovered by accident. Of note, Viagra was originally intended to treat high blood pressure, not impotence. Botox, a poison made by bacteria, was not intended for cosmetic purposes, and I am sure their marketing team worked overtime to keep the word “poison” out of its literature.
The future of drugs for hair restoration is unclear, but one drug I am somewhat excited about is a glaucoma medicine that seems to grow eyelashes, bimatoprost. That relation was found accidentally as well. It is still unclear if it grows scalp hair, though.
I’ve been on propecia for 9 years now. My hair has held up pretty well but in the last year I fell it’s gotten thinner. I’d like to up my dosage of propecia to 2mgs a day or 1.5mg’s a day in hopes that I’ll get better results. Unfortunately, my doctor nor dermatologist believes in upping the dose.
What can I do? After 9 years would increasing my dose help to prolong the benefits? Any help would be appreciated.
If I was your doctor and you had no side effects from the 1mg (which I’d assume not, since you’ve taken it for 9 years), I would go along with a higher dose provided that you do not develop side effects. The studies on the 1mg dose is an idealized study (middle of the bell curve) so there may be benefit of a higher dose in some people.
Did you ask your doctors why they won’t consider increasing the dosage? You always have the option of pleading your case to another doctor.
Can someone still take probiotics supplements and omega 369 oil while taking propecia as well? or do they interfere with propecia ability to work?
I don’t believe that these products will have any effect on your body, and taking Propecia at the same time is OK. As far as I’m aware, probiotics are only harmful in those critically ill patients or those with low immune systems. Taking Omega 3-6-9 and Propecia should also be fine.