Fo-Ti, PABA, and Solving the Gray Hair Problem

/by William Rassman, M.D./5 /

Hello Mr.Rassman.

I heard a lot about Fo-Ti which is a Chinese herb which gives colour to hair. We can Find it in so many websites now I have two questions.

  1. I am aware that grey hairs cannot be reversed . But If I take Fo-ti atleast can I prevent my existing hairs from truning grey??So many Fo-ti suppliments are available in the market. Please go through the following site which contains the reviews of an over the counter medicine called Shenmin. Folica.com and more information on Shenmin.com
  2. I also heard about PABA which also helps giving colour to hairs. I think that is an FDA approved medicine will it be of some help in preventing my hairs from turning grey? If it is what is the recommended dosage for adults?

Sorry for such a big question. But you know my questions are always long.

Gray hair

  1. I believe there are just as many Chinese men and women in this world who have gray hair compared to those of other races in other parts of the world, which makes me think that if something as simple as taking a fo-ti supplement really stopped gray hairs, there would be a disproportionate amount of the Chinese population with black hair. That being said, I’m not an herbalist and my opinion on these types of treatments has been generally poor, because there’s really not much regulation on them and most of the claims people attribute to them are old wives’ tales. Here’s an article about fo-ti on About.com that you might find helpful.
  2. Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) is a chemical found in the folic acid vitamin and also in several foods including grains, eggs, milk, and meat (source: RxList). PABA is reported to be used for giving color back to hair if the graying was caused by stress or malnutrition, but I can’t find any studies to back up the claims and I have no personal experience with it. Because PABA is a supplement, the FDA does not approve, endorse, or verify claims; I also do not approve, endorse, or verify those claims.

Feel free to try these supplements if you want, but always remember that it is a buyer beware market and there is a lot of money to be made on false hopes and promises. Reviewing supplement information online is often quite daunting due to the seemingly hundreds of websites using unproven claims to sell you things, which helps spread the legend and creates a blurred line between what is real and what is fantasy. For further reading, I’ve written about the problems with supplements before.

Photo: CNN’s Anderson Cooper doesn’t mind his gray hair.

Tags: supplement, gray hair, grey hair, paba, para-aminobenzoic acid, fo-ti, chinese herb, herbal, herbalist, hairloss, hair loss

In the News – US Athlete is Back in the Olympics After Finasteride Ban Lifted

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

Zach LundHere’s the original article from 2006 about US athlete Zach Lund, who was banned from competing in the Olympics due to using Propecia.

Well, there’s been an update. Here’s a snippet from the new article:

Lund was informed he had tested positive for a banned drug. He was told he had to leave, immediately. Within minutes, he went from Olympic contender to Olympic exile.

“I had to pack my bags and walk out in front of everybody,” Lund said. “They cut up my credential. I was on top of the world, and then I was out on the street.”

Lund’s transgression? He was trying to preserve his hair. He was using Propecia, as he had for years to stave off baldness. But the main ingredient in Propecia is finasteride, which was on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of prohibited substances as a masking agent for steroids.

Lund, guilty of thinning hair, was labeled a drug cheat and kicked out of the Olympics.

Read the full article: Bald is beautiful for U.S. skeleton star

Zach is back in the 2010 Winter Olympics, but it’s a shame that he was banned from competing in the 2006 games. He had been taking Propecia for years, informed the Olympic committee about it, and at some point the medication was added to the banned substance list for a brief time. During that brief time, Zach was banned from competing. The ban on finasteride has since been lifted by the World Anti-Doping Agency, but not before Zach lost all the hair that Propecia had been keeping for him.

Tags: skeleton, racing, olympics, athlete, zach lund, propecia, finasteride, hairloss, hair loss

My Hair is Brittle and Thin — Is It Because of Weaves?

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

I am a 35 year aged female who has been wearing weaves for 2 1/2 years. I decided to grow out my perm so I can eventually have only chemical free hair. I have taken out my weave recently and have flat-ironed it to see how long it was and to get an idea on the health of my hair. My hair was not only brittle but very thin.

Is this a result of the sew in weaves? If so, is there anything I can do and/or products I can use to bring the health back to my hear and to a normal thickness? Please advise.

Sew-in weaves can cause traction hair loss. Constant traction on your hair can cause thinning as it is being progressively damaged. This does not happen 100% of the time, but it is a common problem for women who wear their weaves tight or have a tightly braided hairstyle. If you lose the hair, it may never grow back.

Flat ironing your hair can also cause damage, particularly if it is already weakened from the weave. I would give your hair a full year to see if it recovers. At this point, patience is really the only thing I can recommend.

Tags: traction alopecia, hairloss, hair loss, weaves, braids, perm, chemicals

Restoring Damaged Hair Roots, Since It Hasn’t Regrown in Over a Year?

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

(male) Is there anyway to restore damaged hair root’s to their natural health after a long abuse of hair dye products + straightening? I used to have really thick curly hair but now there is nothing to it, no grasp of elasticity, also it is really fine etc and has been like this for over a year now.

If you have given your hair about a year to recover and nothing has happened, I suspect there is not much you can do. I suspect you might’ve chemically damaged your hair, but consider the possibility that you may also have a component of genetic balding. Mapping out your hair for miniaturization may help make that diagnosis. If this is the case, there may be medications that may help. See your doctor.

Tags: hair root, damage, hairloss, hair loss, dye, chemical straightener

Excellent Results After Taking Propecia Every Other Day for 2 Years

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

I have been taking 1mg of propecia every other day for almost 2 years now with excellent results. What are your thoughts on taking 1mg every other day?

You’re probably not getting the full benefit of the medication (recommended dosage is 1mg daily), but if you’re seeing excellent results, there’s no reason to change that now. I’d only recommend patients switch to partial dosing (usually 0.5mg/day) if they have side effects.

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

18 Year Old with Hair Loss or Mature Hairline? (With Photos)

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

Dear Doc,

I’m an 18 year old male and worried that my hairline’s begun to recede. I don’t have any particular family history of balding. Both of my grandfathers had most of their hair, and so does my mother’s brother. Only my father is balding (he is 50 and has lost lots of his hair on the top of his head).

I’ve noticed that when I run my hands through my hair I occasionally lose one or two. Also, when my hair is wet, I tend to lose a few if I run my hand through my hair. I don’t see more than two or three on my pillow when I wake up.

I’ve always had a high hairline with temples higher than the rest of my hairline, but I think its starting to move back slowly.

I also have little red spots near the receding areas of my hairline, almost like acne (I have very little acne on the rest of my face). Looking at my pictures, would you say this is just a mature hairline or the start of the balding process? Also, sorry for the long e-mail, but I’ve tried to list everything I can. I’d appreciate some advice on what I can do, as my hair is still very much part of my identity, and I don’t want to spend the next couple of years worrying and counting hairs.

Many thanks.

While I thank you for permission to post these, I usually require a frontal view with the eyebrows lifted high so that the creases on the forehead show. You supplied two side views with the eyebrows lifted and a poor quality photo that requires me to guess. I’ll take a stab at it anyway. Click the photos to enlarge.

 

It does look like you are developing a mature hairline. There is also a sign of some thinning that goes further back than just the leading edge, suggestive of miniaturization behind a maturing hairline.

You need to get your scalp mapped out for miniaturization, and see if there is thinning behind the leading edge and how far back it goes. This )is suggestive of early male pattern balding at a level where a drug like Propecia (Finasteride) can stop it. I would try to find a doctor who has a HAIRCHECK instrument which will tell you if you are losing hair elsewhere on your heat that you don’t see (https://baldingblog.com/haircheck-test-how-it-is-done-video/.  See a doctor who cares about you and what may be early balding. If you have balding, you must know that it is a progressive process and the quicker that you address it by a professional, the better chance is that you will retain hair for all of the important years yet to come.

Tags: mature hairline, hairloss, hair loss, photos, teenager, teen

Finasteride Interactions?

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

Hi Dr.,

I am a big fan of your site. I get to read your new posts everyday by subscribing to your RSS feeds. My question is, given that I take 1 tablet of 1mg Propecia everyday, will it interact with other supplements or even certain food?

For example, here’s a list of supplements that I take daily (i take throughout the day, separate times):
1. vitamin b complex and biotin
2. vitamin c
3. vitamin e
4. multi vitamin
5. omega complex
6. co-q10
7. methatione (gluthatione)

Or how about foods:
1. coffee
2. green tea w/ honey
3. soy milk
4. fiber (like wheat bread, fruits)

Just wondering if trying to be health by consuming these will counteract w/ Propecia or vice-versa? Hope this is a valid inquiry.

I have been getting these sorts of questions quite frequently lately. The supplements and foods you’re consuming shouldn’t have any negative interaction with Propecia. The only interaction I can think of with food is with grapefruit, which causes problems for a variety of medications.

The following 16 drugs are listed as having a moderate interaction with finasteride (Propecia): bosentan, diltiazem, diltiazem/enalapril, efavirenz, efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir, fluconazole, fluvoxamine, itraconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, posaconazole, rifapentine, saquinavir, sirolimus, tacrolimus, and voriconazole. And there’s 1 drug that has a mild interaction: terazosin. These are the generic names, and for a more complete list (including brand names) see Drugs.com.

Tags: interaction, medication, drug, finasteride, propecia, hairloss, hair loss

Cyproterone Acetate and DHT

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

Dr. Rassman,

I know this may sound like an odd question, but, would an antiandrogen such as Cyproterone Acetate reduce the levels of DHT in the male body? Would it preserve hair in a person with very little balding. I realize there are major side effects with this drug, but am still curious.

Thanks, and keep up the wonderful work, your blog is quite informative!

Anti-androgens in men can cause a chemical castration, so yes, I would say that the side effects are major. A castrated male has no sex drive and may lose facial and body hair. Cyproterone is not something I’d suggest fooling around with.

The direct answer to your question comes from Wikipedia: “Some in vitro studies have suggested that cyproterone or cyproterone acetate may have a slight inhibitory effect on 5-alpha-reductase, however no significant reduction in DHT production has been observed in vivo.”

Tags: cyproterone acetate, cyproterone, dht, hairloss, hair loss, castration

Could Getting a Perm Trigger Genetic Hair Loss?

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

Big permI’m a 19 year old guy who has had a moderately high hairline and slight recession at the temples since the age of 15. It seems to progress VERY gradually and I have no hair loss anywhere else. I always dye, style, tease, crimp and straighten my hair and it doesn’t seem to effect it, but I’m after a bigger style and am considering a perm. My hair is fine, but not extremely so.

Is it safe to get a fairly loose perm done at a good salon? Will it speed up my hair loss?

If you’ve got the genetics to lose hair, any number of things (including chemical damage) could trigger an earlier onset of the genetic process. You’ll have to decide if it’s worth the risk. I doubt you’ve got much risk based on what you described, but if you do decide to have the perm done you should try to minimize the risk by having it done by someone professionally trained.

Tags: perm, hair style, hairloss, hair loss

Can a Straightening Iron Permanently Damage Hair?

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

Hi, would just like to say firstly that I have found your site really helpful and informative, thanks! I’m an 18 year old female, currently straighten my fringe every day and I’m really concerned that this will cause permanent damage. I know that straightening can make hair brittle, causing it to fall out until a new one grows, but I read somewhere that heat from straightening irons can travel up the hair shaft and burn the follicle, meaning the hair will never grow back. Is it possible to damage the follicles like this? I have had a look through the site but can’t find a definite answer. Thanks.

Straightening your hair everyday will make the hair brittle, as you already know. However, it will not kill your hair follicles, which are below the skin and not impacted by hot irons and the like. On the other hand, chemical straighteners could kill the hair roots if used improperly.

Tags: straightener, chemical, iron, hairloss, hair loss

I Feel Propecia Has Dramatically Increased My Hair Loss

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

I feel that propecia has caused my hairloss to increase dramatically, I have been shedding rapidly for 3-4 months now and it is not slowing. My hair has become much thinner and is shedding in areas in which no hair loss was noticed before treatment. I am in the early stages of hair loss, with no completely bald areas. Is it possible that an increased period and volume of shedding is due to my high density?

I am becoming disenthused with the drug and am considering stopping it. In the 2nd month I missed 5 days of the drug and missed 3 days in the 5th month. Although a definite answer may not be possible, do you think I should stick with the drug as I may have begun treatment again after each period of missing the drug. If you think this is a possibility, it would help motivate me to continue, but please be honest.

Thanks

PropeciaDrugs like Propecia are supposed to halt the progression of the hair loss, but they’re not a cure and won’t stop your genetics from eventually taking course (just how long is anyone’s guess). In your case though, you’ve been seeing shedding since about the time you started taking the pill. I’ve received emails from men inquiring about an initial shedding phase after starting Propecia, and perhaps this is what you’re seeing. I’ve previously written about this phenomenon, but I don’t have any percentage of men that see shedding upon starting Propecia, nor do I know why it may occur in some men.

I’m always honest in my replies, but I can’t tell you to continue taking the medication as I didn’t prescribe it to you and don’t know your history. If your doctor prescribed Propecia to you, I’m hoping he/she took a miniaturization mapping of your scalp so that you can go back to see the changes, and together you can decide whether to stick with it or not.

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

Estimating Graft Count for 2 Inches of Hair

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

Dear Dr. Rassman. I was wondering roughly how many grafts, single to double hairs, would be required to fill an area of 2 inches? I have straight medium weight, dirty blond hair.

The average hair density is 1250 hairs per square inch (or 600 follicular units). So a 2 square inch area would contain about 2400 follicular units.

For the appearance of fullness, medium weight hair is certainly better than fine hair, and dirty blond hair with a white skin is better than black hair on white skin (less contrast is better). Take a look at the NHI Patient Photo Galleries, where there are well over 300 patients showcased with before and after photographs, and the number of grafts they received to obtain those results. Also, take a look at LA Sportscaster Steve Hartman‘s photos and see if the area you have roughly parallels his. His hair was medium weight, though he has black hair and white skin.

Tags: hair transplant, hair loss, hairloss, grafts

Hair Loss After a Crash Diet 18 Months Ago

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

A little under 2 years ago I went through a rough patch in my life and decided one of the ways to get back on track was through proper diet and exercise. I decided to become a vegetarian and began running twice a day. Over the course of 4-6 months what had originally begun as an attempt to get my mind off of my other troubles became and obsession in its own right and I essentially went on a crash diet which lasted 3-4 months. I was not particularly large to begin with but suddenly had lost 40 pounds.

A few months later I noticed the hair at the front of my head seemed to be thinning. The thinning continued to progress in a diffuse manner with no discernible pattern. My hair has been thinning for the past year and a half and, although I still have a relatively intact hairline, there doesn’t seem to be any regrowth. This has all been made worst by the fact that I recently became relatively successful in a career that puts me in the public eye.

I have done a good deal of research online and it seems that I would fit in the time-frame for telogen effluvium. Is it possible that a bout of telogen kicked off by a crash diet could last a year and a half or should I just accept that I have some sort of permanent diffuse hair loss?

I’m sure you realize this, but a crash diet is not a good idea for so many reasons. Malnutrition can impact your hair and cause thinning and hair loss. Generally, it takes about a year before you start to see some form of recovery, but in my experience most men generally do not regain everything they lost from the malnutrition and stress on the body. It’s even possible that your crash diet triggered the genetic hair loss that otherwise would’ve appeared later, but I’m just making guesses at this point.

Tags: stress, diet, malnutrition, crash diet, hairloss, hair loss

My Hair Loss Stops and Regrows Whenever I’m Pregnant

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

I am a 48 year-old mother of four who has all-over gradual hair thinning that began when I began menstruating at 12. I recently went through menopause, and although I have not experienced any chance in thinning since then, I do remember that when I was pregnant, I did not have hair loss, and my hair grew in again to a normal thickness. Each time, over the course of the pregnancy, the hair would grow thicker, until about three months after the baby was born, at which time it would fall out rapidly (over a few weeks). Is it possible that that regrowth during pregnancy indicates that I have some underlying hormonal issue?

I do not have hursitism, and twice in my life I have been checked for low iron and for thyroid problems, neither of which showed any problem. My periods were severe early in life but became easier over time and were roughly regular. The hairs that do grow are very soft and somewhat easily damaged but not severely.

I would be interested to know if you think some underlying hormonal problem could be the cause, given the regrowth during pregnancy.

Thank you.

Many women lose hair with child birth/pregnancy, menopause, etc. It is well described and known and you are not alone! But the hair growth during pregnancy, isn’t something I’m familiar with. I can only assume along with you that it is hormonally related, as there are a number of hormone increases during pregnancy.

Here are a couple of links I found via Google that might explain more — Pregnancy-Info.net and PregnancyEtc.com.

Tags: pregnancy, pregnant, childbirth, hairloss, hair loss, hair growth

Taking Half a Propecia Every 12 Hours?

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

Considering 0.5mgs of finasteride gives 80% of the effect of 1mg and the halflife is relatively short, wouldn’t better results be achieved from taking 0.5mgs once every twelve hours?

I doubt that 0.5mg taken twice a day would be much different than a once a day 1mg dose. I suppose it could be tried, but wouldn’t having to stick to taking half a pill every 12 hours be a little annoying?

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