Haircheck for Hair Bulk Analysis

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

HaircheckOne of the things I enjoy about the annual ISHRS meeting is that I am introduced to new products. Sometimes the products can be half-baked or without merit, but every now and then something catches my eye and piques my interest. So at the recent ISHRS meeting in Boston, I was shown a refined instrument called Haircheck that was presented to measure hair bulk… and I was quite impressed.

Over the past 18 years, I have assessed the thinning process with video magnification using a patented device where I could see the hair shafts, visually compare them and measure the density of the donor hair. Now with this Haircheck device, I can actually measure the bulk of the hair in the impacted areas and compare it not only to the permanent hair, but also to previous measurements made during past visits.

When you undergo balding, one thing always occurs — the impacted hair loses its bulk (the hair shaft diameter becomes thinner and thinner over time). Eventually this thinning leads to balding. The use of drugs like finasteride seems to reduce the miniaturization (thinning) process, and if there is a positive impact on hair bulk by blocking DHT, it will clearly show up in these studies. For those patients who continuously ask about saw palmetto or other supposed hair loss treatments, the value could clearly be defined with this technology.

I fully recommend to every person that believes they’re losing hair to get a Haircheck examination in an office near them. I’m not sure which other clinics offer it, but we will be offering this service to our patients who believe that their hair is thinning. If you’d like to setup an appointment for a consultation, please call 800-NEW-HAIR or 310-553-9113.

Tags: haircheck, hair check, hair loss, hairloss, device

Do Hair Transplants Take Longer to Grow After Multiple Surgeries?

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

I have undergone my 3rd hair transplant surgery in March 2010 and I am at the 8 month mark. I am mostly satisfied with my results, but hoping for some more growth and increased density. I was wondering if the transplanted hair takes longer to emerge and mature when you have had successive hair transplants. I was told by my doctor that the hair transplants take longer to emerge after the third hair transplant and i should expect some more hair growth and increase in density.

I would like to get your thoughts around this. Thank you.

I’m not sure why your surgeon would’ve told you it takes longer for hair to grow after the multiple procedures, because the growth period is roughly the same for each surgery. The third surgery should grow at about the same time as the first one did. If you are concerned about growth, speak with your doctor again. I occasionally see some growth occur between 8-12 months, but that is usually in addition to what is grown by the 8th month.

You should be alarmed if there is no growth within the one year time frame, but less concerned if it has only been under 6 months. In your case at 8 months, you should see some good growth by now with hopefully a little more in the coming months.

Tags: hair transplant, hairloss, hair loss, hair growth

What If I Need Chemotherapy After I Have a Hair Transplant?

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

If you get a hair transplant and later get diagnosed with cancer, need chemotherapy and lose your hair, what do you do about the scarring and dots where the transplanted hair previously was?

I would think that if you have cancer, a hair transplant or its scar would be one of the last things on your mind. If you do end up going through chemotherapy and lose all your hair, you will see the scarring.

But while most of us do not plan on having cancer or chemo in our lifetime, if it happens to you and you are worried about the scar, you can wear a hat or a wig as most chemo patients do.

Tags: chemotherapy, chemo, cancer, hair transplant

Applying Rogaine Twice Daily

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

Rogaine recommends applying twice daily but it does not say it needs to be every 12hrs. Does that mean I can apply it at 8pm then again at midnight and that would be just as effective as morning and night? Thanks in advance

Equally spread applications twice a day (every 12 hours) is better than an 8 and 16 hour schedule, but it is not practical for most people. I would try to space it out a little more than the 4 hour window you described. Usually it is applied when you get up and then again before you go to bed (just allow it to dry first).

Tags: rogaine, minoxidil, hairloss, hair loss

Follow-Up – Dr Cooley’s ISHRS ACell Presentation

/by William Rassman, M.D./7 /,

ISHRS 2010One commenter to my post from a couple weeks ago asked about my recollection of the Jerry Cooley, M.D. presentation at the ISHRS meeting on the use of ACell and hair multiplication. The comment was: “The doc still has not addressed why in his previous post about Acell he said Dr. Cooley’s results are less than 50% growth while Dr. Cooley has maintained all along – and proved – that his results are actually 75% regrowth and rising as he refines his technique.”

I went back to my notes from that meeting. The following is the abstract published by Dr. Cooley: “ACell MatriStem MicroMatrix is an FDA approved agent for wound healing. Use in other fields has demonstrated benefits for healing injuries as an adjunct to surgery. The author shares anecdotal experience using this product over the past 18 months. Areas covered include the effects of MatriStem on strip harvest healing. FUE and punch harvest sites, standard FU grafts as well as its use with the so-called ‘autocloning’ technique in which plucked hair is used for grafting. Initial results are promising and hopefully continued research will help define the potential role of this agent in hair restoration.”

From my notes, Dr. Cooley discussed the variable results from his work with hair growth after the plucked procedure was done. He did mention that over the course of his work, the survival of plucked hairs increased. The 75% number made by the commenting individual may have reflected Dr. Cooley’s end survival, but my notes were not clear on this subject. Unfortunately, I could not find a written summary written by Dr. Cooley that discussed his study over a large number of patients. My memory of his discussion may not have been clear. So I called him.

Dr. Cooley suggested the number be anywhere between 50-80%, though he did also say, “I would be hesitant to claim the upper number at this time.” There is little doubt that even a 50% new hair success rate would be a terrific breakthrough. As we progress with our own double blind study and a statistically significant group of patients, the actual numbers should become evident.

Tags: dr cooley, jerry cooley, acell, hair multiplication, hair loss, hairloss

Did Applying Nair On My Scalp Cause Permanent Damage?

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

Doctors. Thank you for your time.

I am a male aged 37. Perhaps 15 years ago my girlfriend shaved my head. She lost interest. To finish the job, and do it “correctly” I lathered my head in Nair (a product used mostly by women to remove unwanted hair ). The “balding” pattern I experience is not shared by the men in my family……father, grandfather etc.

I have the same weak point on the spot for roughly ten years now. The quality and quantity degenerate, but not at the same pace as those who seem to bald genetically. I have new growth, baby hairs, but nothing aggressive like on the rest of my head. Would the hair remover have damaged the growth indefinitely or am I able to find a silver bullet?

I too consider HGH as a lifestyle / quality supplement. Would this assist in refocusing the follicles energies if the reason for the hair loss is the result of the hair removal cream.

Kind Regards

NairI doubt your hair loss is related to what you did with Nair 15 years ago. Nair doesn’t cause permanent loss, especially after one application. There might’ve been some kind of chemical burn in the area, but I can’t imagine it would last for this long (and you didn’t mention experiencing any prolonged skin irritation either).

My bet is on genetic male pattern balding, as it in 99% of men who are losing hair. I doubt HGH will help this, but it sounds like you’re already using it anyway.

Tags: nair, hair removal, hairloss, hair loss

In the News – A Cure for the Common Cold?

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

Snippet from the article (unrelated to hair loss):

In a dramatic breakthrough that could affect millions of lives, scientists have been able to show for the first time that the body’s immune defences can destroy the common cold virus after it has actually invaded the inner sanctum of a human cell, a feat that was believed until now to be impossible.

The discovery opens the door to the development of a new class of antiviral drugs that work by enhancing this natural virus-killing machinery of the cell. Scientists believe the first clinical trials of new drugs based on the findings could begin within two to five years.

Tissue boxRead the full story — A cure for the common cold may finally be achieved as a result of a remarkable discovery in a Cambridge laboratory

We’ve all gotten sick from time to time, but could the common cold be a thing of the past within the next decade? We’ll have to wait and see. Lots of speculation considering the clinical trials won’t start for years from now.

Tags: common cold, cold, sickness, sick

Did Propecia Increase My Body Hair?

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

I have been on propecia for about 18 months and I it seems to have done good things for my hair. However, I noticed that I have more body hair than before. My arms are more hairy, and so is my nose and ears. Is this a known side effect?

I think I’ve gotten only a few emails over the years about seeing increased body hair after taking Propecia, but that is not a known side effect. I do hear anecdotal stories of decreased body hair from Propecia probably a little more often.

Tags: propecia, finasteride, body hair

More Info About NHI’s ACell Study

/by William Rassman, M.D./4 /,

ACellI want to respond to some questions and comments I’ve received about our previous post about the ACell study we’re starting. The presentation at the ISHRS meeting was clear that the use of the ACell matrix with plucked hairs can stimulate growth. The process of doing this may not be as simple as it appears to be for many physicians.

First of all, the plucked hairs are usually a single hair with minimal tissue to protect it from harm when they are handled and/or exposed to the air during the transfer process. The surgeons who offer this have to be skilled to manage one-hair grafts without killing them. The application of the ACell Matrix has may nuances associated with it, so the doctors who “experiment” with this technique must build a process that works over and over again. It is also important to understand that the newly formed follicles will contain tissue from the donor area (the plucked hair) and tissue from the recipient area (the part of the follicle induced by the hair/ACell/tissue interaction). Since some of the follicle is derived the recipient area, we can’t be sure that it will cycle as a normal hair or even be totally permanent.

Over the years we have developed many processes that have led to many of today’s standards in hair transplantation, such as FUE, FUT, megasessions, and dense packing. We have consistently published our work in peer reviewed medical journals and have brought science to the world of clinical hair transplantation, advancing the standard of care over and over again. Our team (Dr. Jae Pak and myself in LA, Dr. Robert Bernstein and Dr. Eric Schweiger in NY) have put our heads together to build a process that, we believe, will afford our patients the best opportunity to benefit from the hair multiplication process and help the industry command the process better and with more certainty.

We are not of the belief that what we are doing with regard to hair multiplication is for everyone, or that everyone should rush into the process before the results of our work (and that of others) are completed. For select patients who are interested in participating in clinical trials or being treated outside the studies at this time, we would be happy to evaluate you to discuss this during a consultation. Remember, this process may not be for everyone at this time.

Tags: acell, nhi, hair multiplication, hair loss, hairloss, hair growth, bernstein, rassman

In the News – Unihair (Aderans) Hopes Hair Cloning Will Increase Sales

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

Snippet from the article:

Unihair of Japan, the world’s biggest wigmaker, is hoping for a big increase in sales through what might be regarded as the ultimate cutting-edge technology – a method to “grow” luxuriant displays of new hair on a person’s scalp.

The method uses cell-generation processes derived from pharmaceuticals research. “We see a tremendous number of possibilities [from the new process],” said Tadao Otsuki, Unihair’s chief executive. “It adds up to a fundamental shift in how the world can combat problems of baldness.”

With the help of the new techniques, based on ideas developed in the US and which are now undergoing clinical trials, Unihair is hoping to increase its annual sales roughly three-fold, from Y57.3bn ($706m) in the year to February 2010, to about Y150bn in 2017.

Fingers crossedRead the full story from the Financial Times — Unihair gets a grip on baldness

There is a big difference between what we hope to achieve with using ACell in hair transplantation to multiply hairs in an ‘auto-cloning’ manner and what Unihair (formerly Aderans prior to September of this year) is trying to do with cloning hair outside of the head in a lab.

It’s in the best interest of patients that these technologies work, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Tags: unihair, aderans, hair cloning, hairloss, hair loss

Reader Gives Encouragement to Young Men with Hair Loss

/by William Rassman, M.D./3 /,

You get a lot of mails from worried young men, distressed about their hairloss. I feel very sorry for them because I remember how I felt when I was 19 and first realized that I was losing my hair (I’m now 43). However, I’d like to encourage the young guys with my message:

Starting to go bald was one of the best things that ever happened to me. It sounds strange and counter-intuitive, I know, but hear me out. I was a vain, selfish, self-centered young man. I used to spend hours preening in front of the mirror and I thought I was God’s gift to women. When I started to go bald I realized what a shallow and selfish person I actually was. And I also realized that the best route for me was that, if I was going to lose my hair, I would have to make up for it in some other way.

So I decided to change my character, to become a good guy, a nice guy, less selfish, who could make a joke about himself. A guy who always put other people first and who always made an effort to get along with everyone… especially the ladies. And you know what, it worked. In fact I over-compensated. I became really popular and started dating more women than I had ever dreamed of, finally marrying the girl of my dreams. This story is absolutely true, and it’s thanks to the fact that I started to lose my hair at an age when I was still young enough to change my character.

Every cloud has a silver lining… Good luck to you all.

Thanks for sending this. It’s good to send out encouraging messages for those struggling with hair loss.

But I must note — as a hair transplant surgeon, I have no problem with vanity. ;-)

Tags: hair transplant, hairloss, hair loss, balding, youth

Lichen Planus and Hair Loss

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

Is there anything that can be done for lichen planus? Had it on my legs and arms for over 2 years and its now on my scalp. I’m losing hair in patches and i’m afraid it will never return. How can i combat this to make sure i keep my hair? Thanks

Unfortunately, lichen planus is a chronic medical condition in which there is no definitive cure. When it affects the hair, it may grow back in time. There’s really not much help I can offer. There are treatments for the disease, but nothing that works 100% of the time for everyone. Please follow up with your primary care doctor or a dermatologist.

Tags: lichen planus, hair loss, hairloss

Female Hair Loss from Wellbutrin

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

I believe Wellbutrin (an antidepressant) has caused my thinning hair. I’ve read that wellbutrin increases testosterone (DHT) in women. What could I use to block the DHT or stop it so I can continue using this medication which works well for me.

Thank you

WellbutrinHair loss in women is a bit more complex than in men, as women tend to have other medical issues such as low-thyroid hormone levels, hormonal changes, and even anemia that can impact hair. We created a partial list of female hair loss causes here.

That being said, Wellbutrin (and many other antidepressants) is known to cause hair loss, though I’m not clear if the reason for this is due to increased DHT production. I did find one site that says, “It is believed that the increased dopamine function due to Wellbutrin may lead to an increase in the testosterone levels. This in turn causes over production of DHT, a metabolite of testosterone, which can be the reason for hair loss.” The problem I’m having is that I can’t seem to find any study backing that up, nor can I find any other sites discussing it. I am not discounting the information completely, but if I can’t find science to corroborate these claims I’m not going to entertain them as true.

You should talk to your doctor about it, who may know more since he/she prescribed the medication. Similarly, if someone out there knows of a study showing a link between Wellbutrin (bupropion) and DHT, please pass it on my way.

Tags: wellbutrin, bupropion, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss, antidepressant

Propecia and Canadian Patent Law

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

Hey Dr Rassman

I just wanted to confirm what I read on a previous post regarding generic Propecia’s legitimacy in Canada. I recently went to the local pharmacy to get a refill on Proscar and I decided to ask the pharmacist about the 1 mg generic finasteride. It turns out it is available which I find quite strange. Wasn’t the drug approved simultaneously by the 2 countries?

I dont expect you to know all the ins and outs of the Canadian drug approval process but your speculation would be interesting food for thought…..thanks!

GavelWhile I am not too knowledgeable about specific Canadian patent rules, thanks to an article a reader sent in I learned that the Federal Court of Canada ruled the Propecia patent invalid back in May of this year due to double patenting. This cleared the way for generic 1mg finasteride to become readily available in Canadian pharmacies. The full story can be found at CanadianTechnologyIPLaw.com.

I know that Merck’s U.S. patent on Propecia will expire sometime in 2013.

Tags: canada, merck, propecia, finasteride, hairloss, hair loss, generic, proscar

How Early Into MPB Should I Start Propecia?

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

Hello!

we all know the earlier you take Propecia the better but can define the work “early” would it be starting Propecia 1 year into the MPB process or more?

Thanks

There’s no true timeframe for what is “early”, but the earlier you decide to take charge of your hair loss and take Propecia, the better your chances for success. If you’ve let your hair loss progress for a decade, obviously that isn’t considered early hair loss. A year or so is still pretty early.

See your doctor, get a good diagnosis, establish what you have, and find a treatment goal and plan.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, propecia, finasteride