I See No Thinning, But I Can See My Scalp in Sunlight

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

Worried about “shiny” scalp.

I have very very fine, wispy dirty blonde hair. However, in the sunlight, very often when I walk past a window I feel like I see so much scalp. I have an intact frontal hairline with a low-dipping widow’s peak and lose next to no hair in my brush or in the shower. The distribution of hair *feels* the same all over.

Does this just sound like paranoia? (I won’t go into the genetics question as that’s impossible to answer).

Yes, it sounds like paranoia. Many thin haired blonds have a see-through appearance where almost anyone can see their scalp in bright sunlight… especially if your hair is wet or is very fine and wispy as you describe.

Tags: hair, sunlight, hairloss, hair loss, thinning

Did Immunizations Cause My Daughter’s Hair Loss?

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

My question is in regards to my daughter. I have an 11 year old daughter who about 3 weeks ago started experiencing hair loss (none before then). She’s always had a full head of hair, but now I can feel the difference.

I noticed her hair started falling out after I brought her in for her physical. She was given two immunization Tdap and Menactra. Could hair loss be a side effect to any of these immunizations? I brought her back this week and her doctor ran additional blood tests, which he said came back normal. I asked for a referral to see a dermatologist because I’m concerned with the hair loss. Can you shed some light on this problem or can you advise as to what I should be asking the dermatologist when we see him?

Thank you for your help.

ImmunizationI doubt immunization caused her hair loss. Menactra is a meningitis vaccine and Tdap is tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccines. I am unable to find any cases referenced that mention hair loss from those.

While vaccines in general don’t cause hair loss, there’s a small study published in 1997 that links temporary hair loss and the hepatitis B vaccine in very rare cases, though most children in the world receive standard immunizations and they do fine. I realize the topic of immunization in children has been in the media in recent years due to a report connecting those shots as a cause of autism, but that turned out to be false.

With respect to your daughter’s hair loss, I really cannot say. I would defer to the doctor who will be examining her. Sometimes hair shedding may be just temporary and you may be overreacting.

Tags: immunization, vaccine, hairloss, hair loss, menactra, tdap

After Using Dutasteride Every Day for a Month, My Hair Shed Fast

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

Hi Doctor,
I’m 22 yo man and I have a weird experience from dutasteride and wanna know your opinion about this. After a month of daily use of 0.5mg dutasteride my hairs started to shed very fast! and it continued for at least 3 months. now shedding became slower but it’s not halted or regrown! also I think my hairs become a bit slacker and thinner! I think (just think) I have some new growth, little hairs on my hands. I have no decreased or increased in libido or any sexual side effects.

after 4 months on the drug I took a blood test that showed my T=430ng/dl and FreeT=14pg/ml but LH was low and it was 0.91(from 1.1-7).

So doc, what does these results means? If I become hyperandrogenic so why T and FreeT are normal and LH is too Low. and if I have hypogonadism why my hairs sheds and body growth some new?

I cannot interpret your laboratory test results for you. This is something you need to discuss with your doctor that is treating you. It isn’t because I do not want to interpret the test results, but rather I do not know how to correlate the values with what you are experiencing. More importantly, I would want to know what the values were BEFORE you started taking dutasteride.

I do not recommend dutasteride to treat androgenic alopecia and I do not know what the correlation it has with rapid hair loss. This may be a temporary shedding which would reverse in 2-3 months.

Tags: dutasteride, avodart, hairloss, hair loss

Large Scalp Scar After Falling from an Upper Floor

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

Hi Dr. Rassman,

I am 24 years old and in May 2006 i fell off from the 2nd floor. I managed to hit my head on the 5 inch water pipe on the 1st floor and then fell directly on my head on the ground floor. I had a skull fracture and multiple fractures on the plate below the skull. I was operated 3 times and the surgeon gave a cut 2mm above the hairline just above my forehead. Now there is a 6-7 inches scar where people say the hair follicles are dead and you will never get a hair growth in that area.

Dr. please help me and provide me with a solution that can cause hair growth in that area. I oil my hair on a regular basis and also apply dry coconut but I see no results.

Hair loss from neurosurgery or a craniotomy can be easily addressed with a hair transplant directly on to the scar. We have many patients in your situation. Generally you will need more than one surgery to adequately cover your scar, but this mainly depends on how short you keep your hair. See here for more.

Dry coconut won’t regrow hair, but I’m sure your scalp will smell nice.

Tags: skull fracture, hairloss, hair loss, scar, craniotomy

Best Post-Op Hair Transplant Shampoo?

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

what is the best shampoo to use after H.T. my head is peeling its been about 2 weeks and when can i start using rogaine again. Thanks

After 2 weeks you head should not be peeling. You need to just use your regular shampoo and make sure you are washing your scalp properly. Follow up with your doctor and make sure you are washing your hair correctly.

Usually, I’d recommend waiting 7-10 days before using Rogaine after a hair transplant. Talk to your surgeon.

Tags: hair transplant, shampoo, post-op