Hair Loss and Caleb Followill (Singer from Kings of Leon)

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

Caleb FollowillCaleb Followill – the lead singer of popular band ‘Kings of Leon’ is showing signs of balding. He is a norwood 2.5, maybe even a norwood 3. Now, I’m not sure if you know this, but Kings of Leon consists of 3 brothers and 1 cousin. Caleb is the *only* one showing any signs of balding, and he isn’t even the oldest of the brothers (yes he is one of the brothers, not the cousin). Is it possible the rest of the family members escaped the balding gene? Or could they have had medical intervention to tackle balding?

There is also an interesting story of Caleb commenting on his baldness here.

Anything is possible, I suppose. He might be the unlucky one that has the balding gene, and his brothers were spared. Perhaps the rest of the family is taking medication and he isn’t. Maybe he does feel added stress, which has accelerated his genetic hair loss.

There’s no way for me to know with absolute certainty why the one brother is losing hair and the rest of the siblings aren’t, but I’d say it is just the genetic cards he was dealt.

Tags: kings of leon, musician, celebrity, hairloss, hair loss

Does Adderall Increase Testosterone?

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

Can Adderall increase testosterone in men? Thanks drs

To my knowledge, Adderall does not affect testosterone levels. Adderall is prescribed for patients with ADHD and its mechanism of action has to do with dopamine uptake.

Tags: adderall, testosterone

Could Pregnenolone Help with Finasteride Mood Changes?

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

Hi Dr. Rassman,

So I have been using finasteride for 3 months now. Had two questions

1) Firstly I have had no side effects, compared to the horror stories on the net. So far so good. However I have noticed a slight alteration in mood maybe. Its not like I feel depressed or anything, but definitely a little more tired and groggy, and slight changes in sleep patterns. I am quite sure it is a side effect of finasteride since I am not going through any great stressful time or anything. I know people are quick to blame this drug for everything. Not my agenda here. But definitely have noticed something. Nothing too alarming though.

I have read many forums and quite some people have suggested to take a very small dose of PREGNENOLONE alongside finasteride. I was wondering if you know anything about this combination or if it could help with mood disturbances. I know you will ask me to consult my prescribing doctor which I will do so, but was wondering what your thoughts are on this combination.

2) Also I take 5MG cut into quarters (generic). Your website mentions not to do so, yet many patients have been advised to do so, am I missing something here. I have no problem cutting the pill either (use a pill cutter) .. but the quarter is very small…I usually do get equal parts..but am wondering if I am indeed obtaining between 1-1.25 daily?? Some say the compound is not equally distributed, some say it is homogenized?? so just confused regarding this matter as well, and would appreciate your thoughts

thanks.

Pregnenolone is a steroid and not recommended for balding men. Moreover, steroids can also drastically alter mood as a side effect. I don’t know about the combo specifically, but I wouldn’t recommend it particularly because pregnenolone could lead to more hair loss. If you are having side effects from finasteride, then you should go back to the doctor who prescribed it to you.

Cutting 5mg finasteride into quarters should be as effective as 1mg taken daily. People cut it into quarters for practicality since cutting it in five equal pieces would be difficult. The generic should be homogenized (see here).

Where does this site say to not cut the pill? There’s a lot of info on this site, but I don’t remember ever suggesting that a cut 5mg pill is something that should be avoided. For years now I’ve been recommending splitting the 5mg generic pill for those patients that wish to save some money. You just need to find a doctor that will prescribe the 5mg pill (prostate medication) with instructions to cut it.

Tags: propecia, finasteride, pregnenolone, steroid, hairloss, hair loss

I’ve Been Losing Hair All Over My Scalp for Almost 2 Years

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

Almost bald at aged 19.

Not only have I had serious thinning on the crown and the temple receding, the sides and the back also seem to be affected. I am down to a shaver #1 and unless I can quickly change things I could be completely bald very soon. Is help available? My scalp has been visible for almost 2 years. Everyone knows I am going bald because my hair is that thin allover the place.

I will not be able to have a hair transplant even if I could afford it. Is there a chance I could respond well to Minoxidil or Propecia or Proscar with my hair being so short? I seriously do not think my hair has much life left in it.

Short not by choice. Short because my hair growth follicles are really small and thin allover my head.

If you’re thinning all over the scalp, including the sides and back of your head, a hair transplant probably wouldn’t be an option even if you wanted it. If the donor area is thinning, you are likely not a surgical candidate.

You need to see a doctor to find out what you’re dealing with. You might have some form of alopecia areata, which does not respond to minoxidil or finasteride. I wouldn’t know what kind of help is available just based on your email, but an examination with a good doctor will be able to determine what is causing your loss (genetics, disease, etc). You need to know what you have before you can look into options to treat it.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, alopecia

In the News – Doctor in India Arrested for Stealing Hair Transplant Machine Designs

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

Snippet from the article:


In a first of its kind case, Surat police arrested a doctor for allegedly stealing another doctor’s patented design of a hair transplant machine. The complaint was filed against the accused by another doctor under IPC sections 380, 196 and 120(B). The accused was allowed to go after his statement was recorded as he already had been given anticipatory bail by a local court.

Plastic surgeon Dr Pradipsinh Atodariya claims to have developed and designed a hair transplant machine through which multiple hair transplant is possible at a time.

Read the rest — Doctor held for theft of hair transplant machine’s design

Just when I think I’ve heard it all…

It sounds like one doctor is taking credit for another doctor’s invention. I’m not familiar with any of these doctors, nor am I familiar with the machine in question.

Tags: hair transplant, stealing

How Can You Distinguish Between a Maturing Hairline and Early Balding?

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

Hello Doc,

in a former post you said that you saw several young men with mpb, who just had some temple recession and that was it.

As this early but limited loss could look similar to a mature hairline and assumed that the miniaturization would not go further than its supposed leading edge (let’s say of a v-shaped hairline that sits 1 inch at the sides and 1/2 inch at the center above the highest wrinkle) how would you distinguish between maturing and balding then?

It can’t be the presence of miniaturization alone, since some doctors claim that if it drops sharply after the first 1 or 2cm, it is likely to be part of maturation. Is that correct?

Thank you

Have you read our post about the mature hairline? A good doctor will tell you the answer to your question. Tests for miniaturization and bulk measurements will tell you if you have genetic male patterned baldness. These are done in the doctor’s office.

Tags: miniaturization, mature hairline

Lowering My Dosage — 1mg Finasteride Every Other Day or 0.5mg Daily?

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

Hello Doctor, I was on 1mg Fin for 4 months, was very happy with my hair results, however I have developed anxiety and slight depression.

I asked my doctor whether I could lower the dosage and she said I could do 1.0mg pill every other day. She did not explain why.

Are there any studies that show that 1mg every other day is better than 0.5 mg every day? thank you!

I don’t know of a study that compares 1mg every other day to 0.5mg daily.

Logically speaking, Propecia’s half life is about 4 to 6 hours. So by the next day the medication is almost all gone from your blood stream. Thus, the medication is intended for daily use. Taking 0.5mg daily would seem more of a steady state than taking 1mg every other day. Practically speaking, I would think 0.5mg daily is easier to remember as a routine in your compliance than taking it every other day.

Your doctor may have her own reasons behind the recommendation, and after all this is a “practice” of medicine. I would speak to your prescribing doctor on this issue and make sure both of you are on the same page before making any changes to your medication. She might not have explained why she suggested the every other day dosing, but it doesn’t hurt to ask her.

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

Not Hair Loss News – Green Tea May Inhibit Prostate Cancer Growth

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

Snippet from the non-hair-loss article:

Men with prostate cancer who consumed green tea prior to undergoing prostatectomy had reductions in markers of inflammation, according to data presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held in Anaheim, Calif., Oct. 16-19, 2012.

“Our study showed that drinking six cups of green tea affected biomarkers in prostate tissue at the time of surgery,” said Susanne M. Henning, Ph.D., R.D., adjunct professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles. “This research offers new insights into the mechanisms by which green tea consumption may reduce the risk for prostate cancer by opposing processes such as inflammation, which are associated with prostate cancer growth.”

Read the rest – Green Tea Reduced Inflammation, May Inhibit Prostate Cancer Tumor Growth, Research Finds

This small study of 67 men with known prostate cancer showed a significant reduction in serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate tissue PSA protein expression in those that consumed green tea. It seems to build upon an earlier study from 2009.

It’s too early to suggest that green tea can prevent cancer, and further research will be necessary to evaluate the connection.

Tags: green tea, prostate cancer

I’m Female and Want to Grow a Beard

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

I am a girl. I want to grow a beard. Could I do this with rogaine foam for men? This is serious.

It is known that minoxidil could cause hair growth, and if you were to use this on your face, a beard might become a side effect.

Of course, I would ask why you want to do this and have you consulted your family and/or doctor about it? It’s not every day that we get emails from women wanting to grow facial hair.

Tags: hair growth, beard growth, facial hair

Rogaine Caused Shedding Almost Immediately and It’s Not Stopping

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

Hi, I have 2 questions I am hoping you can answer.

Is hair loss on benzodiazepine, specifically xanax or ativan rare or common side effect? IF so, would taking it several times a month really impact hair loss?

Also, I am using Rogaine 5% (i am a female) for 10 weeks and I have been shedding from it almost immediately. I am still shedding and it is not letting up. I lose about 150-200 hairs a day. Based on what I read, the shed should not last this long. I am mostly concerned because I am losing most of my long thick hairs. Could I possibly be having an adverse reaction to the Rogaine?

Thanks

Hair loss from benzodiazepines are usually uncommon, though it is known to occur.

You need a specialist on female hair loss to assess what is happening to you. Minoxidil can cause a short term shed (1-3 months) usually reversing with the benefits progress from that point forward.

Tags: benzodiazepine, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss

Patient Results – Restored Crown After 1870 Grafts (with Photos)

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

This patient stopped by to show me the results from his crown transplant a couple years ago. He is completely thrilled with the results, which are from the 1870 grafts he received in one session.

He liked the results so much that he started considering having surgery in an early mature hairline (he is 32 years old). I suggested that he hold off on any surgery to his hairline for a while, since it’s not bothering him much yet. Chasing a maturing hairline with transplants is never a good idea because in my opinion, this is a normal hairline for a man who is not balding.

But in any case, his crown looks much fuller now and he couldn’t be more pleased! Click the photos to enlarge.

Before (on left)  //  After (on right)

 

Update: A reader pointed out that we previously posted this patient last year (oops) — here. I corrected some info about the patient’s age and graft count. The after photo is more current on this post though.

Tags: hair transplant, hairloss, hair loss, photos

If I Pluck My Grey Hairs, Will They Disappear For Good?

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

Hi,Dr. Rassman

i have 5-6 grey hairs at the side of my hairs. if i pluck out my hairs, Can i solve this problem? or you have any solution for grey hairs?

im very young and This grey hairs makes me feel old.

Thanks in advance.

If you continuously pluck out your grey hairs, it might cause them to eventually stop growing… but it’s not going to make them regrow as your regular hair color. In other words, I wouldn’t recommend going that route. I don’t know how old you are, but some people just go grey at a younger age than you might expect.

At this point, the way to solve the problem of grey hair is by using hair dye. There’s talk about a pill to prevent grey hair, but it’s apparently still years away (see here).

Tags: gray hair, grey hair

In the News – Rare Scalp Condition Diagnosed as Cutis Verticis Gyrata

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

Snippet from the article:

A 21-year-old man has been diagnosed with cutis verticis gyrata, a rare condition that forms folds and furrows in the scalp.

The unidentified man first began noticing the changes 2 years ago.

That’s when his skin started to grow into thick, soft folds, resembling the ridges of the brain, according to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Read the rest — Rare Condition Causes ‘Brainy’ Scalp

Click to the link to see a photo of this, too. And for the curious, we wrote about this condition about 5 years ago here.

Tags: cutis verticis gyrata, brainy

Patient Results – Amazing Change in Just 9 Months After 2781 Grafts (with Photos)

/by William Rassman, M.D./9 /,

This patient is a doctor and appreciates the radical change in his hair over the past 9 months since he had his hair transplant. He told me that no one specifically noticed the change as his hair was growing in, but knew there was something going on that made him look around 10 years younger.

Some thought he was just exercising and eating better. He said that even when friends looked at his head, it wasn’t apparent to any of them that he had been growing hair where he was previously bald. But comparing his current look to his before photos, the change is quite apparent now.

Click the photos to enlarge.

After (2781 grafts in 1 procedure):

 

Before:

 

Tags: hair transplant, hairloss, hair loss, photos

Is Dutasteride Any Better Than Propecia for Treating Hair Loss?

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

Doctor Rassman/Pak thank you guys for the blog, you guys are truly amazing.

My question is, is Dutasteride really better than propecia? I know its no fda approved for hairloss, but in your opinion do you guys think it is better and more effective? Doctor Rassman/Pak I know you guys rarely prescribe dutasteride, but do you guys have any patients that are on it and have had better results than they did with propecia first? also do you have patients that did not respond to propecia at all, then went on dutasteride and had good response? or at the end of the day avodart and propecia are both the same, and the more dht reduction from avodart does not make any impact more than propecia in terms of hair?

thanks guys

You are correct in stating that we at NHI rarely, if ever, prescribe dutasteride. Some doctors in our community prescribe dutasteride and believe that they gets better results with it versus finasteride. There may be differences in their efficacy, but the higher risk of side effects and long term effects are unclear, especially the risks of sterility that have been reported.

I have occasionally seen patients who have taken dutasteride after taking finasteride, but in my opinion their results are equivocal.

Tags: dutasterude, avodart, hairloss, hair loss