Rogaine Didn’t Help for the 6 Months I Used It, So I’m Trying Vitamins Now

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

Hi guys, i think the work you do is brilliant well done.

I need some help. I’m suffering from hereditary hair loss. I tried using Regaine for men, for 6 months but it didn’t seem to stop my hair falling out. So i stopped using it & it seems my hair is rapidly falling out now :-(

I’ve started using Euromin Vital Hair which another guy recommended to me & said it stopped his hair falling out after a few months.

My mum also bought me the ‘Nizoral anti-dandruff’ shampoo that you guys recommend hair loss sufferers to use. In uk we have a red & white pack, in USA & on ur website it is a blue colour are they both the same on the inside? & do you recommend using a conditioner is is just the shampoo enough?

I wanna know should i start using Regaine again? or will it make my hair shed uncontrollably :-(

sorry i’ve asked a lot of questions. I’m really worried i hope you can give me some good advice. Thank you.

I don’t know anything about your hair loss history to be able to recommend a treatment path to take. If you have genetic hair loss, see a doctor about a prescription for Propecia. Rogaine/Regaine/minoxidil might help if your hair loss is in the crown, but this doesn’t address the reason your hair is continuing to fall out. Propecia (finasteride 1mg) is going to provide a better treatment, particularly if you’re a young man with early loss.

If you’re going to mess around with supplements (that Vital Hair capsule is one) to treat genetic hair loss, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll see the benefits you’re wanting. If treating genetic hair loss was as simple as taking amino acids and vitamins, far less people would be balding.

Nizoral is a good anti-fungal shampoo, but it isn’t something we recommend as a treatment for hair loss. I’m not sure what you read where we recommended it.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, propecia, rogaine, regaine, minoxidil, nizoral

Woman with Severe Thinning Hair Comments on Her SMP Experience (with Photos)

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

As a woman in my 40s, I have had thin hair all my life. The thinning got much worse after childbirths. About 15 years ago I discovered toppik and started using it. I had used it everyday until now. A few months ago I started having more than usual hair loss and started considering a wig. Around that time I met Dr. Rassman who mentioned the SMP procedure to me. Since there wasn’t much to lose at that point I decided to give it a try.

I completed my procedure today and feel compelled to share how pleased I am with the result. For the first time in many years, I walked out in the open air without toppik. I am no longer worried people might see my scalp if they get too close. It is liberating to be able to get in the pool and not worry about toppik running on my face. Any woman who feels self conscious about her thin or thinning hair should visit Dr. Rassman and his partner Dr. Pak for a consultation. They are both perfectionists and won’t stop until they are happy with the results. The staff is also extremely professional who can put you at ease during your visit. I am so happy I had the procedure done, it’s life changing for me.

Click the photos to enlarge (Before on left, After on right):
130614_smp1
130614_smp2

Thanks so much for sending in your email. I’ve posted your photos (with your permission) and appreciate your kind words.

Tags: smp, scalp micropigmentation, pigment, hair loss, hairloss, female hair loss

In the News – Aloepecia Areata Associated with Comorbid Conditions

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

Snippet from the article:

Many individuals with alopecia areata (AA) have comorbid conditions, according to a retrospective cross-sectional study. The authors compared the prevalence of comorbid conditions in patients with AA with the prevalence of comorbid conditions in patients in the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Follow-up Study. The association between AA and comorbid conditions was consistent with findings from previous studies.

Kathie P. Huang, MD, from the Clinical Research Program, Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, and colleagues report their results in an article published online May 22 in JAMA Dermatology.

Read the rest — Alopecia Areata Associated With Autoimmune Comorbidity

Those with alopecia areata were found to have a high incidence of atopy, contact dermatitis, and acid reflux.

Tags: alopecia areata, study, dermatitis, acid reflux, hairloss, hair loss

Hair On Top Causes More Pain When I Tug On It

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

Dear Sir,

I have some questions about the nature of hair. I am a 23-year old Asian (male).

I notice that hair at my back and sides are usually thicker and denser than the top. Moreover, when I style or pull my hair I feel that the hair on top feels some pain more easily than the back and sides. It gives me a sense like hair (or scalp) on the top is not as healthy as the rest and easier to fall out.

I don’t know whether this is normal and it’s the same for other people. Can these be signs for male pattern baldness?

Thank you for your help.

Best Regard

This is an unusual question. The best way for you to determine if you have male pattern baldness in its early stages is to see your doctor and possibly have a miniaturization study (microscopic exam) and/or have a bulk assessment of the hair and compare the hair throughout the scalp. Decreases in miniaturization or hair bulk in a pattern (thus the term “male pattern” balding) is a way to determine if your hair loss is genetic (male pattern) balding.

With regard to your pain, although on rare occasions people have reported pain with male pattern baldness, I have never had an explanation for it and it is not a sign of balding that I know of.

Tags: scalp pain, hairloss, hair loss

Could Finasteride Be the Cause for My Poor Facial Hair Development?

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

hi
I’ve used finasteride for about 9 years. I dont have shedding now and my hair is look like when i was 17. Problem is, my facial hair hasn’t really developed. Do you think this is related to finasteride at all and perhaps a lower dose would help my facial hair grow?

Many years back there was a very small study of women with facial hair (stay with me here) that used a finasteride cream to treat their hirsutism. When used as a cream, it appeared to work in this controlled study of 8 women. Does this apply with systemic finasteride for facial hair growth in men? I would think that it might, but I have no way to know for sure if the finasteride was the cause for your facial hair developing poorly or if you would’ve had poor facial hair without ever using the medication at all.

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

Can I Transplant Into an Area Where I Had Laser Hair Removal?

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

Hi,
I accidentally laser hair removed too much hair at the hairline; now, the hair won’t grow back.

My question is, will a hair transplant work in an area that has had laser hair removal? Will it impede the transplanted hair from growing? Thank you

Transplants are an ideal treatment for such a problem. The laser hair removal process will not impact future hair regrowth from a transplant in that area.

Tags: hair transplants, hair removal, laser hair removal

Where Does Shock Loss Happen?

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

Doctor,

I’ve recently had a HT on the front of the hair line, the mid-section and crown were untouched. Only thing is, 4weeks after the surgery I’ve noticed more and more hair falling out from the crown and mid areas!

Does shock loss effect every area prone to hair loss?

Thank you

Simple answer — yes.

Longer answer — Shock loss usually impacts miniaturized hairs, and can even occur when only an anesthetic is used on the scalp with no surgery (this is very rare). We know that advanced miniaturization and active ongoing hair loss have vulnerable hairs which can be impacted by any vascular change in the scalp or stressful situation (like a surgery). For this reason, young men (under 29 years old) are wise to take finasteride when they are having a hair transplant. Even if it is not a guarantee, it puts the odds in one’s favor for less shock loss (if any), especially if there is a greater degree of miniaturization present anywhere on the scalp.

The older the patient is, the less likely that they will be impacted by shock hair loss (e.g. a 50 year old man with stable hair loss)… and for these patients I do not insist on their use of finasteride before surgery.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, shock loss, finasteride, hair transplant, propecia

Keratene Alphactive Retard

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

Doctor,
recently there is in Europe a new product against MPB: Keratene Retard. Some transplant clinic began to give it as an alternative to Finasteride. Some trial was done (you can see in keratene web site). What do you think about? Could be a serious effective alternative to Fina without sides?
Thanks for your blog!

I have no idea what this product is about, but the name isn’t very catchy. Really, your guess is as good as mine, but be careful about believing what you read on their site. I didn’t see any info about a trial done, but if it was published in a peer reviewed journal, I’d be happy to read it.

I would not switch off of finasteride to try it, because you may pay the ultimate price — withdrawal hair loss. As always, consult with your prescribing doctor (I am not your doctor).

Tags: keratene, alphactive, hairloss, hair loss, dht

Not Hair Loss News – Taking Tamoxifen Reduces Breast Cancer Recurrence in Women

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

It’s not hair loss related, but I also post cancer related news items here from time to time…

Snippet from the article:

Breast cancer is less likely to recur if women previously treated for the disease take the drug tamoxifen for 10 years, instead of the recommended five years, according to a British study.

The study was a component of a larger international trial, for which similar results were announced last year.

“I think it’s huge because it’s the second trial to show a benefit for 10 years versus five years,” said Dr. Sandra Swain, medical director of the Cancer Institute at Washington Hospital Center and president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, or ASCO. “It is important not only in the U.S., but for the world. It is a very inexpensive drug.”

Tamoxifen, available as a low-cost generic, has long been used for younger, premenopausal, women with early-stage breast cancer that responds to estrogen. Most start taking the estrogen-blocking drug immediately after completing their initial surgery or chemotherapy.

Read the rest — Longer tamoxifen use reduces breast cancer recurrence

Tags: cancer, tamoxifen, breast cancer

Generic Propecia (1mg Finasteride) — Pricing Schedule

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

A little birdie gave me some insider dates to look out for when it comes to generic 1mg finasteride (aka generic Propecia) that I thought I’d share —

    Nov 19, 2012 – Merck’s patent on Propecia expired

    Jan 1, 2013 – Jun 30, 2013 – Dr. Reddy has exclusive FDA approval to make generic 1mg finasteride. Currently 90 days of generic 1mg finasteride can run as high as $100 ($95-125).

    Jul 1, 2013 – Two additional companies will start making generic and price will drop by about 50% or $50 for 90 tabs

    Nov 5, 2013 – Five additional companies will start making it, at which time there will be 9 manufacturers of 1mg finasteride — 8 making generic, 1 making brand name. The price at that time will be around $20 for 90 tabs. Most of the generic makers already make generic 5mg finasteride so they only need to make minor adjustments to produce 1mg.

This is good news for us all.

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

A Reader Sends In His Positive Propecia Report

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

Dr. Rassman

Just wanted to thank you for your blog. Its very informative.

I don’t have a question but I just wanted to let your readers know how well Propecia has done for me. I started losing my hair in my early to mid 20’s. It has always been a stressful issue for me. It was becoming thinner each year. I am lucky because I have dark blond wavy coarse hair but it was still thinning and receding. I went on Finasteride in 1995 and than Propecia in 1997 when it became FDA approved. When I was in my 20’s I never thought I would have my hair into my 40’s. I am 45 now and not only do i have my hair but I have more hair than many people my age. People all the time come up to me and tell me how lucky I am to have so much hair. This would not of been possible without being on Finasteride/Propecia for 18 years. This is a great drug for those that are concerned about hair loss. I have also never had any side effects from it.

What you describe is not unusual, as the majority of men that take this medication likely have similar experiences with Propecia (finasteride 1mg), but the reports on the internet tend to seem skewed in the negative direction. As I’ve said in the past, those that feel slighted will usually speak out the loudest, while those men that have had success will not usualy take the time to go online to share the positive experiences they had.

I appreciate you taking the time to send in your report.

Tags: finasteride, propecia, hairloss, hair loss

In the News – DigniCap Cleared for Final Clinical Trials

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

Snippet from the article:

Hair loss is often a depressing signature of chemotherapy, particularly disturbing for women who have to undergo treatment. One way to help prevent hair loss during chemo sessions is to cool the scalp, narrowing blood vessels around hair follicles and slowing the uptake of the poison in the area.

A system called DigniCap from Dignitana (Lund, Sweden) has just been FDA cleared for final clinical trials and may soon become available in the U.S. to help prevent chemo related hair loss. DigniCap consists of a touch screen equipped refrigeration and control unit that monitors scalp temperature and delivers cooling liquid to the inner cap.

Read the rest — DigniCap to Help Prevent Chemo Caused Hair Loss Cleared for FDA Trial

We have discussed the concept in a series of previous posts about a device called the Cold Cap. It seems that the technology has gotten better since we wrote about it.

Tags: dignicap, cold cap, chemotherapy, hairloss, hair loss, chemo, cancer

Applying Betadine After a Hair Transplant

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

after hair transplant about 15 days, I have been infected with pimple not sure it is folliculitis or not. My doctor let me take doxycycline and use betadine leave it for 5 minutes and wash. If I use betadine 2 or 3 times a days can it affect graft survival?

Betadine is a strong antiseptic containing an iodine solution that will significantly reduce the presence of skin bacteria. Infections 15 days after a hair transplant rarely are caused by skin bacteria. Many times the cause is as simple as scratching the scalp, thereby breaking the skin and introducing a source for skin bacteria to invade into and through the skin. When applied topically, Betadine will not hurt the grafts at this stage.

I am not sure what the problem is that you’re experiencing, so it is impossible for me to comment on a treatment. At the least, a picture may help. But since you’re under the care of your doctor, I’d go with his/her treatment plan.

Tags: hair transplant, hairloss, hair loss, graft survival, betadine, iodine

Would a Norwood 6 Patient That Had 7000+ Grafts Still Need Propecia or Rogaine?

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

Thanks for the great effort here.

I just want to know, why minoxidil or finasteride are required after a hair transplant?

Let’s say a male, 45, with great donor area, Norwood class 6, had 3 sessions over 2 years, and was given 7000 – 8000 grafts covering his hairline, front, vertex and crown. Since most of his balding areas are covered, and the transplanted hair is genetically programmed not to fall off, why would this patient still require the minoxidil and/ or finasteride?

Thanks for your answer to this small query!

Most patients in that situation do not stay on these drugs. It is worth noting that if there is residual hair still present or the fringe area has not been impacted and shows signs of miniaturization, then these drugs have value.

If you were a Norwood 3, for example, then finasteride would help minimize shock loss following surgery and help to maintain the existing hair around the transplanted areas.

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

In the News – Chinese Men Using Western Hair Loss Treatments Instead of Snake Oils

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

Snippet from the article:

After raw-ginger scalp rubs and walnut snacks failed to counter Shi Yang’s receding hairline, the 26-year-old Shanghai engineer says he’s ready to ditch his mother’s advice and give Western drugs a go.

Traditional herbal remedies for male pattern baldness are losing ground to treatments such as Merck & Co.’s Propecia and Johnson & Johnson’s Rogaine in China, where a full head of black hair on a man is a sign of health and virility. Shi, a slim, bespectacled college graduate, has a better chance of landing a girlfriend with a thick thatch of hair like President Xi Jinping or Premier Li Keqiang, both of whom are in their 50s, he said.

Sales of Western hair-loss treatments doubled in China the past five years, growing almost twice as fast as the broader hair-product segment, according to Euromonitor International. The hair-loss market is still small because baldness is only now being seen as a problem requiring pharmaceutical help, and Western companies have only recently begun to seize on the concern.

Read the rest — Snake Gall Bladders Ditched for Drugs by Balding Chinese

Tags: china, snake oil, medication, hairloss, hair loss