If Aderans Research is Selling Their Lab Equipment, Does That Mean Hair Cloning is Dead?

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

Dear Doc,

I see that aderans is selling off some of their equipment. I suppose this means that they are no longer pursuing hair cloning. In your opinion does this mean that we are unlikely to see hair cloning as a genuine option in the future? Have there been any advances?

I wasn’t sure what you were referring to, but I hunted down this article about Aderans Research Institute having a liquidation auction for all of their equipment and furniture. While interesting, I don’t have any insider information with Aderans and I am not aware of any advancements nor setbacks in hair cloning.

We should watch press releases to see if there is a problem with them, though I do agree that liquidating their lab equipment does seem suspicious. Is it the end of their research? I have no idea. Until we hear further info about it though, all we can do is speculate. Perhaps someone else has some info that they can share with us (and if so, drop us an email)

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

My Gynecomastia Surgeon Told Me To Stop Taking Finasteride

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

I’m a 23 year old male with mild hair loss. I started taking finasteride 12 months ago (1.25 mg from generic proscar pills) and have not particularly noticed any benefits or side effects. I knew when I started taking it that gynecomastia was a possible side effect, but I have had gynecomastia since I was 13 so it didn’t concern me. Soon I will be getting surgery to correct that and my surgeon told me that I should discontinue taking finasteride. I definitely don’t want to undo a $4,000 surgery but I was under the impression that those sorts of side effects are pretty rare and if they did happen, usually go away with discontinued use.

Does having had gynecomastia make it more likely that it will return if I continue using finasteride? Since it doesn’t seemed to have done a whole lot does it make sense to even risk it, or should I just switch to rogaine?

If you did not notice any change in your gynecomastia for the past 12 months on finasteride, then I would assume that your breast tissue is not finasteride sensitive. That said, in the face of your doctor’s recommendation, I am at a loss. You should usually follow the advice of your doctor, but in this particular case, it might be something you also talk to your prescribing doctor about (assuming your gynecomastia surgeon and your hair loss doctor are different).

I don’t know that if finasteride would nullify the surgery completely or at all.

Tags: finasteride, hairloss, hair loss, gynecomastia

My Mom Has Lupus and Now I’m Seeing Severe Hair Loss — Should I Be Concerned?

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

Hi, I am an 18 yr old female with a mom that has lupus and anemia. I have always had joint issues, but over the last 6 months i have had severe hair loss. I dont use a sraightener daily nor do I constantly use hair products. Is this something I should be concerned about considering my moms history?

Yes, you need to see a good dermatologist and get a diagnosis. This is not something I can diagnose or treat over the internet.

Tags: lupus, anemia, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss

How Do I Use Creams for My Seborrheic Dermatitis Without Leaving Residue?

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

I’ve recently been prescribed hydrocortisone & nizoral creams for my seborrheic dermatitis. I’ve had issues in the past w/ residue. When I tried washing it off it seemed difficult to me. Do I need to use shampoo or something when I wash it to make it come off easier?

Lastly, does leaving the cream on longer, say overnight make it more likely to leave residue that is difficult to remove? The pharmacist I recently spoke to said there might be a solution or an ointment or foam that may leave less residue that would be welcome…

Residue could remain with the use of creams like hydrocortisone or Nizoral (ketoconazole), but I would imagine that most people massage them into the scalp until they disappear. Some shampoos work better than others at removing these residues and grease from the scalp. If you wash your hair before you put on the creams and use hot water (not to burn your scalp) then you will increase the circulation of the scalp and get more absorption of the medicines in the creams.

If you choose to keep the creams on overnight, then using a good shampoo with a decent detergent is helpful, though I’m not sure if keeping it on overnight would make it more difficult to remove.

I’m not sure which solutions or foams your pharmacist was referring to, so it might be best to ask him/her again.

Tags: dermatitis, topical cream, residue

Is Minoxidil the Reason My Aphrodisiac Doesn’t Work?

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

I have been taking minoxidil for hairloss! Also I have been taking an aphrodisiac to spice my sex life up! Unfortunately the aphrodisiac does not seem to be working. Could this be due to using minoxidil?

How would you expect me to give you an opinion on an unnamed aphrodisiac? And what led you to link minoxidil to an aphrodisiac?

Minoxidil is a blood pressure reducer (very weak) and it has hair growth as a side effect, but I don’t know it would have an effect on your mystery aphrodisiac. Perhaps the aphrodisiac wasn’t what it claimed to be. Try eating oysters.

Tags: aphrodisiac, minoxidil, rogaine, hairloss, hair loss

Hair Loss from Scalp Cyst Removal

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

I recently had two scalp cysts that provided hair loss directly above the cysts. I then had those cysts removed and about 5 months later I still have not regained the hair in those spots. Will it ever grow back? Or is there anything I can do to help it along?

If the hair does not come back after a full year, then you may want to see someone like us. Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP) or hair transplants can work to address this problem, but just be patient for now to see if the hair grows back on its own.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, cyst

My Hair Appears Thinner After Using Dry Shampoo

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

Hi Dr. Rassman,

I have been using Batiste Dry Shampoo Dark Brown for a few months. I noticed that shedding has increased since then. I’m not sure if I am just experiencing a heavy shed due to MBP (i have been slowly thinning for 10 years) or if this stuff is actually aggravating my hair loss. It’s too bad if the dry shampoo is causing it, because it makes a great concealer and adds body to my thin hair. At any rate, it is noticeably thinner in just a matter of a month or two.

I love the blog!

Thank you

I generally like to separate the issues before me and organize them.

If you are shedding, it almost certainly has to do with genetic hair loss (which you say you have). The shampoo you use will have no impact on the shedding, as the cause of genetic hair loss impacts the hair below the skin. As you use different shampoos and conditioners, the hairs that are damaged might be impacted with an apparent shed, but that can only be seen on a daily basis. Over a long term time period, the hair loss more reflects the genetic condition rather than the daily issues of shedding.

Take whatever feedback you sense, apply common sense, and react accordingly.

Tags: shampoo, dry shampoo, hairloss, hair loss

I Stopped Propecia After a Month When I Developed Crazy Acne!

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

Hi doc. I jut want to ask you a question. I have been taking Propecia for almost 4 weeks now. During the 4 weeks I noticed an increase in my acne (face, scalp, and back), and my scalp acne flared up like crazy, to the point it hurt to put my head on the pillow. I never had pimple on my chest and I broke out there as well. I haven’t changed anything in my diet, or routine, so I can almost be certain that Propecia is the culprit. I guess it works differently in everyone.

I have decided to stop taking it. Will 4 weeks of usage have any negative impact on my hair? Before taking Propecia my hair was thinning but not noticeable to others. Can 4 weeks of Propecia usage then stopping it kick start hair loss like crazy? During the 4 weeks of usage my hair loss was at the same rate as before even taking the drug.

Stopping Propecia after only 4 weeks will have no impact on your hair loss. Over the many years of doing this site, I’ve only had a few reports emailed to us about an increase of acne from Propecia, but I haven’t seen that in my own patients.

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

In the News – How to Wash Your Hair in Space!

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

Snippet from the article:

Dr. Karen Nyberg is a flight engineer on the International Space Station—and she happens to have long hair. So how does she wash her hair in space? It turns out to be an easy process, though a visually striking one. Due to the lack of gravity, her hair sticks straight up, so she ends up washing up rather than our Earthbound, gravity-centric “water flows down” thinking.

See the video at Mental Floss — Washing Your Hair in Space

I have often wondered about the other essential body functions in space, but did not feel it was a necessary project for my busy mind prior to seeing the video. Click on the above link to check out the video!

Tags: shampoo, washing, space, gravity

I Want to Grow Chest Hair!

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

i am 26 year old male and i dont have chest hair or a full beard. i want to grow hair on my chest. what should i do? do i have testosterone problem? i think i have because i am gay

Chest hairMany men do not have the genes for chest hair or if they do, these genes do not express themselves until these men turn 30-40 years old. Minoxidil (Rogaine) applied twice a day may bring on chest hair, but be careful that if you go this route that you do not get dizzy from low blood pressure, a side effect of high doses of Rogaine.

We have transplanted chest hair on some men who did not have the patience to wait until they age to see if their chest hair grew, but this not a very common procedure that we do.

Your sexual orientation is unrelated to your testosterone or ability to grow chest hair.

Tags: hair growth, beard, chest hair

How Does One Even Measure Libido or Propecia’s Effect On It?

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

Hi Dr Rassman,

I would like to ask a question that has been on my mind for years, but haven’t seen an answer to this question. I’m 30 year old male.

How would I ever know if propecia is having an effect on my libido, sex drive etc? After all, these effects are not practically measurable. For instance, my libido is constantly changing from month to month, and even a day to day basis. How would I ever know it’s having an effect? I don’t currently take propecia, but am considering it. This has been my biggest factor in deciding to take the drug. Appreciate any recommendations that you can make to help measure these effects.

Thanks for a great blog.

One does not measure libido, as this is a subjective call for everyone. You are right — our libidos do vary with mood, age, time of the day, stress in our lives, relationships, etc…

The decision about taking a drug like Propecia should relate to a Master Plan for your hair loss problem.

Tags: propecia, finasteride, libido, sex drive

My Mother Lost Her Hair At 30, My Sister Is Turning 30 and She’s Losing Hair Too!

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

(female)

At around age 30 my mother began getting sores and rashes on her scalp. Shortly after that her hair began to thin at the crown of her head. My mother was treated for the sores but the doctors couldn’t help her with the balding. She went to a lot of specialists and dermatologists who all ran tests and prescribed different medications topical and etc….all which did not work. On top of that they didn’t give any medical reason as to why she was losing her hair.

My mother is now 50 and completely bald at the front and crown of her head. It seems like it will never grow back. My sister is now around 30 and experiencing the same sores on the scalp and thinning hair!!! I guess my question is, is this hereditary and if so is there any way I can find out what my chances are of this happening to me?

It sounds hereditary to me (with what little information you provide), however, I would need to see your mom to make my own diagnosis. I have no way to know if it’ll happen to you, as I don’t even know what it is.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss

Minoxidil Only Remains Effective for a Few Months, Then I Need to Shave My Head

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

I am 29 years old, and I started noticing hair loss when I was 20. I have been using Regaine 5% since almost 4 years and Propecia since almost 3 years.

I have seen very good results with Regaine 5%, but these results are mixed. When my hair is extremely short (trimmed by the machine to level 1 or 2), Regaine is very effective. When I let it grow, it remains effective until a period of 4-5 months, where I start experiencing hair loss again. Then I shave my head, and it starts working again, and the cycle continues. This is not due to the fact that I cannot see hair loss when the hair is short; I am testing my hair loss even at very short length.

RazorWhen minoxidil (Rogaine/Regaine) works, it usually works as long as you use it. When you stop using it, you lose the benefits quickly.

Shaving your head has nothing to do with the hair loss or hair growth, and what you are reporting is likely more illusion than reality. Shaving your head was commonly thought to increase hair growth, but contrary to this myth that has been around for centuries, it does not impact new hair growth at all. I can’t comment on what you’re seeing, because it doesn’t make sense to me.

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

Am I Using This Topical Steroid Cream Too Much to Treat Dermatitis in My Eyebrows?

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

(female)

Hello Dr. Rassman,
I have a question for you regarding topical steroid creams. I have been diagnosed with mild seb derm. It is only in my eyebrows and no where else. My derm prescribed me Cutivate (fluticasone propinate) and told me to apply it 2 to 3 times a day everyday. She said she wanted to see me back in two weeks for an update. Now I am an avid reader of your blog and have heard you say before you recommend to your own patients they use steroid creams sparingly and at least 12 hours apart.

My question is do you think I am using it too often? I know we are taught to trust our docs judgement but I am worried about side effects particularly since Cutivate is a more potent steroid and it is being used on my face. Previous to this another derm had me on Desonide twice daily for 6 weeks! It led to severe redness and increased inflammation so stopped about 3 weeks in. I was told I might have just had a bad reaction to it.

I feel like derms these days just prescribe steroid creams without a care as to the adverse effects. I would love to hear your thoughts please. I trust your judgement as a doctor much more than both the derms I have seen. Thank you.

Oh and as a side note so far both creams have not helped my condition at all.

Like you, I am always concerned about overdosing steroids. Patients need to follow up closely with their doctors for any adverse effects. A treatment that may work in others may not work for you.

Doctors are there to help their patients, but the healing process is dynamic and things may change. We all have the best of intentions (both patient and the doctor). If things change for the worse before you are able to see your doctor, you need to inform the doctor right away!

Tags: steroid, topical steroid, fluticasone, hairloss, hair loss, eyebrows

I Have White Nose Hairs!

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

I am 28 years old and for the past 6 months I have noticed an increase in the amount of white hairs in my mustache. But now I am seeing a few white hairs in my nose! Is there a treatment for this?

Thanks

I suppose the treatment for nose hairs of any color would be a nose hair trimmer. The treatment for your white mustache hair is called dye.

Tags: nose hair, moustache, mustache, facial hair