Am I Shedding From the 2.5mg Finasteride Dose That My Doctor Prescribed?

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

Hello, I am 24 years old male and my hair thinning in the front has started to accelerate a year ago. I went to my doctor and he has prescribed generic finasteride 5mg, but he recommended that I take half the tablet (2.5mg) stating that it will be easier to divide than quartering and that I will be fine on it.

Well I have been taking it for the past 9 months and I have been shedding lots of hair and front has thinned while on the finasteride. Is it possible that the higher dosage (more than 1mg) of finasteride has caused this? Or is this normal shed? and What do you think I should do? Talk to my doctor and decrease the dosage to quarter the tablet? I feel lost and helpless. Thank you for your answer

Men that take the full 5mg dose of finasteride for treating the prostate don’t experience increased shedding, and I don’t believe that a 2.5mg dose taken daily will cause additional shedding. Some men do report some initial shedding even with the 1mg dose (though this isn’t terribly common), but if you’ve continued to shed for 9 months, you may just be continuing to lose hair from your primary genetic disorder.

You need to communicate better with your doctor or find another doctor who you can relate to better. It would be inappropriate for me to take charge of your care with regard to being more specific in the solution to your shedding problem. In other words — talk to your prescribing doctor.

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

10 Days After FUE Surgery, I Rubbed My Transplants By Mistake!

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

Dear Sir,

First of all, thanks for this useful guide for those who are in this trip to recover the lost hair.

I am in my 10th day after FUE surgery and today in the shower by mistake i rub my transplanted hair once by mistake (only one gentle pass with my hand), apparently there was no bleeding or lost hairs. The problem that i see after reading this blog is that i still have many scabs so i am concerned if probably i damaged many grafts. Am I right or wrong?

Thanks a lot for your work and attention and apologies for my english because is not my native language.

You are probably safe from losing the value of these grafts; however, there is no certainty in life. If it was just a gentle pass with no bleeding or grafts coming loose, I wouldn’t be concerned…. but if you are truly worried, you should follow up with your surgeon and have him/her examine your scalp.

Tags: hair transplant, surgery

My Hair Has Been Thin and Brittle Since Gastric Bypass 8 Years Ago

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

(female)
I had a gastric bypass 8 years ago and I have lost 180 pounds since the surgery. I had maintained my weight of 120 pounds, but this year I have been putting on weight and I am up to 170 of which just terrifies me. I dont feel like my eating habits have changed or portions because my children tell me I dont eat enough to keep a bird alive. Since the surgery my hair has never been the same. its thin and brittle. I try and take vitamins but it doesnt seem to work. please help!!!!!

Weight loss and nutritional problems can cause the hair issues that you’re describing. I would make an appointment to see your doctor about your nutritional status.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, hair character, gastric bypass, diet, nutrition

Dr Bernstein Said He Isn’t a Good Transplant Candidate

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

Dr. Rassman,

On Dr. Bernstein’s blog, he mentions that one of the reasons why he has not received a hair transplant is because he is not a good candidate. My question for you relates to that comment and is two parts. First, what would make Dr. Bernstein not a good candidate, and second, at what age can you tell whether a patient will become a bad candidate? For example, we know now that Dr. Bernstein was destined to turn into a bad candidate, but would a miniaturization study have shown evidence of that at age 25?

Thank you for a great blog!

The good transplant candidates have enough supply to meet demand. In Dr. Bernstein’s case, my best memory of his donor density is that it is low. So from a pure numbers point of view, he is not the best hair transplant candidate.

On the other hand, he told me many years ago that hair was important to him when he was young and single, but the techniques that were available at that time were terrible and deforming. For that reason, he never offered hair transplantation service in his practice until he joined forces with me and realized that the quality of the modern hair transplant met his standard; however, his focus on hair was not one of his priorities as he got older.

For those unaware of who we’re discussing, Dr. Robert Bernstein is a world class surgeon based in New York. You can find him at BernsteinMedical.com.

Tags: bernstein, hairloss, hair loss, hair transplant, density

Should I Try Doping to Get My Chest Hair to Grow?

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

Hello sir,
I have maybe a little weird problem related to my chest hair. Since age of 16 I have chest hair, but it never grew into a full profile. According to the type of growth, I should have my entire chest hairy , but left side is more hairy than right side. Hairs on left side are darker, longer and thicker as opposed to the right where they are rarer, shorter and lighter! I tried to shave chest, I used Kirkland’s Minoxidil (5%) for 3 month regularly and before I also tried Niveas formula for hair grow, some herbal teas and similar for hair grow stimulation.

After almost 6 years I’m getting out of ideas. I read forums and tried more vitamin E in diet, aloe vera and similar. But nothing seems to be helping in a concrete way. As a nurse myself I understand the genetic role in this and that’s why I said that I should be generally hairy by type, but one side is more developed than other.

One thing I did not try, but honestly after all this years I started to, is thinking about trying medicines like steroids and similar that should trigger phase of puberty in smaller measure, and just maybe restart grow. I am starting to feel a little uncomfortable at sea, or similar situations, and every summer I shave with an excuse for others. As much as that might sound crazy to you, it is really becoming a problem for me. As said, I’m missing any ideas with in limit of sense. I tried plenty of lotions, teas and similar stuff for hair stimulation and grow but with no success. Is the ”doping” really the only idea left? As one in medicine I know it is not the most smartest thing to do, risky. That’s why if I decide to, It would be smaller dosage through longer period, and that is why I’m contacting you … If you have any advice or suggestion I would appreciate it beyond measures…

Thank you in advance for you time and any advice you might have…

Our genetics control what is happening with respect to chest hair. I do not endorse illegal drugs and anabolic steroids, which have far greater side effects and health risks. Do not jeopardize your health to grow chest hair.

As a hair transplant surgeon, I have performed chest hair implants — but this is the extreme case. The smartest thing for you to do is perhaps see a medical doctor and not do anything illegal.

Tags: steroids, chest hair, hair growth, body hair

After 3 Months of Propecia, I’m Seeing Hair Growth Between My Eyebrows and Temple Peaks!

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

Hi doc
I’m into third month of propecia, and I’m glad to say it’s starting to work- woohoo! However- a strange side effect. It’s so darn effective that I’ve now grown hair between my eyebrows and my temples. As I noticed this in the daytime, I doubt I’m moonlighting as a werewolf.

How common is this? Is it adviseable to shave it off? What’s the chances of it thickening up and being a real problem? Can you hook me up with an audition for a horror film- I’ll save loads in make up costs!

Keep up the good work.

I have heard of strange hair growth patterns with Propecia, but this is a new one to me! You sound to be in good spirits with a healthy sense of humor, at least.

I suppose shaving the hair off would be the best thing to do.

Tags: propecia, finasteride, hair growth

I’ve Been Picking At My Scalp Flakes and My Hair Is Thinner In Those Areas Now

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

I am an 18 year old male and have seborrheic dermatitis on my scalp. Over the past few months little flakes started to appear attached onto my scalp, after a while i developed a desire to pick and scratch the flakes on my scalp in order to remove them. Doing this resulted in some parts of my hair becoming thinner, not necessarily hair falling off just looking thinner if you understand?

Will the follicles where i picked at my scalp heal naturally within time or is this permanent? Where my hair looks thin is not really noticable for now..
(I do not suffer from any MBP)

Picking at your scalp and/or hair causes traction alopecia. In some people, the picking gets so severe that a name to describe the process is worthy for your review — dermatillomania. I’m not about to diagnose you with this disorder over the web, but the hair could become permanently lost if you continue to pick or pull at your scalp.

Dermatillomania (skin picking) and trichotillomania (hair pulling) are both obsessive compulsive disorders and you should see your doctor if you find yourself continuing to pick at your scalp.

You can learn more about dermatillomania here. You can learn more about trichotillomania here.

Tags: dermatillomania, trichotillomania, hairloss, hair loss, skin picking, ocd

I’m 16 Years Old and Feel That Masturbation is Causing My Hair Loss

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

I am 16 years old and i m experiencing heavy hair loss… I have been masturbating for 4 years, every 2-3 days and i feel that masturbating is the reason for my hair loss. I also have a few pimples on my head after i masturbate, but i use a ointment Ecodex-G and the pimples disappear in a few days.

Please tell me if this hair loss is due to heavy masturbating,, and is it possible to regrow these hairs if i stop masturbating for a long span of time (2-3 months), and if not then what is the problem and the solution for it.

I only seem to get these questions from young men in India, which leads me to believe that it is a widely accepted myth in that region.

Masturbation and hair loss are unrelated. I’ve answered this question countless times and the answer doesn’t change. If curing hair loss was as simple as not masturbating, there would be a lot less balding men in the world. Of course, you are free to not masturbate and test for yourself, but it will make no difference in whether your hair grows or not.

Tags: masturbation, masturbating, hairloss, hair loss

If I Just Have a Maturing Hairline, Will Propecia Do Anything For it?

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

My hairline has been receding for the last 6 or so months. I’ve gone from a NW 1.2 to a NW 1.8 since then. I’m not sure if my hairline is just maturing or if it’s MPB. I’ve scheduled an appointment with my doctor, but if all I have is a maturing hairline, propecia won’t work on it right?

I don’t know the answer to your question, as I have not prescribed Propecia to anyone with just a maturing hairline. I would doubt that Propecia will reverse you back to a juvenile hairline, if that is what you’re looking for it to do.

Tags: finasteride, propecia, mature hairline

What Else Should I Be Doing to Treat My Early Hair Loss?

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

Hey Doc,

I started suffering from hairloss round the age of 21, I noticed some thinning and loss in the right side of my temple (strangely enough not the left). Anyways, I decided to act. I am now 24 and still have that hair loss on that side of the temple and also moderate thinning in my crown. So I went on a strict rampage of everything. I got Revita & Nirozal Shampoo, a 3 month supply of Rogaine, MSM and Biotion tablets. Is there anything else I should be doing?

You should have seen a doctor, gotten a diagnosis, and then probably started on finasteride (Propecia). A doctor’s prescription is required, but it would have probably stopped or at least slowed down the hair loss. Young men with early hair loss often have the best results from Propecia.

The rest of what you used and did was a waste of money and time, possibly aside from the Rogaine on your crown. Shampoos and supplements aren’t going to regrow your hair if you have genetic hair loss.

Tags: finasteride, propecia, nizoral, rogaine, biotin, hairloss, hair loss

In the News – Inherited Genes and Why We Resemble Our Parents

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

Snippet from the article:

Why do children resemble their parents? It’s a question that has intrigued people for millennia, and surprisingly, in spite of our cutting-edge biotechnology, scientists still don’t have an answer. But when they find one, it will have big implications for how we use genetics to personalize medicine and understand human behavior.

Today, we take it as given that children have inherited genes from their parents, but the idea that parents pass on genetic material was a late development in science. Until the 19th century, those who considered the issue generally figured that parents made their children by a process analogous to fermentation. In essence, family resemblance was the consequence of the unique brewing conditions created by each set of parents. René Descartes compared semen to the “scum formed on beer” that can be used to make the next batch. Families differed because some couples make ales, while others make lagers.

Read the rest — We still don’t know why we look like our parents

The article continues that, “Rather than simply knowing that there is a genetic basis for male-pattern baldness or cancer, we want to know the identities of the actual genes involved so that we can study their biological role and come up with ways to prevent, treat, and even cure what ails us.”

Tags: genetics, genes

Should I Use Clippers or a Face Shaver After SMP?

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

Hi Dr. Rassman!

I am thinking about getting SMP for the entire scalp. I have had several hair transplant procedures so there is a considerable amount of scarring. I want to shave my head close to the scalp and have been told that I should still be able to do this. I am confused about whether I should use clippers (Oster 76 – 00000 Blade) or a face shaver (Remington 91/Remington 6150). Which would be better for me to use after the SMP procedure?

They all work, you just have to use what is most comfortable and convenient for you. I have no preference.

Tags: scalp micropigmentation, smp, shaving, head shaving

Can I Go to Work Less Than a Week After a Hair Transplant?

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

Really quick question. Can I go to work after a hair transplant in less than a week without it being swollen and scabby? Thanks!

Not everyone will heal the same, but this is an example of a patient from last week who had 3,169 grafts just 3 days from the day these pictures were taken. Please note that this was a large procedure and he had no post-operative scabbing or swelling. The secret to this type of post-operative look is the washing we do during the procedure and the daily washing we do after the procedure.

Click the photos to enlarge:

Just 3 days after hair transplant of 3169 grafts:

 

Before:

 

Tags: hair transplant, hairloss, hair loss, hair restoration

In the News – Newspaper Suggests Cayenne Pepper and Vodka Can Regrow Hair

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

Snippet:

Q. My beautician told me to add 8 ounces of vodka to a whole can of cayenne pepper, let it sit overnight, strain and apply it to the top of my scalp with a cotton swab to counteract hair loss. Does this work, or will it cause more hair loss?

A. Our first impulse was to discredit such a remedy. We feared that the ingredient in hot peppers, capsaicin, might be too irritating.

To our surprise, however, we discovered an article in Current Medicinal Chemistry (No. 29, December 2008) reporting that capsaicin can stimulate growth factors in the hair follicles of mice and in human volunteers with hair loss.

Read the rest — Can cayenne pepper help reduce hair loss?

This was from a Q&A section that is syndicated to a bunch of different newspapers, but it’s not like they finally revealed the secrets we have held back from the public. The article they reference has no information about the human volunteers, nor does their response even mention the vodka that was part of the original question.

Cayenne and vodka will not regrow your hair, alone or combined.

Tags: cayenne, vodka, hair loss, hairloss

Not Hair Loss News – Coffee Lowers Risk of Prostate Cancer Recurrence?

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

Snippet from the article:

Drinking 4 or more cups of coffee a day is associated with a lower risk for prostate cancer recurrence and progression, according to a prospective study published online August 2 in Cancer Causes and Control.

The study authors found that men who drank that much coffee daily had a 59% reduced risk for prostate cancer recurrence and/or progression, compared with those who drank 1 or fewer cups per week (P for trend = .01).

The coffee consumption was measured before a prostate cancer diagnosis, not afterward, note the authors, led by Milan Geybels, a PhD candidate in the Department of Epidemiology of Maastricht University in the Netherlands. He worked on the research while studying at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, where one of his coauthors, Janet Stanford, PhD, is codirector of the program in prostate cancer research.

Read the rest — Daily Coffee Tied to Lower Risk for Prostate Cancer Recurring

Tags: prostate cancer, coffee, cancer