Do alcohol based shampoos harm SMP?

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

I’m planning to get scalp micropigmentation SMP on my FUE scars soon. I currently use minoxidil foam which is essentially just minoxidil dissolved in pure ethanol. Does ethanol applied to the skin longterm cause significant fading or blurring of the SMP dots?

The use of alcohol based lotions should be avoided for only the first 3 days after the SMP is done. After that the wounds heal so that the alcohol can’t get to the pigment to have an impact on it. The skin is an effective barrier to protect the SMP from everything except direct long-term sun exposure

Kimchi may help grow hair, according to the paper below

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

Do Kimchi and Cheonggukjang Probiotics as a Functional Food Improve Androgenetic Alopecia? A Clinical Pilot Study.

Treatment

PURPOSE: Probiotic supplementation demonstrates beneficial effects on serum lipid profiles. We hypothesized that probiotics could benefit patients presenting with alopecia, secondary to improved blood flow to the scalp.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study included men with stage II to V patterns of hair loss based on the Hamilton-Norwood classification and women with stage I to III patterns of hair loss based on the Ludwig classification. All patients were administered 80 mL of Mogut® (a kimchi and cheonggukjang probiotic product) twice a day. Hair growth and numbers were measured using the Triple Scope System® (KC Technology, Korea) at baseline and after 1 and 4 months of administration of a kimchi and cheonggukjang probiotic product.

RESULTS: At baseline, the mean hair count was 85.98±20.54 hairs/cm² and the mean thickness was 0.062±0.011 mm in all patients (n=46). Hair count and thickness had significantly increased at 1 month (90.28±16.13 hairs/cm² and 0.068±0.008 mm, respectively) and at 4 months (91.54±16.29 hairs/cm² and 0.066±0.009 mm, respectively). In this study, we found that a kimchi and cheonggukjang probiotic product could promote hair growth and reverse hair loss without associated adverse effects such as diarrhea.

CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the observed improvements in hair count and thickness resulted from initiation of the anagen phase in hair follicles in response to probiotics.

Used Estradiol patch, minoxidil & Bicalutamide in 4 months

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /
The use of Bicalutamide and an Estradiol patch in this treatment plan is an extreme approach for men.  The Bicalutamide and Estradiol are not in the Standard of Care so we don’t have a side effect profile on this drug in young men, but we do have side effects when used for prostate cancer.  The Bicalutamide is a very strong anti-androgen which almost certainly will bring on ED and sexual dysfunction and the Estradiol is a feminizing hormone which might further impact a man’s sexual function.  The minoxidil and dermaroller is standard in this approach. I would not recommend that the average guy go this direction in his treatment despite the remarkable results from these drugs. Do you have good sexual function? Is it worth giving up a sex life for the return of your hair?

 

Why do doctors prescribe finasteride after a hair transplant?

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

Why do MDs suggest taking finasteride post transplant to keep the hairs? Just for keeping the non-transplanted hairs from falling out and having lower density? Nothing to do with the new hairs, right?

Finasteride after a hair transplant prevents the miniaturized hairs from falling out permanently. This is particularly important in men under 30 when their hair loss is most active.The new hairs in the recipient area do not need the finasteride to grow, just a good surgical team.

 

Is the research that shows stress accelerates balding?

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

Is there scientific research behind this? I searched pubmed but couldn’t find anything

I have years of experience where patients developed stress and precipitated the balding process that they inherited. I have also seen acceleration of genetic hair loss with stress. I remember a man who lost a child and he went completely bald to his Class 7 pattern in a matter of months. He was 29 years old.

Will transplanted hair miniaturize?

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

Is it possible to transplant hair form other parts of the head so that it will eventually miniaturize once I get of finasteride? I want to avoid a bad hairline once I stop fin so would it be possible to use hairs from my scalp that would eventually miniaturize and disappear?

If the transplanted hair is taken from the 3 inch high donor area from the back and side of the head, it will not miniaturize and should be permanent unless the donor area produces a thinner hair as your get older and develop ‘Age Related Thinning’

Finasteride not working after 1 year

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

So i started January 2019 with 0,5 mg finasteride until june 2019. Then upped to 1,25 since then. I am still shedding more than 100 hairs after showering (i shower every two days). My right temple area has receded. I do comb my hair so it is not visible. However, my question is will this receded area (so no hairs are there anymore) grow back or is it lost?

There is a good chance that the hair loss is slowing with the finasteride. IF you should stop it, you might even see it accelerate. Some men’s genes are just to strong for balding and even finasteride might not be able to reverse the process, only a hair transplant works.