Can Nizoral, Seborrheic Dermatitis, or Alopecia Areata Cause Male Pattern Balding? What About Exclamation Point Hair Shafts?

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

I have a question regarding exclamation point hair. Or more specifically thinned proximal shafts (Picture linked at the end). Age:18,Gender:Male

Online sources say that exclamation point happens when you lose hair in patches or in non traditional MPB ways but I am suffering diffuse style MPB (pattern) and the hair that falls off is really thin at the root with a white bulb thick at the top. I also have seborrheic dermatitis. I was prescribed 2% nizoral which then caused me to lose almost 50% of my hair in the span of one year (or maybe it was meant to happen?). Could nizoral cause scalp inflammation that leads to MPB?

exclamation

The online source of “exclamation point” hair shaft from Am Fam Physician. 2009 Aug 15;80(4):356-362 is describing Alopecia Areata which is a disease process where your body’s immune system “attacks” your own hair causing hair loss.
Male Pattern Balding is a genetically inherited condition where men lose hair in a typical “pattern”.
Seborrheic dermatitis is an inflammatory condition which causes scaly patches on the scalp/skin which may cause hair loss from the inflammatory process.
Nizoral is a shampoo with antifungal properties that is used to TREAT Seborrheic Dermatitis. Some people may have an allergic reaction to this and a rare side effect is hair loss.

All of the above are separate and unrelated causes for hair loss and it is understandable you are searching for a unifying answer.

The simple answer is that Male Pattern Balding is genetic and unrelated to Nizoral, Seborrheic Dermatitis, or Alopecia Areata.

For a more complete answer you need to follow up with your doctor to find out the cause of your hair loss especially if you are having side effects with the medication you were prescribed.

I’ve Been Taking Propecia But I Still Have a Bald Spot

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

I’ve been taking Propecia for many years (generic over the last year), and my hairline has remained stable ever since. I just noticed a nickel-sized bald spot on my crown. I thought Propecia worked better on the crown than on the hairline, so what gives?

Propecia is a medication for the treatment of genetic male pattern balding also known as androgenic alopecia. It works best for treating the thinning / balding on the top and crown areas of your scalp. It does not work as well for the front hair line. Propecia is not a cure and its response is different in each individual. You may still have thinning or continue to lose hair. The point is that it should slow down the hair loss. There is no cure for genetic balding.

You should see your doctor. A bald spot the size of a nickel could be the result of other causes like alopecia areata. A clearly defined bald spot is not a presentation of genetic male pattern balding so you must be assessed by your doctor.

Tags: generic propecia, propecia androgenic alopecia, propecia alopecia

Possible Cure For Ebola

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

The drug Ouabain, used to treat heart diseases, appear to be able to prevent prevent virus replication. Julian Hiscox from the University of Liverpool, reported in the Journal of Proteome Research.

I am sure we will hear more about this drug very shortly.

SMP Scalp Micropigment to A Bald Patch On Temple Peaks (Triangle Alopecia)

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

Can you have SMP to patchy areas on your face?

Here is an example of what we did for someone who was missing a patch of hair on the temple. It is known as triangle alopecia. While we generally can treat this with hair transplant surgery, this patient wanted a non-surgical approach using the SMP Scalp MicroPigment technique. He knows that he will need to keep his hair short on the temples to make it look natural (since SMP is not real hair).

Click on the photo for a larger image.

smp_134
NOTE: This photo was taken immediately after the SMP session so you can see the redness on the scalp. The redness usually subsides in 1 to 2 days. He realized he needs to keep his hair shorter to achieve a blended look.

Tags: triangular alopecia, smp, scalpmicropigmentation

Not Hair Loss News- One gene discovery lead to a connection for three cancers

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

One gene, three types of cancer

APA
Jun 25, 2013

French scientists have discovered that a BAP1 gene mutation causes a predisposition to kidney cancer. The mutation has been known to play a role in eye cancer (retinoblastoma or uveal melanoma as well as in mesothelioma). The researchers at the Institute Curie’s department of genetics in Paris have published their findings in the “American Journal of Human Genetics”.

For the study, the scientists analyzed data from a family with a history of many unexplained cases of cancer. One family member who developed multiple instances of cancer was observed over an extended period of time; however, no change in genetic predisposition for that particular tumour was found.

The BAP1 mutation was only discovered after examining the genome. An analysis of kidney tumours confirmed the findings. The malignant cells contained only the mutated version of the gene.

In a cooperation with two other research teams, the scientists found 11 families with the BAP1 mutation. They were able to ascertain that six families showed an unusually high number of cases of kidney cancer. Of the nine persons to have developed kidney cancer, genetic analysis of four family members’ tumours showed the BAP1 gene to be inactive in malignant cells.

One day we will have identified the genes that cause a variety of cancers. We already have done this from Breast, Ovarian and Cervical cancers. Discoveries of genes that produce certain types of leukemia have treatments based upon genes that cause the disease. Today, we are seeing discoveries like this one and our future will hold the possibility that we can diagnose and treat these diseases early in their course and save lives. One day we will supply a drop of blood and hundreds of disease markers will be analyzed. That day is getting closer and closer.

Tags: cancer, genes

Not Hair Loss News – Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease and Cancer of the Pancrease

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

“Regular use of aspirin may lower the risk of pancreatic cancer by nearly 50%, according to a new study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention”. Such a simple step to take for our entire readership, just one baby aspirin a day not only reduces the risk of pancreatic cancer, but heart disease as well. I give this advice to my friends and family always when asked about the things we can do. My speech includes daily exercise and diet that is not reach in sugars or fats as well

Tags: aspirin, heart disease, cancer, biomarkers

Not Hair Loss News – A Genetic Mutation Helps Prevent Heart Disease

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

People with a rare genetic mutation in the gene encoding apolipoprotein C3 (APOC3) not only have lower plasma triglyceride levels, they also have a decreased risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD), researchers report in two independent studies published online June 18, 2014, in the New England Journal of Medicine [1,2]. This could eventually lead to the development of new drugs that mimic this genetic effect, although that potential therapy is far away.


They further reported that the gene is present in one out of 150 people. I wonder if the old age in my mother’s family line (Her father died at age 102 who was also 5 foot tall and weighted 300 lbs, and her grandmother died at 114 years old) reflected that they may have had this particular genetic coding. Her diet was terrible by today’s standards, so this might explain her long life.

Tags: heart disease, genetic mutation, prevention

In the News – Reality TV Dance Contestant Uses Alopecia to Her Advantage

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

Snippet from the article:

Franchesca BassSo You Think You Can Dance has done it again in Season 11 with another unforgettable dancer and audition courtesy of Franchesca Bass.

The 18-year-old dancer from Indiana was born with Alopecia Areata which made her stand out automatically in appearance but even more with her dancing. She took her condition and used it to her advantage by creating a character for her performance. She called herself an alien who was afraid to be around others. And holy crap, did she deliver. Her alien side came alive and got her a ticket straight through to Vegas.

Read the rest — ‘SYTYCD’s Stunning Franchesca Bass Doesn’t Let Her Condition Weigh Her Down

Check out the video of her dancing on YouTube or at the link above. This teen was empowered by her alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis, and used it in her dance routine to make it to the next round of this reality TV show.

Tags: alopecia areata, hairloss, hair loss, so you think you can dance, fox, sytycd

Around the Web – Does Chemotherapy Always Cause Hair Loss?

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

Snippet:

Question: I may have to have chemotherapy. Will I go bald?

Answer: Hair loss is not certain with chemotherapy. Whether you lose hair depends upon the medication and dose your doctor prescribes.

Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment that uses drugs to kill malignant cells, bacteria, viruses and fungi. Chemotherapy drugs are used to treat cancer, bone marrow diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. The drugs can be given by injection or taken orally. There are also topical creams.

Chemotherapy drugs attack rapidly growing cancer cells. They also attack other rapidly growing cells in your body such as those in your hair roots. Each patient reacts differently to these drugs. Some newer chemotherapy drugs may cause fewer side effects.

Read the rest — Does Chemotherapy Always Cause Hair Loss?

This is a pretty good write-up about chemo and hair loss.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, chemo, chemotherapy, cancer

Not Hair Loss News – Immunotherapy Improves Cancer Treatment

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

Snippet from the article:

For more than a century, doctors have dreamed of using the body’s own defenses to keep cancer in check, but most efforts either did nothing or over-revved the immune system causing terrible side effects or even death.

A half dozen experimental trials presented at the ongoing American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago show that researchers are finally making significant progress in both melanoma where therapies began, as well as in other cancers.

Read the rest at USA Today — Immune therapies improve treatment of cancers

Cancer can put the “brakes” on the immune system, and a skin cancer treatment called Yervoy was the first to take these brakes off. There’s now “several new papers looking at lifting two different brakes that seem to be more effective with fewer side effects.”

Immunotherapy appears to help treat those with bladder, genitourinary, head and neck cancers, and malignant brain tumors, as well as melanoma and lung cancer.

Tags: cancer, immune system, immunotherapy, cancer treatment

Not Hair Loss News – Early Chemo Helps Prostate Cancer Patients Live Longer?

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

Snippet from the article:

Men diagnosed with prostate cancer will often put off chemotherapy, with their doctor’s approval. But new research suggests that men who get chemotherapy early on may actually live longer.

Typically, men with prostate cancer will start their treatment with simply active surveillance of their tumors, before starting hormone therapy. Men will undergo chemotherapy only when their tumors become resistant to hormone therapy. But a recent clinical trial found that men treated early with chemotherapy lived longer than men who underwent the standard treatment.

The clinical trial randomized 790 men with recently diagnosed prostate cancer into two groups. One followed the standard treatment guidelines, and the other received chemo right away alongside their hormone therapy. The men who underwent chemotherapy lived over a year longer than the men on the standard treatment regime.

Read the rest — Early Chemo May Help Men With Prostate Cancer Live Longer, Study Says

The study was deemed among the most noteworthy of the thousands of studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Tags: chemotherapy, chemo, prostate cancer, disease

Not Hair Loss News – Dangerous Bacteria Could Linger in Airplanes

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

Snippet from the article:

Disease-causing bacteria can linger on surfaces commonly found in airplane cabins for days, even up to a week, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.

“Many air travelers are concerned about the risks of catching a disease from other passengers given the long time spent in crowded air cabins,” says Kiril Vaglenov, of Auburn University who presented the data. “This report describes the results of our first step in investigating this potential problem.”

In order for disease-causing bacteria to be transmitted from a cabin surface to a person, it must survive the environmental conditions in the airplane. In the study Vaglenov and his colleagues tested the ability of two pathogens, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and E. coli O157:H7 to survive on surfaces commonly found in airplanes. They obtained six different types of material from a major airline carrier (armrest, plastic tray table, metal toilet button, window shade, seat pocket cloth, and leather), inoculated them with the bacteria and exposed them to typical airplane conditions.

Read the rest — Harmful bacteria can linger on airplane seat-back pockets, armrests for days

I believe that an additional study needs to be done on hair recirculation on airlines. If one person has a flu type syndrome or other diseases such as tuberculosis, the diseases are spread as the air recirculates in the airplane. How many times have you had a friend or family member get sick after flying? Should our fear of flying extend to these situations?

Tags: staph, airplane, flying, bacteria, disease

Not Hair Loss News – Prostate Cancer From STD?

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

Snippet from the article:

Prostate cancer might be a sexually transmitted disease caused by a common infection, according to a study. Experts say the research has limitations and is not proof, though.

Scientists at the University of California found evidence of a link between prostate cancer and the STD trichomoniasis, in which a common parasite is passed on during unprotected sexual contact.

The parasite is believed to infect around 275 million people worldwide. Furthermore, over three-quarters of men harboring it have no symptoms and may not seek treatment, resulting in chronic inflammation of the prostate.

Read the rest — Prostate Cancer ‘Could Be Transmitted Sexually’

The prostate cancer/STD link isn’t confirmed and the article points out that this research was done in a lab setting (not in actual patients). As always, more research is needed.

Tags: std, trichomoniasis, prostate cancer, disease

Not Hair Loss News – Prostate Cancer and Chronic Inflammation Linked?

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

Snippet from the article:

Based on data from a new study at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, men who demonstrate evidence of chronic inflammation seen in prostate biopsies stemming from chronic prostatitis may have close to twice the risk of developing prostate cancer compared to those without inflammation.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men in the US.

The link between developing cancer and having chronic inflammation was even more striking for men with aggressive or high-grade prostate cancer, reflected in a Gleason score between 7 and 10. The Gleason score is a numeric scale for assessing risk of developing invasive or high-grade prostate cancer based on microscopic evaluation of prostate tissue.

The research was published April 18 in the Journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

The data from the current study is derived from information about men in the placebo arm of the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial by the Southwest Oncology Group. The goal of the trial was to evaluate if the drug finasteride could prevent prostate cancer. Regardless of whether there were any concerning signs of cancer such as high prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, the protocol called for biopsies to check for prostate cancer at the conclusion of the trial.

Read the rest — Is There A Link Between Prostate Cancer And Chronic Inflammation?

This was an observational study that shows an association between prostate inflammation and prostate cancer, but researchers can’t prove that inflammation causes the cancer. If it can be determined that inflammation leads to cancer, perhaps it can be prevented. In any case, much more research will need to be done.

Tags: prostate cancer, prostate inflammation, cancer, disease

Not Hair Loss News – Blood Cancer Wiped Out With Massive Dose of Measles Vaccine

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

Snippet from the article:

Stacy Erholtz was out of conventional treatment options for blood cancer last June when she underwent an experimental trial at the Mayo Clinic that injected her with enough measles vaccine to inoculate 10 million people. The 50-year-old Pequot Lakes mother is now part of medical history.

The cancer, which had spread widely through her body, went into complete remission and was undetectable in Erholtz’s body after just one dose of the measles vaccine, which has an uncanny affinity for certain kinds of tumors.

Erholtz was one of just two subjects in the experiment and the only one to achieve complete remission. But the experiment provides the “proof of concept” that a single, massive dose of intravenous viral therapy can kill cancer by overwhelming its natural defenses, according to Dr. Stephen Russell, a professor of molecular medicine who spearheaded the research at Mayo.

Read the rest — Mayo Clinic trial: Massive blast of measles vaccine wipes out cancer

The two trial patients were injected with 100 billion infectious units of the measles virus (the normal vaccine contains 10,000 infection units). Clearly more research must be done before these findings can be confirmed in large randomized clinical trials.

Tags: cancer, blood cancer, measles, vaccine, medicine