My Crown Hair Loss is Regrowing Without Medication

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

I have had the strangest hair loss from about the age of 15 or 16. I am now 18 going on 19. There was hairloss on the crown which I thought was MPB but over the last 2 or 3 years I have had small but noticable regrowth at times which is uncommon with MPB as I took no minoxidil or propecia. One doctor told me I had folliculitis decalvans after some examination but I have read that this occurs after adolesence into adult hood where as my hairloss has been around since I was about 15 so I don’t know if this could be true. Also I have no pain, swelling or crusting often associated with the disease just some itching on and off or maybe a button or pustule on a rare ocassion. Please help.

If your hair is regrowing and you’re experiencing no pain and no crusting, how can I help? Let it grow! This is a good thing!

If you are not comfortable with what you were told about folliculitis decalvans, get a second opinion. It is a rare condition that is generally seen in adults, but it could occur in young men at your age.

Tags: folliculitis decalvans, hairloss, hair loss, hair growth, regrowth

Did Propecia Cause My Testicular Cancer?

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

Hi:
I was on Propecia for roughly six years between 2000 through 2006. I had decent results, kept the hair on the top of the head, however the temples were receeding a bit. The hairline in the front was thin as well. In 2007 I was diagnosed with stage 1 testicular cancer. It was localized to my left testicle and I was lucky to catch it early as it did not spread anywhere else. I had surgery to remove the affected testicle and undergo preventive tests on a quarterly basis.

My questions are: Could the cancer be caused by the Propecia? I would like to start taking the Propecia again to re-gain what I lost as I am starting to get the dredded “hair ring” around the head. I am 38 and was wondering about fertility since I only have one “factory” left?

Thanks!!

I would ask this question to your oncologist. I highly doubt testicular cancer is caused by Propecia. There are many men who get testicular cancer who are not on Propecia. Most of the time you cannot establish a causal relationship.

With respect to your fertility, I am not the doctor to ask this question to (as I am not a fertility doctor).

Tags: cancer, propecia, finasteride, hairloss, hair loss, fertility

In the News – Biker Chick Fights Breast Cancer, Loses Hair to Chemo

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

Snippet from the article:

Robin KettlewellIn the early ’80s, Robin Kettlewell had a thing for punk rock and a haircut that showed it: purple, with three stripes shaved into one side of her head.

So when she faced losing her hair during chemotherapy for breast cancer this summer, she knew what to do. First she had her long golden brown hair cut off for Locks of Love. That soon became a brush cut that she dyed pink. A few days later, that turned into a pink Mohawk.

Now though, 11 weeks into chemotherapy, she goes proudly and completely bald. Shopping. At restaurants. In her Saturn Sky convertible. But when riding on either of her two Harley-Davidson motorcycles, she always wears a helmet – always. She’s not going to do anything stupid, after all.

Read the full article: Breast cancer patient faces the disease “head first and no looking back”

Robin is taking back control of her life and is showing the world that even cancer can’t keep her down. She’s able to spread breast cancer awareness by being so brave. Check out the blog Robin created to share her journey.

We wish her the best of luck!

Tags: harley, motorcycle, breast cancer, cancer, chemo, chemotherapy, hairloss, hair loss, awareness, female hair loss

Celiac Disease Caused My Hair to Fall Out

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

Hi,
I have celieac disease and I (unknowingly) used a hair color product that contained wheat. It blistered my scalp and my hair fell out. it has been about two months and very fine peach fuzz hair is growing in the spots but its very thin. will my hair ever grow back in the right texture and density? Female, 45

I know, as I’m sure you do, that those with celiac disease shouldn’t have foods, beverages, or medications that contain wheat, barley, rye, and oats. What I do not know, however, is how the disease impacts hair loss after using hair dye with wheat in it. I would assume your hair should grow back, but it would take many months, possibly up to a year to find out. This doesn’t seem like it would be a permanent loss, but you should be followed by a good doctor that can provide you with an examination (perhaps even the doctor you’re already seeing for your celiac disease).

Tags: celiac disease, coeliac disease, hairloss, hair loss, wheat, hair dye

Could My Diabetes Be Causing My Neck Hair to Thin?

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

Dear Dr. Rassman,
I’m a 55 year old male in good health with the exception of being a type 1 diabetic. I have been using propecia and rogaine for 10 years with very good results and have maintained almost all of what I started with.

Here’s my question. My hair is thin at the nape of my neck. I can pull on it and 5 or 10 hairs will come out each time. I don’t think I have DUPA because I cannot see any change in my crown,vertex or hairline. I have read on your site that this type of loss is genetic. I know you prefer not to diagnose online but could the diabetes have anything to do with it? my A1c is 7.5 to 8.0 which I know is an the high side – Thanks

I doubt that the diabetes is causing your neck hair loss. I have seen men over the years (in airports, on the streets, in shopping centers, etc) who have lost just their neck hair and not their scalp hair, so I believe that this is a genetic trait in these men. I suspect that the number of hair cycles your neck hair has is limited and those hairs develop apoptosis (meaning that they have reached the end of their lifetime); if this is the case, there’s not much you can do. Perhaps applying minoxidil to the area will cause new hair growth? Also, I agree with you — it doesn’t sound like it is DUPA if it is limited to the nape.

Tags: neck, hairloss, hair loss, diabetes, diabetic, propecia, rogaine, minoxidil

Teen Girl with Bulimia and Hair Loss

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

(female) i have bulimia, i used to smoke weed and be very depressed. during that time, i had a v8 moment and suddenly realized my hair was soo much thinner than it used to be. i looked around and realized both of my older sisters, have extremly thin hair, balding hair i guess could describe it more. they have been smoking for tens of years, i have stopped, unfortuantely i have picked up another habit. i guess i want to know what everyone else here wants to know, will or could it grow back? also, i am only 15, im still growing, is there hope?

I would have to see you and understand what you are actually referring to as thinning. I would map out your scalp for miniaturization, perform a hair pull test, and then render an opinion. Obviously without seeing you, I can not really understand what your situation is and where you are in this cycle.

Bulimics often have hair loss from stress and unhealthy weight loss, so I would like to know more about your overall nutrition. I wouldn’t rule out that your hair could regrow at some point, but I doubt it will until you get your eating disorder under control. Hopefully it is a temporary telogen effluvium, but I have no way to know that over the web and without some more medical history.

Tags: bulimia, hairloss, hair loss, stress, diet, female hair loss, teen, malnutrition

Minoxidil and Kidney Disease?

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

I am recently diagnosed with ckd (kidney disease) stage 2 (mild one). i was on topical minoxidil for almost 4 years but i stopped after my knowing about my ckd. is it possible that minoxidil cause ckd within this 4 years? And can i use minoxidil 5% again or it is dangerous for progression of my kidney problem ?? does minoxidil worsen kidney problems?? I also take propecia for almost 2 years.

A precaution in the literature for minoxidil states, “Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: heart problems, kidney problems, liver problems, other scalp conditions, allergies (especially drug allergies).” This is a question you need to discuss with the doctor treating your kidney disease.

Minoxidil is an antihypertensive medication, which means it can reduce your blood pressure when given orally or when absorbed through your skin in substantial doses. Generally, lowering high blood pressure helps to prevent kidney problems, but that connection between blood pressure and kidney function is what you need to discuss with your doctor.

Tags: minoxidil, rogaine, kidney, disease, hairloss, hair loss

In the News – Young Woman with Alopecia Universalis Shares Her Story

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

Snippet from the article:

Like any 12-year-old getting ready for her first school disco, Aimee Blinkhorn wanted her hair to look perfect. But as her mother put it up into pretty curls, she noticed a small bald patch at the back of her daughter’s head, about the size of a 50p piece.

‘Neither of us was particularly alarmed,’ says Aimee, now 26 and living in Manchester. ‘I just presumed some hair had come out when I pulled out a hair tie.’

But over the next few months, more bald patches appeared. Soon there were six of them – and twice the size of the first.

Read the full article at UK’s Daily Mail.

This is a great story about a courageous young woman that has been living with alopecia universalis. I applaud her for bringing her story to the public, and I hope she inspires others with this condition. If you want to know more about the disease, please see the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.

Tags: alopecia areata, alopecia universalis, alopecia, hairloss, hair loss, disease, female hair loss, uk

In the News – Kids with Alopecia Areata Treated with Stem Cells

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

Snippet from the article:

Children with alopecia areata, a condition that causes extensive, sometimes complete hair loss, grew hair after being injected with stem cells drawn from their own scalp in a small study.

Most of the five girls and three boys who had widespread baldness showed regrowth of as much as half of their hair in a preliminary study from Marwa Fawzi, a dermatologist at the University of Cairo Faculty of Medicine. Before the experimental treatment, some of the children had splotches of hair and baldness; others were almost totally bald.

Read the full article — Kids Shunned for Hair Loss Get Help From Their Own Stem Cells

Keep in mind that this is a treatment for alopecia areata, not male pattern baldness. That being said, even though it was an early study with only 8 kids, it’s something to research further and I’m hopeful something will come of it.

Tags: stem cells, children, alopecia areata, hairloss, hair loss

Could IVF Cause Hair Loss?

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

I am 41 and have gone through many series of ivf treatments. Now that I have not been on these injectables for a year, I have noticed this past year a small nickel sized bald spots on my scalp. Starting out as a dime now up to a nickel I am getting nervous. I have 3 of them now. Could IVF have had anything to do with this? I have been to my dr last year and this year for blood tests, but everything came back great. I have “invested” in shampoo’s, vitamins, follicle treatments and nothing has worked. Even my hair hasn’t “grown” in a year. I actually stopped highlighting it for 6 months and nothing. My next step is woman’s rogaine, but the box states not for patchy hair loss. Can I use it? What can I do next?

Thanks for your help

While I highly doubt in vitro fertilization (IVF) causes hair loss, if what you described was generalized, I would expect that the massive hormone manipulations that occur with IVF could cause diffuse hair loss. The descriptive nature of “nickle sized bald spots” is suggestive of conditions like alopecia areata. I would recommend seeing your dermatologist for a definitive diagnosis. If it is alopecia areata there is no definitive medical treatment, but the diagnosis methods are well established. Based upon the cause of the bald spot, the regrowth may be anticipated.

Tags: in vitro fertilization, ivf, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss, alopecia areata

Confused About Dr Strick’s Alopecia Areata Treatment

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

hi dr.,
i have a question about dr. richard strick. i went to see him because of your very positive comments about him on this site regarding his treatments of alopecia areata using his dncb treatment.

1. He claims its successful 90% of the time, if it is that successful, i would imagine the fda would approve it & other doctors would use it to treat patients because that would be a huge deal for those who have alopecia areata.

2. After speaking with him and his staff, I have heard about 2-3 contradictions (or at least apparent). For example one of his staff said “it does not work on body hair” & he said no it definitely does work on body hair. (different conversations at different times)

Basically my question to you is, do you think or would you put it past dr. strick to outright lie or maybe exaggerate about the effectiveness of this treatment for whatever reasons he may have? Im not sure what to make of this, i want to have confidence in this treatment but my confidence is shaken.

Are you sure you heard him right? What you experienced sounds like confusing signals and you should go back to him to get clarification. To my knowledge, he does not use this dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) treatment for body hair alopecia areata.

I provided photos of a patient that I met with who had a great result from the treatment, so the effectiveness was clear to me. I can’t vouch for success rates, but I’d be honest with him and ask Dr. Strick to clarify some of the issues you had from your previous visit.

Tags: alopecia areata, alopecia, hairloss, hair loss, dncb, strick

Was I Misdiagnosed with Alopecia Areata If My Hair Grew Back?

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

Hi Dr Rassman – In my late teens I had a bald patch appear in the back of my head that was diagnosed as alopecia areata, but it all subsequently grew back within a few months and has been normal since then. I’m now 30 and I’m thinking about a transplant to my hairline, I’m wondering if the previous alopecia areata puts me at additional risk for shock loss or any other complications (I’m already on Propecia). Thanks in advance.

Alopecia areata will often disappear months after it first appears. There is always a risk of it reappearing at any time, but considering how many years it is since its last appearance, it seems unlikely.

Alopecia areata (AA) is often regional so if you are genetically balding (more patterned loss) and the diseased area is outside the area of your need, it can be transplanted knowing that there is a remote risk of AA appearing in the recipient area. If the desire is to transplant a bald spot created by AA, then there are two conditions that I feel must be met:

  1. The AA has not been active for at least 3 years
  2. A biopsy should be performed to rule out it being active at this time
Tags: alopecia areata, hair transplant, hairloss, hair loss

Hair Loss and Lupus of the Skin?

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

I’m a 43 year old African American female. I’ve used hair products all my adult life. In addition, I wore weaves from braiding and sewing tracks on my hair to gluing tracks on my hair. To braiding my hair as well. I used extensive heat from flat irons to hair dryers. Everything has come to a halt. The top portion of my hair is bald in the crown area of my head in many large spots. I had a small spot for years smack dead in the middle of my crown area and never thought anything of it. Well a month ago my hairstylist noticed the small spot is no longer there. There are huge spots now that is red and is tender. For years my scalp always felt irritated very strange… Even when I brushed my hair my scalp would hurt. I recently got rid of all the hair products that contain Sodium Laurel Sulfate and Sodium Laurel Lereth Sulfate. I purchased all natural shampoos and conditioners.

Well I went to see a Dermatologist. He kept saying something about a band…? Dead hair follicles that will not grow back. Well they did the Biopsy and now I wait. He thinks it might be Lupus of the skin…. WHAT !@&^*()(*_( What is that… My first cousin has Lupus (enternal). I’m stumped…. I am wearing wigs because my hair is not long enough to cover the bald spots… What a mess…. Your thoughts Doctor?

You will know more when the biopsy comes back. If you don’t have Lupus, you have many causes for hair loss all listed in your first paragraph of your email to me. This is a complicated problem that will have to be evaluated with you sitting right in front of me and my obtaining the biopsy from your dermatologist. For more info, look to the Lupus Foundation of America‘s Lupus of the Skin page.

Tags: lupus, skin, cutaneous lupus, hairloss, hair loss

I Have a Mysterious Bald Spot that Appeared on the Side of My Head

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

DR. I have noticed a bald spot on left side of my head, it is size of bottle cap. What can I do. rest of my hair is fine. I’m 28 yrs old and also have noticed gray and white hair by side burn area. The bald spot is just above my left ear. Please help. I talked to my doctor he didn’t tell me anything.

I would see a dermatologist, as there are many types of diseases that can do this. The possible causes are all listed in one of the chapters of my new book, Hair Loss and Replacement for Dummies. ***shameless plug***

Tags: dermatologist, dermatology, bald spot, hairloss, hair loss