I’m allergic to minoxidil and Propecia makes me stumble over words. I’ve been off Propecia for 8 days now and I’m pretty much back to how I was before Propecia, wit wise. My hair was thinning before and it still lookes the same now.

The only other real options I have are this saw palmetto and soy/equol. If this equol does inhibit DHT from working, does this mean we have to consume soy everyday? What if we go on a month safari to somewhere in Africa where soy is not prevalent? WHat then?

I am not sure if soy/equol actually inhibits DHT. For that matter I am not convinced that even saw palmetto inhibits DHT, but there are some suggestions that it does impact the prostate and may impact the hair. It might be a good gamble to use this provided that saw palmetto does not produce the same effects on you. I have not seen any good scientific literature pointing to these claims. Here is a seemingly unbiased summary I found from a simple Google search regarding saw palmetto: Pharmacology of Saw Palmetto.

You, the consumers, drive this industry as we are all trying to find the next best thing. The cure for balding, the cure for aging, etc. We latch on to loose associations and circumstantial evidence. We read things on the Internet which are not all true. We like to believe in commercials and promotions (“looks good, sounds good, must be a true” type of attitude).

That’s my two cents worth of rambling, but if you are asking for my personal opinion as a physician, my answer is: I suppose it won’t hurt, but it probably won’t work. I always say “It’s a buyer beware market,” but maybe I should rephrase the last comment as “It’s a price is right market…”. For a few dollars (or euros, pounds, etc) we seem to think it may be worth it.

By the way, who says there is no soy in Africa?

Dr Rassman,

I often hear that Seborrheic Dermatitis does NOT cause permanent hair loss, and that any loss is temporary and usually regrows. However, I have been suffering from persistent recurrent SD now for 8 years, and a thick head of naturally curly hair has all but vanished. Indeed I now suffer from very diffuse hair loss.

My Doctor prescribes me Cocois Ointment but I find that when you rub it on the area of SD, then wash it off, that the hair previously present in that area becomes noticeably thinner. This has been the pattern for 8 years. repeating over and over like a vicious cycle until hair loss is severe.

You are providing a fantastic service via your site across the world, and I would be extremely grateful for your views and advice. Thank You.

Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) does not cause hair loss unless you scratch it. Sometimes the treatment may impact the hair. Cocois Coconut Oil Compound contains contains coal tar, salicylic acid, and precipitated sulphur. These types of treatments are usually used for advanced SD and psoriasis, but they are not as effective as steroids when they are judiciously applied under the care of a physician. You did report loss of hair or thinning of the hair from Cocois ointment, so maybe it’s time to review this treatment with your doctor.

Hi,

I accidently inhaled too much Toppik protein fibers through my nose yesterday and I’m a little concerned. I felt it in my nose several minutes after the application and I’m currently experiencing a slight burning sensation in my upper chest. Should this clear up on its own? And how really safe is this product?

I appreciate your help.

Thanks!

You should seek medical attention. These are fibers and they certainly can be an irritant to the lungs.