Hair Loss with Chemical Burn — Is It Seen Right Away Or Delayed?

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

When you put bleach on someones head and they get a chemical burn wouldn’t they notice it while the bleach was on their head and even more so once the bleach is taken off of their head? I had a client who had her hair done by me June 8th and she is just now coming back to complain about chemical burn on July 19th! Which I think is kind of odd. Usually when people get a chemical burn they know it right away, right? Or atleast the next day or definitely by the 2nd or 3rd day at the latest. Not a month and a half later. I need your help with this please!!!

BrushIn general, any burn or local scalp irritation can cause hair loss. Chemicals can work their way down the hair shaft to get at the growth centers which lies at the bulb (5-6 mm deep) or at the bulge (about 2-3 mm from the skin surface). For heat burns, you should have a second or third degree burn to the skin and see it quickly, but for chemicals burns, it might take weeks for the full damage to be known. If the chemical burn causes complete loss of the hair growing centers, then the hair will fall out in 7-14 days, but if there is partial damage to just part of the growing follicle, this may take more than a month to understand the damage. Varying insults may force hair follicles to go into their resting phase (telogen) and after 2-6 months, it may go into its growth phase (anagen). In your situation, hair loss may be seen as early as a few days after the injury or it may also take weeks to see the full impact.

Tags: chemical burn, bleach, hairloss, hair loss

Any Updated Laser Info?

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

Hello!
I have been using a laser comb for about 6 months, and it has grown more hair than anything I have tried in the last 25 years. (I am 54). It’s not a lot of hair, but it’s clearly new hair growth. Your article on Lasers is very good, but I notice it was dated 2005. Will you be updating the article soon? thank you!!

Our understanding of the role of lasers in hair growth and hair restoration has not been changed much in the last two years. There has not been sophisticated research published in a peer reviewed journal on the effect of this particular type of laser on hair growth as of yet. When and if such information ever becomes available, I would love to post about it on this site.

Tags: lasercomb, laser, hairloss, hair loss, hair growth, laser comb

Switching from ScalpMed to Generic Minoxidil

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

I was unable to access your link that campares Rogaine to ScalpMed. The link is broken. Therefore, my question to you is this: Is the only ingredient in Scalp Med, (when mixed with “Vitadel” which is simply minoxidil) that actually effects hair growth Minoxidil? I suspect that all these similar products are merely inactive ad-ons since the only common ingredient ALL the products have is that they must be mixed with minox.

Is that so? In other words, if the product works for me-and it does so remarkably, would I see the same results by simply using the $20 a bottle minox and not spend the extra $100+ on the Scalp Med or Follicare, etc.?

I’d be very grateful if you could clear this up for me as I love the results but simply cannot afford their prices anymore. And stopping using will cause the new hair to fall out. Also, do
you think that a DHT blocker is important and/or effective in combo with minox? I look forward to your kind reply. Thanks much.

ScalpMed, as we stated before, does not have any scientifically proven ingredients besides minoxidil and I do not see any reason why minoxidil should not be as effective, possibly even better.

There has been some research done on topical DHT blockers (mostly by Japanese researchers), which shows effectiveness of these products. I guess I would like to see more research on larger groups of patients before recommending them to my patients on a regular basis.

Tags: scalpmed, scalp med, minoxidil, generic, hairloss, hair loss, dht

Relief for Sunburn?

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

My husband sunburned the top of his head he is bald there could you tell me how to relieve sunburn pain there he says Aloe makes it hurt more is there something else he can do?

You can try over-the-counter pain relief medications for sunburns. There are also topical pain relief medications available at your local pharmacy. In the future, he should protect his bald skin with a good sun blocker. I suppose being bald can also be painful — literally! Many men who have had a hair transplantation procedure find that the transplants give them the cover they need to prevent sunburns.

Tags: sunburn, sun burn, bald, medication, hairloss, hair loss

Evening Primrose Oil

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

I am a 37 year old female. In February/March I suffered from an acute sinusitis and was on 3 treatments of antibiotics and 2 treatments of steroids. About 3 months later my hair started shedding (diffused) at a rapid pace (100-150 hairs a day) and has been continuing for almost 6 weeks. I have started taking Evening Primrose Oil and other supplements that help hair growth. It dose appear as if new hairs are growing, but I can tell my volume is not what it used to be. I have had 2 blood tests – TSH (2.13) and Ferritin (18.7). My doc said both were normal. Any other test I should request? I am assuming that my acute illness has caused my hair loss, if so how much longer will my hair be falling out? Anything else I should do?

It is normal to lose around 100 hairs a day. You may notice more hair loss at one time or another in your lifetime and this is normal. As long as you are healthy with a normal physical exam, you can take some comfort in knowing that your hair will likely grow back. It is more about being patient and letting time take it course.

With respect to evening primrose oil, I have never heard of it for use in hair loss. If you seem to think it has been helping, then I see no harm in continuing it.

Tags: oenothera, evening primrose oil, hairloss, hair loss, female, women, woman

Laser Comb, Provillus and Procerin

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

I’ve used the laser comb for several months, and cessation or regrowth of my hair didn’t happen. Then I wanna try other methods. I’ve searched in Internet, and found that Provillus and Procerin are effective and convenient for use. I do wanna know ur recommendations. Could u please help me do the choice? Thanks a lot.

I would have expected the results you reported. Look up the other products here on this site (use the search box in the top right) and you may see similar predictions. Why not do it the right way and get your hair mapped out for miniaturization and then get a competent doctor to make the diagnosis? Then with the correct treatment, rather than waste all of this time and continue to lose hair, you might get some control of your problem.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, lasercomb, laser comb, provillus, procerin

Comment from a Skeptical Reader About Procede

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

if procede works why not sell it in stores? i’m very skeptical of having to go online or calling an 800 number. i’m vain enough to have considered buying it but my good judgement says NO. i believe in miracles but not this one yet. if the product is as good as claimed free samples would get more results as the word is faster than a bullet. besides i’ve gone to using nothing except shampoo and hair conditioner. besides i have a nice tan on the places the hair doesn’t cover and with those thin hairs i can cover all the bare places without it looking prearranged and funny. good luck to all attempting to grow hair!

Thank you for the comment.

Tags: procede, hairloss, hair loss

Did My Conditioner Cause My Hair to Thin?

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

hi, im 17 and i have always had thick hair, though recently i have noticed that it has thinned out. This has happened around my ears and towards the back. Though my fringe is still very thick. I conditioned my hair very roughly a few weeks ago and continued so up until i noticed it a few days ago. Do you think the conditioner or the way i administered the conditioner has something to do with the thinning? and will it grow back?

I highly doubt that the use of hair conditioner has thinned your hair. Otherwise it would be called a hair thinner, rather than a hair conditioner. If for any remote possibility that hair conditioner was the cause of your hair thinning, you would have experienced hair thinning all over — not only “around ears and toward the back” as you describe.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, conditioner, shampoo

Glutathione and Propecia

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

hi doctor just want to know your opinion on glutathione and propecia is it ok to take both? would cause drug interaction?

I have no particular opinion on the use of glutathione. It is categorized as a natural supplement and that is all I know about it. I do not believe it will have any impact on hair loss or on Propecia, but that is just my opinion.

Tags: glutathione, tripeptide, hairloss, hair loss, finasteride, propecia

Soy Isoflavone Concentrate

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

Equol is a very interesting discovery.

I was wondering if taking a pill that I saw on GNC.com could have some similiar benefits? The name of the pill is….

Natural Brandâ„¢ Soy Isoflavone Concentrate.

Could taking this help in ways similiar to taking equol? thank you.

I really do not know of benefits that are claimed on the internet. We are all wanting some magic cure to our balding problem but as I have said over and over again: this is a buyer beware market.

Tags: soy isoflavone concentrate, soy, hairloss, hair loss, hair growth

Hair Relaxer Caused Chemical Burn?

/by William Rassman, M.D./10 /,

Hallo! I used a “no-lye relaxer” about 2 months ago on my hair and it caused a bald spot on my scalp where no hair is to be seen. It has begun to ache a little bit since yesterday too. It is probably a chemical burn isn’t it? How could something like that occur? How can I treat this problem now? I am worried,that the hair won’t grow there anymore. Is it possible? Could you please advice me about how to treat this so that it will be healed soon? It is worrying me very much.
Thank You.

Chemical burns from relaxers are a common complaint. If the burn went down to the hair root level, it may not return. You must wait this out for about 8 months and you will then know.

Tags: chemical burn, relaxer, hairloss, hair loss, burn

Silica Plus and Zulvera

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

Hi…I was just wondering about a product called SILICA PLUS which can be found at a website called www.ghtdirect.com, I believe….I was just wondering if this would be a good product to take for making one’s hair stronger….also, I know Silica can come in pill form and was wondering if there’s any special brand or if all Silica pills from all different labels are more or less the same?

Also, there’s this shampoo called ZULVERA, I believe….and it can be found at www.herbalhairshampoo.com

the website looks stupid, the pictures stupider, but damn it, when you’re desperate, you’re desperate….just wanted to know if the shampoo has any good things to be said about it in regards to its ingredients.

thanks

Ok… you made an astute observation that the website “looks stupid” and the “pictures stupider”. You also have a insight that you are “desperate”. I would encourage you to take it one last step further to realize that perhaps you already know the answer to the question you pose.

I really do not know if Silica in shampoo or pill form helps deal with hair loss or makes hair stronger. As I have mentioned numerous times on this site, it is a “buyer beware” market and if something looks too good (or stupid) to be true… it probably is.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, silica, zulvera

If The LaserComb Doesn’t Regrow Hair, Can It At Least Thicken Hair?

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

Hello Dr.

From your investigation into the micro pictures on the official website of the Hairmax laser comb, it can be determined that the product cannot be promising in regrowing new hair. Your count on the follicles show there was actual loss in one of their own examples. However, in regards to the thickining of the hair, can it be conclusive that comb actually works in this
respect?

There is this video on youtube of a man who claims to have gotten good results: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw3QDhX8ef0

I am skeptical however, because he posted a video around the same time he claims he began using the product(March 2007) and he has a full head of hair in that video. Anyways, I would like your perspective on the issue of the comb thickening hair, since the claim to regrow hair seems false.

I do not know the answer to that question. My personal opinion is that it probably will not thicken hair.

Tags: lasercomb, laser comb, hairloss, hair loss, thicken, hair thickness

Bald Spots From Hair Dye

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

Can you get bold spots in different places of the scalp (patches) from coloring the hair? Product used was Loreal. No patch test was done first.

One can develop allergic reactions to hair products. If that happens, stop using them. You can then try a test spot to be sure. Make sure that these spots are not skin diseases like alopecia areata. A good doctor should be able to tell you if that is the case.

Tags: bald, hairloss, hair loss, allergy, dye