Hi doctors,
I saw this video of a stem cell treatment that says you have “noticeable” results in a couple weeks. What do you think about this?

Here’s the link on Youtube.

When any stem cell treatment is advertised and promoted as producing hair within 2 weeks, I’d think that this is another stem cell fraud, just as the TV program 60 Minutes recently covered. It’s interesting that this video just shows computer animations and not photo results, but regardless, to my knowledge there is no proven effective stem cell treatment for hair loss on the market today… particularly one that grows hair in a couple of weeks.

I’ve embedded their video here, but I don’t believe their claims for a second:

Snippet from the article:

The placement of an ad is critical. If the context is just right it can amplify an ad’s message, but if it’s wrong it can backfire.

Canadian agency, Rethink, may end up somewhere between right and wrong with their latest transit ad for Panorama Hair, a company that specializes in hair transplants. The agency has placed mirrors with the tagline “The Hair Loss Specialists” on transit trains around Canada to give a panoramic view of commuters’ bald spots.

Read the rest (and see a photo of the ad) — This Cruel Subway Ad Uses Mirrors To Call Out Balding Men

While I’m sure someone thought this would be a clever way to market their services, putting mirrors overhead to let everyone see your bald spot (with an advertisement for treating hair loss) comes across as a little insensitive to the balding men.

Hi Doctors,
As an avid reader of this blog I have developed a pretty broad understanding of the genetic balding process and the various treatment options available, and for that I thank you. The one question that has recently surfaced involves gene expression. I know your not a geneticist, however,with your knowledge in both biology and and androgenetic alopecia I’d assume this would be within your general fund of knowledge. An individual can carry the gene for genetic hairloss, but not express it.

My question is what is controlling the expression? I’m assuming environmental variables are involved (stress, maybe nutrition to a certain extent) but is there a biological explanation? From my brief studies in biology, I remember hearing something about the role of transcription factors in the expression of particular genes. Your thoughts are much appreciated.

You said about what I know of the mechanisms for gene expression. It’s beyond my scope. You can use Google to find articles and theories about gene regulation, but I’m posting this in case a geneticist (or armchair geneticist) would like to contribute in the comments.

I’ve read in a hairloss forum that Nikola Tesla castrated himself so he doesn’t get distracted from his research. Maybe that’s the reason he didn’t go bald. I’m amazed from what you can read today in the internet.

If one is castrated, they will stop their balding process where it was at the time of castration. Taking testosterone can reverse that, producing balding in men with the genetic traits for hair loss (even without testicles).

If Nikola Tesla was castrated (I am not sure about that), then he will not be balding… as shown in these photos at Neatorama. The man was a genius, but he looked like hell with considerable weight loss as he aged (as seen here). He did seem to maintain his hair pattern, even with the weight loss.

After hairs go into the telogen phase and sheds 3 months later,does new hair start growing straight away or is there a delay between it falling out and a new hair taking it’s place?

It varies with each individual and possibly with each follicular unit. It may also be seasonal (something that we are now observing, contrary to what I previous stated -my apologies).

We really know very little about this area, and some of the comments by doctors that have been in the hair restoration business for years show that they are convinced there is a seasonal component found in hair cycling, like most hairy animals.

Hey Doc,

Hope you’ve had a good new year! After my last question to you, I was pretty convinced I had nothing to worry about with my hair… however, there’s this part that concerns me.

I’ve been told that this is a natural parting, so I would just like confirmation that it is?
Link: Photo 1

This is my hair wet, which doesn’t show this ‘parting’ or whatever.
Link: Photo 2

When my hair is dry you can see a slight parting towards the top of my hair, in front of my crown.
Link: Photo 3

Does that look like a parting to you? Feel free to post any pictures again, if this question does get published.

Thanks.

I appreciate you allowing us to publish the photos.

If you are worried about hair loss (possibly seen in the first picture with your hair standing up), then you should come and see a doctor who can measure your hair bulk to determine if you are losing your hair. I can’t confirm if it’s just the way your hair parts, but I do notice a well combed hairstyle that does much to cover the suggestion of thinning in at least one of the pictures.

Dr Pak/ Dr Rassman,

I asked you about your baldness calculator over a year ago in this post. That post referenced the original post from 2007.

Any further progress on that baldness calculator? Sorry if I am persistent but you Doctors seem to be the only ones out there challenging the status quo and giving us new options for hair loss. One can’t help but be a little curious.

By the way, have a great New Year!

The US Patent was just awarded (but not published by the USPTO yet) a couple of months ago. Now Dr. Pak and I have the challenge to think through the design and engineering issues, which is not an easy process.

Don’t hold your breath for us to complete this process quickly, as it isn’t a high priority right now. But I do appreciate your continued interest!