Toxicology Lab for Testing Hair Shaft?

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

Hi Dr, I have been on Propecia and Rogaine for about 12 yrs (41 now) and have had very good results when compared to my brothers who did nothing and lost quite a bit. However this last 18 months I have experienced a general shedding and the top of my head and hairline have been hit especially hard.

I have spent a lot of time in Central America for work and am wondering if some change in my environment may have caused it. Do you have a lab or contact in SoCal that you recommend where I could have a hair shaft analysis to see if there is anything other than plain old MPB going on?

Sorry, I do not know of such a lab. If you are losing hair, I would be happy to see you and after examining you, give you an opinion. I have an office in Los Angeles and offer a free consultation.

Tags: toxicology, lab, hairloss, hair loss

Miniaturization Mapping on the East Coast?

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

Hello Dr.,

I read your post on mapping the scalp for miniaturization. I have been to several hair clinics, and no one provides the type of service you are describing. (mapping the scalp for miniaturization, and taking microscopic photos) I wish I could visit your office to get this type of service, where i could gauge my progress on propecia. But it is across the country.

Is there anyone in my area (NJ/NY/PA) that you know of that provides this service? I saw you recommend Dr. Berstein several times on this site, but i have visited him already, and he definitely does not do this.

I don’t understand why others don’t do it. One does not have to take pictures, just make an assessment of the degree of miniaturization by the anatomy of the scalp. I am sure Dr. Bernstein examined your hair with the densitometer, which is a manually held instrument and can give the exact same information. I have spoken with him about doing a more formal mapping of the hair for miniaturization and he has agreed that if you ask for it, he will do it.

Tags: bernstein, hairloss, hair loss, miniaturization

I Want a Hair Transplant, But I’m Prone to Forming Keloids

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

i’m an 19 year old girl suffering from androgenetic alopecia. i’ve been losing much hair and tried everything(rogain 2%, hormone therapy) but didn’t see any major results. i’m considering of having FUE on my frontal hairline, the problem is, my skin is prone to forming keloids. I know that keloid will probably form on the donor area but is there any possibility at all that keloids will grow on my hairline??

Yes, you are at risk of forming keloids on your recipient area (frontal hairline), but the risk is low. In all of my years, I have never seen a keloid in the recipient area. At a medical meeting some years ago, we polled the audience of about 300 hair transplant doctors to ask them to raise their hands and tell us if anyone ever saw a keloid in the recipient area. No one raised their hands.

You must also consider that androgenic alopecia in a 19 year old female is very rare and make sure that you have the correct diagnosis along with realistic expectation of what you are trying to accomplish and the fullness that you are going to have from a transplant. In other words, you must weigh the risks versus the benefits and you absolutely need a diagnosis by a competent doctor.

Tags: keloid, hair transplant, hairtransplant, hairloss, hair loss

Wnt Proteins and Hair Loss

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

has there been any further talk within the industry about the break through using wnt proteins as a cure for baldness? also do you believe that intercytex are the closest to finding the cure for baldness with their study with hair cloning? finally is it true that hair needs only to be 30% of its original thickness to be cosmetically adequate? many thanks for this website easily the best on the web.

Reference the following pages for Wnt proteins:

  1. PDF file – Towards a molecular understanding of hair loss and its treatment
  2. PDF file – Wnt-dependent de novo hair follicle regeneration in adult mouse skin after wounding
  3. ScienceDaily – Researchers Identify Signals That Cause Hair Follicles To Sprout

I don’t have any knowledge as to how close Intercytex really is in the grand scheme of hair cloning. Their past press releases have indicated that they are doing some exciting work, but the last I read, they were still quite far off from having their technology available to the public (let alone with a good success rate). So really, I have no idea that anyone is close.

With regard to your comment on the thickness of your hair shafts that are able mimic full thickness, well, your guess is as good as mine.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, intercytex, cloning, hair growth, wnt, protein

Enablex and Hair Loss?

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

Hi,

I’m writing because my hair has been falling out for four months after I stopped the medication (Enablex) that I believe was causing my hair to fall out. Nowhere on the internet can I find an association with Enablex and hair loss and my doctor has not heard of this either. Do you have any knowledge of an assocation? I am sure this is the problem as the only other times my hair has fallen out is when I’ve been on other medications (Accutane, Zonegran). My hair stopped falling out in about 2-3 months after stopping the other medications but this time my hair continues to fall out at a rapid rate even though I’ve been off Enablex for four months.

Help! Is there anything I can do? Do you think it will stop falling out soon? Will highlighting my hair aggravate the problem?

I’m trying not to worry too much and be patient but I’m running out of patience. I already have straight thin hair and am worried I’m going to get bald spots soon!

Thank you

EnablexThe Enablex website says, “Enablex is a prescription medicine that’s proven to treat the symptoms of Overactive Bladder (OAB).” Enablex (darifenacin) is an antimuscarinic that relaxes the bladder muscles to prevent urgent, frequent, or uncontrolled urination.

Hair loss is not a known side effect of Enablex; known side effects include dry mouth, constipation, abdominal pain, etc (see list). Even in the worst case scenario if Enablex was the cause, there is not much you can do to reverse the hair loss. Before thinking that this is the cause of your hair loss, you need to see if there are other medical conditions (including genetic balding) that is the source of your hair loss. The medication may just be a coincidence. I hope you consulted your doctor before you stopped taking the drug. You should never start or stop a medication without consulting with your prescribing physician.

Tags: enablex, darifenacin, anticholinergic, antimuscarinic, hairloss, hair loss, oab, overactive bladder

Labor Day is For Long Weekends

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

Labor DayFrom Wikipedia — “Labor Day is a United States federal holiday that takes place on the first Monday in September. The holiday began in 1882, originating from a desire by the Central Labor Union to create a day off for the “working man”. It is still celebrated mainly as a day of rest and marks the symbolic end of summer for many. Labor Day became a national holiday by Act of Congress in 1894.”

That’s a brief history of Labor Day, and the reason there will be no posts here today. We’re taking a day off, but will be back tomorrow with our regularly scheduled hair loss questions and answers.

So to our U.S. readers, enjoy your day off today. To everyone else, happy Monday.

Copper Peptide Spray to Encourage Hair Growth?

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

Is there any truth that copper peptide spray can encourage hair that is dormant. Ive heard it reduces the time the hair spends resting. Thanks

In our experience and from what I know, copper peptide promotes wound healing, not hair growth.

Tags: copper peptide, hair loss, hairloss

Teen with Gray or White Pubic Hair?

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

Is it normal for teenage boys to have a few gray or white hairs on their testicles? Is it normal for a pubic hair bump to be a little larger than usual around the thighs and the testicles?

Yes, yes.

Just to repeat my answer from a year ago…

With respect to your gray pubic hair, it is often normal for a brown hair person to have a few random white hairs. Sometimes they can start in teenage years. I have seen men and women who are gray by the time they are 25, and if you have never seen these people walking around, that is because they ‘hit the bottle’ (the dye bottle).

Tags: pubic, white, grey, gray, hair, teen, teenage

Scalp Biopsy Misdiagnosis?

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

Is it possible to have a misdiagnosis from a scalp biopsy?

It depends upon what the biopsy is for. If it is for classic male pattern balding, then the answer is yes. If it is for cancer or other real pathology, there are always human variables that relate to skills and specialization.

Tags: biopsy, misdiagnosis, hairloss, hair loss, cancer

I Have Hairy Knees, But Bald Shins

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

i am a 26 y.o. white male. I exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet and have no known health problems. I am embarassed by the unusual growth pattern of leg hair over the past 10 years. I have extremely hairy knees but almost no hair on my calves or shins. The skin on my calves is also very pale and thin and I am developing age spots. I totally avoid the sun in this area. Is there any way to improve this condition (with diet , medication, etc)and what may be the cause? I have no other symptoms. I would like to improve the skin on my legs at the very least.

I am sorry that I can’t offer much help, but that is just the way you are. You can try Rogaine (minoxidil) on your shins if you want to grow hair there, as it may work. On the bright side, at least you don’t have hairy palms.

Tags: hairy, knees, bald, shins, hairloss, hair loss, rogain, minoxidil

Scalp Is So Itchy, It Feels Like Something Is Crawling in My Hair

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

My scalp is very itchy like is something is crawling in my hair. I am loosing hair very rapidly. I had a biopsy of my scalp done about 7 months ago where nothing was found wrong. I don’ know know what to do next. I have use most over the counter and RX shampoos and nothing has helped. Please advise. Thank you.

Maybe you have dandruff? I really cannot tell you what is wrong. It sounds like you need to see a dermatologist. Aside from the biopsy, have you checked to see if something is really crawling in your hair, like body lice? There is no substitute for a good, thorough examination by a caring doctor.

Tags: lice, dandruff, itch, crawling, hair, scalp, biopsy

Dickkopf-1 — An ‘Upregulated Gene’ Associated with Hair Loss

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

Yo, doc!

I’m not sure if you’ve read the study yet, but here’s yet another delicious piece of the pie:

Dickkopf-1 biggest factor in DHT signalled hair loss.

Recent studies suggest that androgen-driven alteration to the autocrine and paracrine factors produced by scalp dermal papilla (DP) cells may be a key to androgen-potentiated balding. Here, we screened dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-regulated genes in balding DP cells and found that dickkopf 1 (DKK-1) is one of the most upregulated genes. DKK-1 messenger RNA is upregulated in 3-6 hours after 50-100 nM DHT treatment and ELISA showed that DKK-1 is secreted from DP cells in response to DHT. A co-culture system using outer root sheath (ORS) keratinocytes and DP cells showed that DHT inhibits the growth of ORS cells, and neutralizing antibody against DKK-1 significantly reversed the growth inhibition of ORS cells. Analysis of co-cultured ORS cells showed a significant increment of sub-G1 apoptotic cells in response to DHT. Also, recombinant human DKK-1 inhibited the growth of ORS cells and triggered apoptotic cell death. In addition, DHT-induced epithelial cell death in cultured hair follicles was reversed by neutralizing DKK-1 antibody. Moreover, immunoblotting showed that the DKK-1 level is up in the bald scalp compared with the haired scalp of patients with androgenetic alopecia. Altogether, our data strongly suggest that DHT-inducible DKK-1 is involved in DHT-driven balding.

Interesting study! Thank you for the information. The complete abstract is available here, at the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

Since I really have nothing further to add, perhaps they should consider a name change — something other than Dickkopf. It is bad enough that Propecia is already associated with a similar sounding, although untrue, side effect.

Tags: dickkopf, dht, dkk-1, hairloss, hair loss, alopecia

Chasing the Masculine Look

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

According to Newsweek, plastic surgery is a way for a man who does not feel masculine enough to become full of machismo by changing his nose or transplanting hair onto his chest. This is a growing trend among men. Interesting reading, of course.

From the article:

George’s quest for maximum hirsuteness isn’t as unusual as it may sound. He’s part of a growing group of “retrosexuals”—men who shun metrosexuality, with its often feminine esthetic, in favor of old-school masculinity. Cosmetic and hair-transplant surgeons on both coasts report increases in patients seeking a more rugged look: hairier chests and beards, squarer chins, more angular jaw lines.

Full article: Looks: A Manly Comeback

Tags: retrosexual, hirsute, hairy, facial hair, chest hair, hairtransplant, hair transplant, masculine, manly

Bumps Behind Both Ears, Causing Hair Loss — Doctors Don’t Know What It Is

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

I have these small swellings on the head right behind both of my ears . . each swellings are around 5 cm in diameter and bone hard, no pain if i touch them or pres them . . but they have this really annoying stressed feeling and . . . they seem to change size starting from the back of my head till the neck . . . Doctors here say that it is nothing and wants to give me anti-anxiety pills for visiting them so often . . 5 months passed and it seems to get worse. I am worried that it needs better attention. Could you please tell me what I can do? I even don’t know the name of the disease.

Another symptom I want to mention if it is related. I am losing more hair from my head . . the hair strands seem to be coming off from the root and they are very dry most of the time

Please help
Thanking you in Advance

You should go to another doctor. If there are bumps behind the ears, then something is wrong. Without seeing you, there’s not much more I can offer. Sorry.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, bump, doctor, swelling

I Don’t See Hair Loss, But I Am Obsessed With My Hair

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

Hi,

I’m 21 and a couple of months ago someone made a comment asking me was I losing my hair. I really don’t think that I am. I’ve always had a high hair line and I’ve compared recent photographs with ones from 1 or 2 years ago and I see no obvious signs. But it has become something of an obsession. I am handsome, but unfortunatly I am also incredibly vain and if i did begin to lose my hair I would probably cry for a month. I am wondering if this obsession can lead to hair loss? If i am so fixated on it not happening could i actually help it along – the power of the mind if you will. Also, is baldness inherited from the father or the mother’s side?

thank you

If you are not losing hair, then obsessing over it may require therapy. Consider getting help. I do hair transplants and make assessments of those losing hair. I can not really help you.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, obsess, obsession, therapy