Post Hair Loss Questions and Get Answers

If people with male pattern baldness (MPB) have hair follicles that are sensitive to DHT, then why is it that they don’t lose their hair right away in their twenties but rather much later in their life? I presume that DHT gradually lowers when we get older?  So why do some hair loss sufferers start going bald in their thirties or even forties?

This insightful answer was provided by Dr. William Lindsey of Reston, VA who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians.

In men, except in unusual circumstances, hair loss is all genes and luck, or lack thereof.

I recall from some source or another, that male hair loss affects 10% of the population per decade.  Thus, 40% of guys in their 40’s have significant hair loss. My “eyeballing” of people walking around the mall or at a recent football game suggests that is probably reasonably accurate.

So then the issue is what do you do about it. My consultations always offer 4 choices.

• Do nothing. You won’t die from hair loss.
• Wear a hairpiece when needed. We have done quite a few fellows who wore hairpieces and either were able to get rid of them, or wear a smaller hairpiece after surgical hair restoration.

3. Medical therapy works for many folks but has its own pros and cons.

4. Hair transplant surgery.

Differentiating between fact and fiction when it comes to hair loss can be tough. That’s why our hair restoration community works to uncover the many hair loss fallacies you may have heard or read about since you were young. Below, we expose several popular hair loss myths, their origins, and reveal the solid truth about hair restoration and treatments for baldness.

Wearing a Hat May Cause you to Go Bald

This popular hair loss myth often scares teenagers away from wearing their favorite hat or head covering. The reality is, hats don’t cause or contribute to genetic female hair loss or male pattern baldness. Genetics is the actual culprit.

Hair Loss is Caused by Stress

Are you afraid the daily stress of work and life will cause you to go bald? Don’t worry, it won’t. Only severe traumatic stress has been known to cause a temporary and sudden thinning hair known as telogen effluvium. However, once the stressor has been reduced or eliminated, in almost all cases, hair growth returns to normal. Learn more about stress and other non-genetic causes of hair loss.

Balding Comes from Your Mother’s Father

Traditionally, men were taught that they would follow after their mother’s father when it comes to hair loss. Conversely, women were taught to believe hair loss is linked to their father’s mother. And while this isn’t a total fallacy, the baldness gene is not linked strictly to only one relative. In fact, the genetic link is to any member or members of both your mother’s and father’s side of the family. Learn more about androgenic alopecia.

Below we provide a list of crucial tips for maintaining and restoring your hair in 2010.

Take Control: Information is power. Take control of your hair loss by learning all about the causes of hair loss and the only proven non-surgical treatments to stop baldness

Non-Surgical verses Surgical Treatments: Proven medical treatments like Propecia and Rogaine are great at stopping hair loss from continuing. However, only hair transplant surgery is proven to grow hair in completely bald areas. A combination of both can help maximize the amount of hair you can restore.

Selecting a Quality Surgeon: The skill and experience of hair transplant surgeons varies, as do their results. Time and research can lead you to physicians producing only the best results. At the Hair Transplant Network, we have carefully reviewed many physicians over the last 10 years by gathering patient experiences and visiting their clinics to determine who is worth recommending (view our selection criteria). To see a list of physicians we recommend, click here. You are encouraged to carefully evaluate any clinic you are considering for surgery.

Realistic Expectations: Even a combination of non-surgical and surgical hair loss treatments won’t restore a full head of hair in patients with extensive baldness. Learn how to develop realistic expectations and plan for the long term.

You can search through over 7 plus years of patient posted experiences and photos on our hair hair restoration forum and patient websites. To see a full listing of those physicians we recommend, click here.

This hair loss question was answered by Dr. Scott Alexander of Phoenix, Arizona who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.  His professional answer is below.

The question I have is regarding the general health of and its effect on hair.  It’s obvious that a good supply of oxygen in the bloodstream is needed, but could someone who has occasional breathing difficulties which causes a sudden lack of oxygen affect hair growth or hair loss?

If you have occasional breathing difficulties, this obviously should be checked out by your doctor to find out exactly what is causing this problem. As for hair growth, if you remain conscious, you are getting enough oxygen to keep your hair alive. This is not the cause of any hair loss that you may have.

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Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair growth

Every week, hundreds of hair loss questions are answered on our hair restoration forum and received in our inbox. Below, we’ve collected some of these hot topic questions of the week and posted responses by veteran hair transplant patients and leading hair restoration physicians.

You can also ask your own questions and get answers on our hair forum or privately by using the contact page.

Which “All Natural” Treatments Are Most Effective?

Do Higher Hair Transplant Densities Affect Hair Growth Survival? (Dr. Beehner)

How an Underactive Thyroid Can Contribute to Female Hair Loss

Is it ok to take Finasteride and Dutasteride Simultaneously to Treat Baldness?

Contradictory Reports: Does Nioxin Cause or Stop Balding?

Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair restoration, hair transplant

Today, balding men and women have several viable options to treat their hair loss. Below, we share the latest and greatest information about the causes of hair loss and the benefits, limitations, and risks associated with today’s hair restoration solutions.

You can also ask your own questions and get answers on our hair restoration forum or privately by using the “contact us” form.

Can Low Iron Levels Cause Hair Loss? (Dr. Steven Gabel)

Why Pimples Form on the Scalp After Hair Transplant Surgery (Dr. Robert True)

Why Going Bald Today Isn’t the Only Choice

Is it Ok to Use Propecia While Trying to Conceive?

How to Fix an Old Stretched Hair Transplant Scar

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: balding, hair loss, hair restoration

Certain medication can cause temporary or even permanent diffuse hair loss, a type of balding distinct from genetic pattern baldness.

Though providing a list of all medication that has reported hair loss as a possible side effect is virtually impossible, anyone considering taking medication for any reason should become fully aware of the potential side effects before taking it.

Learning about your medication should include consulting with your doctor and researching it online.

Join this hair restoration discussion to discuss how and which medication has been known to cause hair loss. Your experience and/or input may just help others save their own hair. Remember, information is power.

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: diffuse hair loss, balding, baldness, hair loss, cause hair loss

Differentiating what really works to treat hair loss from the hype isn’t easy. Thankfully, leading hair restoration physicians and veteran hair transplant patients regularly offer their experiences on what works to treat baldness.

Below you will find answers to 5 of t his week’s top topic hair loss related questions provided by balding men and women and physician experts. You can also ask your own questions and get answers on our hair restoration forum or privately by using our contact form. 

Should I Stay on Propecia If I Experience Side Effects? (Dr. Steven Gabel)

Can a Hair Transplant be Spotted? (Dr. Timothy Carman)

Tips on Discovering the Cause of Your Hair Loss

Can Men have a Female Hair Loss Pattern?

Buying Legitimate Generic Hair Loss Medication Online?

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair restoration, hair transplant, treat baldness, balding

This insightful information was posted on our hair restoration forum by Dr. Timothy Carman of La Jolla, CA, who is recommended on the Hair Transplant Network.

Recently, I lost about 40 pounds of muscle and fat due to a crash diet.  I know they’re not good, but I was very overweight and was tired of being laughed at.  A few months after my diet, I started noticing hair loss, including brittle hair on my legs and scalp especially around the nape.  I went to a doctor but am still waiting for the blood test results.

During the crash diet, I severely limited my caloric intake and didn’t eat much if any protein.  Also, afterwards, i had two intestinal infections and thinning hair.  I don’t know if my hair los has anything to do with the crash diet or infections.  I am very worried about my hair, please help.

What you are describing is classic for symptoms of telogen effluvium - which refers to a temporary hair shedding related to some type of “stressor” – in your case, caloric restriction or “crash diet”. 

The natural hair growth cycle as it relates to this, and as observed when we perform hair transplants, is that, after the “stressor”, the follicles goes into a resting phase that lasts three months. Also, this “three month window” is also a pertinent time line one sees for the onset of the shedding period as well.  Hence, what we do to our system to “stress” it begins to show up in three months. Conversely, when we “correct” or remove the stressor (in your case resume normal eating patterns, sleep, etc.) it will take another three months to begin to see the hair regrowth of that change.  As hair grows slowly (about 1 cm/month) it takes additional months to really appreciate a change for the better.

My dermatologist couldn’t answer this question and I couldn’t find an explanation on the internet.  If DHT is the main culprit of hair loss, then why doesn’t Propecia protect minoxidil dependent hair upon stopping minoxidil regardless of its different mechanism of action.  If Propecia is reducing DHT, then why would stopping minoxidil cause hair loss?

I’d suggest that it’s possible for Propecia to maintain hair regrowth from minoxidil.  

Remember that Propecia only really inhibits about 60% of DHT, leaving 40% to attack hair follicles.  Minoxidil adds extra stimulation to your hair causing hair regrowth.  Removing it from the equation will lessen your chance of keeping some of this hair.

I suppose the phrase “minoxidil dependent” should be explained a bit further.  Healthy hair not affected by DHT won’t become dependent on minoxidil.  Only miniaturizing hair that’s been successfully sustained or rejuvenated by minoxidil is.  If a patient uses minoxidil only, most likely these hairs would fall out upon stopping its use.  However, if Propecia is added to the hair loss regime later, some of these hairs may survive due to Propecia successfully inhibiting DHT. 

Unfortunately, there’s really no way to know for sure what hair you’ll keep and which you’ll lose if you stop minoxidil.

I hope this helps explain things further.

Bill – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

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