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Recommended hair transplant surgeon Dr. Shelly A. Friedman recently released a new book titled To Bald or Not to Bald? That is the Question. Although the book is humorously titled, the content tackles important hair loss issues, such as the difference between male and female genetic balding, effective hair restoration treatments, and obtaining state-of-the-art surgical techniques. As Dr. Friedman explains:

Although it is usually an unwanted sign of aging, hair loss may no longer be inevitable. Hopefully, by the time you finish this book you will understand the proven, effective treatment options that have become so popular. In subsequent chapters you will realize that hair loss is a problem that can be solved with new and exciting methods that will be explained in detail as we move along. We live in a new era of medical innovation and possibilities. Advances in medical research, technology and surgical techniques have restored patient’s faith in the field of medical and surgical hair restoration. This books explains the entire process of hair restoration today.

If you would like to get in contact with Dr. Friedman, feel free to visit his recommendation profile at the Hair Transplant Network. Additionally, please visit our online hair loss product shop for information on purchasing your very own copy of To Bald or Not to Bald? That is the Question.

To purchase this book immediately, click here.

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Blake – aka Future_HT_Doc

Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum

Below we’ve compiled some of the most recent hot topic hair loss related questions and answers provided by physician experts and veteran hair transplant patients. You are encouraged to click on any of the links to topics you find interesting below.

Which Shampoo is Best to Use After Hair Transplant Surgery? View this article presented by Dr. Michael Beehner and learn whether or not the type of shampoo you use after hair transplant surgery really matters.

Impact of Abruptly Stopping Non-Surgical Hair Loss Treatments? Learn about the risks of stopping proven hair loss treatments and what it may mean for your hair.

When Creating a Second Hair Transplant Scar May Be Appropriate: This article discusses Coalition member Dr. Cam Simmons‘ thoughts on whether or not it’s appropriate to create a second hair transplant scar.

Can Swimming or Excessive Chlorine Exposure Cause Hair Loss? Learn whether or not your hair is in any danger from swimming regularly.

Bill Seemiller
Managing Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
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Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair transplant, Dr. Michael Beehner, hair transplant, hair loss treatments, Dr. Cam Simmons, hair transplant scar, Bill Seemiller

Because of its recent spike in popularity and versatile nature, many practitioners are currently researching alternative uses for the Botox injectable serum. One area, continually researched and examined by medical experts, is the potential link between hair loss and Botox injections. However, despite ongoing research, the question still remains: can Botox treat hair loss?

“Botox” is a purified form of Botulinum Toxin A, used medically to treat headaches and cosmetically to decrease the appearance of facial wrinkles. The serum works by temporarily paralyzing muscles, thus decreasing the excessive contractions that cause painful headaches and, cosmetically, wrinkle-inducing tension.

Because Botox’s mechanism of action involves reduced muscle tension and a likely increase of oxygenated blood flow to the treated area, many wonder if the injectable could prove useful in treating hair loss. Until recently, most evidence involving Botox and baldness seemed anecdotal and inconclusive, but a new Canadian study finds a correlation between Botox injections and increased hair growth/reduced hair loss.

During the study, 50 patients with Norwood Scales ranging from level II to level IV were treated with a total of 300 units of Botox over a 24 week period. Using a 2 cm strip of injected scalp (to monitor new hair growth) and a lint roller dragged over participant’s pillows (to monitor progressive hair loss), researchers analyzed the results of the study and found a positive correlation between Botox injections and new growth/reduced loss.

This question, asked by a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums, was answered by Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. Cam Simmons:

I suffer from Cutis Verticis Gyrata. The dermatologists I’ve been to have been clueless about it and printed off information for me to read which was the same info I had already found. Has there been any progress into treatments of CVG as it’s causing a lot of stress.

First let me say that I do not have a lot of experience with CVG.

After seeing a CVG patient in consultation and seeing email photos of another a couple of years ago, I realized that I had done a hair transplant a couple of years ago on someone with very mild CVG. He had 2 sagittal, slight indentations that could be felt at the time of his hair restoration surgery but not really seen. I wondered at the time if he had a couple of childhood scars he didn’t remember. I since saw him in follow-up and his hair transplant grew well. I believe that his hair loss was caused by androgenic alopecia (male pattern balding). He had a classic 5 pattern on the Norwood Scale and the indentations were most easily felt where his hair was thickest in the band across the mid-scalp. His CVG likely had not progressed.

This question comes from a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums: 

After becoming concerned about my hair loss I started doing some research and found that dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the hormone responsible for genetic baldness. Knowing this, I assume the best way to treat progressive hair loss is to “block” DHT? Is this true? Is DHT an important element of hair loss?

DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is the hormone (essentially) responsible for hair loss; in this sense, it is very important.

In my opinion, the best way to “block” DHT is to prevent it from forming in inappropriate amounts in the first place. Medications that block the activity of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme (mainly type II 5-alpha-reductase), the compound responsible for converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, will greatly decrease the amount of DHT available to affect hair follicles and cease the progressive loss.

As of now, the two compounds known to block the 5-alpha-reductase activity are finasteride (the active ingredient in Propecia) and dutasteride (the active ingredient in Avodart). Of these two, finasteride is proven safe and effective for treating hair loss and, in my opinion, is the most effective compound to block DHT and prevent progressive baldness.
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Blake  – aka Future_HT_Doc

Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum

Follow our community on Twitter

Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

I was reading your Hair Loss Myths article, and the section on ‘Styling and Hair Loss’ was brought to my attention. I have dyed my hair using various products and various colors for the past 9 years. I have damaged my hair, but I have never lost hair until I recently used the color enhancing conditioning formula of a well-known semi-permanent hair dye product. I followed the directions, and applied the product two weeks after the initial dyeing to enhance my color and help prevent it from fading. The directions told me to wear gloves, so I assumed it had to be somewhat potent and not just a regular conditioner. After I rinsed the product out (after 5 minutes, like the directions said), I noticed that clumps of hair were being washed out too. It was scary to see all that hair in the shower. It wasn’t just damaged hair from breaking, it was hair falling out of my scalp in small clumps. After I brushed my hair, more and more hair fell out. This thinning hair has been devastating for me, as my hair is now significantly thinner (though I am not bald). I just wanted to let you know that hair products can cause hair loss. From the sources I have spoken with, it is likely caused by the PPD in the dye. I just wanted to give you some insight on this.

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I’m very sorry to hear that you experienced hair loss due to this hair coloring product.

AskMen.com is an online publication covering topics that include Men’s fashion, health, fitness, and entertainment.

However, in a recent publication, AskMen decided to turn its attention to male pattern baldness and share a series of hair loss prevention tips. Although these tips are not verified (to our knowledge) by hair restoration experts, they may be of interest to hair loss sufferers:

Tip #1: Eat More Fish

According to  the article, fish is high in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and other essential minerals. Not only have these elements demonstrated hair loss prevention in chemotherapy patients, but they also promote general health and wellness (which is essential to healthy hair).

Tip #2: Monitor Iron Levels

According to AskMen, iron-deficient anemia (low levels of blood iron) is a common cause of male hair loss and also difficult to detect. Keeping iron levels reasonably high (by eating appropriate amounts of red meat and eggs or adding an iron supplement to your diet) can help prevent premature and unexpected baldness.

Tip#3: Monitor Vitamin B Levels

Like Iron, Vitamin B (biotin, folate, B2, B12) is crucial for healthy hair, and discussing vitamin B levels with a personal physician may be a good way to prevent hair loss.

Tip #4: Reduce Stress

According to the article, stress can cause hair follicles to spend unnatural amounts of time in the resting or telogen phase of the growth cycle, which means a reduction in new hair growth and an increase in keratinized hair shedding.

This question, asked by a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums, was answered by Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. Glenn Charles:

I am someone who liked (yes, all in the past…when I had a head full of beautiful hair) to try different styles on my hair. Some used to come out good while some didn’t look good. I experimented with different types of hair parting, styles and lengths. All along, I had many friends advising me that too much change in terms of combing hair and the changing angles affects the hair roots in a negative way and that there could be too much pressure on the roots causing them to become weak and resulting in balding.

Now, the simple question is…how much of such a claim is true? Can too much styling (I am not even referring to hair products here, just the way you comb and style your hair) lead to hair loss?

I do not think changing hairstyles and hair directions actually causes hair loss. If extreme pulling of the hair is used to create a specific hairstyle that could potentially cause a type of traction alopecia.

Over use of chemicals, dyes, or excessive heat can cause damage and have a negative effect on the quality of a person’s hair. These types of traumas, occurring over extended periods of time, could cause irreversible damage. In the short term most of the damage would be temporary.

Dr. Glenn Charles

This question comes from a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums:

There is a history of hair loss in my family, and after reviewing the balding patterns of my blood relatives (especially my father) I’m wondering if I will lose hair in a similar fashion and end up with the same bald pattern? Do family members experiencing hair loss bald in similar patterns?

As much as we would like to fully grasp the genetic nature of hair loss, it’s still a very difficult phenomenon to understand, anticipate, and treat.

Although believing some of the well known hair loss rumors (if your mother’s father has his hair, you won’t lose yours; if your father is bald you will experience hair loss) is tempting, the truth of the matter is that genetic hair loss is unpredictable and these popular hair loss myths are rarely true. In my opinion, family members balding in a similar pattern falls into this category.

If you have genetic hair loss somewhere in you family tree, you’re susceptible and may experience balding at some point in your life (even if your father or other close blood relatives have not). Additionally, although it’s possible that the physical appearance of your hair loss may look similar to other family member’s baldness patterns, there is no guarantee that it has to.

This question, asked by a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums, was answered by Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. Cam Simmons:

My hair loss started after major surgery to my leg; I was told by a doctor that trauma can kick male pattern balding into effect. I was just wondering about the time frame in which major surgery would jeopardize the survivability of transplanted grafts?

Trauma or a major surgery can cause a temporary shedding called Telogen Effluvium (TE). Hair that is already weakened by pre-existing Androgenic Alopecia (AGA) may not grow back after a bout of TE. For example, many women notice excessive shedding a couple of months after they deliver a baby and their hair gets thinner. Most women find their hair grows back 6 to 12 months later. Women with female pattern balding who have a bout of TE often don’t get a full recovery. Some women with genetic balding find they have a step-wise worsening of their AGA after each pregnancy.

I have not met or examined you but if you have AGA (MPB), you have had the genes all along. The trauma could have led to a bout of TE, which in turn uncovered your MPB.