Post Hair Loss Questions and Get Answers

This informative article was written by Dr. Michael Meshkin of Newport Beach, CA who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians.

Finasteride (Propecia), an oral medication available by prescription only, has been introduced to the market in the past decade. Finasteride is approved only for use by men. Through scientific studies, it has been shown to regrow hair in some men and stop hair loss in an even higher percentage. Finasteride works by decreasing the formation of DHT, a hormone responsible in large for male pattern hair loss, while not reducing testosterone, the overall male hormone responsible for masculinity. Therefore, any side effects that may involve male sexual function are mild and occur in less than 2% of all patients.

Finasteride has been available for over 10 years and has been shown to be somewhat safe and effective. Finasteride (Propecia) works best for early and moderate hair loss, but it may also help patients with more advanced hair loss to preserve their remaining hair, and its use is suggested by hair restoration surgeons as an effective medication to slow down or reverse male pattern hair loss in many men. It is often used as a complimentary treatment for hair transplant patients.

Topical minoxidil (Rogaine) has been around for over 15 years and is helpful in slowing down hair loss, but less effective in helping new hair to grow. A higher concentration (5% solution) of minoxidil is now available for men and has been shown to be more effective than the 2% solution. 5% minoxidil solution is generally not recommended for use by women because it may stimulate the growth of facial hair, and also because at least one study suggests that it is not more effective than the 2% in females.

Hi. I was just wondering about something: Is there any particular kind of hat I can wear while applying Rogaine?

Just to clarify, there is no practical, recommended way to apply Rogaine (minoxidil) while you are wearing a hat. I suppose it might be remotely possible to treat the area through the open space above the adjuster in the back of a baseball cap, but this would be time consuming and counterproductive.

Consumer medical information for the original formula advised users to wait at least an hour after using Rogaine before putting a hat on; however, Rogaine Foam is absorbed into the scalp more quickly. Many users consider this to be the  superior method for topically treating thinning hair.

In my opinion, as long as the area has completely dried and no residue remains, you’re free to wear your cap or apply other hair care products in moderation such as gel or hairspray after minoxidil. Using a blow dryer on a light, cool setting (never hot) can speed up the drying process without causing breakage or  inducing further hair loss. For more information, I suggest you visit the company’s official site and browse through the Q & A section.

Anthony – Editorial Assistant / Forum Co-Moderator of the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q&A Blog.
To share ideas with other hair loss sufferers visit out Hair Restoration Discussion Forum.
Follow our community on Twitter.
Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube.

The notion that injuring the scalp can potentially increase the effectiveness of proven topical hair loss treatments has caught the attention of our hair restoration forum community.  The Nanogen Scalproller claims it can help treat thinning hair and improve the effects of any topical treatment for baldness by slightly wounding the skin with its small titanium needles.  Allegedly, the wounds allow for quick and efficient penetration and absorption of topical hair loss treatments into the skin.

To discuss the Nanogen Scalproller and its ability in aiding the effectiveness of proven treatments such as Rogaine foam, visit this discussion thread.

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Managing Publisher of 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

Technorati Tags: hair loss treatments, thinning hair, baldness, Nanogen Scalproller, Bill Seemiller, Falceros

I am very bald. The crown of my head almost completely bald as is the top of my head. The crazy thing is that I am only 20 years old!

I have looked online and read a few things and have yet to find someone who has had issues with balding that are as worse than or even equal to mine. I was maybe in my second year of highschool when I noticed it. I told people that I thought I was starting to experience hair loss and everyone told me I was crazy. By the time I graduated these same people were telling me that there are solutions to hair loss. Two years later people told me to shave it all the way off. I was good looking in highschool, played on the basketball team, had many girlfriends, great confidence and I felt like I was on top of the world. Since I noticed myself balding all of these things slowly went out the window, my confidence, the cute girls, and my over all happiness.

The first step to taking control over your hair loss is to learn about and understand it. Learn what causes hair loss. It’s also important to learn to recognize and eradicate all hair loss myths from your memory. Unfortunately, there is no cure for thinning hair. However, the more you learn about balding and its causes, the better chance you’ll develop realistic hair restoration goals and expectations.

Balding men and women with minimal hair loss are usually at a great advantage over those who’ve already lost a great deal of hair. Propecia (finasteride) for men only and Rogaine (minoxidil) for men and women have been proven effective in slowing down, stopping, and even reversing hair loss. Treating baldness early can often save much of a person’s natural hair from falling out due to genetics, the most common cause of hair loss today.

Hair transplantation may be a viable option for t hose w ho are qualified. Because hair transplant results vary, it’s important to select a surgeon with an excellent reputation for producing consistent quality results and standing behind their patients. The Hair Transplant Network has carefully reviewed many physicians over the last 10 years by gathering patient experiences and visiting their clinics to determine who is worth recommending. You are encouraged to carefully evaluate any clinic you are considering for surgery. You can search through over 10 years of patient posted experiences and photos by using the find feature on our hair restoration forum. To see a full listing of those physic ians we recommend, click here.

I’m starting to experience hair loss and would really like my hair to thicken in a few months using proven treatments.  Is this possible?

Hair restoration is a process that takes time. Even proven non-surgical hair loss treatments aren’t guaranteed and only very rarely regrow hair in completely bald areas. Thickening of miniaturizing hair follicles may and will most likely occur if the Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil) is effective.  However, this can take up to a year of continued use.

Best wishes,

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Managing Publisher of 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

Technorati Tags: hair loss, Hair restoration, hair loss treatments, regrow hair, bald, Propecia, finasteride, Rogaine, minoxidil, Bill Seemiller, Falceros

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.

When flipping through the channels on TV late at night, I sometimes get sucked into the Scalp Med infomercials promising a new thick head of hair.  It also claims to be FDA approved.  Is this the hair loss cure we’ve all been waiting for?

Scalp Med infomercials are very popular this time of year, especially as the holidays approach.  Sold as a treatment for female and male pattern baldness, Scalp Med boasts that the “results will provide you with thicker, cleaner, healthier, and more beautiful hair”.  The Scalp Med infomercial presents dozens of rich consumer testimonies praising Scalp Med and providing us wild dreams of restoring a full head of hair.  While one woman claims, “it was nothing short of a miracle for me”, another male consumer boasts, “there’s nothing better out there”.  Oh really? 

Scalp Med is Just Overpriced Minoxidil

While Scalp Med is technically a viable hair loss treatment, what they don’t readily tell you is that that the only “active” ingredient in both the men’s and women’s solution is minoxidil, and significantly overpriced at that. 

Because minoxidil has been FDA approved as a treatment for male and female hair loss, Scalp Med can make the same claims Rogaine can.  The extra cash you could be saving by purchasing Rogaine (minoxidil) most likely goes toward marketing and the ”inactive” ingredients that do nothing to stop genetic baldness or regrow hair. 

I am only 18 years old and have the androgenetic alopecia in the temple region.  I have been using minoxidil 2% for the last 10 months, but only small thin hair is growing back in the temple region.  I am so upset.  Please send me your valuable suggestions.

Unfortunately, though Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil) are proven hair loss treatments, they’re only technically proven for the balding crown.  That doesn’t mean that they won’t help stop the progression of male pattern baldness from the front however, only hair transplant surgery is proven to grow hair in completely bald areas.

Because hair loss is progressive and you’ve started losing hair at such an early age, you may want to consider staying on Rogaine and adding Propecia to your regime.  Even if they don’t regrow hair, they may just help slow down or stop future hair loss.

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: androgenetic alopecia, thin hair, Propecia, finasteride, Rogaine, minoxidil, hair loss treatments, balding, male pattern baldness, hair transplant, bald, hair loss

I am very bald. The crown of my head almost completely bald as is the top of my head. The crazy thing is that I am only 20 years old!

I have looked online and read a few things and have yet to find someone who has had issues with balding that are as worse than or even equal to mine. I was maybe in my second year of highschool when I noticed it. I told people that I thought I was starting to experience hair loss and everyone told me I was crazy. By the time I graduated these same people were telling me that there are solutions to hair loss. Two years later people told me to shave it all the way off. I was good looking in highschool, played on the basketball team, had many girlfriends, great confidence and I felt like I was on top of the world. Since I noticed myself balding all of these things slowly went out the window, my confidence, the cute girls, and my over all happiness.