Currently Using Rogaine For Women With No Results - Can I Use Rogaine For Men?

I am a 43 year old female with androgenetic alopecia since puberty. I have been using Rogaine for women since but notice now it is not working that good. Please tell me if I can use Rogaine for men instead. And if not why? I am desperate and I am willing to give Rogaine For Men a try for a few months to see if it makes a difference.

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Unfortunately androgenetic alopecia is a disease of aging that gets worse as you get older.  Tooth decay is also a disease of aging that gets worse with aging.   Rogaine is similar to toothpaste; neither is perfect.  Tooth paste slows tooth decay and just because you get a cavity does mean the toothpaste is not working anymore.  If you were not using toothpaste, your tooth decay would be much worse. This is similar to Rogaine, if you were not using it your hair loss would be much worse and if you stop using Rogaine you will go back to your genetic predisposition (much worse).  I do think the 5% Rogaine (i.e. - Rogaine for men) is more effective in women and therefore I do have my female patients using it.  I just tell my female patients the side effect profile is similar to the 2% Rogaine, but slightly higher.

Sincerely,

Paul J. McAndrews, M.D.
Clinical Professor, USC School of Medicine
Diplomate, American Board of Dermatology
Senior Medical Advisor, International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons

What Is Your Opinion of Laser Comb Treatments?

I noticed the Hairmax Lasercomb has received FDA approval to treat hair loss. However when I try to find any information on the effectiveness of this treatment can not find information.

Do you have any opinions on Laser Comb treatments?

Thanks.
Michael

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The reason that you are having a difficult time gathering information about the laser comb for hair restoration is because it is not very good. Studies are few and far between, and reliable information is lacking.  In practice, I have not heard many good things about laser comb therapy. Based on what I have read and seen, I do not feel that the laser comb is a product worth buying.

If the laser comb therapy actually worked well, it would have already spread like wild fires.  In reality, the technology behind the comb has been around for decades.  This is why the device has FDA approval. Since the laser technology pre-dates when the FDA began its supervisory role, the technology was “grandfathered” into an FDA approval..  Therefore, this device did not have to pass through today’s stringent FDA approval process.

Is Propecia Use Required If You Have a Hair Transplant?

I have been progressively losing my hair for about the past five years, but I am concerned about using propecia because of sexual side effects. I’ve been researching hair transplants but have read that if you have a hair transplant then you have to take propecia to maintain the new hair. This does not make sense to me. I was under the impression that the hair from a hair transplant will last a lifetime. Can you shed some light on this for me?

Your questions and are commonly expressed concerns. Unfortunately you have read incorrect information. Transplanted hair is not dependent on Propecia. The donor hair follicles are genetically different from the follicles that are effected by male pattern baldness. Donor follicles are not sensitive to normal levels of dehydroxytestosterone (DHT). Once transplanted to areas of balding scalp these follicles will continue to produce living hair. Propecia or finasteride lowers DHT levels reducing the effect on native (non-transplanted) follicles and by doing so helps to control progression of male pattern baldness.
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Finasteride - Prostate Cancer – Hair Loss?

Finasteride, is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor that prevents the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In the 5-mg dose, it has been used for the treatment of non-cancerous prostate tumors and in the 1-mg dose has been prescribed both as a prevention and treatment for early onset male pattern baldness. However, some caution was taken when a study conducted in 2003 by the National Cancer Institute suggested that while Finasteride 5mg (Proscar) might be responsible for a 25% reduction in the overall incidence of prostate cancer, it might also be responsible for an increase of 25.5% in high-grade, aggressive tumors detected in these patients when compared to the placebo group. This random study was conducted on a group of 18,000 men.

The 2003 study, however, did not conclude whether the increased incidence of high-grade tumors was caused by finasteride or if finasteride, in fact, aided in the detection of pre-existing high grade aggressive cells.

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Finding The Right Hair Transplant Surgeon

I am seriously considering having a hair transplant, but I am very afraid after reading some of the horror stories on the internet. I almost had a hair transplant with Dr. Dominic Brandy but recently found so much bad information about him. When you go in for a consultation everything seems so legitimate, that is why I am so nervous about the process.

I really want to go for it since my hair loss makes me so self conscious but I want to be sure I choose a qualified surgeon. I am happy that I have found this organization and I’m hoping you can tell me what I should be looking for when choosing my hair transplant surgeon. I am afraid of making a mistake.
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I feel the perfect start in looking for a qualified surgeon is through the IAHRS.
This is also what I would look for in a surgeon when considering a hair transplant, or any surgery for that matter.
1. Look for a physician who has been formally trained in a residency or fellowship in the procedure you are interested in. Read more

Can I Get A Hair Transplant In My Beard For Alopecia Areata?

I recently ( 6 months ago) developed alopecia areata of the beard. It seems to have stabilized as far as not progressing, but it is still very spotty everywhere. Can I get a transplant to fill in the bald areas?

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Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition that affects both male and female patients (more common in younger adults). In essence the body’s own immune system is attacking the hair follicles for no particular reason and it can be associated with other autoimmune diseases.

Alopecia Areata affects mostly the scalp but may also involve facial hair. We can distinguish it by observing spots on the scalp with no hair (under magnification we can see exclamation point shaped hairs). Most patients will regrow hair in those areas within a year, or may need a steroid type of treatment (with varying success).

Transplanting into active areas of Alopecia Areata is not recommended for the reason that the new hairs will also be attacked. After a period of time (years), it may be possible to transplant into dormant Alopecia Areata area. I suggest a small biopsy prior to transplantation to ensure the absence of activity. At six months, it is too early to expect a lasting outcome from surgery. I advice you to see a local dermatologist for medical treatment prior to surgical.

H. Rahal, MD
Member, International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons

Is It Possible To Have a Successful Hair Transplant Just In The Crown?

I’m 28 years old and my hair loss seems to be isolated to the top top of my head. My hairline is still very thick and has not receded as far as I can tell. After reading information online it seems that having a hair
transplant just for the crown at my age is a bit controversial. Do you think it is possible to have a successful hair transplant just in the crown of my head without complications?I am on Propecia for a year now and everything seems to be stable.
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The crown can be a difficult area to transplant and create problems as you age. If you have a defined bald spot with distinct borders a transplant could be considered. If however, you are just thinning in the crown you should not transplant. When transplanting a thinning crown and the hairs are miniaturized you will experience shock loss in the area. Read more

Trying To Look Normal After a Fleming Mayer Flap Hair Transplant

When I was 23 years old I underwent a Fleming Mayer flap hair transplant and I am very unhappy with my current appearance. I was told that is was far superior to a conventional hair transplant but I can tell you that this is not the case. The appearance of my hair line is very unnatural to me and now it is beginning to thin again 5 years later. Is it possible to regain a normal appearance with another hair transplant. I’m very unhappy with the way things have turned out for me and I’m hoping for some resolution.
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At one time the Fleming-Mayer flap was considered to be a viable option for surgical hair restoration. Flap restoration of the frontal hairline was acceptable during the era of “plug” transplantation because of the many well-recognized problems that were associated with the use of plugs.

The primary goal of surgical hair restoration is to produce a natural result. Plug graft techniques were notorious for the problems they created, the most obvious of which were unnatural corn-row hairlines and widespread donor sites scars. The less-than-perfect plug technique motivated physicians to look for alternative methods for recreating a frontal hairline, hence the introduction of frontal hairline flap procedures. Read more