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Good day,
First, I’d like to say that I appreciate this site for it’s complete and very honest answers. I regularly come to this sight for information. So, thank you!

Second, I just read an interesting paper concerning hair stem cells, the protein NFATc1, its inhibition by cyclosporine A, etc. This paper is authored by Elaine Fuchs from Rockefeller University. This paper is to be published in the journal, “Cell.”

Here is the link: NFATc1 Balances Quiescence and Proliferation of Skin Stem Cells

My question: Since it is already an approved drug, would topical application of cyclosporine A help in slowing or possibly even regrowing hair?

Since this drug is not approved by the FDA for use in treating hair loss, I would strongly discourage you from using it for that purpose. We know that cyclosporine, as it is used now, has many side effects which would make it not worth taking, as it could negatively impact you. This is a dangerous drug used for treating difficult medical conditions. On the positive side, this study will only help further our understanding of hair stem cells and potential new treatments for hair loss.

For years I have been using hairs clippers with a #1 or #2 guard to cut my hair. Each time after using the clippers I recieve several areas of hair that either don’t grow back or only fine little hairs show. There is never any scalp or blood present after using the clippers…sometimes I will feel a pinch. I have seen several doctors with no success…they simply don’t know. I’m forced at this point to keep it short…if not the hairs grows out very stringy and thin. Also, my most recent haircut resulted in my hair line at my temples being removed…my hairline is now over my ears instead of starting in front of my ears.

Finally, I swim twice a week…use chlorine shampoo and eat a very health diet. I have a full head hair with a limited amount of thinning at the crown…I’m 38 years of age. HELP

From what you are telling me, it almost sounds like you are starting to recede your hairline at the temples, which may be a sign of male pattern baldness (MPB). The miniaturized hairs that are impacted by the genetics grows slowly, if it grows at all — or perhaps the chlorine may even be harmful to your hair. Before I could provide a real answer your question, you’d need to have a miniaturization study to rule out MPB or other medical causes of hair loss. Please consult a doctor who is experienced in this field.

I was wondering if you could get anything that would cause hair loss from dirty clippers. I read one blog but still feel that the answer was not there. I am very sorry to bother you but it is very important to me. I know there is a thousand things that cause hair loss but I have never heard that Dirty or Clean Clippers could cause any of it. Except lice of course! Thanks for responding.

Sincerely, Interested reader

I did answer a similar question before, but perhaps I wasn’t clear. I would highly doubt that dirty clippers could be the cause of hair loss, particularly if it did not cut into the skin by accident. Is your hair loss diffuse, or do your have small patches of hair loss? These are all things one needs to know before assessing the real cause of hair loss. I hope this helps.

This was sent to me months ago and I forgot to post it!

While he may be an exceptional actor, Christopher Walken is not too bright when it comes to treating hair loss. Read his secret to staving off baldness: Christopher Walken Has Unusual Way To Stop Balding

If anything, I think pulling the hair would stress the follicles and lead to traction alopecia.

Why is it that as a woman gets older, her vellus hairs begin to show more. Do they get longer, denser, or what? I notice they are still fine and white(not talking about beards or increased coarseness), but they just seem to show more on older women.

Since they are white, I know they can’t be lasered, but what about electrolysis? Could the shafts get coarser if they are electrolysized and they grow back? Are there any potential drawbacks to electrolysizing the vellus hairs on a woman’s face?

Any beard hair or increase in vellus hair thickness is the result of hormonal changes. As women get past menopause, there are greater effects of normal androgens in a woman’s body than would be the case in much younger women. We also see this in medical conditions like Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), where androgenic effects are evident.

With regard to your questions on electrolysis, when it is successful it works well. Unfortunately, a small whitish area around the skin adjacent to the hair shaft occurs with electrolysis and this could be a problem if your skin is dark. Failure rates are high with electrolysis and it takes a real expert to do this, a skill not commonly found. If there is a failure (about half fail in competent hands), the hair does not grow more coarse.

Hello Doc..
What is the exact mechanism of finasteride to reduce the semen quantity? Does everyone who is taking finasteride face the problem of reduction in semen quantity to some extent or are there people who do not have any reduction in semen quantity??

People react differently to certain medications. There is a small percentage (1-2%) that sees a decrease in libido, however, there are others that see an increase. Along the same lines, some may have a decrease in semen volume (not uncommon), however, according to an article from October 1999 in the Journal of Urology titled “Chronic treatment with finasteride daily does not affect spermatogenesis or semen production in young men“, the authors concluded that, “Treatment with 1 mg. finasteride daily for 48 weeks did not affect spermatogenesis (sperm production) or semen production in young men.”

A more recent study does report two patients with decreased sperm counts.

Hi,

Im 34 and I have been experiencing hair loss (gradual) for more than 10 yrs now.

Things observed during these yrs.

1. Hair loss, thinning of hair etc.
2. Hair falling out from the root/base.
3. Lack of natural oil secretion from scalp
4. Itchy scalp (flacking)
5. Oil massage has not helped me.
6. Very thin new hair - at the areas of hair loss

Just wondering if its fungal etc or just natural balding. Pls let me know what you think about my case.

Thanks much in advance.

Without examining you it is impossible to say much from your listings above. Is the hair thin all over the head, including the back and sides? As you are not clear about this, I can not tell if you are changing hair character or are experiencing genetic thinning/balding. Some of the items on the list, like reduced oil secretions and itchy scalp, go together and may reflect changes in genetic balding.

Would you generally advise transplanting hair to the temple area where no hair is currently there? I’m thinking this can maximize the chances of a fake look? Am I right?

I read about the trichophytic closure technique — if it only covers 1mm of scar area, then would that leave a NOTICEABLE average of 1-2 mm of scar area still visible if hair is cut short (2 with guard, that is)?

Yes, it may. Scarring is highly variable with different individuals. You can have a doctor with poor surgical skills perform a procedure without a trichophytic closure and still have a great 1mm scar. Or you can have the best surgeon using a trichophytic closure and have a wide noticeable scar. 1-2mm is considered a great scar and it may still be noticeable with a very short hair cut. A #2 guard may hide the 1 to 2mm scar, but this also depends on your hair color, scar color, scalp color, hair coarseness, hair waviness, etc. As you can see, there are many variables.

I’m 33. About 6 months ago I went to see a ht doc, and my doctor and dermatologist. The ht transplant doc prescribed propecia and told me to come back in a year, but my doc and the derm would not. My doc said you could see a little of my scalp on top but nothing out of the ordinary. The derm said, along with my family history, that “there are no signs of mpb and your hairline is strong.” But I had bad imflammation, he prescribed Luxiq, a topical steroid, but I have been feeling like I was losing more than normal/thinner than normal. About a month ago, I started the propecia, just to see how it went, because I was nervous about losing anymore.

The inflammation has only gotten worse, and now in the last few days, I am shedding like crazy! My head does not itch, it is just a dull pain/feeling on the vertex. The last few days I lose up at least 50 hairs so easily when styling my hair for just a minute - much, much more than ever before. I’m afraid to even touch it.

So - can you shed on propecia if you arent actually actively losing hair? Does the shedding hint that I actually am losing hair? Also, if I decide now to stop the treatments and follow up again with my derm, will the hair that I’ve shed come back, even after stopping the treatments?

Thanks

I would assume that the hair transplant physician did a miniaturization study to come to the conclusion that you have male pattern balding and that you need Propecia. Eyeballing someone’s scalp is not the equivalent of this. I would make make an appointment with your dermatologist and have him/her recheck you since you are having more problems. I can not tell you what is going on without knowing what your dermatologist is treating with the steroids. Having said that, I would doubt that Propecia is causing your hair loss.

Im 27 yrs old female and when I get stressed I get White hairs not gray. But sometimes I get striped black and white hairs I dont think I have a brain tumor like one blog said and I dont have any med. problems so whats up with the striped hair?

Very interesting. Unfortunately, I have no experience with a person whose hair turns white or gray and is stripped. I have seen stripes of white hair mixed with dark hair. Maybe what you are reporting is something that I should have observed in some of my patients. I don’t have all of the answers and am often humbled by my ignorance.