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It seems that the FDA should not be in the business of “clearing” anything that is not scientifically substantiated. There is an awful lot of stuff out there that won’t kill. I’m sure it’s obvious that “clearing” such substances gives charlatans a “green light” to deceive and rip people off.

(One would think that the FTC would ask the FDA to knock it off, as this creates a great deal work for them (the FTC), i.e. investigations, lawsuits etc. It raises the question of what the FDA gains from providing such “clearance” status? If it’s money, I guess that this, then, overrides principle, to say nothing of wasted tax payer dollars used to prosecute the “cleared” crooks.).

I believe the hair lasers received the FDA clearance by a loophole, with the technology being grandfathered in as a device marketed before 1976, when the Medical Device Amendments of 1976 gave the FDA the authority over devices like this. Remember, these hair lasers do not have FDA approval, but simply FDA clearance.

The sellers of these lasers make medical claims of benefits and this alone falls in the scope of FDA activities. The FDA is responsible for claims of safety and effectiveness. Think about it. If someone recommended the LaserComb to prevent stroke or Alzheimer’s, they would have to be able to prove it.

Snippet from the article:

The first in a new class of experimental drugs that targets the disease process involved in lupus beat out standard treatment in a large clinical trial, researchers say.

If the findings hold up, the drug, Benlysta, could become the first new drug for lupus in five decades.

About 1.5 million Americans have lupus, a complex disease in which the immune system attacks a person’s own tissues, wreaking havoc on the joints, skin and other organs. Benlysta dampens the abnormal immune signals, calming down the immune system.

Read the rest at WebMD.

This is significant, as lupus affects millions around the world. Hair loss is common with those that have this autoimmune illness, and according to the article this drug is “more effective at reducing pain, hair loss, and skin rash than placebo.” More studies need to be done, and if successful, the pharmaceutical company plans to submit to the FDA for approval.

dr rassman
i always see people on this site asking for your estimate on the cure of balding and you do not believe it will arrive in the next 10-20 years. what about a drug or some other method of permanently halting the hair loss, not necessarily regrowing, but just preventing the progression of the condition where then a hair transplant would compensate for the remainder of the lost hair? are you optimistic about something along these lines?…. looking forward to your response, as they are always very intriguing and informative

I think of myself as being an optimist, but with respect to hair, there is nothing as far as a cure that I see on the horizon. We (the medical/scientific community) haven’t even found a cure for the common cold, diabetes, high blood pressure, HIV, etc. It’s not to say balding is low on the priority either. On the contrary, there is a huge market if someone can find a cure. Hair loss is genetic, and research into genetic cures is in its infancy.

sir,
i’ve heard DHT is the thing that causes alopecia. is that the case even in animals also having DHT, since they also have alopecia problems. if not, we can go for the fue transplant from animals like pigs.

Transplants from animals to humans just does not work. Besides, you’re not going to want pig hair growing from your head. I am not an expert on animals with fur loss so I can not comment on the DHT impact on mammals with alopecia.

I have been taking generic Finasteride for nearly a year and a half with what I consider to be great results. My hair has always been thin, even from the age of 14 (as a barber once told me), and all the men on my mother’s side of the family are at Norwood 7 (Grandfather, two Uncles; father’s side isn’t as dramatic, there is thinning, but no classic MPB). The medication has brought back a considerable amount of volume back to my scalp, and I have been able to grow my hair out with excellent results. So for I have stabilized at Norwood 2; where I plan to keep it.

I am considering switching to generic Dutasteride, which as you know inhibits two types of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme (as opposed to just just one type with Finasteride). My question is simply this, what are your thoughts on Dutasteride vs. Finasteride? Is there anything I should be aware of or put into consideration if I make this decision?

I found your blog on google and have been reading ever since. What you and the other Doctors do here and in the patient-care-room is incredible and I hope you have further success with your practice. Thank you for your time.

I have said this many times — if you are destined to be bald, there is no stopping it. Just slowing it down is the best you can hope for. There is no cure for hair loss! Propecia helps, but you need to be followed by a doctor to see what you are actually treating. Just because your family members are Norwood class 7 does not mean you are guaranteed to develop that same class 7 balding pattern.

Dutasteride will not cure or stop hair loss and it is not necessarily better than Propecia. It’s still yet to be FDA approved to treat hair loss, and I’m waiting for safety and dosing information. Do not take drastic actions due to fear. If the current approved treatments you’re using are working, why risk it? Become well informed and educated, but keep in mind that there is no substitute for seeing a physician for a medical issue.

Hi, i started going bald at 19, i’m now 23. I decided to start acting on this 7 months ago and have been on propecia and minoxidil ever since. I am seeing great results, but one thing that has been bugging me ever since i started going bald; My hair on the top of my head doesnt atually grow.

I have stopped smoking, exercise daily, and do not straighten my hair anymore. My scalp is in great condition (i use nizoral twice weekly) and it hasnt grown in over 3 years, yet my sides and back grow so fast. if finasteride is preventing DHT in my scalp, surely the hairs on top of my head should not stop growing?? any ideas?

I am doubting your comment about no growth of your hair on top for 3 years. If the entire top of your head is miniaturized, this could explain the problem, but without seeing you, I can not tell you what you have. You indicated you’re in the UK — and a contributing author to this blog, Dr. Bessam Farjo, is in the UK. You might want to visit him for an examination.

Propecia and minoxidil are great medications, but if you are going bald there is no stopping it 100%! The reason you are taking Propecia and minoxidil is so that it will help slow the balding process down, but the balding will continue probably at a slower rate in the end. Some patients respond well to Propecia and minoxidil , but it does not mean it “cured” their hair loss issue.

Hi,

I’m 31 years old and I’ve been using propecia since early 2007 and I’m still seeing mild to moderate frontal recession of my hairline. I just started using Rogaine foam 5% in the frontal and temporal areas of my hairline this weekend. The manufacturer does not recommend using rogaine in this area, only the vertex. My question for is could using Rogaine in the frontal and temporal region make things worse? In otherwords, do I have anything to lose by doing this? Also, are you aware of any studies on Rogaine being used for the frontal hairline and the temples? Thank you!

Other than the cost of the medication, using Rogaine on the front of your scalp will not harm you, provided that you use it in the proper manner. Keep in mind that using more minoxidil than indicated might lead to an increased risk of side effects (though in your case, it sounds like you just want to use it at the hairline and not all over the scalp). I’m not aware of minoxidil studies specifically in the frontal area.

The manufacturer has not proven value for frontal use, but that does not mean that it will 100% not work in the front of your scalp. It does tend to work the best in the crown, but if you apply Rogaine to the back of your hands, you’ll likely see increased growth there too.

hello doctor.
i had been using minoxidil 5% and got very good results. 18 months back i stopped using it due to scaling. by the time i got control over the scaling, i had lost much of the hair on the crown. my doctor told me to use minox 5% not only on the hair lost crown but also on the entire top of the head including frontal area where i was not having any hair loss. i used it as per he told and the result was, i lost hair from all over the top including frontal area due to itching. i couldnt see any good results after using minoxidil 10% for 1 year but lost my frontal hairs too. 2 months back i stopped using minoxidil 10%.

i am not having any itching sensation now..what should i do now? my frontal hair is receding 1 inch every two weeks, the crown area is more and more visible now. do i have to undergo any tests? i lose around 500 hairs/day. do i have to use minoxidil 5% again? if so..then do i have to apply it on the new hair loss area ie, frontal part? do i have to massage the lotion to skin? please do help me doctor..!! please…!!

Without seeing you I can not comment on the 500 hairs per day you are losing. But at that loss rate, you will be fairly bald in 2-3 years, if it is really true. I can’t give you advice about which medications to use, but if your doctor told you to lose something that caused hair loss, go back to that doctor and talk to him/her. If not, I would see an expert physician to get a diagnosis and then a treatment that works (perhaps you can find a doctor in your area at ISHRS.org).

Hi Dr. Rassman,

I have followed the questions and your answers in regards to Somatropin or testosterone supplementation. I am 40 and have virtually stopped all hair loss since my late 20’s due to the medicines on the market. I have a doctor in NY who treats me for a bad lower back condition, and he recommends I use an hgh cream and a testosterone cream, we did a blood test and my T was quite low. The hgh would assist me in recovery. I discussed with him my concerns and my history, and he doesn’t feel I should have a problem with my hair. However, this is not his area of expertise. My question is, can I attempt to use 1 or both of these products and monitor my hair loss, and if its starts thinning simply stop using the creams. thank you

HGH can and often does accelerate hair loss in genetically prone individuals. There is risk here and you should take charge of your risks before you dive in. If your doctor prescribes a cream, I’m not going to tell you to cease using it, particularly if it is helping you recover. I can not advise you what to do in this situation.

In response to Areas of Unethical Behavior Practiced Today:

“I ask you to consider your obligation under our oaths and our respective state medical board license agencies to report these doctors.”

Why not name the unethical physicians here then, so that would-be victims can be warned ? How else are patients supposed to find out, if not from web pages like this one ? I understand the fear of libel, but is that more important than the obligation under oath referred to above?

This isn’t the 1950s Hollywood blacklist and I can not go around identifying various surgeons without them bringing on legal actions against me. While you might think it is a noble thing to do, such actions could consume all of my finances and my time and I could live in the courts rather than do surgery. I have written to the Medical Board of California whenever I’ve identified a sleazy practice for California based physicians. The State of California is good at follow-through. If the sleazy doctor is located in another state, it may not be that simple. California will always create an investigation if they receive a complaint from either another doctor or a patient who has been wronged, but some of these sleazy doctors work outside of the United States and that produces even more problems for patients who have been victimized.

If you follow my instructions on how to pick a hair transplant surgeon, you can avoid the traps and not become a victim. You need to be an educated buyer in any medical treatment. Health care, like cosmetic surgery, is a buyer beware market!