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Since last year I have been experiencing hair loss. I am a 49 year old african american female who in December 2009 had a noticeable bald spot that began appearing at the left side of my crown. From December until January 2010 the spot began to move from one side to another and then became quite bad. I finally went to see a physician who diagnosed me with autoimmune disease and alopecia. He prescribe a topical steroid (betamethasone dipropiontate lotion) and encouraged to take biotin. The back of the hair has grown back and now between a nickle and a quarter spot still remains at the crown. I am experiencing hair growth and to the roots it is quite coarse.

Would you recommend that I put a kiddie relaxer in it to get some of the thickness straighten out?

If you are asking whether a hair relaxer will help or make your condition worse, I would guess “no” to both. If you are asking if a hair relaxer will help with your look, that’s a styling question and I would rather leave that up to you.

As far as I know, hair relaxer for kids contains the same chemicals as hair relaxer for adults, but it is just marketed differently. In other words, you still run the risk of causing chemical damage.

well i seem to be having a thinning problem at the crown of my head. The real problem is that i am only 14. It appears that this runs in my family because my uncle is in his twenties and he has the same problem. I am an African American male.

I have also heard that African hair is fragile. i brush my hair with a boar brush that is quite hard. So i am wondering if the hardness of my brush could possibly make my hair look even more thin at the crown. currently i am also obtaining that popular waves hairstyle that is quite popular among african american males is this also a factor?

African hair is fragile, but if your brush is indeed too ‘hard’ on the hair I’d suspect you would notice thinning everywhere you brush.

It’s not too common for male pattern baldness to start in 14 year olds, but it is not outside the realm of possibility and it could start with puberty. Considering you have an uncle with early loss, it certainly points to your genetics. You might even find others in your family line had similar issues in their youth. See a doctor, get a diagnosis, and have a miniaturization study done to see what is really going on.

I am an African American male age 46 with a keloid on the back of my head which resulted from two surgeries to remove it. Now I have a keloid the size of a strawberry which leaves a bald patch in my hair. Can a hair transplant or hair patch be put in that area to cover it for good? If so will it cause more problems in the future or no?

I often see patients that wish to cover scars (and keloids), but hair growth on this tissue can be less than optimal and patients often require addition surgery to increase the density of hair. In the end, the scar and keloid is still there, but it might be covered with the new transplanted hairs.

Transplanting into keloids, however, also runs the additional risk of making them worse. If you’re known to form keloids on the scalp, then having more surgery (like a hair transplant) could result in more of the same. You already tried to surgically excise the keloid on your scalp and it caused it to grow larger? I don’t think its worth the risk, though without an examination I couldn’t make a definitive opinion.

What are the side effects of Rogaine and the Afro American Male.

The same potential side effects occur from Rogaine (minoxidil) in all skin colors and hair types. Those side effects include skin irritation and chest pain, but you can read the full list here.

I am a 47 year old african american female. I have been losing massive amounts of hair for the last three weeks. I have consulted with my family doctor, dermatologist and even a gynecologist. My scalp is very itchy and I also have external genital itching. Where else can I go for help?

Female hair loss can be tricky in determining the source (see here). I don’t know that the scalp hair loss and itching in the pubic area are related, though.

If you are on the east coast, see Dr. Bernstein in New York and if you are on the west coast, you can see me. Alternatively, go to ISHRS.org and look up a doctor in your area.

I am an African American female and experiencing hair loss. I currently use home relaxers on my hair because it’s easier to manage. What can I do to strengthen my hair to help prevent the hair loss? Thanks

Keep in mind that I am a hair transplant doctor. With that said, from my point of view there is not much you can do to strengthen hair. Despite all the hype, there really is no secret formula. Use what works for you. Eat a healthy diet. Minimize chemical exposure to your hair. I generally will not name supplements and shampoos to give credibility on how to make one’s hair stronger. If this isn’t satisfactory, a hair stylist might be able to recommend some products he/she is likely ready to sell you.

Snippet from the article:

While Chris Rock’s new documentary, Good Hair, is certain to get laughs, it’s sure to leave the audience talking. And that’s the point, the comedian says.

“When you talk about something with some weight to it, like hair, even when it’s over, you’re still in people’s heads,” Rock said. “That’s what I wanted with this film.”

The movie, which opened Friday, examines the issue of hair in the African-American community and the pressure to straighten or lengthen naturally coily hair.

Read the article and interview with Chris Rock at Chron.com.

I believe hair is important to people of all races, but Chris Rock explores the issues that black women have with their hair, including the use of chemical straighteners, weaves, wigs, and other things I’m sure I’m forgetting. The movie trailer looks hilarious and I’m interested in seeing it at some point.

Hi Dr. Rassman

I am an African American female with a congenital high hair line. I have always hated the vastness of my forehead and am limited to hairstyles with bangs. I would like to have have my hairline lowered. Because of keloid risks I would probably opt for transplants instead of surgery.

My questions are; do you know of any good or great surgeons in NYC or surrounding area who have experience in this type of surgery? Everything I see is in Beverly Hills or Oakland Ca. And also, if I choose to have implants do I have to go to a surgeon who does implants or can I go to a hair restoration institute? Thanks for your time.

I can’t say for sure either way about the keloids or whether you’re a candidate for surgery, but I do know that Dr. Robert Bernstein in Manhattan would be the person to see in New York. I have worked with him for more than 10 years and we co-authored Hair Loss and Replacement for Dummies.

hey im really concerned because i noticed the corners of my hairline has went back a little. im only 17 and im african american and i heard its not just a maturing hairline because that only happens to caucasians. please help

The hairlines of different races do vary and the mature hairline of an African American is different than a Caucasian. You need to see a good dermatologist to determine if you are now balding or if this is a maturing hairline you’re seeing. I would be happy to evaluate you if you’d like to send photos to the address on the Contact page. Otherwise, you can find a hair transplant doctor in your area by checking the physician search at ISHRS.org (I’m not suggesting you have surgery, but these doctors will know a lot about hair).

I have been battling hair loss for the past 10 years. I am a 32 year old african american female. I was first diagnosed with Keloid Folliculitis in 1999. I have received continuous treatment from various dermatologists and specialists. The folliculitis issue appeared to have cleared up by 2002 with no reoccurrences. My hair loss began in 2000. I have had a series of blood tests and a scalp biopsy. The biopsy showed my scalp had scarring. The blood work showed that I had high levels of testosterone, low performing follicle hormone, and low iron. (this occurred 3yrs ago.) Since then, I am taking 65mg of iron 2x each day and on birth control. I am also insulin resistant and taking metformin. I have tried various over-the-counter solutions for hair growth, but I am still losing hair.

Bosely will not grant me hair restoration; Duke’s Hair Clinic has temporarily closed. Currently, my primary care physician is injecting cortisone shots to see if this will trigger any hair growth. I am bald on both sides of my hair, and thin on the top and back. Wigs are my only savior at this point. My hair is natural. Please help me with my next step. I am tired of finding hair everywhere but on my head. Thanks!!!

I have never seen a person with keloid folliculitis and have no experience with it. Regardless, your situation is clearly complex and giving you any opinion without at least an examination would not be in your best interest. There are some doctors who specialize in such conditions and do hair transplants. Since you’re near Duke University, I’d be happy to recommend Dr. Jerry Cooley in Charlotte.