My hair is falling out and I’m only 16, my mam and my cousins tell me I’m just getting paranoid and I’m not loosing my hair but the sides of my forehead have thinned A LOT and it’s moving back, I dye my hair about every 3 to 4 months I think that may be why I think I’m going to stop dying it. Every time I seem to scratch my head hair comes out. I was thinking of using some products but I’m scared if I use them my hair will fall out even more!! I was wondering if I can go to my normal doctor to ask about hair products?

And while I’m at it I’d just like to ask if you would know if this product looks as if it would work or just make it worse: “Schwarzkopf Active M Hair Retention Care System Tonic For Men”

A good doctor should be able to help you understand what it is that is happening on your head. There are so, so, so many products out there that claim to be beneficial for your hair loss treatment, so don’t be shocked if some doctors don’t know of the products you ask about. For example, I wasn’t aware of that Schwarzkopf product you mentioned, but I used Google to find the list of ingredients here. However, I’m not seeing anything in that list that would help retain your hair, so I’m not sure what it is that they’re selling you. Each doctor should at least know of the FDA approved hair loss medications — minoxidil and finasteride.

I think that it is best to find out if you have a problem at all before putting tonics on your head without a diagnosis.

(female) I am very interested to read about a woman on here who had been diagnosed with diffuse alopecia from taking the yasmin birth control pill-I am experiencing the same sort of situation having lost 30/40% of the bulk of my hair during the two yrs I was acutally on yasmin, now, nearly 6 months after quitting the pill I have lost around 65% of the bulk of my hair, the hair loss worsening since stopping.

I would be so grateful if you could clarify-what is the difference between diffuse alopecia and TE? It has been nearly 6 months since the hair on the top of my head has fallen, leaving my scalp very visible under any sort of light-is there frequently this sort of delay in hair regrowth if the problem is TE? I notice in the reply that you comment if all other things have been tested and considered (for me, they have) then you ‘may’ see regrowth within 2-6 months…

Thanks in advance for your response.

Diffuse alopecia means a “uniform hair loss”. The term does not point to a cause. Telogen effluvium refers to a temporary loss of hair that is uniformly lost as it goes into the telogen phase of its hair cycle. Please read the below references, as they discuss the various causes for TE:

• Wikipedia
• eMedicine
• DermNet

hello Doctor,

I would like to know whether doctors like you are informed about phase 3 results in advance to us, ‘normal’ balding guys? For example about this study: Dutasteride Korean study

I dont ask you about results of this study, I realize you would not tell them, but just about your level of information compared to us. Thanks, your site is very informative, regards from Paris!

When the results of the study are released, we all be able to get them at the same time. Occasionally, there are doctors who have some inside track and can get the results before the rest of us, but I am just like you without any unique connection. As soon as I learn about the results, I’ll be sure to post them here!

Hello Doctor, I am lactose intolerant and was about to start taking Propecia when I noticed that it has lactase as an inactive ingredient. And that Merck cant recommend it if you are allergic to “anything” in the drug.

From my understanding, a lot of drugs seem to use lactose monohydrate as a “filler”…but I am trying to evaluate how big a deal it could be. I obviously still eat dairy in every day life (I just take Lactaid with it)…if I dont it gives me stomach aches, but its not like a gluton alergy where you cannot have any period.

In either case, I have not found to many articles about people having serious problems with this, and with the very high numbers of people that are lactose intolerant, it seems like it wouldnt be an issue (especially since it is just an enzyme deficiency). Its easy to say “your alergic to something” so we cant recommend it…but this is basically my only option, and I dont want to just write it off…what do you suggest?

I would (under a doctor’s guidance) give the drug a reasonable course and see if you have GI problems caused by the medication. I’ve got plenty of patients with lactose issues that haven’t reported any problems from the daily Propecia, but I suppose it can depend on how sensitive you are to it.

I’m 23 years old now and been on Propecia for 1 year. I been a NW2 since 17 but a year ago I started to have mild thinning around the hairline like an inch in. It took about this whole year but now I’m back on a solid NW2 and it seems to be getting thicker. I know Propecia can work for many years heck there is men on it for 10 years and still fine but my question is…since the temples are very dht sensitive, can Propecica help those too for many years? I wish to remain on a solid NW2 for years to come but I’m afraid that won’t be the case Also I have a weak MPB family history btw so I guess that can help me.

Finasteride will help slow down hair loss throughout the scalp. I do not believe that it works any less in the temples when it is taken before the hair loss is evident. You need to see a doctor and get your problem managed professionally.

i have been using kaminomoto hair tonic. i want to know if this is rite product for my hair and i want to use proscar finasteride 5mg. will there be some side affects or not because i hear that there is serious side affects by using proscar finasteride 5mg. pls i want good advice

I hadn’t heard of this tonic in some time (the name sounds like something I saw for sale decades ago), but I did some quick research and found the ingredients are listed as, “alcohol denat, water, rosemary extract, capsicum frutescens, glycerine, menthol, sophora radix (kujin extract), allantoin, panthenol, pyridoxine HCl, isodonis japonicus (enmeiso extract), glycyrrhetinic acid (kanzo extract), hinokitiol (hinoki extract), neo-takanal, fragrances”.

So in other words, it contains nothing that will help with treating your hair loss. Is it the right product for you? Well, if you’re using it to regrow your hair or halt your hair loss, then no, I think it is not the right product. If you’re using it to line the pockets of the vendors and makers of this tonic, then yes, you’re on the right track.

I’ve written many, many times about potential side effects from finasteride. You shouldn’t be taking 5mg for hair loss anyway — the 1mg will do just fine. You do run a greater risk of side effects with the higher 5mg dosage anyway. My advice is to see a physician rather than treating yourself with hocus pocus tonics that will likely not help.

Hi Doc. Got a quick celebrity question. I’ve heard that brendan fraser is loosing his hair. I’ve seen a lot of photos and to me it does look like his hair line is thinning. Here is a link to some recent photos at the premier for the new mummy.

Photos at Brendan Fraser Film Consortium

There does appear to be considerable thinning behind the frontal hairline from these pictures. The change shown here could be do to the use of concealers, or a treatment period on Propecia or minoxidil (it would be a great result from the medications and I have seen this on occasion, although rare). It could even be a hair weave which has the fullness of body, or it could be a series of hair transplants doing this.

I absolutely think that the after picture with good hair shows his handsome facial characteristics which are blunted by the thinning look of the before photo, making him look almost sickly in appearance. The after picture shows the “sex appeal”, while the before picture probably will not be driving the girls crazy.

I was prescribed Accutane for my acne, but I only took one pill before deciding that it wasn’t the course I wanted to take after all. I’m scared that that one pill could have led to my thinning hair. I’ve read stuff that even one dose of finasteride binds to 5AR2 enzymes and the half life to unbind is 30 days! So I’m thinking there’s some similar mechanism in Accutane i.e. just one pill can affect more than just one day…

Simply put — the answer to your question is “no”. While the mechanism of action for Accutane (isotretinoin) is not known, it is thought to reduce the secretion of sebum. I highly doubt it has any association with the mechanism of action of Propecia (finasteride). Plus, I would doubt that it would cause damage to your hair after taking just one pill (it is not cyanide).

Discuss your concerns with the doctor who prescribed you the medication. Your hair loss is most likely independent of Accutane and you may even benefit from that medication if it was prescribed to you be your physician. It isn’t a guarantee that everyone taking Accutane will see hair loss. Each person reacts to medication differently.

Do the following NEGATIVELY impact hair growth?

1. alcohol use - In excess, yes.
2. marijuana use - Possibly.
3. tobacco use - Possibly.
4. high salt diet - I would doubt it.
5. diet high in preservatives - I don’t know.
6. high fat diets, red meat - I doubt it, but there are unsubstantiated claims that blame red meat.
7. use of dietary supplements like multivitamins - No.
8. over intake of certain vitamins - Yes.

Do the following have POSITIVE impacts on hair health?

1. head massage - No.
2. other techniques for increased blood flow to head - Nope.
3. healthy diet, if so what foods are important to eat and which to avoid? - You should have a balanced diet.
4. use of dandruff shampoos - No, sir.
5. use of any particular shampoo or conditioner - No impact.
6. vigorous exercise - No.
7. any activity that promotes increased cardiovascular health - Nope.
8. use of dietary supplements (vitamins and minerals) - No impact in moderation.