Posts Tagged: Early Hair Loss

Is Hair Transplant or Treatment with Hair Loss Medication Preferred for People in Their 20’s?

May 12th, 2008

Q: I am 25 year old who just started going bald. My doctor confirmed it’s pattern baldness and put me on Propecia and Rogaine. I don’t want to go bald at any age. So, instead of prolonging the process for 5-10 years and then having a HT, isn’t it easier to let the hair loss continue and then have a HT, so, that I can save the money on drugs for years.

A: It is far better to keep your own hair. Keeping your own hair will generally look fuller than a hair transplant, since a hair transplant just re-distributes existing hair (until hair cloning techniques are available).

The medications (i.e. finasteride and minoxidil) are relatively cheap if you get the generic forms.


Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 7:35 am

Does Body Hair Indicate Future Hair Loss?

April 14th, 2008

Q: I have a quite a bit of hair on my chest, back and legs. Is that an indicator of future baldness?

A: Although bald people joke around that they wish the hair on their body (and ears) was on their head, body hair is not an early sign of baldness.


Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 6:40 am

Should Young Person Start with Hair Transplant at Crown?

August 21st, 2007

Q: I am 26 years old, have had two successful hair transplants, but am still losing hair in the crown area. The doctor I have worked with told me that he does not do crown work on anyone until they are at least 40 (due to lack of donor area). I have very thick hair and the transplanted area looks as if nothing was lost. Would you do work on someone my age in their crown area if they have enough donor hair?

A: Although I am hesitant to start with the crown when transplanting a younger person, if you have good coverage on the front and top of your scalp from the first two sessions then extending the hair transplant into your crown may be reasonable.

It depends upon your remaining donor supply and an assessment of how bald you will become. I would need to examine you.

If it is likely that you will progress only to a Norwood Class 6, then transplanting your crown can be considered. If you will progress to a Class 7 then you should not since, in the long term, hair that was placed in the crown might be better used for other purposes, such as connecting the transplanted top to receding sides.


Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 8:31 am

Can Avodart Hair Loss Medication Cause Shedding?

April 30th, 2007

Q: I’m male, early thirties and in the early stages of hair loss, too early for hair transplants. I am experiencing extreme shedding. I took Avodart for 6 weeks, but because of the shedding I stopped. Now, it still continues as strong as ever. I’ve been losing about 200 hairs every day in the shower. 3 months ago I had so much more hair, what is going on? I heard that shedding can happen, but not like this. Could this have caused telogen effluvium, or something else?

A: Since Avodart (dutasteride) is a more potent medication than Propecia (finasteride), the shedding (telogen effluvium) may be more dramatic. If you have made a decision to use Avodart, then you need to tolerate this short-term effect. It should subside within the first 6 months on the drug.


Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 3:19 am

Can Thinning be Caused by Propecia Hair Loss Medication?

April 6th, 2007

Q: I am 22 yrs old and I started shedding hair in a very limited form since I was 20. I have now been on Propecia for nearly 8 months. To date I have not experienced any benefit. In fact, I have seen my hair continue to thin. Is it possible that this thinning is a result of Propecia?

A: Usually the shedding associated with finasteride will subside by 6 months.

If you are still losing hair at 8 months, most likely the medication is not working. Unfortunately, it is not effective in about 15% of patients.


Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 10:44 am



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