If you are genetically balding, then Propecia should work to slow down or stop the hair loss in the frontal hairline. It depends upon where you are with your balding pattern. You should get your hair mapped out for miniaturization which will show where you hair loss may be going. I can do this in our San Jose office for you. Once you know where your hair loss is going, then you can make decisions about Rogaine or Propecia (or both). They both have value, but a doctor needs to tell you the value and what to expect.   « less

Most women who are losing their hair do not follow the same pattern of hair loss as men. Men follow a specific pattern, whereas most women's hair loss is diffuse and there is often no area of permanent hair. Because of this, women are generally not good candidates for hair transplantation (there is no place on the scalp to harvest good permanent hair). The first step in evaluating hair loss in women, after a detailed history and physical exam, is to rule out any underlying medical causes of hair loss which can be treated. If clinically appropriate, the following disease processes should be considered: anemia, thyroid disease, connective tissue disease, gynecological conditions and emotional stress. Furthermore, over 50% of women going through change of life hormone fluctuations (menopause) experience significant hair loss. It is also important to review the use of medications that may cause hair loss, such as (but not limited to) oral contraceptives, beta-blockers, Vitamin A, thyroid drugs, coumadin and prednisone. The following laboratory tests are often useful if underlying problems are suspected: Estradiol, FSH, LH, SHBG, Prolactin, T4, TSH, ANA, Iron, TIBC, Ferritin, Free and Total Testosterone. With respect to medications for women's hair loss, there is only one FDA approved medication for women that I recommend. Its generic name is minoxidil (commonly referred to as Rogaine). It is a topical medication that you apply on your scalp once or twice a day and it is available without a prescription. I understand that you are looking for a 'natural' remedy to strengthen your hair, and there are several products that are advertised on TV and the internet, but you may find that there is no medical basis for their claims and there are no objective research conducted on those products. If there is a medical basis, you may find that their active ingredient is minoxidil.   « less

It is difficult to answer this question without a physical exam or even a picture because every patient's needs and expectation and goals are different. That being said, Propecia is generally most effective for thinning patients (not completely bald). Propecia works best in the crown or top area of the scalp and not so much in the front hair line area. If you have frontal hair line recession, I doubt Propecia would work. If you have thinning in the crown area, Propecia is generally worth a try before a hair transplant surgery. While I understand that drug therapy (such a Propecia) is not a desirable option for some patients, it will compliment the overall outcome of the surgery by holding on to the hair that are existing. Before starting Propecia, it is always advisable to have a miniaturization study. A miniaturization study is a microscopic examination of the state of hair to objectively document the degree of thinning or miniaturization of hair. It is more useful than the subjective before and after pictures of the patient's head shots.   « less

Miniaturization is part of the balding process where hair shafts become thinner over time before falling out. Thickness and the general health of hair can be measured by examining it under a special microscope, called a densitometer, for signs of miniaturization. Increased miniaturization in certain patterns, reflect a progression of balding. In addition, miniaturization and detectable hair loss is not evident to the naked eye until more than 50% of normal (non-miniaturized) hair is lost. As a result, many men/women do not seek help until significant miniaturization has already taken place. I feel that mapping the scalp hair for miniaturization is critical in establishing the guidelines for the treatment of hair loss. Mapping measures the miniaturization and density on different areas on the scalp, providing us with a 'roadmap of data' to quantifiably measure the current health of the hair. When a medical treatment (such as finasteride or Propecia) is started we can document its effectiveness with the initial and periodic measurements for miniaturization.   « less

A few hair myths: * Wearing hats/beanies is not a cause of hair loss. It is the classic question of which came first, the chicken or the egg? Most people who are losing hair, wear hats, to cover up their thinning hair. Thus wearing hats is often erroneously associated with hair loss. In this case, the chicken always comes before the egg. * Shampoo/hair-washing everyday is not a cause of hair loss, UNLESS you pull on your hair. * Women, perms/highlights will not cause you to bald, HOWEVER, it may weaken your hair shaft, causing some hair to fall out. * Smoking does not cause hair loss. * Eating certain foods does not cause hair loss, however, if you do not maintain a proper diet, and suffer from malnutrition; malnutrition is a cause of hair loss.   « less

Both techniques should give you real follicular units, but often the FUE in many doctor's hands do not give real follicular units because they are transplanted as they are taken out (complete follicular units, more than one follicular unit, or parts of a follicular unit). Strip harvesting is better in most people, simply because the strip is highly efficient and very controlled in most doctors' hands to prevent damage. FUE grafts are not always of the same quality as strip follicular units. The reason for that depends upon the particular patient and the particular method used for the extraction. In many patients, the grafts are extracted and devoid of fat and supporting infrastructure (very skinny grafts), which makes them more vulnerable to the environment and more easily damaged when transplanted.   « less

If your scalp is burned AND your hair is impacted by the burn AND there are changes in the hair character (thinner, finer hair) that last more than 6 months, you may have permanent changes. Generally, temporary problems resolve in 6-8 months. I have no suggestion as to what you might do if the hair is damaged below the skin. Hopefully, it is not a diffuse damage and it is possible that if there are bad areas and good areas (back and sides) that a hair transplant into the bad areas may have value. You need to be examined by an expert.   « less

It is my belief that Propecia works in 100% of men your age. What I mean by 'works' is that it will slow, stop, or reverse hair loss. As you have been taking it for only a month, it is far too early to judge just what your benefit is. Did you get your hair mapped out for miniaturization? Such mapping will give you a measurement by which to judge any benefit. The amount of DHT your body makes is a direct relationship to the testosterone made, as it is a breakdown product of the testosterone. Men with lower testosterone might have lower DHT levels.   « less