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Suggest Treatment For Hair Thinning And Hair Loss

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Posted on Fri, 24 Oct 2014
Question: I have severe hair loss and thinning of hair.. For around 5 years now, I have been using KZ lotion shampoo every day as prescribed by a dermatologist due to dandruff problem. However, there is no reduction in hairfall and I am already looking very bald. Can you let me know if minoxidil can be used to control hairfall. I have attached two pics of me. One recent and the other around 5 yrs back. The current stage is worse than what you see in the recent pic. I also have a bald patch by birth on my left side. Please let me know what is the best solution.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (29 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Kindly send details of the query.

Detailed Answer:
Hello young fellow,

Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.

I can understand your concern for the baldness on scalp and hair fall.

It us really a great concern in all of us young nene to have anything unusual especially for hair.


I have analysed your complete query along with pictures and can make out the major cheng in hair pattern.

In view to help and guide you best I request you to kindly tell me certain details :

- How many hairs fall every day.

- Do you see them on your pillow, sheets and during bathing or combing too.

- Your present occupation.

- Your daily routine and dietary routine.

- Any substance abuse such as alcohol or smoking.

Hope to hear soon from your side.

With regards,

Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (17 minutes later)
Thanks Doctor. Here are the details required by you.

- How many hairs fall every day. - It used to be around 50-70 earlier. Now due to low density, it would have reduced to 20-30

- Do you see them on your pillow, sheets and during bathing or combing too. Yes. I see lot of them on pillow, on towel, during bath, combing

- Your present occupation. - I work as Finance manager in an MNC

- Your daily routine and dietary routine. - I wake up at around 5, drink a glass water and half glass of tropicana juice, apply indulekha gold hair oil and head for jogging and some exercise for 45 mins.
Post that, I have my shower and have breakfast. Typically 2-3 slices of whole wheat bread with peanut butter. sometimes 2 slices of whole wheat bread and an egg and black coffee. Sometimes with milk.
I have another round of tea once i reach office at around 9:30 am
Lunch at 1 pm. Typically south XXXXXXX meal or idly or dosa
Evening - One cup of tea or coffee
Night - try to have light food. Have chapathi or parota with chicken mostly
Weekends - Biryani, chicken, beef, fish

Currently from 3 weeks I am at client location in XXXXXXX and workout at gym morning and evening, jogging. Food is mostly veg all three times
My weight is 67-68 kgs

- Any substance abuse such as alcohol or smoking.- None

Let me know if you need any further information
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
"Androgenic Alopecia" aka male pattern baldness

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Welcome again and thanks for posting your details.

I can understand your concern for the problems related to hair. As a young man you are quite worried about all the things related to your scalp.

After analyzing your query I can make out that you have the condition known as male pattern baldness or medically known as "Androgenic Alopecia".
It is quite common to find air fall in men which is known as "male pattern baldness" is most common cause of hair fall in young men like you.

To tell you simply: We have almost 1 lac hair on our scalp and amongst these around 5% of hair are in falling phase and then another 0.1% (around 100) of hair can fall everyday. In males this is super-added with hormonal influence of testosterone hormone ( the male hormone) which we call as "male pattern baldness". This also depends upon genetics- meaning type and pattern of hair your family pattern (from your father and mother's side).

This process of falling starts by 20 years and is highest after the age of 25 to 30 years. So it is quite obvious that you can have this problem of hair fall just because of hormonal influence.

So, as I said earlier your problem is basically Androgenic alopecia or simply saying male pattern baldness. It affects mainly frontal and parietal region of the scalp as in your case too. The temporal and region is rarely affected and occipital region is never affected in this condition. So the most important thing is not to be worried about this normal physiological age related men's problem.


Other than male pattern baldness there can be falling of hair all over the scalp can occur after simple stress too !!!.


Now regarding the part of treatment:

There are innumerable products in the market claiming to be useful for hair growth. We dermatologists believe in application of Minoxidil lotion. It is one product which is unanimously used by all dermatologists. It is to be started with 2% lotion applied over the scalp once or twice in day and is to be started under strict dermatological supervision only.

It is to be applied when the scalp is dry. Only 1 ml is sufficient to be applied at the root of hair in frontal region. If for one month there is no burning and irritation then we increase the percentage to 5 % to 10% gradually. The same we do to taper off the medicine. That means we do not stop the medicine at once and gradually taper it off to 5% and then 2% and then alternate day or off and application of lotion before stopping it completely.


I use it as an initial therapy and then shift to other maintenance therapy once the effect is seen.

I prefer to give a tablet containing biotin and other essential nutrients along with minoxidil.

I would like to suggest you to have a good nourishing diet along with all the medicines because that is quite very helpful in retaining the hair and maintaining it better.

Hope these informations will help you. If you have further queries I will be happy to help.
"Wish you good health"

Regards,
Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
MD (Dermatology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (14 minutes later)
Thank you for the detailed response. I have a follow up question though.
Should I consult a dermatologist before starting the Minoxidil lotion?
you have also mentioned about a tablet. Can you give me the name of the tablet please.
Please also let me know at what time of the day would it be better to apply Minoxidil lotion on the scalp and how should I wash it.
Do you recommend me to continue using KZ lotion shampoo. If so should I wash off the Minoxidil lotion with this shampoo?
The portion above my head(the middle part) is more affected and have less hair and hair thinning. Should I apply it first on the front and assess the growth and then start with middle portion?
For how long should I use Minoxidil lotion?
Please do let me know the answers for all the above queries. Thanks
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
In my patients I use Minoxdil for 6-8 months

Detailed Answer:
Hello young fellow,

Welcome again and thanks a lot for your follow up.

Regarding your further queries:

Q. should I consult a dermatologist before starting the Minoxidil lotion?

@ I suggest you to meet a dermatologist who can personally examine your scalp and provide you the correct concentration as and when required.


Q. you have also mentioned about a tablet. Can you give me the name of the tablet please.

@ In my patients I prefer to give a biotin tablet (such as Hairbless or Xtraglow) to replenish the hair growth faster and better.


Q. Please also let me know at what time of the day would it be better to apply Minoxidil lotion on the scalp and how should I wash it.

@ In my patients I suggest them to first start at night time one hour before sleep. Only one ml is sufficient and then can be used at day and night both after 15- 20 days.It can be ashed with simple shampoo which you use routinely.


Q. Do you recommend me to continue using KZ lotion shampoo. If so should I wash off the Minoxidil lotion with this shampoo?

@ If you are comfortable with KZ shampoo then it is fine but sometimes it can cause dryness of scalp. So if you find the dryness then can use any good company brand shampoo.


Q. The portion above my head(the middle part) is more affected and have less hair and hair thinning. Should I apply it first on the front and assess the growth and then start with middle portion?

@ You can apply all over the front and lateral portion of scalp as the hormonal factor affects this portion maximally. SO it is better to apply all over with more concentration towards middle portion.

Q. For how long should I use Minoxidil lotion?

@ Minoxdil can be used safely as long as one wants to apply. There is no set limit and is variable form person to person. In my patients I use it for 6-8 months before shifting to other maintenance medications.

Hope these informations will help you. If you have further queries I will be happy to help.
"Wish you good health"

Regards,
Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
MD (Dermatology)
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia

Dermatologist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 4165 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Hair Thinning And Hair Loss

Brief Answer: Kindly send details of the query. Detailed Answer: Hello young fellow, Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum. I can understand your concern for the baldness on scalp and hair fall. It us really a great concern in all of us young nene to have anything unusual especially for hair. I have analysed your complete query along with pictures and can make out the major cheng in hair pattern. In view to help and guide you best I request you to kindly tell me certain details : - How many hairs fall every day. - Do you see them on your pillow, sheets and during bathing or combing too. - Your present occupation. - Your daily routine and dietary routine. - Any substance abuse such as alcohol or smoking. Hope to hear soon from your side. With regards, Dr Sanjay Kanodia MD-DERMATOLOGY