Know where your hairloss will be with diffusion analysis.

G

Guest

Guest
To all,

A little while back, some of us got into a dialogue regarding the monitoring of one's hairloss and even as important, which areas of one's scalp are affected by male pattern baldness?

If you recall, I had suggested that the young guys start analyzing the rate of their diffusion. Once the young men who are fromally diagnosed with male pattern baldness, start Propecia, Dutasteride, whatever, they should also be taking samples of their hair twice per year. The terminal hair samples taken from the permanent donor zones should be kept seperate from the samples that will be taken on top of the head where potential diffusion takes place.

Twice per year you are comparing the "rate of loss" with hair shaft diameter or what we commonly call hair caliber. Take your six month samples and be sure to keep them seperate in a baggie. The ideal would be to keep the samples pressed between glass plates if you're using a scope, all dated. You can also tape them to plain white paper which I will explain in a moment.

Do not throw out any of the hair samples because at the end of your trial period (at least five years is the ideal), you can compare the progression in loss of hair caliber. This is especially helpful to compare the very first hair sample to the ones taken three to five years out.

The other ideal would be to view the comparisons under a scope or a much cheaper way to accomplish this is to purchase a densiometer for under $20 at Radio Shack or other retailers. Simply tape your hair samples to copy paper, and then the densiometer will allow you a 1cm2 view under enough magnification (up to 30X) to make the comparisons.
I even know of several guys using a basic magnifying glass they bought at their local dollar store. That works very well also. Try it and you'll see what I mean.

But my point is that one can determine if their rate of diffused loss is continuing, meaning the meds are NOT WORKING. It also can denote the rate of loss when comparing hair caliper. And as important, it will inform you of the exact areas you are losing, meaning, the potential areas of loss. See what I mean?

I have in the past suggetsted for you guys to have your hair transplant Doctor do all of this for you when you get on the hairloss meds, but this is also a practical way to evaluate it for yourselves without having to purchase a pricey scope!

Best wishes to each one of you!
 

LookingGood!

Experienced Member
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You actually do this? THis densitometer that you speak of, what is it's actually use for?
 
G

Guest

Guest
I have been teaching guys this for a long time, and yes I am doing this myself, mostly my crown hair, to evaluate the long term efficiency of finasteride. I take a sample on New Year's and one on July 1st. Hair shaft diameter in my crown has not changed for years!

I bought both my densiometers at Radio Shack about six years ago. I learned this when I worked on the inside. The densiometer is used to precisely measure donor area density. It allows the hair transplant doctor to accurately count the number of bearing FUs and hairs within the area I mentioned, because the lens allows a perfect 1cm2 view of any surface area. It has a built in light including a dial to adjust the magnification. Vellus hair will look like toothpicks. It is a handheld scope instrument simliar to the size of a small remote.

The densiometer also allows the surgeon to check for uniformity in density levels throughout the permanent donor zone. The surgeon can then more accurately harvest the number of grafts planned for that session by pre-determining the length and width of the strip to be excised.

Virgin donor levels are usually more consistent than someone who had prior procedures and stretching of the scalp, laxity, and subsequently has some variation especially in the occipital area. Henceforth, the instrument becomes even more practical.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Guys,

I apologize. I am already getting hit with questions on the densiometer.

It is officially called a "30X illuminated microscope and 8X magnifier. Radio shack's catalog number is 63-851.

Like I said, it's the most affordable hand held microscope money can buy!
 

CCS

Senior Member
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good luck getting good samples. I'm sure diameters vary in a pinch of hair. so you will have to take from the same spot and put them in order from thickest to smallest to make sure you are not comparing different follicles. I'd rather weight a bunch of them, but that would require making sure they are all the same length. Or you can measure how fast they are growing.
 
G

Guest

Guest
CCS,

How you been buddy?

I know what you are saying and although this is not a perfect science, still there are enough changes that will take place to note if continued loss of caliber is taking place. And also why this evaluation must be ongoing.

If finasteride or dutasteride is working efficiently, then there will be little to no changes every six months.

So the point of the test is not to precisely meausre but to evaluate if one is still diffusing or not.
 
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