Scalp

Dear Dr Jen,

I am a 35-year-old father and I happen to use hair growers. Do hair growers really work?

Jonathan

Dear Jonathan,

Most shampoo-based hair growers are not that effective.  If you think about how short a time shampoo stays on the scalp, it probably doesn't have enough time to penetrate and do its work.

Hair growers containing minoxidil are effective to some extent.  Minoxidil works by increasing blood flow to the hair follicles.  Theoretically, this also encourages increased nutritional supply via blood to the hair follicles.  Hair may thicken and grow in several months.

However, it is also important to consider the main cause of hair loss.  If androgenic alopecia (male-pattern baldness) is the cause, then it is best coupled by anti-androgen pills.  The same goes for other causes of hair thinning. It is vital to get to the root cause of the problem and have it treated accordingly.

Dear Dr. Jen,

How do you differentiate a fungal infection from eczema?  I've had round rashes on my thighs on and off for several months now. My doctor has given me an anti-inflammatory and an anti-fungal to rub on it.  It works sometimes but the rashes still come back.

Van

Dear Van,

Both tineacorporis (fungal infection) and atopic dermatitis (eczema) can present as round, red and itchy rashes.  Fungal infections have edges that may contain bumps or vesicles which indicate that the lesion is actively spreading.  The best way to distinguish between the two is to have a KOH stain done at the laboratory.  This is a quick, simple and painless procedure.  The technologist will find hyphae and spores in the fungal infection.  Eczema is usually devoid of these fungal elements.

If partial treatment has already been administered, your PDS derma has several clues to consider: symmetry of lesions, exact location, exacerbations by hot or cold weather (or other factors) - and presence of flaking or scales.

That being said, I would personally go for monotherapy, meaning treat a fungal infection with a plain anti-fungal.  Likewise, treat eczema with an anti-inflammatory and control of triggers.

Dr. Tan is a diplomate of Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) and is affiliated with Perpetual Succour Hospital (PSH). For information on PDS, check http://www.pds.org.ph/. For questions or concerns, please text to: 0932 857 7070; or email to: [email protected]; or call The Freeman: (032) 2531276, or PSH: (032) 233 8620 and 232 5929. Your inquiries will be forwarded to Dr. Tan.