HairDX

[Anagen]

From what I can tell by reviewing the information on the HairDX website (and the baldingblog replies) I don't feel convinced that it will give me enough accurate data. I might be totally wrong and perhaps it is a must-have product. Anyone?

[Mark]

From what I can tell by reviewing the information on the HairDX website (and the baldingblog replies) I don't feel convinced that it will give me enough accurate data. I might be totally wrong and perhaps it is a must-have product. Anyone?

You've already read the posts on the blog about it so I won't re-link those here, but I'm cuious. Are you showing any signs of balding?

[Anagen]

In my case I don't think I would need to take this test in order to determine IF, it's rather a question of "how severe?" - which this test perhaps could help me answer.

[Mark]

In my case I don't think I would need to take this test in order to determine IF, it's rather a question of "how severe?" - which this test perhaps could help me answer.

From my understanding of HairDX, I don't think that they'll be able to tell you how severe your hair loss might eventually get, just whether you carry the gene for it or not.

I spoke to Dr Rassman this morning before he went in for a surgery and brought up your question. Essentially he told me that if you're going to take Finasteride to help slow/stop your hair loss, it's not really important to know whether you'll end up having a slightly receding hairline or whether you'll end up looking like Ben Franklin. All hair that is genetically impacted by the balding process will respond to finasteride to some degree whether the patient has a Class 2 or Class 7 status.

However if you're planning on having a hair transplant in the future, then it is important for the doctor to try and gauge what your final Norwood class will be so they can gauge where it will be best to transplant hairs. Dr Rassman writes pretty extensively about this in the "Master Plan" section of our site. (http://www.newhair.com/treatment/fut-nhi-master-plan.asp)

Hope that helps!

-Mark

[Dr. William Rassman]

The miniaturization analysis recommended by us in baldingblog today (http://www.baldingblog.com/2008/11/17/mapping-your-own-scalp-for-miniaturization-part-2/) will allow you to look for miniaturization in the various areas of your head. If there is miniaturization in the crown picked up with the video imaging system, then that means that sooner or later you may bald in the crown (even if you can not see anything with the naked eye today). Everyone with balding should map out the miniaturization locations on the head and then go back a year later and see what has happened to it over time.

[Cyborg]

HairDX only checks for a special variant of Androgen Receptor gene, which sits on X chromosome. But recent studies say that chromosome 20 also carries AGA gene, so hairDX is worthless IMHO.