Connection between scalp itch and MPB?

[Dench57]

Oh I'm not claiming it as fact, its just my opinion but one I'm pretty certain about personally. If we relied on clinical studies before we accepted any theory, we wouldn't get anywhere. Clinical studies are expensive and are only conducted with good reason. Its unlikely there will ever be a study into this phenomenon. There's no study that shows Minoxidil or 5ARi's cause shedding - and yet thats pretty much regarded as fact in the hairloss community. The "MPB itch" only occurs in areas where the hair is sensitive to DHT. How could it be anything other than DHT?

[burtandernie]

Well there is danger in doing this. A link someday might be found, but right now I have never seen a study showing a link between the two. Stories dont prove a link though they could all be caused by different issues or a common issues that is not MPB but some immune system thing separate from MPB. We dont know

As far as I'm aware there's no clinical study that proves a definitive link between these sensations and AGA, but considering the abundance of identical anecdotal reports, plus the knowledge we have about inflammation in AGA....I think its safe to say there is a direct correlation.

[Dench57]

I'm talking specifically about the "MPB itch". Not SD, psoriasis, folliculitis, dandruff or any other skin/scalp condition that could be causing it. I'm certain that the "MPB itch" is caused by androgens. We know that perifollicular inflammation is present in most cases of AGA. DHT sets off a cascade of microinflammation (subclinical - cannot be seen, which is why dermatologists don't know shit about it) where many pro-inflammatory mediators (cytokines, leutrokienes, prostaglandins etc) are overexpressed, leading to miniaturisation and eventual fibrosis of the follicle. This microinflammation manifests itself as itching, burning, tingling etc and can be directly correlated to areas with the most noticeable hair loss/thinning.

I don't understand how people can say there is no link between this very unique itch/tingling sensation and MPB when there are hundreds, if not thousands of posts and threads out there on every hairloss forum, with everyone reporting this exact sensation in areas of thinning, usually when their hairloss first starts or becomes aggressive (androgens kicking into action). As far as I'm aware there's no clinical study that proves a definitive link between these sensations and AGA, but considering the abundance of identical anecdotal reports, plus the knowledge we have about inflammation in AGA....I think its safe to say there is a direct correlation.

[wriggles]

Can anyone describe 'The itch'? Is it a general itch all over or in certain spots? Is it a frantic itch that keeps you awake or a constant background itchiness?

[burtandernie]

I didnt realize I kind of repeated myself a few times in this post sorry. I dont think there is any proven link between the itch and MPB though its all just speculation still or could be some other underlying cause.

[jamesst11]

If the itch was indeed caused by inflammation from androgen activity... then why do so many balding or bald people not have it?

[Hubris]

The "itch" is microinflammation set off by DHT.

Is this backed up by any research or is it just speculation? It seems plausible to me, but as far as I am aware, the MPB itch that a lot of us complain about isn't part of any of the mainstream AGA theories.

I also used to get a very itchy head before starting treatment, but I just put it down to having bad skin. Now that I'm on this forum and others are complaining about it, it does make me wonder if there is more to it.

[Dench57]

The "itch" is microinflammation set off by DHT.

[jamesst11]

I want to bump this thread because this topic is interesting... has anyone ever theorized that the "itch" is in itself a hair, or multiple hairs, in an area that have shed and are just waiting to be removed? It seems like a hair that is ejected and just kind of sitting there, waiting for some force to remove it would cause an "itch" to the surrounding tissue.

[BigThinker]

I have this itch and after trying saw palmetto I am nearly sure its from androgens. I stopped saw palmetto because I had sides and I was not sure if it helped me hair or not but the itch was gone.
My itch has moved around over the years as my hairloss moved to different spots but my hair loss is very minor and slow. Right now its at the teenage hairline and the very crown.
Did propecia when it made the itch away get rid of it everywhere like the front,back and everywhere equally or is the itch still around in the front hairline? I remember when I tried saw palmetto the front seemed to be more oily and I still had some itch there I think
My theory is propecia is not strong enough and the front is more sensitive to androgens so that is why its not good at keeping teenage hairlines or the temple hair where MPB starts

Interesting.

I didn't really notice the itch much during the early recession at the hairline/temples -- something I hadn't thought about until reading your post.

When thinning started hitting the vertex and crown, that's when the itch became glaringly uncomfortable.

Regardless, the itch is gone now (excluding stressful situations), and for that I am thankful.

[burtandernie]

I have this itch and after trying saw palmetto I am nearly sure its from androgens. I stopped saw palmetto because I had sides and I was not sure if it helped me hair or not but the itch was gone.
My itch has moved around over the years as my hairloss moved to different spots but my hair loss is very minor and slow. Right now its at the teenage hairline and the very crown.
Did propecia when it made the itch away get rid of it everywhere like the front,back and everywhere equally or is the itch still around in the front hairline? I remember when I tried saw palmetto the front seemed to be more oily and I still had some itch there I think
My theory is propecia is not strong enough and the front is more sensitive to androgens so that is why its not good at keeping teenage hairlines or the temple hair where MPB starts

[mattj]

I guess when derms hear a patient talk about an itch, they put it down to other causes, like dandruff. A lot of guys probably don't even report the itch.

[burtandernie]

The itch is a funny thing because tons of guys with MPB seem to have it, and I battled it from young age seeing derms and trying tons of dandruff shampoos. Nothing ever worked but I think it is androgen related because the only time in my life it stopped was when I tried saw palmetto. I quit saw palmetto a long time ago after having finasteride like effects and said I am using the real proven thing propecia or nothing.
The thing is no one like doctors or derms says there is any connection between MPB and the itch which seems odd to me given how many men have it.

[cs2257]

This is the case for me as well. In addition to the itch, I've seen very small areas of redness on my scalp sometimes where the itch resides.

edit: also, caffeine aggravates that itch for me...anyone else notice the caffeine itch?

[BigThinker]

but sometimes I get short periods where it returns. It's hard not to worry that The Itch = doom for your hair.

Same here. Fin has for the eliminated 95% of the itch duration/frequency for me.

However, every couple days I'll encounter a stressful life situation (work, lifting, social) and I'll feel the tingle. It can be really alarming, because I've made a connection my brain that itch = balding -- that's not to say it's absolutely true.

That said, I wonder if I shouldn't be doing something to suppress the itch. Whether it be preventative, like stress management, or a pharmaceutical/topical of some sort. Or, maybe I'm just over-analyzing the situation (probably this.)