Dealing with the inflammation

[stringerbell]

Hi everybody.

To make it short, I'm 20 and my hairline has been receding for quite some years now (to a norwood 3 I'd say), although I didn't really notice it until a year ago. I started to apply minoxidil to my hair two months ago, hoping for a little delaying of the unavoidable. At first, I choosed not to take Finasteride as I didn't think it was worth the risk. I mean, I wouldn't say that I'm happy to loose my hair at such a young age, but well they are going to go anyway, and I prefer to focus on improving the things I have power on rather than taking stuffs that could (I prefer to stress the "could" as I'm not a "finasteride hater" or anything) have a damaging impact on things I definitely care about (obviously ). But actually, that is not the problem I want to discuss here.

My problem is that not only my hair have decided that I was no use to them, but they also wanted to make it clear by causing me a decent amount of pain. Actually, I wouldn't call it "painful", but more like a disturbing sensation which started a few months ago (before I started to apply minox) as I think the whole process has been speeding up : fisrt, my scalp has been feeling very tight for a few months, and I can "feel" (shivers, tingling) the areas where hair are becoming thinner. Sometimes, it's even like a burning sensation. So, I wouldn't say that is really painful, but it's disturbing and distracting whereas I'm making studies that require a high level of focus (well, which one don't right?) which I have not anymore, because of these sensations.

So, after a few researchs on this forum and others about the issue, I found that it may very well be an inflammatory reaction to the whole process of MPB. I must say that I have a really healthy and balanced (I think) diet, doing sport occasionnally. I am indeed experiencing a lot of stress because of my studies, but it was already the case last year and I didn't experienced anything likely on my scalp.

Then, here are my questions :
- Could Nizoral (or any other shampoo that has ktz 1%, 2%) solve my issue ?
- Could Finasteride solve it if I decided that this sensation was such a trouble to me that it would become worth the risk ?
- Could anti inflammatory food (curcumin, omega 3) help with my issue if I took them as supplements ?

Please note that every thought is welcomed.
Thank you for reading me !

[Jazz1]

I was just about say tumeric lol it helps me, I mix tumeric now daily with black seed oil and honey seems be helping my whole body.

[FlopTurnRiver]

I also experienced (and still do but to a lesser extent) the tight scalp feeling and itching/tingling/burning sensation especially where I'm losing my hair. Sometimes it also actually hurts too. Hair thins because of hormone activity in your scalp. Androgen blockers inhibit those processes. Left unchecked, inflammation takes over. Many people who start losing hair have itching, tingling, and intense irritation and even pain in their scalp.

This itch is the hallmark of Androgenetic Alopecia (thinning hair). If you have any tingling or itching, your hair loss will move significantly faster. Your scalp must be in a calm state in order to stop this process.

I found that as soon as I use Nizoral 2% the tingling and tight scalp feeling completely goes away and my scalp feels like it can breathe again. I use Nizoral 2% on Mondays and Fridays and leave it in for 4 minutes before washing it out (through trial and error I've found any longer and it burns my scalp making it red). By late Wednesday/Thursday I can feel the tingling building up again which is why I use it twice a week. Essentially Nizoral (ketoconazole) has androgen blocking properties. This makes it an effective anti-inflammatory for hair loss sufferers.

I know people call bs on using Nizoral 2% and say that it makes no difference (and it may well be true for them). I however have been using it for 2 years now (havent tried fin or minox yet) and it has calmed my scalp down SO much and also very slightly made my hair darker and thicker. I know it's not going to stop my hairloss but I can't help feeling I would have less hair today than if I didn't use it. I also like the cosmetic thickening effect it gives immediately after using it

[burtandernie]

Odd nizoral didnt do a thing for me but I guess everyone is different

[stringerbell]

Hi and sorry for the late answer.

Thank you all for your answers.

Jazz 1 : I'm French so I didn't now that what we call curcuma is actually turmeric in english ! It really seems to be a very good product for the whole body indeed, I'm considering getting some along with some omega 3 fatty acid to help my body fighting the inflammation.

FlopTurnRiver : Our experiences are indeed very similar. Only difference though is that I never experienced any itching, which is, as you say, one of the most common symptom experienced by guys with MPB. Anyway, I followed your advice and started to wash my hair with Regenpure DR wich has keto 1% (as I said, I'm french and it's nearly impossible to find nizoral around here). It feels great regarding the hair, but I couldn't say it helped so far. I've been using it only 2 times though ; did Nizoral take some time to improve your scalp condition ?

[Shelley79328]

Fish oils like cod liver oil, salmon or mackeral are great natural anti-inflammatories. They are the Omega 3-6-9's. They come in tablet, so easy to take. If you burp up fishy taste after taking them, store them in the freezer and take frozen.

[burtandernie]

I took fish oil doesnt do anything for me either. Nothing has really ever helped me. When I use a dandruff shampoo it helps for maybe that day then its back again it never goes away could be MPB related. Maybe finasteride could help

[Notcoolanymore]

Fish oils like cod liver oil, salmon or mackeral are great natural anti-inflammatories. They are the Omega 3-6-9's. They come in tablet, so easy to take. If you burp up fishy taste after taking them, store them in the freezer and take frozen.

Didn't know this works.

Fish oil is a good supplement. Not sure it does much for the hair though.

[stringerbell]

Shelley79328 : I've read that fish oil omega 3 fatty acid has helped some with this kind of scalp issues. I've just bought some, hope it'll help !

burtandernie : Hmm, you're frightening me ! Really, it has got to such a point that I would be cool with losing my hair if that feeling could just go away.. I'm really thinking about finasteride..

Notcoolanymore : As far as I'm concerned, if fish oil can make these sensations disappear, I'll be perfectly happy with it and won't ask it anything more !

[35YrsAfter]

fisrt, my scalp has been feeling very tight for a few months, and I can "feel" (shivers, tingling) the areas where hair are becoming thinner. Sometimes, it's even like a burning sensation. So, I wouldn't say that is really painful, but it's disturbing and distracting whereas I'm making studies that require a high level of focus (well, which one don't right?) which I have not anymore, because of these sensations.

So, after a few researchs on this forum and others about the issue, I found that it may very well be an inflammatory reaction to the whole process of MPB.

I had the same sensation when I was in my early twenties. Some researchers are claiming that DHT triggers an immune reaction causing susceptible follicles to be viewed as a foreign object by the body. When I was your age my dermatologist prescribed hydrocortisone cream and it helped relieve the sensation of my hair being "strangled". My hair grew thicker, but I discontinued the steroid use after several months. Steroids are not recommended for regular prolonged use because it causes skin thinning. A steroid cream called Cordran SP has a side effect of excessive hair growth. Here is an article.

35YrsAfter also posts as CITNews and works at Dr. Cole's office
forhair.com
Cole Hair Transplant
1070 Powers Place
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
Phone 678-566-1011
email 35YrsAfter at chuck@forhair.com
The contents of my posts are my opinions and not medical advice
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions. Ask for Chuck

[stringerbell]

Thank you for your answer 35YrsAfter.

I think I'm going to give a try to natural anti-inflammatories before considering anything else. But as it looks like you experienced the very same thing as I do (especially the fact that hair seems to be "strangled", which is exactly how I would describe it) and as you seem to talk about it like an old issue, could you tell me if it ever came back once you stopped taking steroids and if yes, did it stop by itself or did you do something else ?

Also, I was noticing today that whereas my scalp used to be very oily, it clearly isn't anymore. I would even say it has become very dry and I can even see some dandruffs wich I never had before, which may be an other explanation to the sensation of "strangling" and tightness. So I'm thinking, maybe the cold weather of winter,the addition of the drying effect of minoxidil alcohol (I suppose..) and the fact that I'm washing my hair everyday has completely dried my scalp.
From what I've read so far, scalp massage and oils applied to the scalp (such as olive oil, tea tree oil, ..) could help with my issue. Do you guys agree ?

[35YrsAfter]

Thank you for your answer 35YrsAfter.
I think I'm going to give a try to natural anti-inflammatories before considering anything else. But as it looks like you experienced the very same thing as I do (especially the fact that hair seems to be "strangled", which is exactly how I would describe it) and as you seem to talk about it like an old issue, could you tell me if it ever came back once you stopped taking steroids and if yes, did it stop by itself or did you do something else ?

Dr. Sharon Keene has written a series of articles in the Hair Transplant trade magazine called "Hair Transplant Forum International". The articles cover epigenetic studies of identical twins. The bottom line is, sunburn, alcoholism, cigarette smoking and stress are bad for your hair while good general health and coffee are beneficial. Another author wrote an article expressing her belief that vitamin D3 will play an important role in future hair multiplication technology. I believe derma rolling or micro needling is worth a shot and minimally beneficial. I would personally only consider a roller with a .5 needle length. Studies indicate an increased possibility of skin cancer when a person becomes obsessively aggressive with derma rolling. I don't think excessive use of a roller with 1.5mm needles is a particularly good idea.

Natural gas heating during the winter months can really dry skin out. I personally think natural products offer health benefits. It's important to remember though, that the health food and supplement industry are just as vulnerable to marketing hype, quacks and charlatans as any other industry.

For me, alternating shampoos and occasional use of over the counter hydrocortisone cream has proven beneficial.

35YrsAfter also posts as CITNews and works at Dr. Cole's office
forhair.com
Cole Hair Transplant
1070 Powers Place
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
Phone 678-566-1011
email 35YrsAfter at chuck@forhair.com
The contents of my posts are my opinions and not medical advice
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions. Ask for Chuck

[stringerbell]

Thank you again 35YrsAfter for your very informative answers !

As far as my lifestyle is concerned, I think it fits pretty well with what you say, except that I don't drink cofee and I am a vegetarian, which is why I'm already taking D3 vitamin.

As I said before, I'm indeed experiencing a lot of stress but I've started meditation to try to regulate it - I was very skeptical about it at the beginning, but I was eventually convinced by the very conclusive studies about Mindfulness and I strongly recommend it to anyone.

I haven't considered satrting dermarolling as I wasn't that much into fighting my hairloss before my sensations started, but if you believe that it would help, I will be looking into more information about it.

Of course, I'm aware of the potential marketing hype bias of the supplement industry. As I said before, I think I'll go with omega 3, vitamin D3 (I mean I'll stay on it) and olive oil + massaging my scalp for now. There are strong evidences that the first two are beneficial for overall health and could help with my problem, and the combo olive oil/massage could only help and is not worth a lot.

[Shelley79328]

Didn't know this works.

Fish oil is a good supplement. Not sure it does much for the hair though.

It hasn't been studied for hair loss use. But it has been studied for anti inflammatory use. It can offer up to 25% anti inflammatory effect when taken regularly and NO harmful side effects. (Other than fishy burps)

[hairy]

"A steroid cream called Cordran SP has a side effect of excessive hair growth."

Is it scalp hair or body hair? The general link you have below says increased body hair is a side effect.

I had the same sensation when I was in my early twenties. Some researchers are claiming that DHT triggers an immune reaction causing susceptible follicles to be viewed as a foreign object by the body. When I was your age my dermatologist prescribed hydrocortisone cream and it helped relieve the sensation of my hair being "strangled". My hair grew thicker, but I discontinued the steroid use after several months. Steroids are not recommended for regular prolonged use because it causes skin thinning. A steroid cream called Cordran SP has a side effect of excessive hair growth. Here is an article.

35YrsAfter also posts as CITNews and works at Dr. Cole's office
forhair.com
Cole Hair Transplant
1070 Powers Place
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
Phone 678-566-1011
email 35YrsAfter at chuck@forhair.com
The contents of my posts are my opinions and not medical advice
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions. Ask for Chuck