Connection between scalp itch and MPB?

[25 going on 65]

Why do people on the forums say scalp itch indicates hair loss is progressing in people with MPB?
Not saying I believe or disbelieve it, just not sure why this connection is made and I am looking for any insight anyone can share. Thanks in advance

[BigThinker]

Think most of us noticed it in the places we were balding. You'd know for sure if you'd felt it.

[burtandernie]

Yeah not everyone gets it though so its not a definitve thing but in my case I do get this itch where I lose hair and I personally think androgen receptors play a big role in how strong that itch is for me at least. Its androgen related although it could be both T and DHT people never realize that T is a very abundant androgen that also binds to hair its a fact not just DHT.

[mattj]

Lots of people get The Itch. I have. No one can really say for sure what the cause is (as far as I know) but it effects the balding area and I'm sure it's linked to the balding process.

Some say that DHT blockers stopped their itching. I would say that's true for me too, but sometimes I get short periods where it returns. It's hard not to worry that The Itch = doom for your hair.

[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.)

[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?

[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.

[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]

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

[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.

[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.

[Dench57]

The "itch" is microinflammation set off by DHT.

[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.

[jamesst11]

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

[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.