Nioxin 2 Shampoo reducing DHT with Side effects?

I spent years using all sorts of DHT blockers like Finasteride, dutesteride, Saw Palmatto. Ru, Even spirolacton cream. All gave me terrible scalp inflammation which never went away even after stopping them. It all left my scalp and possibly hormones over sensitive. The only thing i found to reduce the inflammation is Nioxin 2 Shampoo. After a few days of using it, the itch calmed down and went away. Which sounds great right? It even reduced the hairloss a little for me. Not by a lot but more so than it was before.

Now if i listen to other people they will tell me there is nothing in this shampoo that should Affect DHT. But i have noticed that if i use it for a long period of time i get brain fog, i feel so unmotivated, my libido is barely there, i get fatigue, my hair grows way slower, i put on weight, and i get dopamine issues. But the moment i give myself a break from it, all those subsides and the inflammation returns. Which sadly i prefer not having those side affects holding me back in life. But i also don't want the inflammation destroying my hair.

So lets say in theory this shampoo is having some effect on my DHT or hormones. Would there be a way to get around these side effects? I assume these side effects are very similar to what people would get on spironolactone and finasteride when it works for them.

How often do you use it? Did you have a derm check out your scalp to see if anything else was going on? After I use Nizoral I shampoo with my regular shampoo, not sure if that would help. It reduces DHT levels in the scalp but its not on long enough to do much but in your case maybe you are super sensitive to it.

I use it every day. Its very drying shampoo. No conditioning. Very thickening too.

I do think im sensitive to a lot of things that go on my skin. I think its my immune system personally. I think its over reactive.

And i havent had a derm check my scalp out. Im fairly certain they will find nothing to note for me

I highly doubt it’s affecting your hormones as the only ingredient in the shampoo that MAY have any dht inhibiting properties is nettle and it’s likely at a concentration that doesn’t do much.

Why it’s helping? My guess is you have a scalp condition like seborrheic dermatitis which is common in hair loss sufferers. Nioxin uses salicylic acid and menthol to address symptoms of seb derm.

Just as a side note, scalp conditions are so common that they had participants use tgel shampoo for 2 years during the propecia studies.

neddy2016 said:

I use it every day. Its very drying shampoo. No conditioning. Very thickening too.

I do think im sensitive to a lot of things that go on my skin. I think its my immune system personally. I think its over reactive.

And i havent had a derm check my scalp out. Im fairly certain they will find nothing to note for me

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I use it 3 times a week. Try reducing the frequency and try nioxin as abovedagame suggested.

Any suggestions for shampoo that could replace Nioxin?

abovedagame said:

I highly doubt it’s affecting your hormones as the only ingredient in the shampoo that MAY have any dht inhibiting properties is nettle and it’s likely at a concentration that doesn’t do much.

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Maybe im just really sensitive because im fairly certain its doing something. Its 100% giving me fatigue, brain fog and other symptoms that seem like it would be connected to DHT. When i don't use it or use an another shampoo i feel so focused and motivated the next day while also bringing back the male pattern baldness itch. I have been using Nioxin for years and i have have been lacking in motivation and having so much brain fog that its not untill i stopped using it a couple of times that i realised how better i felt. Course i didn't connect it to the shampoo for the same reason that you are saying.

But then i couldn't use minoxidil because it would give me anxiety and other symptoms. I must be more of a sponge.

neddy2016 said:

Maybe im just really sensitive because im fairly certain its doing something. Its 100% giving me fatigue, brain fog and other symptoms that seem like it would be connected to DHT. When i don't use it or use an another shampoo i feel so focused and motivated the next day while also bringing back the male pattern baldness itch. I have been using Nioxin for years and i have have been lacking in motivation and having so much brain fog that its not untill i stopped using it a couple of times that i realised how better i felt. Course i didn't connect it to the shampoo for the same reason that you are saying.

But then i couldn't use minoxidil because it would give me anxiety and other symptoms. I must be more of a sponge.

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Try oral finasteride instead.

neddy2016 said:

Maybe im just really sensitive because im fairly certain its doing something. Its 100% giving me fatigue, brain fog and other symptoms that seem like it would be connected to DHT. When i don't use it or use an another shampoo i feel so focused and motivated the next day while also bringing back the male pattern baldness itch. I have been using Nioxin for years and i have have been lacking in motivation and having so much brain fog that its not untill i stopped using it a couple of times that i realised how better i felt. Course i didn't connect it to the shampoo for the same reason that you are saying.

But then i couldn't use minoxidil because it would give me anxiety and other symptoms. I must be more of a sponge.

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Do you by chance have anxiety/depression?

losingbattle88 said:

Try oral finasteride instead.

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I have. i got the male pattern baldness itch from it. had to stop.

I don't think it works for everyone sadly.

abovedagame said:

Do you by chance have anxiety/depression?

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I have suffered from Anxiety all my life. Depression occationally. But then just because i have it doesn't mean i don't know when its got worse and when it feel better.