Crazy Itchy dry scalp after taking minoxidil and finasteride, from best results to the worst..

[cyberlollo]

Hello guys,
First of all, sorry for my English, I'm not a native speaker and I'm still learning..
I'm a 25yo guy living in Dublin..

I started using minoxidil 4%-1ml twice a day (made by my local pharmacy in town) and Finasteride (proscar 1,25mg a day) in March.
After two months, I suffered from itch starting on my arms, then to my back, shoulders, neck, and to right eye and after few weeks it started on my head.
I'm always been very carefully applying minoxidil with a band to avoid it on my face.

From March until now i switched to Rogaine foam 5% (to be sure it wasn't the glycol) but I had the same problems, itchy and dry scalp, and little pimples (not like acne but as an allergy on the front and temples), doesn't matter if I apply 1ml or 2ml, one or twice a day, or every two days.

Every time I try to apply minoxidil on my scalp, the skin start itching and I have a sensation feeling every single hair in my head moving..(this happen with Rogaine and generic).

I quitted for a while from both finasteride and minoxidil, but the itch wasn't going away, so I decide to start again with only finasteride,
but I still have itchy scalp, and in this period without taking minoxidil, from the best results (almost incredible, no shedding, spectacular regrow), now I'm losing an huge quantity of hair, especially, in the front area, where the itch is most, and finasteride looks as not working at all reducing the side effects..

- So far I have used different types of shampoo (Pantene PROV dandruff, Head & Shoulders dandruff with tea tree oil; Stiproxal (similar to Nizoral, no results at all, using it from 2 to 5 times per week), Pantene PROV For normal hair + Pantene conditioner for damaged hair, Garnier shampoo for dry hair; Aussie Three Oil, Aloe, and lemon juice)

The itch is always there, no redness, only some signs of dry scalp (white flakes)
If you use a dandruff shampoo the skin becomes extremely dry and the scalp is painful to the touch, especially in the front-top area.

- I assumed for a consecutive month Crinoderm as a Zinc supplement.

- Suspended Proscar, then taken up by reducing the dose to 0,6mg daily.

I was assuming finasteride in the last weeks, but after all this itch and no results at all (my hair are going worse), I decide to quit again last week.

The more itch you have and the more you need to scratch your head, losing hair and counting them in your hand..(you can't imagine how is stressful and depressing when you wake up in the middle of the night for scratch your hair, and see a lot of them in the morning on the pillow, with white flakes..)
I can't say if all these problem are made by finasteride or minoxidil, I started to suffer of itching scalp/body when I was taking both, and even suspending one or both the itch is still there.
Someone told me on the forum that the problem was the alcohol inside the formula, but suspending it for a week it should be enough for see some changes..)

1) Which products I can try to buy to see if I can save some of my hair? Does exist any alternative to minoxidil and finasteride? (I know they are the best, but even with less effect, it would be trying to save some hair..

2)Does anybody has an advice, maybe someone had the same issue taking these products?

I tried to talk with my dermatologist, but it seems like he know less than me..and in this period I'm far away from home..

Hope you guys are going better then me with this shi**y hair loss.
Thanks for your time

here are two picture, one after two months of treatment (green t-shirt), when the problem started, and one of today with less hair on my scalp (with grey jumpers)

Before to start in March:


After two months of treatment:


Today:

 

[neuromotor]

Hey @cyberlollo,
Please see my answers regarding your ways of treatment:


You: "I was assuming finasteride in the last weeks, but after all this itch and no results at all (my hair are going worse), I decide to quit again last week."
Me: finasteride results takes about 3 months to 1 year.


You: "I quitted for a while from both finasteride and minoxidil, but the itch wasn't going away"
Me:The itching scalp is 99% from minoxidil and it can takes up to even 3 months for the itching & rash to go away.
but usually it spouse to be reduced or even disappear in a few days/weeks. in my case when I reduced the minoxidil dosage to once a day instead of two and less amounts I experienced much less itching and rash/redness.


You:"Which products I can try to buy to see if I can save some of my hair? Does exist any alternative to minoxidil and finasteride? (I know they are the best, but even with less effect, it would be trying to save some hair.."
Me: As we talked before, I don't think there is a natural way for example that substitute propecia or minoxidil results. you can try saw palmetto extract pills which blocks DHT, but you've to take the strong extract to gain more results. as for side effects it will probably be similar to finasteride as they both blocks DHT, but at least saw palmetto have less chemicals. maybe other people here have more info, let's wait


You: I started using minoxidil 4%-1ml twice a day (made by my local pharmacy in town) and Finasteride (proscar 1,25mg a day) in March.
After two months, I suffered from itch starting on my arms, then to my back, shoulders, neck, and to right eye and after few weeks it started on my head.
Me: I don't sure, but I think the itching body caused by proscar. maybe you didn't split it well and therefore you have taken more than 1.25mg per day, and the others day less than 1.25mg. did you feel the itching on the body everyday while on proscar or randomly: one day itching and other day not?
I think you should try the original finasteride to see if thats makes any different.

 

[cyberlollo]

Thanks Neuromotor,

I made a mistake writing about the finasteride,
I used to take finasteride from March to July, then I quitted, and I restart using finasteride in August, but I always had an itching scalp, with or without finasteride..
about the minoxidil I couldn't apply it every months because after I started to suffer from itching, it was impossible to apply it on the skin, even reducing the applications from twice to once a day..(alcohol? minoxidil intolerance from my body?)
Also I was taking the original finasteride, Proscar is made by Merck, but instead of 1mg each pills it is 5mg, that I was splitting in 4..
I felt the itching everyday, especially in the middle of the night and early morning.


Thanks a lot!

 

[neuromotor]

You welcome.
Itching scalp is 99% from minoxidil, finasteride got nothing to do with it I'm pretty sure. regarding the finasteride you took - it can sometimes show results only after 1 year(as i mentioned earlier). regarding the minoxidil irritation - it's probably from the alcohol(i've that too), but as long as the minoxidil didn't touch you body I don't think it's the cause of your itching body. it's probably high dosage of proscar. I suggest you to stick with original finasteride for at least 6 months to 1 year, so that you could really experience the results from finasteride & also reduce or remove the side effects from previous treatments: minoxidil, proscar etc.