Itching/Shedding/Thinning - no help from treatments

[Danjellyman]

I started losing my hair abruptly about 6 years ago. Tons of scalp irritation, burning/itching - noticeable shedding - hair falling out everywhere and went to the derm who diagnosed Telogen Effluvium. It never let up and Derms seemed to just kept attributing it to Telogen Effluvium. After a few years the thinning became noticeable and some temple recession - nothing terrible, with Topikk i look pretty stable. But i started to assume Androgenetic Alopecia induced by Telogen Effluvium. I went on topical finasteride/Min/Derm roll (no nizoral i tried that and it caused even more irritation).

I was hopeful that finasteride/Min would reduce the irritation at the very least as loads of people report it does but it hasn't helped. So now i'm bewildered. Is it something else than Androgenetic Alopecia?

 

[Feramon1]

I think we need photo

 

[losingbattle88]

I started losing my hair abruptly about 6 years ago. Tons of scalp irritation, burning/itching - noticeable shedding - hair falling out everywhere and went to the derm who diagnosed Telogen Effluvium. It never let up and Derms seemed to just kept attributing it to Telogen Effluvium. After a few years the thinning became noticeable and some temple recession - nothing terrible, with Topikk i look pretty stable. But i started to assume Androgenetic Alopecia induced by Telogen Effluvium. I went on topical finasteride/Min/Derm roll (no nizoral i tried that and it caused even more irritation).

I was hopeful that finasteride/Min would reduce the irritation at the very least as loads of people report it does but it hasn't helped. So now i'm bewildered. Is it something else than Androgenetic Alopecia?

Use oral finasteride and min not on scalp. It causes inflammation and irritation.

 

[Danjellyman]

Use oral finasteride and min not on scalp. It causes inflammation and irritation.

Might have to go that route. This isn't settling down any of the irritation one bit.

 

[norwood_spotter]

Use oral finasteride and min not on scalp. It causes inflammation and irritation.

this

 

[losingbattle88]

I started losing my hair abruptly about 6 years ago. Tons of scalp irritation, burning/itching - noticeable shedding - hair falling out everywhere and went to the derm who diagnosed Telogen Effluvium. It never let up and Derms seemed to just kept attributing it to Telogen Effluvium. After a few years the thinning became noticeable and some temple recession - nothing terrible, with Topikk i look pretty stable. But i started to assume Androgenetic Alopecia induced by Telogen Effluvium. I went on topical finasteride/Min/Derm roll (no nizoral i tried that and it caused even more irritation).

I was hopeful that finasteride/Min would reduce the irritation at the very least as loads of people report it does but it hasn't helped. So now i'm bewildered. Is it something else than Androgenetic Alopecia?

Have you tried to avoid gluten? Or lactose? Could be what you eat.

 

[finornottofin]

Hey guys I tried a whole bunch of stuff for my itchy scalp. These are the things that have helped in increasing order of effectiveness

1: ketoconazole shampoo
2: cleaner diet
3: tgel shampoo

And the most effective off then all

4: wide tooth combing scalp after letting shampoo set.

Idk why number 4 works but I think it may be because it helps loosen the sebum. This really helps on my crown and whenever I stop doing it I notice the itch more throughout the day.

The secret number 5 is full dose oral finasteride but I can't tolerate that

 

[Danjellyman]

Hey guys I tried a whole bunch of stuff for my itchy scalp. These are the things that have helped in increasing order of effectiveness

1: ketoconazole shampoo
2: cleaner diet
3: tgel shampoo

And the most effective off then all

4: wide tooth combing scalp after letting shampoo set.

Idk why number 4 works but I think it may be because it helps loosen the sebum. This really helps on my crown and whenever I stop doing it I notice the itch more throughout the day.

The secret number 5 is full dose oral finasteride but I can't tolerate that

Yeah the whole point of taking topical is to avoid sides. Ugh. I tried the shampoos you listed but they actually make the itch worse for me.

 

[Danjellyman]

Have you tried to avoid gluten? Or lactose? Could be what you eat.

No. I have a fairly good diet. Mindful of it but I indulge sometimes with garabage.

 

[finornottofin]

Yeah the whole point of taking topical is to avoid sides. Ugh. I tried the shampoos you listed but they actually make the itch worse for me.

I would say go get some inflammatory markers blood work. If it's an auto immune condition you will (not always) have elevated levels of things that can be measured in blood. You should google rheumatologist blood work.

One thing that will 100% work is some type of topical cortisol (hydrocortisone etc) but it's not something you want to use 24/7 though note some people do for psoriasis etc.

 

[Feramon1]

I would say go get some inflammatory markers blood work. If it's an auto immune condition you will (not always) have elevated levels of things that can be measured in blood. You should google rheumatologist blood work.

One thing that will 100% work is some type of topical cortisol (hydrocortisone etc) but it's not something you want to use 24/7 though note some people do for psoriasis etc.

Are you good at this? May I ask you a few questions?

 

[Danjellyman]

this

this

The weird thing is. I don’t have itch or irritation because of the topical finasteride/min I had it long before that.
The topical finasteride/min just isn’t effectively helping it at all. I guess I could try oral and if that helps it then it’s def an Androgenetic Alopecia problem.

 

[finornottofin]

Are you good at this? May I ask you a few questions?

I'm not a doctor I would suggesting making an appointment with a rheumatologist if you think you could have areata. They'll give you the bloodwork you need.

 

[Feramon1]

I'm not a doctor I would suggesting making an appointment with a rheumatologist if you think you could have areata. They'll give you the bloodwork you need.

Not really, rather there is an inflammation or infection that I have not been able to detect for several years and that affects life even more than baldness. I have been to many doctors, but this did not solve my problem, doctors usually work according to the instructions, my case is not typical. Therefore, I thought that by describing the problem to you more specifically, you could give advice on analyzes, but anyway, thanks for the answer.

 

[finornottofin]

Not really, rather there is an inflammation or infection that I have not been able to detect for several years and that affects life even more than baldness. I have been to many doctors, but this did not solve my problem, doctors usually work according to the instructions, my case is not typical. Therefore, I thought that by describing the problem to you more specifically, you could give advice on analyzes, but anyway, thanks for the answer.

I feel you brother, lots of these doctors will follow a chart of instructions and give up once you don't fit a category. In cases like this you just have to do your own research and go to different specialists to get bloodwork and testing and come to your own conclusions from the newest research. Feel free to message me I'm just usually hesitant to try to help people in things I'm unfamiliar with BC I don't want to feel liable etc

 

[resu]

Describe your diet, I can't eat many foods otherwise I don't sleep that night due to the itch and scalp sebum, something I used to do was to use a powerful showerhead and cleanse the scalp with cold water every single day but at this house the water pressure is low so I can't do that anymore.

 

[Feramon1]

I feel you brother, lots of these doctors will follow a chart of instructions and give up once you don't fit a category. In cases like this you just have to do your own research and go to different specialists to get bloodwork and testing and come to your own conclusions from the newest research. Feel free to message me I'm just usually hesitant to try to help people in things I'm unfamiliar with BC I don't want to feel liable etc

No problem, I understand. Yes, it is, you have to dig into it and look for the cause yourself.

 

[Danjellyman]

Describe your diet, I can't eat many foods otherwise I don't sleep that night due to the itch and scalp sebum, something I used to do was to use a powerful showerhead and cleanse the scalp with cold water every single day but at this house the water pressure is low so I can't do that anymore.

Primarily fruits and nuts through breakfast/lunch. I don't eat meat aside from occasional fish. I have kids who eat junk and sometimes i indulge but i'm mindful most of the week to not. I try to avoid dairy but i don't completely - i use almond milk around the house but i don't avoid butter.

 

[resu]

Primarily fruits and nuts through breakfast/lunch. I don't eat meat aside from occasional fish. I have kids who eat junk and sometimes i indulge but i'm mindful most of the week to not. I try to avoid dairy but i don't completely - i use almond milk around the house but i don't avoid butter.

Nuts is a big cause for itch for me, I would avoid them specially if they're not roasted but overall your diet is on point in terms of reducing inflammation.

 

[I wont lose this]

I lived with it for years, and out of nowhere, it disappeared completely. I am almost three months free of itchiness/pain/shedding and I have no idea what made it stop. Actually, I have no idea what caused it in the first place. Go figure.