Know-nothing dermatologists and scalp itch

[Thom]

I have had on and off again scalp itch for the better part of three years now with hair loss in the itching spots. The itching and thinning is on the sides and back of my head in addition to the top. In addition to the "bumps" I get severe dandruff.

Every dermatologist I go to just takes a quick glance and says I just have dandruff and tells me to get head and shoulders which does nothing for me. I plead with these doctors and tell them I know it is not dandruff due to the red bumps, scabs and hair loss. Any one else with these problems tired of paying these guys to not listen to us?

I have been on the big 3 for over a year now and was doing great until this last month I had sever itching and shedding with white bulbs at the end of my hair. Now the part in my hair is a lot wider and thinner and I've had to buy toppik to conceal it. I know if I cut my hair short the thinning on the sides will be noticeable too. I just wish I could get it all to stop.

 

[Thom]

No, i haven't tried that yet but i agree my scalp gets dry. I have a water softener in my shower but every time i use a different shower or visit another city i come back to horrible itching with huge sheds. This last shed noticeably thinned my bangs and it was Telogen Effluvium because there was no miniaturization and the hairs had white bulbs. Also, where i was losing hair it got scabby with red bumps.

 

[Receding89]

R E V I V O G E N. Sorts the itch out.

 

[DTW]

I'm convinced itching is associated with DHT and inflammation attacking the follicles. My scalp was never itchy until I started losing my hair. I knew finasteride was no longer working when I experienced heavy shedding along with the dreaded scalp itch. After being on dutasteride for some time, the itch has virtually disappeared.

It's disappponting that dermatologists, as well as hair transplant doctors, are unable to provide an accurate explanation regarding the itch and hair loss.

 

[Hellboy666]

Dermatologists are useless

 

[Thom]

I don't think this has to do with dht though because it itches just as much on the sides and back, and i lose a lot of hair there as well.

 

[abcdefg]

I have been debating going to doctor to get propecia and using .25 every 2 or 3 days just to see how the itch reacts. Everyone seems to react differently, but I really think in my case the itch is related to androgens.
I will agree that derms are dumb as rocks on hair loss.

 

[Thom]

It's really sad when we depend on them too. So many people just get prescribed Head and Shoulders when we have more serious problems such as folliculitus or SD. I pay them all this money just to tell me I have dandruff when I know for a fact that is not the case. Thank God I have Nizoral.

 

[majorsixth]

Diet is the answer. Cut out all processed foods, and sugar ,also sugary drinks [sodas]. A void polyunsaturated oils and any product made with them, since these surpress the thyroid gland reducing metabolism leading to weight gain. They also reduce the efficay of your immune system leading to infections such as yeast[candida]. If you don't like the idea of too much saturated fat then go for monounsaturated like olive oil.

The above approach stopped my itching . You don't have to believe it, it's up to you.

 

[oofah]

I agree with major. Your insides are all out of whack due to a poor diet. You may see some relief from finasteride but it will likely be temporary. Cut out sugar and all high glycemic carbs and you'll lose weight, be MUCH healthier and save your hair.

 

[Shma]

Try a shampoo with selenium sulfide in it, has helped me every time.

Also, if you're worried about hairloss, dermatologists aren't the way to go to get informations. 90% of them are clueless. That's why it quite annoying that people recommend stuff like "go see your dermatologists" in this board.

 

[abcdefg]

Diet is the answer. Cut out all processed foods, and sugar ,also sugary drinks [sodas]. A void polyunsaturated oils and any product made with them, since these surpress the thyroid gland reducing metabolism leading to weight gain. They also reduce the efficay of your immune system leading to infections such as yeast[candida]. If you don't like the idea of too much saturated fat then go for monounsaturated like olive oil.

The above approach stopped my itching . You don't have to believe it, it's up to you.

I think I am more after stopping hair loss then stopping the itch whether they are related or not is not certain. Again for the hundredth time I know plenty of athletes and people on near perfect diets and they are balding much faster then I. My diet has garbage in it and I have plenty of hair for my age so explain to me how that fits in to your theory? I know guys that are 35 or 40 that have teenage hair lines not a hair missing and they have 0 facial hair. The androgen theory makes plenty of sense from what I see. I see men with good diets and some with bad there hair loss does not correlate to that.

 

[Receding89]

Try a shampoo with selenium sulfide in it, has helped me every time. Also, if you're worried about hairloss, dermatologists aren't the way to go to get informations. 90% of them are clueless. That's why it quite annoying that people recommend stuff like "go see your dermatologists" in this board.

What one would u recommend??

 

[duality8]

'Selsun' contains selenium sulfide. btw I have had the itch/flaky problem for nearly 15 years. Tried everything, in my case sugar and alcohol DO make it worse. I wake up itching my scalp in the middle of the night. When i wash my hair in the morning there IS more hair loss than usual. Much more. So it can be related. You can only expirement to see if this is the case. Otherwise you will never know.

But i dont agree with ppl who 'know' cutting out sugar will help someone else's scalp itch/hair loss, how can you know that what works for you will 100% for the next person? It could be 'sodium lauryl sulfate' in your shampoo - another big culprit for psoriasis and reactive scalp conditions. Mine was that ingredient plus 'tea tree oil' - which is in most anti-dandruff shampoo's. Now i understand why all those anti-dandruff shampoo's never worked for me!

 

[GioCairo]

Virgin coconut oil is a great remedy for hair and itching.

 

[elliotramsey]

A couple of trips to the dermatologist left me thinking I was in this alone. Absolutely no help.

 

[duality8]

A couple of trips to the dermatologist left me thinking I was in this alone. Absolutely no help.

Totally agree! My derm prescribed things that were not even relevent. Had to do my own research and find what worked/didn't.

 

[Shma]

Try a shampoo with selenium sulfide in it, has helped me every time. Also, if you're worried about hairloss, dermatologists aren't the way to go to get informations. 90% of them are clueless. That's why it quite annoying that people recommend stuff like "go see your dermatologists" in this board.

What one would u recommend??

Where u from? The one I use is called "Selsun", but I'd go to your local pharmacy and ask for a shampoo with selenium sulfide in it (best would be Sel.S. only, no other active ingridient)

 

[Thom]

You're definitely not alone. My itch finally went away again (it comes every few months). I believe it is through a combination of things:

I now use a water filter that filters hard water chemicals out

I use Nizoral every other day. When I use it I let it sit on my scalp for 5 minutes, rinse and do it again.

In Between the nizoral days I use a selenium sulfide shampoo.

I wash my hair in cool water because hot water seems to irritate it more.


The itch usually comes back about a month after my filter runs out. It is a six month filter and I think the hard water builds up and makes the folliculitus, dermatitus, or whatever it is come back. When I get back to filtered water and start using nizoral again it always goes away in a few days. When that itching starts though I lose a lot of hair all over. Maybe these things will work for you guys. My Shower filter is an Aquasana.

 

[abcdefg]

I thought about seeing a doctor to get propecia and taking a very small dose less then .25 a day to see if it helps the itch otherwise just quitting. The doctor would probably call me stupid if I told him that but I think in my own case it could help me.