Hey all
Im Dave, 29 from South Africa. I noticed about 2 years ago that my hair was getting thinner, in the temple regions and at the crowns - I have 2 crowns so that doesn't help. I've always had an irritated scalp, since I was a kid. I remember regularly shaking my hair and seeing dry flakes come out, throughout my teenage years. I've always been prone to psoriasis and eczema too, so I've know for a long time that my skin and scalp are very sensitive. As I moved into my twenties, my scalp started to feel a bit uncomfortable, mainly around the crown area. Always itchy, sore, a bit of a hard patch there, almost numb at times. I spoke to a few doctors but no one knew ****, obviously, and it never felt too bad so I sort of shrugged it off, until recently.
Now the crown of my head is driving me crazy, it has for the last few months. I don't shed hair, but its definitely getting thinner, meaning, from what I've researched, that the follicles are slowly getting smaller and there is inflammation taking place as my body attacks those follicles, producing the itch / soreness etc. I'm seeing a trichologist who treats it once a week, and it does give me temporary relief, but overall it doesn't seem to be working. She can see how red it is at the crown, so its obviously inflamed. As I'm sitting now, my crown is itchy, slightly sore and burny. And thats how it is 24/7. I wish I had read this website sooner, because I'm now worried that it may have caused permanent damage, or fibrosis of the follicles by not treating it. This is what caused me to research a treatment for reversal of the process, and in turn discover copper peptides. My crowns are getting worse in terms of hair loss, and I feel like the inflammation is definitely what is causing it. Sure, I may have some genetic hairloss (my grandad died with about 60% of his hair and my dad had a full head of hair), but I'm convinced that it wouldn't be nearly as bad if my scalp was healthier.
I've been using minoxidil twice a day since December 2013, and I do feel like I've seen results. The front I'm not even worried about at the moment, it seems to be doing well there. But at the crowns, where the irritation occurs, it seems to be getting worse. At first it looked like it was helping, but as I went on the irritation got worse and now it seems like it's made the hair loss worse. I know minoxidil can cause irritation, as my trichologist as well as my own research has confirmed, so she suggested taking the minoxidil down to once a day, and using a spray of hers, which I think may have Folligen in it (I hope it doesn't, or its a very weak dose, because otherwise copper peptides may not be able to help me), but I need to check with her at my next appointment, which is tomorrow. I've seen her for six weeks and it only seems to have gotten worse (in the crown area). I've done a lot of research and I know its a topic that has been discussed a million times, but I was hoping to get your guys opinions / advice.
1. In your guys opinion, how should I address this? I was thinking go easy on the minoxidil until the health of my scalp improves, by using emu oil and Folligen. I dont want the remaining hairs to fall out too though, especially after how hard I've tried at keeping it as consistent as possible.
2. What are your thoughts on Tricomin, and American Crew, instead of Folligen?
3. Would it be dangerous to make and apply my own copper peptides (AHK-CU), at a 2.5% mixture? I've read that succesful tests done were with a 2.5%, however the percentage in Folligen and Tricomin is much lower.
4. Would applying some cortisone cream help the inflammation? I've read its an alternative to copper peptides but may thin the scalp out in the long term. I applied it once and it helped with the irritation almost immediately.
I'm also using Tea Tree Oil Shampoo and Nizoral, and taking Omega 3, although I don't really notice anything from that. I had some blood tests and was found to be lacking Vitamin D, so I'm on a supplement for that as well as trying to get outdoors a bit more.
One last thing. I know a lot of people here will say copper peptides won't do a thing for hair regrowth, its basically only minoxidil or propecia that works. But as I mentioned above, I'm more looking to treat the inflammation and get my scalp and hair follicles healthy. If the hairloss continues after that then at least I know my scalp is in the best condition it can be in, and I can move forward with stronger treatments from there.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Im Dave, 29 from South Africa. I noticed about 2 years ago that my hair was getting thinner, in the temple regions and at the crowns - I have 2 crowns so that doesn't help. I've always had an irritated scalp, since I was a kid. I remember regularly shaking my hair and seeing dry flakes come out, throughout my teenage years. I've always been prone to psoriasis and eczema too, so I've know for a long time that my skin and scalp are very sensitive. As I moved into my twenties, my scalp started to feel a bit uncomfortable, mainly around the crown area. Always itchy, sore, a bit of a hard patch there, almost numb at times. I spoke to a few doctors but no one knew ****, obviously, and it never felt too bad so I sort of shrugged it off, until recently.
Now the crown of my head is driving me crazy, it has for the last few months. I don't shed hair, but its definitely getting thinner, meaning, from what I've researched, that the follicles are slowly getting smaller and there is inflammation taking place as my body attacks those follicles, producing the itch / soreness etc. I'm seeing a trichologist who treats it once a week, and it does give me temporary relief, but overall it doesn't seem to be working. She can see how red it is at the crown, so its obviously inflamed. As I'm sitting now, my crown is itchy, slightly sore and burny. And thats how it is 24/7. I wish I had read this website sooner, because I'm now worried that it may have caused permanent damage, or fibrosis of the follicles by not treating it. This is what caused me to research a treatment for reversal of the process, and in turn discover copper peptides. My crowns are getting worse in terms of hair loss, and I feel like the inflammation is definitely what is causing it. Sure, I may have some genetic hairloss (my grandad died with about 60% of his hair and my dad had a full head of hair), but I'm convinced that it wouldn't be nearly as bad if my scalp was healthier.
I've been using minoxidil twice a day since December 2013, and I do feel like I've seen results. The front I'm not even worried about at the moment, it seems to be doing well there. But at the crowns, where the irritation occurs, it seems to be getting worse. At first it looked like it was helping, but as I went on the irritation got worse and now it seems like it's made the hair loss worse. I know minoxidil can cause irritation, as my trichologist as well as my own research has confirmed, so she suggested taking the minoxidil down to once a day, and using a spray of hers, which I think may have Folligen in it (I hope it doesn't, or its a very weak dose, because otherwise copper peptides may not be able to help me), but I need to check with her at my next appointment, which is tomorrow. I've seen her for six weeks and it only seems to have gotten worse (in the crown area). I've done a lot of research and I know its a topic that has been discussed a million times, but I was hoping to get your guys opinions / advice.
1. In your guys opinion, how should I address this? I was thinking go easy on the minoxidil until the health of my scalp improves, by using emu oil and Folligen. I dont want the remaining hairs to fall out too though, especially after how hard I've tried at keeping it as consistent as possible.
2. What are your thoughts on Tricomin, and American Crew, instead of Folligen?
3. Would it be dangerous to make and apply my own copper peptides (AHK-CU), at a 2.5% mixture? I've read that succesful tests done were with a 2.5%, however the percentage in Folligen and Tricomin is much lower.
4. Would applying some cortisone cream help the inflammation? I've read its an alternative to copper peptides but may thin the scalp out in the long term. I applied it once and it helped with the irritation almost immediately.
I'm also using Tea Tree Oil Shampoo and Nizoral, and taking Omega 3, although I don't really notice anything from that. I had some blood tests and was found to be lacking Vitamin D, so I'm on a supplement for that as well as trying to get outdoors a bit more.
One last thing. I know a lot of people here will say copper peptides won't do a thing for hair regrowth, its basically only minoxidil or propecia that works. But as I mentioned above, I'm more looking to treat the inflammation and get my scalp and hair follicles healthy. If the hairloss continues after that then at least I know my scalp is in the best condition it can be in, and I can move forward with stronger treatments from there.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
