Meta-Monster

I had 2500 total grafts done 14 days and 9 days ago (needed more grafts, so a second surgery). This morning I used a dropper and gently dropped some liquid Folligen lotion on the grafts to help them heal. Well, the runny liquid of the lotion didn't turn out to be as runny I as anticipated and has somewhat solidified over the new grafts. It's a bright blue color and has left streaks everywhere. Gently running water over the area can't remove this. When would it be safe for me to lightly wash the recipient area with some cleanser? I've heard after 9-10 days that the grafts are completely secure (theoretically). However, they certainly don't feel secure in my head. Should I just let the lotion sit there until the grafts are definitely secured? How long would that be? (Also, the lotion feels somewhat itchy now) Anyone have any experience with such a situation? Please advise. Thanks, Meta

I had 2500 total grafts done 14 days and 9 days ago (needed more grafts, so a second surgery). This morning I used a dropper and gently dropped some liquid Folligen lotion on the grafts to help them heal. Well, the runny liquid of the lotion didn't turn out to be as runny I as anticipated and has somewhat solidified over the new grafts. It's a bright blue color and has left streaks everywhere. Gently running water over the area can't remove this. When would it be safe for me to lightly wash the recipient area with some cleanser? I've heard after 9-10 days that the grafts are completely secure (theoretically). However, they certainly don't feel secure in my head. Should I just let the lotion sit there until the grafts are definitely secured? How long would that be? (Also, the lotion feels somewhat itchy now) Anyone have any experience with such a situation? Please advise. Thanks, Meta

Yes, my temporal points were the areas I had in mind.

Everyone, thanks for the great responses. The advice offered was pretty much in line with what I had anticipated. A quite bit of history -- I've been on finasteride, rogaine, 2% ketoconazole, and (gasp!) Revivogen, for a little more than two years now. I began medicating in the earliest possible stage of hairloss and have had a great response to all four treatments so far. Granted MPB is a chronic condition, my hairloss has been completely stabilized for more than a year now. Also, hairloss of any degree is virtually non-existent is either side of my family. If I can achieve and maintain a NW1 that would be ideal (albeit a pipe-dream maybe). As for photos, I don't have a high-quality camera. The ones I just tried to take with my phone are so blurry they're not even worth posting. I'll get my hands on a decent camera in the near future and put up photos to better clarify my situation. One more quick question. To what degree does purposely transplanting on top of vellous hair typically impact the growth potential of newly transplanted hairs?

I'm curious, can hair at a recipient site can be removed and then replaced with donor hair? Furthermore, can this be done in the same session. Let me clarify what I mean a bit. I'm considering undergoing a FUT transplant to replace hair loss around my hairline area. However, the hair of my right temple is only two-thirds of the way gone. If undergoing a procedure I would want to 'get it all done at once' so to speak and replace the scraggly, bare-alive remaining third of my temple along with the rest of my hairline. (Hopefully, this helps explain things sufficiently). Is this possible? Can my dying, scraggly temple hair be 'put to rest' and then replaced with healthy non-MPB hair from my donor area? Can it be done in a single session? Any info or advise is greatly appreciated. Meta

I'm curious, can hair at a recipient site can be removed and then replaced with donor hair? Furthermore, can this be done in the same session. Let me clarify what I mean a bit. I'm considering undergoing a FUT transplant to replace hair loss around my hairline area. However, the hair of my right temple is only two-thirds of the way gone. If undergoing a procedure I would want to 'get it all done at once' so to speak and replace the scraggly, bare-alive remaining third of my temple along with the rest of my hairline. (Hopefully, this helps explain things sufficiently). Is this possible? Can my dying, scraggly temple hair be 'put to rest' and then replaced with healthy non-MPB hair from my donor area? Can it be done in a single session? Any info or advise is greatly appreciated. Meta

Does anyone know if storing Rogaine Foam at less than freezing temperatures (about 25 degrees or so) negatively affect its active ingredient? If so, would you happen to know to what extent it does so? I'm currently living in a place with no heating and am pretty much able to see my breath at all times. As such, I'm fairly concerned about the possibility that my Rogaine supply has in someway been compromised. I'm aware that Merck advised the drug to be stored in the 66-77 degree range, though I'm curious as to where this figure came from. Would anyone happen to know the results of any temperature stability testing conducted on Rogaine Foam or similar products? Please advise if possible.

Does anyone know if storing Rogaine Foam at less than freezing temperatures (about 25 degrees or so) negatively affect its active ingredient? If so, would you happen to know to what extent it does so? I'm currently living in a place with no heating and am pretty much able to see my breath at all times. As such, I'm fairly concerned about the possibility that my Rogaine supply has in someway been compromised. I'm aware that Merck advised the drug to be stored in the 66-77 degree range, though I'm curious as to where this figure came from. Would anyone happen to know the results of any temperature stability testing conducted on Rogaine Foam or similar products? Please advise if possible.

I go through a can about every week and half. Though I use it on my entire crown/hairline area and have a lot of long hair. I would use less, though when I do it doesn't feel like it's absorbing into the scalp adequately...

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I finally decided on two products: Jason's Natural Aloe Vera Shampoo and Jason's Natural Jojoba Oil Conditioner. Why? Well, both were reviewed very highly on vitacost.com where I buy some of my supplements and sound pretty sexy. Since I live in Japan shipping expense is a also big factor, so I like to be able to combine my purchases whenever possible. Currently I've been using the Revivogen shampoo and conditioner with Revita and on off-days. I use dermmatch too, so washing my hair a second time in the evening everyday leaves it feeling a bit 'fragile'. Hopefully, washing my hair in the evening with the new stuff I just ordered will do the trick. That being said, I'll admit the Shen Min Vitalize looks particularly interesting. I'm considering picking it up sometime since it's only 10 bucks. I haven't tried any Nioxin products yet, but I imagine there similar to Revivogen's; which I really like. I also really like the H&S shampoo. Until recently I'd actually used H&S for the vast majority of my life. It's great, though I think the stuff I just ordered is a bit more on 'healing' side.

I've been wanting to purchase some shampoos and/or conditioners to use on my days off from Revita. I use rogaine, dermmatch, and a few other topically applied products, so my hair and scalp tend to take quite a beating over the course of the week. The type of products that I'm really interested in using are the ones that help 'heal' the scalp and hair (i.e. use emu oil, aloe vera, jojoba etc. and don't include cheap, harsh chemical detergents). Of course if there are better alternatives out there then I'm all ears. Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations?

I figured I'd update this thread regarding my original question about dermmatch inhibiting topicals. The past few weeks I've been using a conditioner in the evening (revivogen brand) to wash the dermmatch out of my hair before applying my topical products. I must say that I've noticed a huge difference in the absorption of the topicals after I began doing this. They seem to really being getting into the scalp now. I use a conditioner in the evening because I feel that shampooing twice a day is too much for my hair to handle. Honestly, conditioning twice a day sometimes feels like its a bit too much for my hair. I'm managing to offset this a bit by applying copper peptides (folligen brand) to the scalp and emu oil to the hair shafts right before going to bed. This has definitely helped to keep my hair from feeling 'over-processed' from all of the washing/conditioning/blow-drying I've been doing. Anyway, I hope this anecdote helps anyone else trying to juggle their concealers/topicals come up with some good ideas.

Ahh, gotcha. Yeah, I think I'm starting to notice those longer term effects...

Bill, Thanks again for the advice. You mentioned to never use heat when helping the minoxodil to dry on the scalp. Has heat been shown to decrease the effectiveness of the drug (i.e. is it heat-sensitive)? Thanks again, Meta

By the way, how long is one advised to wait for rogaine to dry before applying another product? Also, would blow-drying one's hair immediately after apply rogaine alter the drugs effectiveness? (Maybe it's active ingredient is heat sensitive?)

Thanks for the advice guys. Yeah, I think I'm going to need to alter the way I put on DermMatch from now on. Since the product is waterproof it would make sense that it could also be topical (liquid) proof as well. The way I apply it in the morning (shower > rogaine > blow-dry > dermmatch) seems to be working pretty well. Though my evening applications don't seem to be getting absorbed well into the scalp. (I just hope the dermmatch applicator isn't brushing off my morning Rogaine). Washing my hair twice a day will be a pain in the ass and may be too much for my hair to handle. If the second time I wash my hair I just apply a small amount of conditioner to the scalp/hair roots and rub it in with my fingers... that may be enough to break up the dermmatch so that my topicals can absorb properly. Or, maybe if I just make sure I avoid applying it directly to the scalp, I can still apply my topicals later with a dropper etc. and have them absorb properly. Either way I'll have to experiment a bit. Has anyone else out there figured out an effective way to juggle these products?

I agree. I personally haven't had any problems with applying minioxidil (though I use the Rogaine foam). After I put the foam on in the morning I just blowdry my hair and it acts exactly like an awesome mousse (I also apply mousse to the back/sides of my head at the same time for styling purposes). Haven't experienced any problems with itching, greasiness, or odors either. Also, FYI, I'm 24 too.

I've recently starting using DermMatch and am beginning to wonder whether or not it's inhibiting the absorbtion of the other topicals I apply. I'm concerned about this possiblilty because lately I've been experiencing increased hairloss (shedding?), and the topicals feel almost like they're not absorbing well into my scalp (which I could be imagining). I've read pretty much every DermMatch related thread on these forums, though none of them seem to have specifically discussed this issue beyond advising that in the morning one apply rogaine before using DermMatch. Which leads me to the following questions: 1) For topicals to be affective does one have to wash dermmatch out of their hair before every application of Rogaine, etc.; i.e. morning shower > morning rogaine > dermatch > evening shower > evening rogain? (Thus having to wash their hair twice a day everyday). 2) Exactly how long should one wait after applying rogaine before they can use Dermmatch? 3) If one were to apply rogaine in the morning, a minute later blowdry their hair, and then immediately put in Dermmatch, would the concealer's applicator brush the rogaine off the scalp nullifying it's effects? Any Dermmatch/topical users out there with any opinions, advice, anecdotes about this issue? I really like this product and would like to find the best, most hassle-free way possible to work into my regime. NOTE: If I'm seeking advice it's probably best to include info detailing my regime. Topically, I apply Rogaine (5% foam) once in the morning after taking a shower and once again a few hours before going to bed. I also apply Revivogen (the serum) much earlier on in the evening and copper peptide lotion (Folligen) immediately before going to sleep. About a minute after my morning application of rogaine I blow-dry my hair and then immediately put in DermMatch (via a damp/dry application). Thanks in Advance, Meta

I've recently starting using DermMatch and am beginning to wonder whether or not it's inhibiting the absorbtion of the other topicals I apply. I'm concerned about this possiblilty because lately I've been experiencing increased hairloss (shedding?), and the topicals feel almost like they're not absorbing well into my scalp (which I could be imagining). I've read pretty much every DermMatch related thread on these forums, though none of them seem to have specifically discussed this issue beyond advising that in the morning one apply rogaine before using DermMatch. Which leads me to the following questions: 1) For topicals to be affective does one have to wash dermmatch out of their hair before every application of Rogaine, etc.; i.e. morning shower > morning rogaine > dermatch > evening shower > evening rogain? (Thus having to wash their hair twice a day everyday). 2) Exactly how long should one wait after applying rogaine before they can use Dermmatch? 3) If one were to apply rogaine in the morning, a minute later blowdry their hair, and then immediately put in Dermmatch, would the concealer's applicator brush the rogaine off the scalp nullifying it's effects? Any Dermmatch/topical users out there with any opinions, advice, anecdotes about this issue? I really like this product and would like to find the best, most hassle-free way possible to work into my regime. NOTE: If I'm seeking advice it's probably best to include info detailing my regime. Topically, I apply Rogaine (5% foam) once in the morning after taking a shower and once again a few hours before going to bed. I also apply Revivogen (the serum) much earlier on in the evening and copper peptide lotion (Folligen) immediately before going to sleep. About a minute after my morning application of rogaine I blow-dry my hair and then immediately put in DermMatch (via a damp/dry application). Thanks in Advance, Meta

When using the Dermmatch Toppik combo, how does the Toppik portion of this hold up when one's sweating, walking through the rain, and so on?

Look into the following regime. In my opinion this would be a good starting point from which you can make changes as your condition unfolds. First, stop with the prohormones. I've seen tons of posts made by users over at t-nation.com dicussing how they've begun to notice hair loss once they began supplementing with this stuff. Things like whey or casein based protein powders, BCCAs, fish oils, fat burners etc. seem to not have this side effect, while still providing the benefits of increasing one's metabolic rate, helping maintain an anabolic state, and so on. Get on Propecia and midoxidal (the rogaine 5% foam is the best kind IMO). Get some good shampoos and alternate usage on a regular basis (Nizoral, Revivogen, etc.) Start using copper peptides at nighttime with your midoxidal. The Folligen line is pretty good IMO. Find a good concealer like Toppik, Nanogen... Good luck.