Scalp problems from minoxidil?

[JG]

Hey All,

 

I am 25, and a while ago I noticed I was thinning in a band across the front of my head. I thought it was a little strange; I have plenty of hair in the front (so it's not like my hairline is receding really), but I was thinning across the top of my head in the front, in a band connecting my temples.

 

So I started using minoxidil about 5 months ago, and it seemed to be helping. But a few weeks ago I developed an irritated area on my left temple; it's dry and itchy and skin flakes off. It's a little red and it feels a little like a scab.

 

I stopped using minoxidil and started using "T/Gel" shampoo on the area. It seemed to make it a little better, but that was about 3 weeks ago and it's still there, and hasn't improved very much. It gets better when I use the shampoo but quickly goes back to the way it was. Also, I noticed I'm losing hair in the part of the red area that goes up into my scalp, much farther than I've lost hair in my left temple area.

 

Any ideas about what is going on? Is this just a really bad irritation I can fix with the right shampoo, or is it infected or something?

 

Appreciate any help!

[JG]

Hey All,

 

I am 25, and a while ago I noticed I was thinning in a band across the front of my head. I thought it was a little strange; I have plenty of hair in the front (so it's not like my hairline is receding really), but I was thinning across the top of my head in the front, in a band connecting my temples.

 

So I started using minoxidil about 5 months ago, and it seemed to be helping. But a few weeks ago I developed an irritated area on my left temple; it's dry and itchy and skin flakes off. It's a little red and it feels a little like a scab.

 

I stopped using minoxidil and started using "T/Gel" shampoo on the area. It seemed to make it a little better, but that was about 3 weeks ago and it's still there, and hasn't improved very much. It gets better when I use the shampoo but quickly goes back to the way it was. Also, I noticed I'm losing hair in the part of the red area that goes up into my scalp, much farther than I've lost hair in my left temple area.

 

Any ideas about what is going on? Is this just a really bad irritation I can fix with the right shampoo, or is it infected or something?

 

Appreciate any help!

[Curious]

It's the propylene glycol that the minoxidil is mixed with that's causing your scalp irritation. Use a different formulation, that's alcohol free, and that should fix it.