Ideas for those with Donor Shock and results

[DonorGuy]

Wanted to make a "quick" post on donor shock loss (as a result of the anesthesia/general trauma I assume). I had shock loss just above my donor site/below my crown. The shock loss almost created one big giant bald crown, it's an awful look haha. Attached photos are at 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks and 9.5 weeks. In each photo it is the same exact harsh lighting and in each photo I tried to part my hair to expose the area on the worst way possible. I believe my area has improved for sure, but also acknowledge that my hair has also just gotten longer and improve the look because of the length. But I basically had minimal hair in the lightened area at week 4 and by week 9.5 had significant coverage. I did not attach any of pre-op donor areas because I simply do not have any. I can assure you that it was normal, very full, with no signs of any hair loss at all. What I am posting is what I did after researching to help improve my situation and is NOT medical advice and I ask that you also do your own research and consult your doctor before trying anything posted on the internet.

The telogen and anagen phase is greatly controlled by gene expression. It's very technical and there are many factors involved, but in a shortened summary, FGF5 expression induces/sustains the telogen phase and FGF7 expression induces/sustains the anagen phase. Therefore with shock loss, which is just basically a large amount of hairs going into the telogen phase, and not actual hair loss like you'd experience with genetric hair loss, the way to treat it would seem like you'd want to increase FGF7 expression to induce/sustain the Anagen phase and then reduce FGF5 to get out of the telogen phase as quickly as possible. I did not know of many things/supplements/drugs that do this and decided to look. I found many and tried several myself. I included what I have used and the attached research for most. For the ones I have not included out of pure laziness, feel free to look them up.)  I have no financial ties, but included up some of the items that don't have an obvious source.

Minoxidil  (increases Anagen phase, reduces telogen phase through increased circulation). I personally would not be afraid of donor hair becoming "minoxidil dependent". The term minoxidil dependent to me, means hair that is kept alive by minoxidil because it is slowly "dying" secondary to it being affected by DHT. Since Donor hair is not affected by DHT, it doesn't seem logical that is should become minoxidil dependent to grow. However, I do believe that stopping it COULD cause telogen effluvium (TE) so use at your own discretion. I applied at first to speed it up, slowly weened off and now do no apply to this area and havent for the past 2 weeks. No real rationale for the weaning off, but i havent noticed any TE in my donor area.

Cynatine HNS (improves Telogen to Anagen phase)  https://www.vitaminshoppe.com/p/advanced-keratin-for-hair-skin-nails/vs-0175

• A Clinical Trial to Investigate the Effect of Cynatine HNS on Hair and Nail Parameters
• Christina Beer,1 Simon Wood,2,3 and Robert H. Veghte4

Grape Seed Extract/Procyanidiin b2 (apple)

• Proanthocyanidins from grape seeds promote proliferation of mouse hair follicle cells in vitro and convert hair cycle in vivo.
• Takahashi T1, Kamiya T, Yokoo Y.

He Shou Wu (Increase FGF7)

• Mechanistic Studies on the Use of Polygonum multiflorum for the Treatment of Hair Graying
• Ming-Nuan Han, Jian-Mei Lu, [...], and Rong-Hua Zhao

Eclipse prostata (false daisy) Increased FGF7/Decreased FGF5 (I take orally, powdered into a smoothie) 

• Eclipta prostrata promotes the induction of anagen, sustains the anagen phase through regulation of FGF-7 and FGF-5
• Keun-Hyeun Lee, Dabin Choi, [...], and Han-Sol Jeong

Pea Sprout Extract (anagain) Increase FGF7 UP hair serums

• Short communication: Clinical evaluation of pea sprout extract in the treatment of hair loss
• Torsten Grothe  Franziska Wandrey  Cornelia Schuerch

Baicapil (reduces TE, promotes growth) UP hair serums

• (A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Baicapil Formulations in Treatment of Telogen Effluvium Research Article Sushruth G Kamoji*, Ashwini P and Jayashree Nayak )

Other supplements I think may be beneficial and what I have been using.

Viviscal seems to promote healthier hair.

MSM (taken with Vitamin C, seems to be very important from reading online) to promote healthier hair, but doesn't appear to affect anagen/telogen phase.

Edited January 13, 2020 by DonorGuy
did not clarify where shock loss was

[paddyirishman]

Thanks for your input

.......Paddy....