Hair loss

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I've had recent success with regrowing hair that I lost over several years. Let me share with you the inexpensive and homemade treatment I use.

I'm aged 70+, with fine and straight hair, medium short. I started shedding hair about 9 years ago, in amounts great enough to know that it was not normal. Over the years my hair thinned considerably, especially on the top of my head.

At the same time, I was experiencing constant scalp irritation, pimple-like bumps, tenderness and itching. I observed that the periods of greatest hair loss coincided with the spells of itching. I've finally concluded that I have seborrheic dermatitis, even though I have no dandruff. I attribute my hair loss to this condition.

I've been able to greatly reduce the irritation and itching through using medicated shampoos continually. I know this SD condition is chronic and that I will have to continue the medicated shampoos for life. I alternate two shampoos on a weekly basis, one has 1% selenium sulfide and the other has 2% ketaconazole. Whichever I use, I use on days Su-Tu-Th-Sa. On days Mo-We-Fr of each week I use a shampoo with 2% salicylic acid.

My hair loss has diminished to almost nothing on a daily basis. That is reassuring, since stopping the hair loss was the first step to regrowing my hair to its former fullness.

While researching online some suggested treatments for my SD condition, I found references to using original formula, amber Listerine mouthwash as a scalp treatment because it is anti-fungal, anti-septic and and anti-inflammatory. These properties are due to its active ingredients of menthol, thymol, eucalyptol and methyl salicylate.

I also found a research paper titled "Peppermint Oil Promotes Hair Growth without Toxic Signs"
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4289931/

This paper detailed a lab experiment which compared the effectiveness of two agents, specifically minoxidil, and menthol in the form of peppermint oil. Hair was regrown on lab mice at a faster rate with the menthol treatment.

That menthol had this property of hair regrowth got my attention. I looked for other, more available, and cheaper sources of menthol than peppermint oil. Blue analgesic or pain-relieving gel, with active ingredient of 2% menthol, is one such source. This gel is promoted for relieving muscle and joint pain. One brand is Mineral Ice.

I've combined the mouthwash and menthol gel into one treatment, and have used it now for several months. My hair is decidedly growing where the hair was so thin before, and I am starting to have fullness of hair on the top of my head. Additionally, my hairline is filling in, in the areas where it had receded.

For the treatment solution, here are the proportions I use. Into a 2-cup measuring cup put:

3 tablespoons of amber mouthwash (that has original formula active ingredients.)
1/2 tablespoon of blue analgesic gel.
Enough water to bring the solution to 1 1/2 cups.

Mix the solution thoroughly. You want all the gel mixed completely in the solution.

To make this process easier, I reuse a clean and clear 12-ounce mustard squeeze bottle, put the mouthwash and gel in it, then fill with water near to the top, cap it and shake well.

The proportions I use are the result of trial and error. I found that greater concentrations of mouthwash and/or gel gave me headaches. This concentration works just fine for me. You can experiment with what concentration works for you. If you get headaches that is a signal that you need to dilute the solution more.

I apply the solution to my scalp each day, then put a shower cap on my head, wrap my head in a towel turban-style, and let the solution work for 30 minutes. Then I wash and dry my hair as usual.

Tip: The hardest part of this process is getting the solution directly onto the scalp, not having it just slide down my fine hair onto my shoulders. So, I put the solution in a spray bottle. I bend over the sink to let gravity pull my hair away from my scalp, with the help of my fingers. Then I put the bottle nozzle right against my scalp and squirt. The goal is to get the scalp wet, not spritzing the solution on just the hair. I work the solution throughout my scalp with my fingers. When the scalp is all wet, I blot my hair to keep it from dripping, and put on the shower cap and turban-towel.

Be patient, and be consistent with the treatment. It has taken 6 months for me to see real progress in my hair filling out.

That's it. I know I will have to continue this treatment for life, but I am so pleased I have been able to regrow my hair. I might skip a day now and then, but not often.

One further thing. You can spend more money than you have to buying the name brands of mouthwash and analgesic gel. The generic versions of these products work just as well, as long as they have the same active ingredients. I get a 16 ounce bottle of the mouthwash, and an 8 ounce jar of the gel for $1 each, at my local dollar store. Each lasts me 3 or more months. You can't ask for a less expensive hair regrowth treatment than that.

Best wishes for your success with this treatment.

Had thyroid tests etc,all ok hormone related i think,plus stress, which is even worse now, can't go out without a hat

I have a condition called frontal fibrosing alopecia where the hair recedes back I've been diagnosed by the hospital they told me nothing can be done as its a autoimmune condition thankfully seems to have stopped thinning and failing out. Its embarrassing and wreaks your confidence.

Thinning hair is a symptom of an under active thyroid, might be worth getting a blood test.

roshank18 thank you for your suggestion,i rang my Drs surgery and asked about being referred, and lo and behold, one of the Drs is a qualified dermatologist, why did no one tell me?
Anyhow i have got an appointment on October 1st, but having to travel to one of their other surgeries, but i don't mind or would have had to wait about 3 months

roshank18I agree with you, and would have hoped i would have been referred to on would this be possible on the nhs? doubt i could afford one privately

In my suggestion, before using any product you should have to consult with a dermatologist.

NannylovesyarnI have used every vitamin under the sun, plus steroid lotion from my Dr and still no growth, i have now got some Viviscal tablets ,so has my daughter,hers like mine started falling after using a certain HRT,which we have both now stopped,
I think mine could have started due to stress, but after the HRT got much worse, and still coming out, just not as much
I don't think highlighting your hair is doing any damage, unless it is breaking off, but not if it comes out at the root

Thinning hair is my big worry-I still have it highlighted blonde and use straighteners twice a week on it. Im 60 next year and wish I had the guts to go grey (I’ve been Blonde Bob since the 80’s lol) - if I had thicker hair I would -but would it get thicker if I left it alone and tried Viviscal?

Which did the most good Regaine or Viviscal? or sea kelp?
The hair systems are good i believe but well out of my reach,expense wise

Hopikins you have given me hope, but i have read about the Viviscal not working for a lot of people and it is so expensive
I have a Vitamin B complex, and every vitamin i cn think of which was recommended, but not sea kelp, although i have read somewhere that is good for hair loss
I will get some tomorrow
I have also thought about regaine, but im over 65 which is not supposed to be used after, but i heard of over 65s using it with no problem
How long did it take for your hair to grow back ,or was yours just thin all over,mine isn't generally, but i have large patches showing my scalp clearly
As far as i know Viviscal only does what Roots and Plantur 39 does, stops the DHT ,but i will research it more

I have the same problem after i had hip replacement surgery, surgery was fine medication made me ill, i could not eat, and slowly i became run down. Its time to perk up so many thanks to the advice for hair loss products.

I used Regaine for years then had to stop because of my age. I then started on Viviscal Tablets, Shampoo etc, the whole range
plus Sea Kelp Tablets and Vitamin B from Holland & Barrett. I have never looked back my hair is better now than it has ever been. I worried about my thin hair from the age of 15, I am now 71 and it is great. It's a very stressful problem, but don't give up. When I had to stop Regaine I thought I was destined to go bald, but it didn't happen. After a few months of Viviscal etc it really started to improve. Good Luck and don't despair

www.lucindaellery-hairloss.co.uk/intralace.php

This is the company she uses

My friend suffers from hereditary baldness Lizj and she goes to a private trichologist and gets some kind of scalp drops which seem to at least contain the problem. Another friend goes to a specialist hair dresser where she gets a mesh fitted and hair is attached, it's amazing system and you would never ever know it wasn't her own hair as it's mixed in . However there is a lot of upkeep to it . I will try and find a link

Well, sometimes it is not enough to change the shampoo to avoid hair loss. Have you eaten the vitamins? Especially B group.

I am trying the Roots system, can be bought online or at Superdrug or Boots,
No results yet but good reviews,the t
hair serum and shampoo aim to block the DHT which testosterone produces i think or reverts to, which causes hair loss
Also plantur 39 does the same[apparently]

Thank you for some good advice. Xx

wf12345 where can this chinese treatment be found? i will try anything,i am already taking biotin and other,supplements but no joy yet
I also finish my hair wash with cold water

Country Life Maxi-Hair vitamins (the 60 or 90 tablets are closest to their original forumula) are the best I have found, amazon or eBay, but take one rather than two a day as they are very strong. Hair is dead and it takes three months to grow out but Maxi-Hair does seem to immediately energize the hair somehow.

There is also a Chinese hair tonic called 101 but it is pot luck whether you will get a good bottle, some fakes and wide variation in the formulation. The real one has a strong odour and makes the scalp tingle, the original formulation (just 101 not 101A etc) is the best.

Most shampoos damage the hair, as does hot water. You could try Nizoral two or three times a week, alternated with baby shampoo - using cold water, it will wake you up nicely in the morning! Some shampoos need hot water to work so be careful what you use.

If it helps, this is the result of my GN hair loss search. Just ignore the few obvious adverts at the top and you'll see there is plenty of discussion on the subject that you may find useful.

www.gransnet.com/info/search?q=hair+loss

Hi Lizj and welcome to Gransnet!

There have been lots of threads on this subject before, and if you do a Gransnet search on the subject of hair loss you'll be able to find them and the advice/support given on them.

One of the most recent is here:

www.gransnet.com/forums/health/1263203-Hair-loss