Here's what I have observed after about a couple of months of using only Proscar cut into quarters (1.25mg) to treat my hair loss.
First of all, my folliculitis has not completely gone away. However, I have observed a very substantial improvement overall. The inflammation is, by my own observation, about 90% reduced. My scalp no longer itches, and I no longer feel any pain or sensitivity when I touch my scalp. That's all good news. Yet I was a bit disappointed as well, because it means I have a sensitiviy to the treatments I was so happy were working to regrow my hair. Something in them (I think perhaps alcohol or something else in the vehicle, or perhaps even minoxidil) was aggravating the inflammation. I want to stress that I think I am a very very rare case here. I have ALWAYS had bad and over-sensitive allergy -prone skin. I still think my topicals were amoung the very best that are available for treating hair loss, and recommend them wholeheartedly to those of you who don't have folliculitis.
So, it would appear that for now, I have to stay away from topicals....
The second thing I have observed, much to my surprise, is that in the frontal hairline and temples region, I am still regrowing hair!! I have seen a marked improvement in these areas, which seems to suggest that the Proscar is responsible. I am very pleased overall with my hair line and the hair at the top of my head and my temples. I am disappointed with my crown area, which is where I have folliculitis. In fact, had it not been for my folliculitis I think that Proscar was holding the fort for me. I am very happy with the maintenance and regrowth I have had in the hair line and temples. I have seen no other observable side-effects from the proscar.
Anyway, over the next few months I am going to keep watch on the condition of my scalp with regards to whether the folliculitis gets better or not. It seems to be diminishing drastically. I am considering potentially getting a transplant in the crown area.
Sam
). I just want to let some time elapse before I use any more topicals in order to allow my scalp inflammation to diminish on its own a bit.... if that makes any sense at all.