Terrible insatiable itch with Kirkland 5%.

[Nikos]

Hello all,

I have been using Kirkland Minoxidil 5% solution for six months now and the last two months I have been experiencing terrible insatiable itches to the front temple area and top of my scalp (not so much the crown area).

These itches are very intense and usually occur while I am asleep so I cannot stop myself scratching which causes damage to my scalp and hair.

I was considering using Xandrox but then I am afraid that I will have the same problem.

Please help me with this problem I am experiencing and advise me to what I should do in order to get over this problem that Kirkland Minoxidil 5% causes to my scalp.

Thanks to all,


Nick.

[HairLossFight.com]

Here is an interesting abstract of a recent article on concact dermatitis from Minoxidil:

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/ab ... 5.00456b.x

Contact Dermatitis
Volume 53 Issue 1 Page 53 - July 2005
doi:10.1111/j.0105-1873.2005.00456b.x

Positive lymphocyte transformation test in a patient with allergic contact dermatitis of the scalp after short-term use of topical minoxidil solution
Tobias Hagemann1, Brigitte Schltter-Bhmer1, Jean-Pierre Allam1, Thomas Bieber1 and Natalija Novak1*

Topical 2,4-diamino-6-piperidinopyrimidine-3-oxide (minoxidil) solution has been widely used for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia for over 15 years now and the substance is currently approved for this indication in 2% and 5% formulation. Typical side effects of this topical treatment include irritative dermatitis going along with pruritus, erythema, scaling and dryness, which occur especially at the onset of the therapy. In some cases, allergic contact dermatitis or exacerbation of seborrhoic dermatitis has been reported. While most of the patients with allergic contact dermatitis described in the literature showed a positive sensitization to the vehicle substance propylene glycol evaluated by patch testing, reactions to the active ingredient minoxidil are rare. Here, we report a case of allergic sensitization to minoxidil, which we evaluated and differentiated from an irritative reaction by a combination of patch testing and lymphocyte transformation test. The differentiation of allergic and irritative adverse effects and the identification of the causative allergen are of major relevance for the proceeding and adjustment of the therapy. Patients with sensitizations against propylene glycol are candidates for preparations with alternative solvents but can proceed treatment with minoxidil. In contrast, patients with allergies to the active ingredient itself are no longer candidates for treatment with minoxidil and should undergo alternative therapeutic options.

You may be allergic to the vehicle, or you may be allergic to minoxidil itself. You can find out by trying another type.

[5001matt]

Wow, I have the same reaction. Kirkland is cheap but it sucks!!!

There is a minoxidil made in france called "Alopexy" which is 2% in a cyclodextrin formulation and then Alostil which is 5% in a cyclodextrin formulation. this is supposed to have significantly less ppg (or no ppg at all) and also not make your hair look like crap!

http://www.vidal.fr/Medicament/alopexy-651.htm

I would be interested to see if anyone here can find a pharma in france to purchase it from internationally.

[HairLossFight.com]

I wonder if there's really any difference in the vehicle between Kirkland minox and Rogaine from Upjohn.

My guess is that the culprit is the PPG in most cases of irritation.

What is cyclodextrin? (I guess I can look it up. )

There are also Dr. Lee's formulations (ppg-free if you request it) of regular minox, and Xandrox 15 which uses glycerin instead of PPG. I'm also very curious about the effectiveness of Lipoxidil since as far as I am aware (though I may be incorrect here) I think it doesn't have PPG.

[Nikos]

Thanks for the reply Sam and 5001matt.

I had suspected that the vehicle would be a problem as my skin tends to be a little sensitive.

I will go ahead and try Dr. Lee's formula without the propyl Glycol for the front of my head and continue to use Kirkland Minoxidil for the back and crown area.

As soon as I have any results I can talk about I will let you all know.

Will also try to get in contact with the French manufacturer you quoted 5001Matt.

Thanks again guys.

[Tricia]

My scalp will itch a lot if I use regular minox day and night. I order minoxidil 5% without PPG from Dr. Lee. I use the PPG free formula at night and that has made a world of difference for me.

Sometimes I will still get an itchy scalp and I'll just skip treatment for a day (not often though) and things get back to normal.