Apologies for the long post, but here goes…
In an earlier thread, I mentioned how I got some dramatic results from a combination of a Tretinoin/minoxidil solution. I strongly believe I actually had hair regrowth at locations where there was bleeding as a result of constant scratching on my behalf. I recall very vividly that there was bleeding, followed by scabbing and then oddly followed by new hair growing from the same spots where the scabs were. What confused me back in 2003 was whether or not the “hair” I was seeing was some sort of long-term (or possibly permanent) scarring on the scalp or if it was actual hair. After asking some doctors at the time, I came to the conclusion that scratching to the point of bleeding in combination with Tretinoin/minoxidil does not lead to hair regrowth (!); the docs I spoke with were in somber agreement with this conclusion (mind you none of them didn’t even look at my scalp!). Because the reality of the hair loss was so devastating to me at the time, I merely attributed my results to self deception because of hope…but I vividly recall having patchy regrowth in place of my patchy scabbing!
It’s worth noting that the “wounding” I inflicted upon myself was over a three week time span before there was any noticeable bleeding. After about four weeks, I had clawed my scalp quite nicely to the point that I thought I might have permanently damaged my scalp.
Discouraged, I started researching hair transplantation and decided that I should discontinue whatever I’ve been taking at the time (the hair transplant results seemed so much better). Well I never got around to the hair transplants and instead I’ve accepted the hair loss and lately the shininess…
Inspired by Baccy and his “proof of concept” (Baccy, the two pictures you posted blew my mind considering my experience from 2003), I plan on reordering the same concentrations of Tretinoin/minoxidil that I previously had but this time I plan on using something more appropriate other than my finger nails to both provide relief from the scratching and to wound the scalp.
If anybody can recommend something useful or something similar to what is described in the Follica patent (they had some reference to some sort of tool that can roll on top of the scalp for wounding), then I will be sure to order everything, and post before/after pics. I’m trying to obtain a tool that can be used on a scalp that has hair already - in other words, I’m not shaving my head anytime soon! I think something like a loofa wouldn’t be good because it looks like it might accumulate bacteria easily and at the same time rip some hair out. I’m asking for some creativity here because I’m trying to approach the problem from a different angle.
Back in 2003 I was a NW3V (although my hairline was still strong), but now I’m a NW5V. In a couple of years, I’ll certainly be staring at a NW7 in the mirror (unless there is something that can be done about it). The only thing I am taking right now to treat hair loss is Nioxin shampoo, but I can hardly consider this a treatment. I tried Propecia in 2004, but had some really nasty reaction to it after 1 week.
The concentrations of Tretinoin/minoxidil I used in 2003 to get the results were 0.0025%/2% respectively; keep in mind that my scalp looked like it was clawed by some wild animal. I realize that in light of the Follica patent and what Baccy has done with all of the EGF inhibitors and what-not, that what I’m proposing is a bit overly optimistic and perhaps a little ludicrous. But I cannot help but think that no doctor in their right mind prior to 2007 or perhaps even today would prescribe something to a patient that not only causes extreme discomfort but also bleeding, hence perhaps the lack of using this avenue as a treatment.
So I wonder what is the absolute bare minimum to get the results from this process? If Baccy and others represent one approach to this experimentation, why not have experimentation from another angle of approach?