Scalp Treatments--Member Suggestions

[tcmgpt13]

Thought a scalp treatment thread might be a good idea, as so many have problems. Robin, I hope you will add some of your old posts about how you have treated your scalp using just toilet paper!. Pressed for time right now as far as doing a search. Here's one from Morgan to start this thread along with one from biteme and also from me:

Originally Posted by Morgan

Hey Barack,

Thanks for the information.
On page two of your link a product is mentioned for treating this condition called Whitfields Ointment. Interestingly enough those very same ingredients can be found in Listerine. Salicylic & Benzoic Acid. Early into this disease someone on Lymebusters was trying to convince me to use this on my scalp but I had no idea, at the time what I was up against "long term" and gave up thinking that this was another flash in the pan. Not so. Good stuff.
____________
Page 2 of your link.

Treatment

The usual approach to the management of dermatophyte infections is to treat with topical therapy if possible, but most nail and all hair infections and widespread dermatophytosis are best treated with oral drugs (Table 265-3). 33

The main topical agents used for dermatophytosis are the keratolytics and compounds with specific antifungal activity. The keratolytic agent used most frequently is WHITFIELDS OINTMENT (salicylic and benzoic acid compound). It is inexpensive but messy to use, although a cream formulation of benzoic acid compound is available in some countries.
____________________
Listerine Ingredients:
Listerine® Antiseptic Mouthwash

Ingredient
Active Ingredients
Equalyptol 0.092%
Menthol 0.042%
Methyl salicylate 0.060%
Thymol 0.064%

Inactive ingredients
water, alcohol (26.9%), benzoic acid, poloxamer 407, sodium benzoate, caramel


Listerine Toenail Fungus Treatment
___________________________

And if anyone cares, lysol spray does have the propensity to kill dermatopytes (foot fungus) on household surfaces.

THE PERFECT FINISHING PRODUCT! - Lysol Disinfectant Spray Spring Waterfall Scent - Epinions.com

Lysol’s Claim

Lysol Disinfectant Spray is an EPA-registered disinfectant that kills many viruses, bacteria, mold and mildew on environmental surfaces in the home and in public places.

It eliminates many germs and odors on hard nonporous surfaces that you come into contact with everyday such as doorknobs, toilet areas, telephones and garbage pails.

Some of the germs LYSOL Disinfectant Spray eliminates on hard non-porous surfaces include

Bacteria: Staph and Strep, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter

>>>>>Fungi: Athlete’s Foot Fungus, Mold and Mildew<<<<<<

_________________

All for now,

Morgan

Originally Posted by tcmgpt13

I have found that using an electric lice comb regularly helps. I don't think morgies like the vibrations. I no longer need to use mine, but at the beginning, along with lice shampoo which contained dimethicone, this was a life saver for me. I used the electric comb before washing my hair to get out what I could (you cannot use it with wet hair). I also used it again when my hair was dry after shampooing it with shampoo which contained dimethicone to smother lice (in this case morgies). One bottle of the shampoo (about four uses) and using the comb regularly then and between shampoos (I did not use this shampoo every day) and I got most of what was in my head out. Now I just use selsun blue shampoo. I also am sure that in my case the virus which had been reactivated in my body was causing some scalp problems. I did not have lice, as what was in my scalp was way too large to be lice, but whatever it was this surely did work for me (they looked light gray and were shaped like commas used in punctuation).

Robi Comb the SAFE Lice Killer - Official Site

Not the shampoo I used (no longer on the market), but here is one with dimethicone which is sold in the US (sometimes I have found both of these products in Walmart):

http://www.licemd.com/licemd/how-licemd-works.asp

Forgot to add the smiley:

Originally Posted by biteme

Hi fathead! I have been able to get rid of the lesions on my head by using EFT.
(Emotional Freedom Technique) It seems to work on most of the symptoms of Morgellons. It also works great to get rid of pain in joints, teeth, and muscles. I have no more head problems. I used to have at least three oozing lesions on my head, now I have none. It works like acupuncture, but without needles and it's free.

Originally Posted by tcmgpt13

Herpes is a disease which may be involved with some scalp symptoms. Though not commonly thought about as a cause the herpes viruses can effect the scalp areas with lesions, oozing and itching. Not as common as other scalp problems, but it is a possibility for those who are immune compromised or older.

Hair Loss: Severe scalp pain and diffuse loss, herpes virus, scalp pain

"Doctor my scalp is pink and moving hairs around hurts, it itches, burns and there is obvoius hair loss, some of my scalp now has a shine to it. The pain and hair loss appear to be connected. When the flare is not active, the shed seems less, when my scalp is on fire, hairs seem to drop out easily even short hairs. Today the pain is unbearable and scalp is very pink. I just feel very hopeless if I did not see pink or have missing hair I would try and not think about it, but the fact that its pink and the hair loss is excessive showing my scalp scares me very much. I start to physically feel ill after a day of the pain. Then some says it seems to ease up. I have to emphasize the pain - its very intense.

With the herpes virus is there a blood test that can be performed.

I know im asking you some very difficult questions via the internet and I do appreciate your trying to help me. It feels like my scalp is being eaten from the inside out
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Dear Doctor, thank you for your time.

I am a 37yr old female who 8 months ago began experiencing severe scalp pain, burning, itching and a pins and needles sensation throughout. At that same time I had noticed within a few weeks about 20% of diffuse hair loss throughout the scalp. No rashes, bumps, pimples, bald spots -pain feels deeper in teh dermis and is not relived by anything including Motrin or pain killers. At times burn can travel down face - any ideas? I've been all over to every doc with every test that is normal. Im feeling very hopeless at this point. Does this ring a bell as to any particular skin or systemic disorder to you?

-----Answer-----
It may be some varient of Bell's Palsy or some other problem affecting the sensory nerves going to the scalp. Bell's palsy affects the facial cranial nerve and causes paralysis of facial muscles and Herpes Simplex as well as Herpes Zoster have been implicated as causes. I am not saying this is Bell's Palsy but rather the same causes could have affected a sensrory nerve to the scalp. A Neurologist would be the specialist to see. He may want to order titers of antigens to Herpes Simplex. It could be something pressing on the nerve or a varient of a migraine. It does not seem to be a skin and hair problem. It is a nerve problem. I would bet the hair loss is just a reaction due to the stress called a telogen effluvium."

Recalcitrant scalp folliculitis : a possible role of herpes simplex virus type 2

"Recalcitrant scalp folliculitis : a possible role of herpes simplex virus type 2
Auteur(s) / Author(s)
FOTI Caterina ; CALVARIO Agata ; D'OVIDIO Roberto ; BONAMONTE Domenico ; SCARASCIULLI Maria Luisa ; CONSERVA Anna ; CASULLI Claudia ; ANGELINI Giovanni ;
Résumé / Abstract
We report the case of a 70-year-old man with a 1 year history of relapsing folliculitis of the scalp. Bacteriological, mycological and the Tzanck tests from the lesions were negative. Histopathological study showed suppurative perifollicular flogosis. Virological cultures were negative, while HSV nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) assays made on swabs and histological sections from the scalp lesions demonstrated the presence of herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) in all samples. Skin swabs of healthy areas yielded negative results for HSV-2 infection. The folliculitis showed a marked and quick improvement after therapy with famciclovir suggesting a possible etiologic role of HSV-2 in the scalp folliculitis."
Revue / Journal Title
The New microbiologica ISSN 1121-7138
Source / Source
2005, vol. 28, no2, pp. 157-159 [3 page(s) (article)]

[Robin]

Hey TCM,
This is an excellent thread to begin. it seems like alot of us have been noticing the scalp issues lately.this is a major part of our disease and when it is fullblown (like myself) it will cause major problems and many sleepless nights.due to the headaches and itchyness that accompany it amongst other things.i would love to join in here!for those of you who truly know me must have heard me tell you how i have been clearing my scalp,face,chest,arms,hands,legs and feet with the use of t.p! i have been doing this everyday for many many countless hours.but as tough as its been i could never stop.because i knew it was clearing this stuff from my body.from the beginning i knew my scalp was severly deformed but it wasn't until about a year of constantly removing this from my scalp did i really know how important it was.this is the key to our disease.the pathways they have made lead from our scalps! in order to stop the buildup in our bodies we must break it down.when you begin this process it is very overwhelming but it is neccesary.
TC i believe if we could think of some concoction to put on our scalps that would kill them it would definitely be alot easier than my way.i am researching certain things as we speak i hope we can find something!and its always an honor to have you by my side.
xxoo
Robin

[Robin]

here are some interesting things to use on our hair and scalp.
xxoo
Diet for Healthy Hair
here's the other page
How Traditional Chinese Medicine Treats Hair Loss and Baldness

[tcmgpt13]

Thanks Robin for posting all those TCM food remedies for the hair. I just remembered when I read that page that the powdered black sesame is very good for the hair. Among the Chinese it is reputed to help restore the color of hair which is graying too early. So this page is great find. You just need to take a teaspoon of the powdered black sesame seed per day according to the Chinese I used to talk with.

All black foods are good for the kidneys according to TCM belief (as the color of the kidneys is black). The kidneys control the hair growth with some help from liver (blood supply).

I agree that a lot of this problem is in our heads (well, they do tell us it is all in our heads ). Heck, we may as well agree (uh, just joking here ), all the while knowing that it is physical symptoms and not mental ones.

I just went to the beauty shop today to inquire if I could bring my own combs, brushes, shampoo etc as I am just now beginning to feel that my head is not in the company of others. I have not had my hair cut in over a year, just to see if I could get my scalp to improve (itching, things falling out, thankfully never had lesions). I just don't think that beauty shops can clean their equipment with the solutions they use. After all hospitals can't kill all the microbes and infections they deal with, so how can beauty parlors who do not even autoclave? Maybe it's paranoid of me, but there are warnings about bring your own tools to have nails done, so how can it be any different for the hair? Anyway, the fellow said I could, so I will have to go back when he is not busy and ask which brushes, combs etc to buy along with bring my own towels (figure I could use a big thin bath towel to drap the neck and use a clip to anchor it). I think the only thing I can't do much about is the scissors.

tcmxxx

[Robin]

Hey TC,
I understand your fear about the beauty shop.thats my field i;m a barber (was) you should get yourself a nylon smock and use the towel for your hair instead.don't worry about the scissors just make sure they thoroughly clean them. we keep our combs in a solution of barbicide that is important.but alot of people i've worked with not all but alot didn't change their solution often enough! so the combs a good idea!bring a brush also do you get a clippered haircut? if you do just make sure they thoroughly clean them also! those come apart and then we brush them clean.not to worryT it'll be fine! also i would think the dryer will be fine.hope this helps.i;m going to lay down for awhile i;m sickly today.
Love ya
Robin+-

[Kritters]

Robin....sorry you're sickly today...I hope you feel better soon. xoxoxo

TC... I totally agree about the brushes, etc. thing. I've been thinking about that myself. I always forget though, when I get to the salon. I'm worried more about other people than myself....but I'm not stupid either ;-)

Kritts

[tcmgpt13]

Yeah, Kritts, the thought of what I might pass along to anyone has sort of held me back too (particularly when I learned that herpes viral infections could lodge in the scalp--ewww).

Thanks for all the suggestions, Robin. The cape especially. I will have to ask the fellow where I can buy one just for my own use. I did find an article which talked about the problems one can encounter in beauty shops and the fact is that the capes often are not washed between customers. These days they do not use individual disposable papers around the neck when they use the capes, so this can be a way to catch all kinds of things too...not a great thought when already sick.

Sorry you are not feeling well Robin. I hope you are back to normal in no time. In fact, I hope we all are, but right now I think that may be a bit of a stretch. Still, like Pollyanna, I keep hoping.

tcmxxx

[Kritters]

Originally Posted by tcmgpt13

Yeah, Kritts, the thought of what I might pass along to anyone has sort of held me back too (particularly when I learned that herpes viral infections could lodge in the scalp--ewww).

Thanks for all the suggestions, Robin. The cape especially. I will have to ask the fellow where I can buy one just for my own use. I did find an article which talked about the problems one can encounter in beauty shops and the fact is that the capes often are not washed between customers. These days they do not use individual disposable papers around the neck when they use the capes, so this can be a way to catch all kinds of things too...not a great thought when already sick.

Sorry you are not feeling well Robin. I hope you are back to normal in no time. In fact, I hope we all are, but right now I think that may be a bit of a stretch. Still, like Pollyanna, I keep hoping.

tcmxxx

herpes can lodge in the scalp????geeeeezzzz...this just keeps getting better and better. What really (more than) irks me is that they can't come up with cure fore herpes...

Kritts

[tcmgpt13]

Yep, it surely can effect the scalp. You can read about that on my first post here (recopied from an older post). At the time I could not find a lot about the scalp and herpes, but it stands to reason this could effect the scalp too (the doctor talks more about the nerves being effected but I feel both the skin and the nerves could be effected--and herpes does cause lesions).

I think that there is treatment to quell the virus and it can help, or at least it seems to be working for me over time. The doctor said I would feel better before I would be better, but the word cure cannot be used so far with any medicine used for viral infections. I agree, finding cures, and not panaceas is the way to better health for many people, not just those of us with Morgellons. Anyway, the lesions seem to be gone these days and I keep crossing my fingers it stays that way.

[tcmgpt13]

Unclear 3's post about oil of oregano to treat hair and goo issues:

Oil Of Oregano for Hair

Originally Posted by Unclear3

I ordered some Oil of Oregano from Young living oils, I read that is will kill parasites in the head. It is very potent for sure, so last night I made a shampoo mixture of Thieves oil cleaner, with some drops of Oil of Oregano and water and put it in a spray bottle. I was amazed not only did it clean my head really good, I put some on the side burns that have been bad with lots of goo if you pull one of the hairs. This morning I checked my side burns and the good was gone. I will keep you updated. I still have lots of nest in my head and I have the next teeth removal on Tuesday, so I only have a few days to work on this. Will keep you updated on how it's working. Hope all is well or at least a bit better. Take care, Unclear PS also using Clove oil on my gums, that seems to be helping also.