Minoxidil Makes Me Rub My Scalp While I Sleep

Hello Dr. Rassman,

First of all, thank you for this website. It actually helped me stopping wasting money on some useless products.

I have been on minoxidil (Kirkland) and propecia since Aug. 2011. So far there is no significant improvement but no visible further loss either. So I think I should stay on them for another 8 months to see the results.

However, for minoxidil, my head always gets a little itchy after I apply it. In day hours I don’t feel much so it was all right, but recently I was told that I rub my head a lot while in sleep. I am wondering if I should stop using minoxidil at night since rubbing might accelerate the hair loss. Or maybe I can find something like a hat to wear at night. I would like to hear your suggestion on this.

Thanks

Traction alopecia can occur from rubbing your scalp on a regular and rough basis. Some people do report irritation (or sensitivity) when using topical minoxidil. Some try different types, such as the foam version (Rogaine) and maybe you’ll see some improvement.

It may seem silly, but maybe you could wear mittens while you sleep. I’ve suggested that to my patients who have similar problems.