Itchy scalp, spots and hair loss

[Severo177]

Hi all.

I am 40 years old and I quit smoking after 20+ years though vaping in January of 2015. I mainly vape 80pg/20vg 11-18mg pretty much all day and get through maybe two evod pro tanks worth (3ml?). I can't remember exactly when this started but I would guess around the spring/summer of last year. I began getting an itchy scalp and also getting spots on my scalp, particularly the right side and the back. I had some spots as a teen and still got very occasional ones on my face and various parts of my body over the years but never ever on my scalp. I've also never had dandruff (which I don't now) or any other scalp problems.

I wash my hair every day with Johnson's Baby Shampoo as I have done for well over 10 years. Lately I have been experimenting with rinsing with cold water which seems to help the itching and trying not to scratch or touch as I think this maybe contributing to the spots. I've also noticed hair in the sink every morning when I wash which I never had before. My hair also feels thinner, particularly on the right where the itching is worse. Although I realise I am now reaching an age where hair loss maybe expected, there is no history of male pattern baldness on either side of my family. In fact everyone has very thick hair.

I guess the obvious thing to do would be to stop vaping and see if it improves and or see a doctor/dermatologist. But I would of thought if this was an allergy it would be causing other symptoms elsewhere which it isn't. I have tried higher VG blends to see if that helped but noticed they made my face even oilier than my usual liquids and therefore (I would assume) more likely to cause spots. I've also tried cutting the nic right down to 6mg but found myself just vaping twice as much. The only thing that has changed in my life is quitting smoking and starting vaping. No dietary changes, nothing.

 

[Izan]

Hi and welcome,
Alopecia areata is common and often brought on by stress.
Personally, I would STOP using JBS. It is PH balanced to reduce irritation to sensitive eyes, but it is HORRIBLE for your hair/scalp.
Consult a dermatologist and switch shampoo. Perhaps not washing your hair every day and using a product designed for hair is all you need.
How this is related to vaping, I'm unsure.

Good luck
I

ETA: I'm not a doctor, just a twit with WIFI.

 

[Severo177]

Thanks for the welcome and your advice.

Regarding JBS, I have read similar elsewhere over the years but as I said, I've used it once a day for well over a decade (possibly two) and had zero issues, so I sincerely doubt it's that. The hair loss is thankfully not of the level I have seen described in Alopecia. What is falling out, I suspect is caused by the acne/spots on my scalp.

How this potentially relates to vaping is that it is the only new thing to of been introduced to my life after quitting smoking over a year ago.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

You could try just vaping pg and nic alone, no flavoring. Then try vg and nic(with a little distilled water to help thin the vg. This would go a long way in finding out if you are allergic to pg/vg also with no flavoring. Itching and spots are related to allergies but to be so localized makes me wonder if something else is going on?
Have you tried using any allergy meds to see if you get any relief?
Really best to see a Dr. and describe to them what you said here.?

 

[salemgold]

I can say with a fair amount of certainty that this is what you have. Nothing to do with vaping.
Seborrheic dermatitis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Harsh soaps and shampoos will make the symptoms worse. What you can do right away to get relief from itching is to get some Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar (must be Braggs) https://www.amazon.com/Bragg-Organi...8&sr=8-15&keywords=braggs+apple+cider+vinegar and make a 50/50 ACV/Distilled Water solution in a spray bottle. After washing your hair, preferably with this shampoo https://www.amazon.com/Avalon-Organ...677&sr=1-5&keywords=scalp+normalizing+shampoo spray the solution on your hair and scalp. Do this before towel drying your hair. It will smell like vinegar while wet but, once it dries it will be very shiny and have zero smell.

For other areas on the skin, use a 10% cortisone cream that can be purchased at any pharmacy.

Hope this helped and good luck.

ETA- If you are not able to get the Braggs locally or right away, this will also work and can be found in any pharmacy https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Breeze-A...&sr=8-2&keywords=seabreeze+for+sensitive+skin Use it the same way. Saturate your scalp after shampooing but before towel drying.

 

[classwife]

I have a feeling salemgold is correct on this.
A dermatologist can tell you for sure and get you a script for a shampoo and instruct you with dealing with flare-ups and preventative measures. Nizoral shampoo will probably give you some relief in the mean time till you can get with one.
( after your trip to the dermatologist a hair forum/community would be a good place for finding what others do for theirs)

 

[LarryPer]

Same issue here but much worse,Saw 4 doctors and many blood and skin test, I told them to look for vg or pg sensitivities but they found nothing,I took every med you could think of too. Good luck to both of us

 

[salemgold]

Same issue here but much worse,Saw 4 doctors and many blood and skin test, I told them to look for vg or pg sensitivities but they found nothing,I took every med you could think of too. Good luck to both of us

The stuff that the doctors give you will not work near as good as the natural remedies. A dermatologist would most likely prescribe ketaconazole shampoo and ointment.

Those will work until you build a tolerance to them. They are very harsh though.

I make my own shampoos and soaps using essential oils and other natural ingredients.

Something else that will help dramatically is to use Extra Virgin Coconut Oil or Local Raw Honey as a scalp mask. Leave it on at least a few hours before washing hair or preferably overnight using a disposable shower cap to cover your head while you sleep. It truly does work. They both contain natural but potent antifungals.

The thing about using OTC shampoos and ointments is that they all contain other ingredients that can be very harsh and add to the issue.

 

[r77r7r]

your age is when I started to have allergies after a lifetime free. Found out that it was a common thing. things change. Excersize and eat right or when you go over the 50 mark, things could get out of hand.

 

[zoiDman]

...

I guess the obvious thing to do would be to stop vaping and see if it improves and or see a doctor/dermatologist. ...

I think Both sound like Good things to do. Especially the Later.

 

[Severo177]

Thank you all for your advice. It's very much appreciated.

Over the course of the last 6 months or so I have tried other shampoos. An organic tea tree one, as I thought this would help with the spots, H&S (for itchy scalp) and T-Gel for suspected Seborrheic dermatitis. They all seemed offer relief for a time but then made it worse. I was washing twice a day for a time, which was probably a particularly bad idea. I've also tried making a tea tree and water spray for relief (made it worse) and stopped using any products other than JBS.

As I'm listing all this, I'll confess to feeling perhaps a bit silly posting in a vaping forum but whenever a problem develops I think it's natural to look at what has changed in your life before the problem started. I do have some mild allergies. Pet hair for example which manifests itself totally differently. And I suspect a slight intolerance to citric acid. Again with different symptoms.

Shampooing with warm water and then rinsing with cold water in the morning and then just rinsing with cold water in the evening seems to be working quite well at the moment. But I just feel I'm just tiptoeing around whatever the problem is.

Ultimately, I think I'll just have to bite the bullet and visit the doctor and hope they can work out what it is.

Thank you all again.

 

[LarryPer]

You might try Dr Bonners organic soaps sold at whole foods and trader joes

 

[CagedSpam]

There's a bit of a movement called no-poo(ha-ha). No shampoo or just once a week. I had dandruff and started washing once a week and conditioning every day w/ scalp massage in the shower. Scalp is doing well.

Good luck

 

[zoiDman]

...

Ultimately, I think I'll just have to bite the bullet and visit the doctor and hope they can work out what it is.

Thank you all again.

Sounds like a Plan.

Hey BTW. There is one other thing you could Try that might Rule Out a reaction to Flavorings or Sweeteners in an e-Liquid.

And that is Try Vaping Non-Flavored for 2 Weeks or so.