whitestiletto
June 27th, 2011, 05:54 PM
So there are multiple massive threads (http://www.longhaircommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156) , original archived thread (http://www.longhaircommunity.com/archive/showthread.php?t=68526), about whether certain antifungals, when applied topically to the scalp, increase hair growth. Most popular is miconazole, the active ingredient in Monistat, but other things such as ketoconazole were reported.
I skimmed the thread but my scientific mind can't take it seriously because each person is measuring their own growth, and saying things like "seems like I have a lot more growth now!" Hair grows faster at times and slower at times, and measuring in and of itself seems error prone due to the very small variants in length, month to month, leading to a high noise to signal ratio. It is hard to precisely quantify hair length, and difficult to assign growth patterns to a single factor. Of course it's going to get longer, but how much of the increased growth is psychological and how much is real? Every individual is different, and in each person's anecdote, there is no control to compare with their experiment. :confused:
I am embarking on an experiment and urge others to join me so we can make this miconazole theory into a miconazole fact -- or fiction.
(I reaallllly want my hair to recover from a disaster salon cut, so I hope this works! :cheese: I'll report my result Oct 1, 2011.)
Experiment Protocol:
Duration: Three months (or longer if it works). It has been reported it takes a few weeks for the effects to start.
Beginning state: Grow out an obvious dye line. Deal with it. For 3 months.
If you are not growing out a dye line, create two dyed streaks (please make strong enough for contrast, and make each section at least 1 inch wide) using your dye of choice - bleach, red hair dye, henndigo much darker than your regular henna, whatevs.You will need one streak in the area where you are applying the miconazole, and one streak where you are not applying miconazole. This is the entire purpose of the experiment, to compare positive (miconazole) and negative (no treatment) on one person, so don't skip this part!
Positive (with miconazole): Part hair vertically from the ears, apply the solution only to hair from my earline forward. (You may choose a different arrangement if you please. You can hide the streaks inside the body of your hair, on the sides of your head above your ears and apply miconazole to the left or right side of your head if you desire.)
Negative Control: Do NOT apply any miconazole to hair from earline back (or to your alternate side).
Frequency: 2-3x/wk, applied at night before a shampoo day.
Solution recipe: Mixed 1/2 to 1/2 with water or oil of choice. Shake to mix in dye applicator bottle with squirt tip.
(Feel free to experiment with different mixes, but be consistent and report your mix along with your result)
How to apply: Directly to scalp. Reported easier to apply to wet hair. Massage well.
Hypothesis: After 3 months, the root length will differ significantly between the positive and control regions.
I will not include your results if I can't see visible root growth with and without miconazole on one head!
------------------------
Adverse Reactions
LHC-reported: Many have reported headaches, and also shedding at the beginning of treatment.
Gvt report: "Clinical studies show that miconazole nitrate cream is generally well tolerated. Most frequently reported reactions (mainly mild to moderate) in clinical trials included local irritation (16-21%), pruritus (23-27%), discharge (3-4%), headache (18-19%) and a burning sensation (24-26%), especially at the start of the treatment. Complaints of pelvic cramping, hives and skin rash have also been reported rarely. A higher incidence and severity of adverse reactions were found with miconazole 4% vaginal cream than with miconazole 2% vaginal cream." -- Source (http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/datasheet/m/Monistat3creamdisposable.htm)
Positive LHC-reported side effects:
Decreased scalp flakes/less dandruff
Less shedding
Hair becomes thicker with continued use
------------------------
FAQ:
Q: Which cream should I get?
A: Any cream with 2% Miconazole. You can get them at the drugstore for vaginal yeast infections or for athlete's foot. You can get them on Amazon for a lot cheaper. Personally, I'm using Walgreen's brand vaginal cream 2% miconazole. Daktarin is popular reported by many to be effective.
Q: Will the potential headache side effect trigger my migraines?
A: Maybe, maybe not. Naturechild reports: " I usually have extremely bad migraines but not a one with this."
Q: How much growth will I get?
A: Most report about 1 inch growth per month, up from 1/4 to 1/2 inch regular.
------------------------
(a small sample of many)
LHC Member Reports:
Link to Official Poll (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=2144)
decafejane: "grown about 2cm in the past 11 days,"
silkenblacksea: "I gained an inch a month (from October to January). This was a half- inch over my normal monthly growth which was - well, a half inch."
Madame_Librarian: " I didn't get any growth at all during that period. ... I believe my growth stall is more than likely stress related."
Jojo: "I was shedding loads before trying daktarin but since using it i shed hardly anything" .... "3 inches in 2 months, i normally grow just over 1/2" a month so in my case it doubled my growth rate."
chloeishere: " Approximately 5.25" in 6 months. I normally am an average to slow grower."
Suldrun: "Before MN I shed tons in the drain at every wash. I now notice maybe 5 hairs all day this includes finger combing, washing and putting up"
ilovelonghair: "I had no headache"
stepha: "I put the 4% monistat in about 5 times a week, no dilution. Sometimes the hair is wet, sometimes it's dry. Massage my scalp habitually, shampoo 2-3 times a week with a VO5, and comb either with fingers or a wide prong pick. I oil 3x weekly with coconut oil mixed with almond oil (for the smell, use it as body/face lotion too), and 3xwekk with 'Africa's Best Hair and Body oil.' I've gained 3 inches in less than a month."
I skimmed the thread but my scientific mind can't take it seriously because each person is measuring their own growth, and saying things like "seems like I have a lot more growth now!" Hair grows faster at times and slower at times, and measuring in and of itself seems error prone due to the very small variants in length, month to month, leading to a high noise to signal ratio. It is hard to precisely quantify hair length, and difficult to assign growth patterns to a single factor. Of course it's going to get longer, but how much of the increased growth is psychological and how much is real? Every individual is different, and in each person's anecdote, there is no control to compare with their experiment. :confused:
I am embarking on an experiment and urge others to join me so we can make this miconazole theory into a miconazole fact -- or fiction.
(I reaallllly want my hair to recover from a disaster salon cut, so I hope this works! :cheese: I'll report my result Oct 1, 2011.)
Experiment Protocol:
Duration: Three months (or longer if it works). It has been reported it takes a few weeks for the effects to start.
Beginning state: Grow out an obvious dye line. Deal with it. For 3 months.
If you are not growing out a dye line, create two dyed streaks (please make strong enough for contrast, and make each section at least 1 inch wide) using your dye of choice - bleach, red hair dye, henndigo much darker than your regular henna, whatevs.You will need one streak in the area where you are applying the miconazole, and one streak where you are not applying miconazole. This is the entire purpose of the experiment, to compare positive (miconazole) and negative (no treatment) on one person, so don't skip this part!
Positive (with miconazole): Part hair vertically from the ears, apply the solution only to hair from my earline forward. (You may choose a different arrangement if you please. You can hide the streaks inside the body of your hair, on the sides of your head above your ears and apply miconazole to the left or right side of your head if you desire.)
Negative Control: Do NOT apply any miconazole to hair from earline back (or to your alternate side).
Frequency: 2-3x/wk, applied at night before a shampoo day.
Solution recipe: Mixed 1/2 to 1/2 with water or oil of choice. Shake to mix in dye applicator bottle with squirt tip.
(Feel free to experiment with different mixes, but be consistent and report your mix along with your result)
How to apply: Directly to scalp. Reported easier to apply to wet hair. Massage well.
Hypothesis: After 3 months, the root length will differ significantly between the positive and control regions.
I will not include your results if I can't see visible root growth with and without miconazole on one head!
------------------------
Adverse Reactions
LHC-reported: Many have reported headaches, and also shedding at the beginning of treatment.
Gvt report: "Clinical studies show that miconazole nitrate cream is generally well tolerated. Most frequently reported reactions (mainly mild to moderate) in clinical trials included local irritation (16-21%), pruritus (23-27%), discharge (3-4%), headache (18-19%) and a burning sensation (24-26%), especially at the start of the treatment. Complaints of pelvic cramping, hives and skin rash have also been reported rarely. A higher incidence and severity of adverse reactions were found with miconazole 4% vaginal cream than with miconazole 2% vaginal cream." -- Source (http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/datasheet/m/Monistat3creamdisposable.htm)
Positive LHC-reported side effects:
Decreased scalp flakes/less dandruff
Less shedding
Hair becomes thicker with continued use
------------------------
FAQ:
Q: Which cream should I get?
A: Any cream with 2% Miconazole. You can get them at the drugstore for vaginal yeast infections or for athlete's foot. You can get them on Amazon for a lot cheaper. Personally, I'm using Walgreen's brand vaginal cream 2% miconazole. Daktarin is popular reported by many to be effective.
Q: Will the potential headache side effect trigger my migraines?
A: Maybe, maybe not. Naturechild reports: " I usually have extremely bad migraines but not a one with this."
Q: How much growth will I get?
A: Most report about 1 inch growth per month, up from 1/4 to 1/2 inch regular.
------------------------
(a small sample of many)
LHC Member Reports:
Link to Official Poll (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=2144)
decafejane: "grown about 2cm in the past 11 days,"
silkenblacksea: "I gained an inch a month (from October to January). This was a half- inch over my normal monthly growth which was - well, a half inch."
Madame_Librarian: " I didn't get any growth at all during that period. ... I believe my growth stall is more than likely stress related."
Jojo: "I was shedding loads before trying daktarin but since using it i shed hardly anything" .... "3 inches in 2 months, i normally grow just over 1/2" a month so in my case it doubled my growth rate."
chloeishere: " Approximately 5.25" in 6 months. I normally am an average to slow grower."
Suldrun: "Before MN I shed tons in the drain at every wash. I now notice maybe 5 hairs all day this includes finger combing, washing and putting up"
ilovelonghair: "I had no headache"
stepha: "I put the 4% monistat in about 5 times a week, no dilution. Sometimes the hair is wet, sometimes it's dry. Massage my scalp habitually, shampoo 2-3 times a week with a VO5, and comb either with fingers or a wide prong pick. I oil 3x weekly with coconut oil mixed with almond oil (for the smell, use it as body/face lotion too), and 3xwekk with 'Africa's Best Hair and Body oil.' I've gained 3 inches in less than a month."