Excessive Shedding from MN

[jrae]

I've been using MN (monistat 2%) on and off for several months - once a week approx. After the last three times, my hair starts shedding excessively after the second day of use. Its like I'll look at my hair and there is like a ball of hair at the end. I'll gently untangle and remove it and as I stroke my hands through my hair, there are several tangled globs coming out like this in different places. It seems to correspond to the areas I massaged MN in my scalp.

Ladies, we need to be better about doing strand and patch tests... at least I know I do. I am ticked about this setback because my hair does not grow very fast to begin with and I saw some nice growth after my last touch-up. Oh well... its only hair.

[KiniKakes]

Thats really unfortunate. Ive never experience any adverse effects from using Miconazale Nitrate.

Well, Im glad you've at least pinpointed what the problem is, so that you can cease usage immediately, and do some damage control. Dont worry, your hair will soon get back to a healthy place.

[HoneyDew]

I never had that happen when I used an MN product (although I have never used monistat)

I am sorry to hear that happened to you.

I would not worry about that 1st comment you got. Using anti-fungals on your scalp is not bad in moderation. You can research it. The active ingredient even helps those with skin problems or dandruff.

But, with any product, everyone responds to it is a different way. Since it took so long after using it for this to happen, I am not even sure a strand test wouls have helped.

I agree with Kini, it is good you found the problem.

Edited (on 12/16/06) to add:

What happened to the 1st comment that was in this thread? Someone made a comment that I thought was unsupportive and not it is gone. My post here about the 1st comment was not about Kini's statement. Her's was actually the 2nd one there. Now the 1st one is gone? Maybe the moderators decided to delete it.

[AKA-Tude]

I never had that happen when I used an MN product (although I have never used monistat)

I am sorry to hear that happened to you.

I would not worry about that 1st comment you got. Using anti-fungals on your scalp is not bad in moderation. You can research it. The active ingredient even helps those with skin problems or dandruff.

But, with any product, everyone responds to it is a different way. Since it took so long after using it for this to happen, I am not even sure a strand test wouls have helped.

I agree with Kini, it is good you found the problem.

I am so sorry as well.

Hope it doesn't set you back too far and you find an alternative soon.

[shunta]

Im sorry about your problem, sweetie.

[slender1]

JRae,

Were you using it everday continuously for a prolonged period? I too experienced shedding(Not sure if it was due to the stretching)

Well I noticed if I used it frequently then ceased usage to give my hair a break I didnt have this problem

Vixen suggested 2 weeks on and 1 month off I believe. Try this and see how it works.

[KiniKakes]

Using anti-fungals on your scalp is not bad in moderation. You can research it. The active ingredient even helps those with skin problems or dandruff.

But, with any product, everyone responds to it is a different way. Since it took so long after using it for this to happen, I am not even sure a strand test wouls have helped.

Very good points.

[HoneyDew]

You know, I can actually see how some growth aids can cause some shedding at times. I mean if it is speeding your growth cycle up wouldn't some hairs that are at the end of the cycle reach the shedding point faster?

I can even see how some ladies get more shedding for aperiod of time after they stop using the growth aids that seem to prolong the growth cycle. After they stop the product wouldn't the natural shedding start up again?

[LaNecia]

JRae,

Were you using it everday continuously for a prolonged period? I too experienced shedding(Not sure if it was due to the stretching)

Well I noticed if I used it frequently then ceased usage to give my hair a break I didnt have this problem

Vixen suggested 2 weeks on and 1 month off I believe. Try this and see how it works.

I actually ended up doing three weeks on, one off. I was using the 4% and started getting mad nausea but I was using it daily. Now I'm using ONLY 3x's a week and haven't had any problems with shedding or the sick feeling.

Jrae, one thing i noticed to is that initially my hair was VERY dry from using the MN. Adding more moisture may help?

[jrae]

Thanks ladies! I needed that. Thanks for the comfort and the wonderful advice and comments. The sisters I never had.

You are so helpful and smart, too...

Honeydew, I completely agree that anti-fungal creme is not bad. That's all it is. Shoot... some of the dandrufff shampoos out there are worse. Also, I think you might be right about speeding up the growth cycle. I don't have enough hair to start off with to figure this out though.

Slender1, no, I didn't use it everyday. I used it like once a week. This didn't happen the first few times though, so HD is right about a patch test not helping. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm too scurred though to try it again.

[jrae]

I actually ended up doing three weeks on, one off. I was using the 4% and started getting mad nausea but I was using it daily. Now I'm using ONLY 3x's a week and haven't had any problems with shedding or the sick feeling.

Jrae, one thing i noticed to is that initially my hair was VERY dry from using the MN. Adding more moisture may help?

Thanks for explaining your usage... nausea? That's weird. I remember when I first started using castor oil, I bought unrefined and it made me nauseous AND gave me diarrhea. I was using it on my scalp and it affected me that way. Wow!

Lack of moisture doesn't seem to be a problem. I always put castor oil on after I shampoo or CW and it lasts for days. The strands still feel silky and smooth and not dry at all.

[Beautiful Disaster]

I'm sorry that happened to you.
I used MN and the same thing happened to me... it seemed like globs of hair were coming out every time I touched my head . I was worried that my hair would stay thin after all that shedding, but I'm back to normal now so I'm sure everything will turn out ok with you too.
I know you will find something that works perfect for you.

[Nenah]

Hopefully you will get your shedding under control and get back on track.

[HoneyDew]

Thanks for explaining your usage... nausea? That's weird. I remember when I first started using castor oil, I bought unrefined and it made me nauseous AND gave me diarrhea. I was using it on my scalp and it affected me that way. Wow!

Lack of moisture doesn't seem to be a problem. I always put castor oil on after I shampoo or CW and it lasts for days. The strands still feel silky and smooth and not dry at all.

You know when I was using MN everyday, I wasn't getting nausea but I was getting headaches. They were more like head rushes. It was bad. I stopped using it for a while, but after a few months I really missed that speedy growth rate (greedy maybe )

Recently I started using it again and I am doing it the way Vixxen does it. I have had no problems so far and it has been about 3 weeks.

That's why I think that using it too much or in high doses is overkill and not even necessary.

[LaNecia]

That's why I think that using it too much or in high doses is overkill and not even necessary.

ITA! Sometimes less is more!

[HoneyDew]

ITA! Sometimes less is more!

VWV -this is OT, but I see your Hair Regimen for the new year is C&G! I am going to do that for '07 as well! I am actually getting some braids in on Saturday and I am so excited!

[mrsmeredith]

That almost made me LOL at work!

Me too, that cracked me up

[LaNecia]

VWV -this is OT, but I see your Hair Regimen for the new year is C&G! I am going to do that for '07 as well! I am actually getting some braids in on Saturday and I am so excited!

That's awesome! Are you going for the full year? I'm only doing it from January - September. I should DEFINITELY be APL by then. I want to wear my own hair for my fall competitions when TJ gets back from deployment (again).

[HoneyDew]

That's awesome! Are you going for the full year? I'm only doing it from January - September. I should DEFINITELY be APL by then. I want to wear my own hair for my fall competitions when TJ gets back from deployment (again).

I was thinking of going until my birthday July 21 which will put me at 7 months.

Girl, he going to be deployed soon!? I am so excited about your wedding and we have never even met! I guess it is the life of a soldiers wife, right?!