Can a tingling and itchy scalp mean that new growth is occurring after hair loss? My opinion

I am asked this question quite often. People really hope that the tightness, tingling, and itchiness in their scalp means they are experiencing massive regrowth, but many also know that they experienced the same thing when those same hairs were growing or falling out. The truth is that whenever a large number of hair follicles are shedding or growing, you can sometimes have these same symptoms. However, they are ways of knowing what is happening, which I will talk about in the next article.

What is the period of time in which you feel tingling and itching?: One way to help you determine if you’re starting to see new growth is to ask yourself where it might be in the hair cycle. Generally speaking, you will start to see new hair about 2 months (give or take) after the start of shedding or hair loss. If you are experiencing these symptoms very shortly after this first occurred, then this is less likely to be due to new growth, as the time period occurs too soon.

A few ways to tell if what you’re experiencing is new growth (or just more molting on the way 🙂 You probably already know that “burning scalp syndrome” is the name given to scalp problems that often correspond to dramatic hair loss. Many people worry that what they hope is a symptom of new growth is really just this burning scalp condition that continues or worsens. (And it’s possible to have the syndrome at the same time your hair grows back.) But there are ways to know which and which. And often you can do this simply by taking a close look at your hair and scalp.

Start by standing in front of a mirror and pulling back your hairline. You should see a fairly generous amount of tiny baby hairs coming out. They may start off nice and light in color but should start to thicken and darken quickly if all else is normal.

Another thing that you can try is to slide your hair back. Shine a bright light on your head and see if you can identify the short hairs sticking out from the slicked back locks. (It may help to hold a piece of paper behind you so you can see more easily.) Better yet, spray your hair (on top) with dry shampoo. If you are liberal enough when you spray, your hair will turn white. This will make it much easier to see those short hairs growing back.

Finally, you can tilt your head to one side and then comb your hair all the way to the opposite side. Now, look around the ear area and see if there are any short hairs sticking out and going against the grain. All of these methods should help you identify a fresh supply of baby strands.

What to look for in new, healthy hair that grows smoothly: As I said, the new strands may be lighter in color or look a bit tiny at first. But once the hair is long enough that you can easily see it, then it should start to get darker and more of a normal width. If you are not sure about this, you can compare one of the new hair to one of your longest hair. This will tell you if the diameter is similar.

The reason this is a concern is that you don’t want to see miniature new growth. If it does, this is an indication that you may have some androgens that have affected your follicles and their ability to maintain healthy hair and a normal scalp. In general, the sooner this is addressed, the better the results. Generally speaking, hair that is slightly miniaturized responds better to treatment than hair that has been heavily affected for a longer period of time.