Itchy Scalp After Hair Transplant And Losing Hair: What is Happening?
Hello, I have had hair transplantation surgery two months ago, and currently my scalp itches and I have a lot of dandruff. Sometimes when I scratch my head small hairs come out along with the dandruff. Is this miniaturized native hair coming out or is it possible that after 2 months transplanted hair can still be shedding? Can dandruff cause additional hair loss?
Severe scalp irritation such as scalp dermatitus can be the cause of some types of hair loss such as telogen effluvium, but not genetic hair loss.
The hairs you are finding in your hand after itching are most likely native hairs though I won’t rule out the possibility that some of the transplanted hairs could still be shedding – though that would be rare. It would suggest that the hair shedding you are experiencing could be one of 3 things at only 2 months post op:
- Normal Hair Shedding: These hairs could have entered the telogen phase of the hair growth cycle and therefore shedding normally.
- They could be miniaturized hairs due to male pattern baldness (MPB): How do the hair follicles look in your hand? Do they look healthy or do they appear thin and fine, maybe even a lighter color?
- Shock Loss: Shock loss an happen at varying times. In my personal experience with shock loss, 5 to 7 weeks was when it hit me. I have spoken to many hair transplant patients who have started experiencing shock loss around 2 months post-op. Hairs that were temporarily “shocked” will grow back while permanent ones will not. Learn more about shock loss.
But rest assured, 2 months out from a hair transplant is not the time to panic. This is the time that people typically look the worst. I encourage you to have patience during this hard time and you’ll be much happier in a few short months!
In the meantime, I recommend using an anti-dandruff shampoo such as Nizoral or Head and Shoulders to help with scalp irritation and dandruff.
Best wishes,
Bill
Associate Publisher
Technorati Tags: hair transplantation, native hair, transplanted hair, dandruff, hair loss, scalp dermatitus, telogen effluvium, transplanted hair, hair shedding, telogen, male pattern baldness, MPB, hair follicles, Shock Loss, hair transplant patients, hair transplant, Nizoral
January 5, 2016 @ 6:51 am
Hello Dear Friends
I have had hair transplantation surgery one months ago, and currently my scalp itches and I have a lot of dandruff. Sometimes when I small touches my head small hairs come out along with the dandruff. Is this miniaturized native hair coming out or is it possible that after one months transplanted hair can still be shedding? Can dandruff cause additional hair loss? What I will do now?
July 31, 2013 @ 2:44 am
Zaher,
This sounds perfectly normal. The grafts that were transplanted last week should have formed scabs. At this time, the scabs should start to fall and it’s normal for them to have hair follicles embedded in them.
This does not mean that you are losing grafts. The hairs you are seeing are only follicles that will begin to regrow in three to four months.
Best of luck!
David
July 29, 2013 @ 6:07 pm
Dear Sir;
I had my first FUE session last week, then I had my second session 3 days ago .
The area of the first session is itching a lot so I touched it with my fingers and the grafts fell automatically. I was dry and I noticed some hair in it. Is it a good sign or bad sign?
November 12, 2012 @ 8:38 am
Many thanks David, I really appreciate your comments. I think I am on the way to recovery as my head feels less itchy and scalp is returning to its normal colour(less reddish). I am looking forward to the results in a month or two time. I think its common to have some loss of hair grafts after the surgery due to shock both, existing and transplanted but I been told that this is a very small amount when compared to 3600 grafts my surgeon has transplanted on my head. At leas I hope that’s the case. I am looking forward the see the results in couple of months time. I will keep you informed.
Once again many thanks for your comments.
Aykut
November 7, 2012 @ 3:13 am
Aykut,
Most of what you’ve described sounds perfectly normal but let me clarify one point. At 9 to 10 days post-op, it’s the follicular unit grafts that become securely anchored and permanent. The follicles within those grafts will shed and they will appear just as you’ve described above.
It is also quite common to experience pimples prior to and in the early stages of new hair growth. The hair transplant recipient area will also appear red or pinkish for a period of weeks or months. During this stage of healing and growth, you should avoid severe scratching and, if this is happening in your sleep, you may want to consider wearing socks on your hands at night until the itching is controlled.
If the redness, irritation and pimples are severe, you may be experiencing folliculitis and should take steps to control it as it can affect the outcome of your transplant. Consult with your hair restoration physician or GP for a professional diagnosis. You doctor will also be the best qualified to recommend a remedy for your itching.
Best of luck!
David
November 3, 2012 @ 6:55 am
Hi there,
I have had a hair transplant 7 weeks ago by the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) technique with the help of a micro motor. The first week I had no pain but swelling of my head and little discomfort. After 12 day the transplanted hair started to fall out in the shower and at night time in the bed. The hair that is fallen out was very dry and some of them had scabs stuck to it. In some hair looked like it had come out with its root but there was no blood. I investigated this and found out that the hair follicles become permanent 9 days after the surgery. Then around the 5 to 6 week mark I have noticed areas filled with pus which looks like a medium size spot and I had about 5 or 6 of them on my head. I have removed these spots by carefully squeezing the pus out with a cotton bud and a sanitized needle; inevitably there was a small amount of blood and pus.
My question is:
As I am approaching to the 8th week mark after my surgery; I cannot stop touching my head due to it being very itchy both the donor and recipient areas. The top of my scull (Recipient area) looks red and I had a few areas still filled with pus. I am a little concern about scratching this area in my sleep as this morning I found some hair on the bed and under my finger nails it looked like there was a little bit of blood. I think it is natural and this must be all part of the healing process but I wanted to have a second opinion. And how to remedy the itching also is it possible to use an anti-septic such as tee tree oil to help the healing of the tissue?
Many Thanks
June 16, 2012 @ 8:03 am
It is quite natural to feel itchy after a week of transplant surgery. Most FUE transplant recovers early and the scabs shed starts after a week. Due to itchiness, slight caressing the hair may allow the scab to fall off. However when caressing means just moving the hand on the hair and not scalp. As evident in FUE, that transplant hair gets properly rooted in 7 – 10 days ,hence there after there is no need to worry about the graft to fall. Just as recommended , one has to follow the overstressfull job or activities.
Also after 7-10 days you may feel , the transplanted hair to be dry and dead like, which is bound to fall out. Hence not to panic, as its a good sign of recovery.
So just hope for the best and write your after 6 months observations.
March 24, 2011 @ 2:15 pm
I had a FUE hair transplant in December 2010 and now in the middle of March 2011 and I have shed all my hair but I have not had any new hair coming out on my head. I am a bit worried and suspecting that my implanted hair follicles may have come out during the hair shed. Some times I was gently rubbing my scalp and getting of rid of scabs that way and the hair were coming out along with the scabs.