Tricodynis is a term used to describe the sensation of discomfort on the scalp, which is reported by some patients presenting with hair loss. The etiology of trichodynia is still unknown, and it may be a multietiological condition.
I wanted to write about this subject as it’s something I have seen in many of my patients over the years.
The pain is described as being similar to a headache, however the scalp feels really tender to the touch..
The sensations trichodynia tend to elicit the most include pain, burning, stinging, and tenderness when moving the hair, some may also experience itching or a tingling/crawling sensation. When the scalp is examined, there is usually nothing to see and it appears otherwise healthy. The degree of hair loss is not thought to be linked with the severity of the scalp symptoms, so increased scalp/hair pain does not necessarily result in a worsening of hair loss.
What causes Trichodynia?
Trichodynia is relatively under researched but is likely to have numerous factors involved in its development. It is believed the condition is related to the release of a neuropeptide called ‘substance P’ surrounding the hair follicles, which stimulates localised nerves to produce these sensations. Substance P is also thought to play a role in hair growth regulation, which is interesting and may explain it’s coexistence with hair loss issues.
Psychological disorders along with stress/anxiety are most likely to be linked with trichodynia, so taking steps to manage these issues can often help to reduce symptoms. Certain nutritional deficiencies are also thought to play a role, the most likely being iron, vitamin B¹², zinc, and vitamin D. I have observed insufficient vitamin B¹² levels in many of my hair loss patients with trichodynia, B¹² is essential in the production of the myelin sheath which surrounds and protects nerve endings, so it would be interesting to see if future literature finds B¹² to hold more of a significant role in the pathogenesis of trichodynia.
It is important to establish if you are truly deficient or low in these nutrients via a blood test before starting any supplementation. Please consult your G.P.
How can Trichodynia be treated?
First and foremost, it’s important to rule out other causes of scalp pain, inflammatory scalp conditions such as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis may cause these sensations. There are also other (less common) hair loss disorders which are often accompanied by scalp pain and burning, and would require prompt medical management, so please seek the advice of a registered Trichologist, dermatologist, or your GP.
Treatments which have been found to help with trichodynia include:
Taking steps to manage stress and anxiety such as exercise, ensuring adequate sleep, and meditation techniques.
Addressing any underlying nutritional deficiencies.
Topical corticosteroids
Propranolol
Antihistamines
Cannabidiol (CBD) which has been shown to inhibit substance P
L-Cystine oral preparations
References
For further reading about scalp dysesthesia/Trichodynia, please follow these links …..
Trichodynia Revisited – FullText – Skin Appendage Disorders 2021, Vol. 7, No. 6 – Karger Publishers
Trichodynia silenced effectively with propranolol Brzezinski P, Zawar V, Chiriac A – Int J Trichol (ijtrichology.com)
Guest blogging 👨💻
Myself and Neil will write and publish content on other websites to reach new audiences and drive traffic back to our own site. Neil has written articles for The Guardian and several other editorial columns. Please see links below…..
Social media marketing via education and professional product development companies such as Scalp solutions limited and potentially the IOT.
Boots !!! 👨🔬🧪👩🔬
Boots’ annual takings increased in 2022–2023, with total revenue rising 8.3% to £7.05 billion:
Retail sales: Increased 12.2% to £4.7 billion
Pharmacy sales: Increased 1.3%
Operating profit: Increased 60% to £88 million
Pre-tax profit: Increased from £4 million to £60 million
Boots’ growth was driven by:
Increased demand for NHS and private healthcare services
A record year for travel vaccinations
An ongoing uplift in Boots Online Doctor – this is where we may just fit in as an online Trichologist !!!
Gains in pharmacy medicines and Boots’ own label range
I’m going to try and see if Neil, as the Chair of the IOT, could be introduced as there face of Trichology. I have already contacted there head office to try and find the best way in !! If this comes off it could be potentially huge for ourselves.
I’m also reaching out to friends for a well known celebrity to become our brand ambassador. There are a few C listers on the cards such as sports celebs.
Fin Smith: A past student of Warwick School who plays for Northampton Saints and was selected for the Senior England Men’s Squad for the 6 Nations.
Aaron Powell: A player for Warwick University Rugby League.
Tom Palmer: A player for Warwick University Rugby League.
D. Tim Dalton: A rugby union player from Warwick.
Tom Dodd: A rugby union player from Warwick.
John Finlan: A rugby union player from Warwick.
Ben Howard: A rugby union player from Warwick.
Keith Savage: A rugby union player from Warwick.
David Bradley, Mr Filch, Harry Potter, is a friend of a friend, he may be willing to help.
Google reviews 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Each patient that books a consultation…
1) We immediately establish a primary relationship.
2) Provide the best possible professional Trichological service and treatment plan.
3) Then ask them to complete a google review on the day of diagnosis, whilst our services and professional standards are fresh in there minds.
4) This will hopefully attract new patients via recommendations, (RAF) and draw them to èlan, as new primary patients to our website / clinic.
We are up to 29 5🌟 reviews
I’m aiming for 100 by next Jan.
I’m going back 12 months to ensure every patient has received a google review request and gently remind them if they haven’t written one, to do so, as it helps so many ” new ” patients find the help theyso desperately need.
Backlinks
Exchange backlinks to increase our visibility ranking. The potential link exchange via Scalp solutions, for example, will strengthen the collaboration between our two websites. Hopefully the search engine results page will love this and help boost our rankings.
Guest posts
Ask, for example, Peter Tabolski Ceo of Scalp solutions Ltd, to write a blog about, for example, scalp health, via his professional expertise….💇♂️
Steven Hands MD of Successful brands is very environmentally focused…..♻️
We already have a relationship with Steven and hope a digital collaboration will be mutually beneficial….
This content is obvs created by an individual who is not affiliated with our website or platform where it is published should boost our serp.
Search engine optimisation (SEO)
Optimise our site for search engines by using relevant keywords in our content and meta tags. I will try to think of new words every week so that we can eventually build a super-duper dictionary of meta tags ! 😀 📃📖
Notes to self……
Relevance: Use keywords that are relevant to our content and that answer questions or solve problems for our target audience.
Search volume: Look for keywords with a high search volume. Eg….
hairloss,
hairlosstreatment, hairlossregrowth, hairlossandtreatments, hairlosscare,
hairlosscauses, hairlossremedies, topreventhairloss,
alopecia,
alopeciatotalis,
alopeciauniversalis,
frontalfibrosingalopecia,
ffa
chemotherapyinducedalopecia
persistentchemotherapy-induced alopecia,
centralcentrifugalcicatricialalepecia
ccca
alopeciaareata,
tractionalopecia,
telogeneffluvium,
senescentalopecia,
alopeciatreatment; androgeneticalopecia,
femalepatternhairloss
fphl
malepatternhairloss
mphl
lichenplanopilaris
lpp
tineacapitis
trichotillosis,
hair-pulling disorder,
hairs-pulling disorder, compulsive hair pulling,
efficacy,
hairloss,
minoxidil,
oral minoxidil,
safety,
systemicminoxidil,
dutasteride,
finasteride,
clobestasolpropionate,
latanoprost,
photobiomodulation,
lowlevellasertherapy,
lllt,
platelet-rich-plasma,
prp,
scalpmassage,
Long-tail keywords: Using a mix of head terms and long-tail keywords, which are longer phrases that are more conversational. Long-tail keywords are often more specific and have lower competition.
Eg
“Genetic methods of testing to create bespoke treatment plans to prevent hair loss”
“Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy is also known by several other names, including:
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT)
Cold laser therapy
Low intensity laser therapy
Class IV laser therapy
Laser therapy
Laser phototherapy”
“PBM is a type of light therapy that uses non-ionising light sources, such as lasers and LEDs, to stimulate biological activity in the body or reduce inflammation. PBM devices operate in the red and near-infrared spectra and can use pulsed or continuous beams.”
“One of the most noticeable benefits people using laser therapy report is an overall improvement in hair quality, structure and condition. Hair diameter can improve over time with using laser phototherapy, reversing the signs of hair ageing and improving manageability.”
“PBM can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including:
Hair loss
Arthropathies
Degenerative disc disease
Fractures
Lymphoedema
Myofascial pain
Neuropathies
Rehabilitation
Soft tissue injuries
Tendinopathies
Pain, inflammation, and wound healing
PBM works by stimulating the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the body’s primary energy source.”
Mental Health hashtags linking depression caused by hairloss….
Depression….
People with hair loss are at a higher risk of developing depression. A 2022 study found that adults with alopecia areata were 30 to 38% more likely to be diagnosed with depression.
Anxiety
People with hair loss are more likely to experience anxiety. The uncertainty of hair loss can lead to feelings of not being in control, which can increase stress and anxiety.
Social withdrawal
People with hair loss may withdraw from social activities. They may also feel embarrassed or guilty about their condition, and worry about how others perceive them.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
People whose hair grows back may develop PTSD because they are constantly on guard for when their hair might fall out again.
Other psychological effects of hair loss include:
Anger,
Decreased confidence
Decreased work
Sexual performance/ disfunction
The link between hair loss and depression is bidirectional, meaning that people with depression are also at a higher risk of developing hair loss.