Is it the water?

UmSulaiman

New member
Apr 19, 2011
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Hi all,
I have been living in Bavaro for the last month and I have noticed that my hair has been falling out and my scalp itches like crazy!.....my fiance says its the water, because I style it wet (its curly so I wet it, put in hair gel and go) and let it air dry--(something we can do in the US no problem) anyways, he says that I can't leave the water in my hair, and no one here does. So I'm wondering, can it be some kind of water born parasite or infection, or is it just the chemicals in the water, or could it be something else? Thanks.
 

judypdr

Active member
Jul 23, 2011
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Costambar
Well, if you find the answer, let me know. I went to a dermatologist and she said there was nothing wrong, prescribed an anti-itch lotion and a milder shampoo and said, "Don't scratch." Big help -- not! Anyway, it is still here and is worse! Swimming in the ocean helps...but sweating makes it worse. I even tried a local remedy which was "brewed" and smelled like Coconut oil with some coffee mixed in but it didn't help either. Good luck!
 

AlterEgo

Administrator
Staff member
Jan 9, 2009
23,097
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South Coast
I think the air-drying theory is nonsense. First of all, I never ever dry my hair in DR, and have never had any problem, and I've been there for months on end. And what about the thousands of women who put their wet hair into rollers - that's air drying too.

Maybe you have folliculitis?

AE
 

sylindr

New member
Nov 29, 2007
509
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0
Hi all,
I have been living in Bavaro for the last month and I have noticed that my hair has been falling out and my scalp itches like crazy!.....my fiance says its the water, because I style it wet (its curly so I wet it, put in hair gel and go) and let it air dry--(something we can do in the US no problem) anyways, he says that I can't leave the water in my hair, and no one here does. So I'm wondering, can it be some kind of water born parasite or infection, or is it just the chemicals in the water, or could it be something else? Thanks.

my daughter had the same thing, ended up going to the states to a specialist and had an aggressive treatment of steroid creams, after 18 months she is back to normal. She had contracted ring worm from a stray cat, he contributed it to that and some other mild health issues. Nothing the doctors did here made any difference and she had losst halfof her hair by the time she went there and was treated.
 

jrjrth

Bronze
Mar 24, 2011
782
1
0
~Always airdry my hair in RD...I've been traveling to the country since 1992...no problems....and I have had skin allergies my ENTIRE life....still have a head full of thick curly hair...

My guess is you have some type of allergy...the water is full of minerals and deposits....try a Tar based shampoo it might help with the itch if nothing else...
 

dv8

Gold
Sep 27, 2006
31,266
363
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you can buy medicated shampoos in all pharmacies. there can be many reasons for hair problem. yes to the water - it may carry parasites and other diseases, it may also be too soft/hard for your scalp. no to the air drying, that's way better than being subjected to dominican blow dry also known as blow torch napalm treatment :)
you may heve dermatitis por contacto - a skin allergy. responds well to hidrocortisona creams (anything from 200 pesos up). there is also a parasite that casues hair loss and dry itchy skin, the name escapes now my memory, my dogs did have it few times. you may try loction lindano (about 120 pesos).
 

Ringo

On Vacation!
Mar 6, 2003
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my daughter had the same thing, ended up going to the states to a specialist and had an aggressive treatment of steroid creams, after 18 months she is back to normal. She had contracted ring worm from a stray cat, he contributed it to that and some other mild health issues. Nothing the doctors did here made any difference and she had losst halfof her hair by the time she went there and was treated.

Ringworm:
Tinea capitis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

My wife and I have been here for years and never had a problem and we air dry. My head is wet most of the day due to sweat. We never have used a hair gel.
 

jrjrth

Bronze
Mar 24, 2011
782
1
0
you can buy medicated shampoos in all pharmacies. there can be many reasons for hair problem. yes to the water - it may carry parasites and other diseases, it may also be too soft/hard for your scalp. no to the air drying, that's way better than being subjected to dominican blow dry also known as blow torch napalm treatment :)
you may heve dermatitis por contacto - a skin allergy. responds well to hidrocortisona creams (anything from 200 pesos up). there is also a parasite that casues hair loss and dry itchy skin, the name escapes now my memory, my dogs did have it few times. you may try loction lindano (about 120 pesos).

DV8....I believe you are referring to "Mange" in the canine species....this can be transferred to humans, however it is known as "Scabbies" in the Human terminolgy....and I highly doubt that it comes from the Water....
 

dv8

Gold
Sep 27, 2006
31,266
363
0
jrjrth, yes, sarna in spanish, scabies in english, i think. i mentioned water as one of the potential sourses of problems not necessarily the only one. the biggest problem in DR is always dirty hands, be it yours or someone else's...
in any case, my dogs presented symptoms similar to the OP: itchy, dry, flaking skin, bald patches. we did treat them with creams and oral medication but never caught the infection. OP could have gotten it from other people or street animals.
 
Jul 4, 2010
403
22
0
Mange or scabies is very difficult to get on the scalp, plus it would produce bald patches. My hunch is its either your gel or shampoo creating an allergic reaction, or a ringworm like fungus, If I was you, I would treat it naturally, which means with stuff you can find in your garden or grocery store.. You can PM me for the cure, since I'm not registered medical doctor.
 

beastwood

New member
Jun 30, 2011
295
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My Novia from SD norte was found to have a parasitic situation causing her hair to fall out out in pretty good comb fulls. She has mid shoulder blade length very full curly hair. Dermatologist prescribed some expensive shampoo which worked....she stopped using it about a month ago and the situation seems to be worsening again. My uniformed guess is water borne. I will try to find what shampoo she was using as it seemed to work.
 

Squat

Tropical geek in Las Terrenas
Jan 1, 2002
2,239
168
63
Try "Jabon sulfuroso" de Laboratorios Roldan... It is sold in most drugstores or big supermarkets here in the DR... It helps me a lot, as I tend to suffer from the same as the OP...
 

retiree

Bronze
Jan 18, 2008
978
10
0
I wash my hair with bottled water / our drinking water. The reason I started doing this was because the tap water was hard. Perhaps there are health reasons for doing this as well.
 

william webster

Platinum
Jan 16, 2009
30,247
4,329
113
Hi all,
I have been living in Bavaro for the last month and I have noticed that my hair has been falling out and my scalp itches like crazy!.....my fiance says its the water, because I style it wet (its curly so I wet it, put in hair gel and go) and let it air dry--(something we can do in the US no problem) anyways, he says that I can't leave the water in my hair, and no one here does. So I'm wondering, can it be some kind of water born parasite or infection, or is it just the chemicals in the water, or could it be something else? Thanks.

My friend has asked me to respond to you.
She had the same problem one year ago.

She has lived in RD for 30 yrs and always air dries her hair.
Last yaer it came out in clumps and her scalp was badly itchy.

Ripe avocado and warm olive oil in a blender - apply to your scalp and leave on overnight.
After that, use shampoos w/ Biotin.
She claims that stopped it dead.


When our children brought lice home from school, mayonaisse on the head worked.
Difficult to apply to a squirming child, but effective.

Hope this helps
 

UmSulaiman

New member
Apr 19, 2011
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0
Thanks all. I went to a dermatologist and she said it didnt look like ringworm at all, but she does want me to have some lab work done, which I will do tomorrow. She prescribed some shampoo and some kind of lotion that I don't know the name of, until we get the results back. Thanks WW, that looks good too. by the way, its not so much bald patches, as it is thinning overall and extremely itchy.
 

UmSulaiman

New member
Apr 19, 2011
75
0
0
My Novia from SD norte was found to have a parasitic situation causing her hair to fall out out in pretty good comb fulls. She has mid shoulder blade length very full curly hair. Dermatologist prescribed some expensive shampoo which worked....she stopped using it about a month ago and the situation seems to be worsening again. My uniformed guess is water borne. I will try to find what shampoo she was using as it seemed to work.
thank you, I'd like to know as well.