multiple simultaneous trials

I'm wondering if anybody does this. Split your scalp up into 3 areas...left temple side, right temple side and the back crown area...and try different lotions on these areas. In that way you can make comparison observations and find out if something is working faster instead of wasting a lot of time on just one useless lotion. Does that make sense? Right now I am trying clotrimazole cream (lotrimin) as an antifungal on one temple area, clear iodine on the other temple area and valerian tincture on the back crown area. Do you think this is a good idea as long as I can keep them from mixing together? If I apply them seperately and wait till they dry enuff before moving to another area then any results should be localized and give a me an idea of what's working and what's not.

It's a good idea for maxmial objectivety but not for maximal probability of keeping your hair. Few people would be willing to use only one treatment on one part of the scalp at a time. The best thing is to select treatments which have already proven themselves to work in controlled studies. It's too difficult to do a controlled study with N = 1 sample. Not worth risking your hair in my view. But my main concern is keeping my own hair, not with my experience contributing to the advancement of the knowledge pool or with exactly knowing which component of a regimen is giving a result. But yeah I've seen people do it. Usually they are people with the most mild of alopecia, or I suppose those with severe alopecia who had a low chance at cosmetic success anyhow, could safely do this. Everyone in the middle wouldn't risk their hair on stand alone treatments on different parts of the scalp.

shaftless wrote:I'm wondering if anybody does this. Split your scalp up into 3 areas...left temple side, right temple side and the back crown area...and try different lotions on these areas. In that way you can make comparison observations and find out if something is working faster instead of wasting a lot of time on just one useless lotion. Does that make sense? Right now I am trying clotrimazole cream (lotrimin) as an antifungal on one temple area, clear iodine on the other temple area and valerian tincture on the back crown area. Do you think this is a good idea as long as I can keep them from mixing together? If I apply them seperately and wait till they dry enuff before moving to another area then any results should be localized and give a me an idea of what's working and what's not.

Yes, but practically speaking applying one topical to one area does not necessarily stay in that area. There is blood circulation and some of it will be travelling to surrounding areas as well. Thus, applying minoxidil drops specifically on one surface is most likely carried around to inches in surrounding areas uderneath the tissue.