The salon talk lately, has been about MONISTAT 7. I’ve had at least two women come inside of the salon and tell me that they have used this cream to grow their hair back. What gets me about this topic of conversation is the fact that it’s MONISTAT 7, A VAGINAL CREAM FOR YEAST INFECTIONS. I’ve done a video on this topic but, unfortunately, it’s still an issue in our community.

Lets talk about what’s in MONISTAT 7. The active ingredient in this cream is miconazole, which reduces vaginal itching, burning, and discharge that may come with a yeast infection. Miconazole is an azole antifungal that works by preventing the growth of fungi, i.e. ringworms and pityriasis (tinea versicolor). The inactive ingredients are:

• Benzoic Acid (fungistatic compound)
• Cetyl Alcohol (thickening agent)
• Isopropyl Myrstate (composed of isopropyl alcohol, a propane derivative)
• Polysorbate 60 (thickening agent and oily liquid used to dissolve in a solvent)
• Potassium Hydroxide (alkaline clear liquid used in cleaning agents and chemical hair relaxers)
• Propylene Glycol (colorless propane)
• Purified Water (filtered water)
• Stearyl Alcohol (fatty alcohol derived stearic acid, coconut oil or vegetable fatty acids)

Does any of that sound like it should make your hair grow. If NO, why are we applying it to our scalps? I’ve researched the information, and have talked to pharmacists and doctors; and I have not found that this cream should applied to the scalp for hair growth. This medicine has been around for at least 30 plus years and the directions have not changed. You are to insert it into the vagina for at least 3 to 7 days, depending on the product purchased. On the package, the warning states: THIS MEDICINE IS FOR VAGINAL USE ONLY. THIS MEDICINE IS NOT FOR TREATING INFECTIONS OF THE SCALP. If you have a fungus on your scalp, which would be malassezia (dandruff, yellow flakes, smelly), you would need to see your local dermatologist. They would then write you a prescription for an oral medication, an anti-fungal shampoo, and/or an oil to treat the fungus.

However, women are mixing this cream with Vaseline (petroleum Jelly), oils, or already mixed products, and applying it to their scalps. The video I watched on YouTube stated that you use the mixture for 7 days, and then every other day, after the initial treatment. Wow, they should be getting headaches behind this. Most adult women have used this cream once in their lifetime, and I certainly can’t recall my pubic hair (is it not hair) growing longer with the use of this medicine. Has it ever occurred to any of us that our hair is going to grow anyway, because we are taking care of it and doing something to it everyday. Lastly, I would like to talk about how you would get a fungal infection of the scalp.

Conditions are favorable for acquiring a scalp fungus when:

• Wearing protective style like crochets braids, sew-ins and up do’s for months without taking it down and shampooing your hair and scalp.
• Wearing protective styles, shampooing them and not allowing them to dry completely.
• Heavy sweating in our scalps, due to exercise, and not cleansing our hair afterwards.

Simply put, weekly cleansing of your hair with shampoo that is a pH of 4.5 to 5.5 will keep your scalp at a healthy acid pH level, killing off any over growth of fungi or bacteria. Growth will occur with the correct regimen not a concocted quick fix of the wrong information and misuse of a product.