Category: Drugs (Cause Hair Loss)

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Hair Loss InformationI’m Worried About This Shedding I’m Seeing After Starting Minoxidil – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Doctor,

I am 28 yr old male. I have been losing a few strands of hair here and there for the past couple of years. However, it aggrevated in the past six months or so, with visible thinning of hair on the crown and receding of temples. I consulted a physician and a dermatologist. My reports about anaemia, thyroid function and blood sugar levels are normal. I was informed that I am suffering from genetic male pattern baldness.

I have been prescribed Minoxidil 5%, twice daily, Propecia once daily with Nizoral 1% twice a week. I have been on the above regime for a month. However, I have observed dramatic hair loss in the past month. I am loosing about 300 hair everyday. The most worrying part is that there are times when I loose a bunch of two to three hairs with a single white bulb at the bottom.

I am told that the use of Minoxidil can cause such increased hair loss. From your vast experience, can you confirm if such increased hair loss is common in the first month of treatment?

Also, assuming that this increased hair loss is pursuant to initial reaction to Minoxidil – will the hair lost in the past month grow back to their original length and thickness or is the best case scenario that only small thin miniature hair will replace them?

Thanks

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I’ve had some emails over the years of reporting on this site from people asking about minoxidil shedding. I’ve written about it here.

I can’t say for sure how long it’ll persist or if those shed hairs will regrow, but it seems to be a temporary thing that lasts about a month in those that see this initial shedding and the hairs usually do return.

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Hair Loss InformationTopical Steroids and Male Pattern Baldness? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman,

It’s well known that steroids injected into the human system can exacerbate MPB. But what about topical steroids (prescribed by a dermatologist) applied to the skin? In my case, to an area just above the eyebrows (so not even close to the scalp area)?

(I wish I could tell you the name of the steroid but my dermatologist appointment won’t be till Tuesday – I’m just ANTICIPATING what the derm will prescribe).

Thanks!

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To answer this, I would have to know why you are using topical steroids and for what period of time you expect to use them. For example, when topical steroids are used for psoriasis and applied in short bursts over a three time application, the treatment works well and will not cause acceleration of your MPB.

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Hair Loss InformationWill Finasteride Prevent Hair Loss from Accutane? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Two years ago I took accutane to deal with bad acne. During such time I ended up receding a lot around the temples – to the point of NW1.5ish – which certainly wouldn’t have normally happened – considering I was only 17 then.

To deal with the hair loss I’ve recently gone on Finasteride. However, my acne has also returned in a moderate form that like before, doesn’t respond to any creams. I know this second round will fix my skin once and for all, but I don’t want to lose any more hair.

Do you know if my taking Finasteride will somehow prevent hair loss from Accutane? The hair loss I suffered whilst on Accutane appeared to be TE as I was losing a lot more eyebrow, eyelash, and normal hair than normal – all with a white bulb at the end. I just want clear skin, and to maintain my hair. But my skin is so sensitive to acne creams thanks to Accutane, that I’m unable to treat it. It’s a real catch-22 and I’m afraid to go on Accutane again in case I go bald or something.

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Propecia (finasteride) is used for the treatment of genetic hair loss, not for loss caused by other medications. I doubt that it will protect against possible hair loss caused by Accutane (isotretinoin).

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Hair Loss InformationScalp Burning and Hair Loss After Taking Xanax – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

(female)
I’m having hair loss and a burning scalp, I think the hair loss is due to zanx a drug I use for depression, I’ve found after taking this tablet my scalp start to burn. I also use baby shampoo which helps the scalp.I have dry eyes and the baby shampoo also helps the eyes, normal shampoo burns my eyes

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I assume you mean Xanax (alprazolam) when you wrote Zanx. If I’m wrong, please let me know. I haven’t heard of “Zanx” otherwise. With all that being said, Xanax does not cause hair loss as far as I’m aware… unless it is an extremely rare side effect (see this past post).

If taking a medication causes a burning sensation to the scalp, discuss these things with your doctor and consider stopping the treatment. If using normal shampoo burns your eyes, don’t use it. Perhaps you have an allergy to an ingredient in the shampoo or you’re just getting it in your eyes.

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Hair Loss InformationPermanent Hair Destroyed By Accutane – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi doc
I want to know if there is medication that can cause hair transplants to fall out. I know you’ve said that transplanted hair is permenent but is there any cases where medication can result in that not being the case?

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I recently performed a hair transplant procedure on a patient that I had initially transplanted 17 years ago. He had good results at that time, but slowly over the years, the 2500 grafts he had transplanted in 1995 had died off. When hair transplant surgeons say that transplanted hair never falls out, one is reminded of the old saying, “Never say never”.

The permanent hair I transplanted for him 17 years ago was slowly destroyed by the drug Accutane (isotretinoin), which he has been using for years. Of interest, his donor area is also damaged with much less density than I measured 17 years ago and the Accutane clearly impacted those hairs as well. I suspect that the transplant will be possibly more successful this time around, as the hairs that he had in the donor area survived against the Accutane attack.

So while it is true that in most cases the grafts taken from the donor area for transplantation aren’t susceptible to hair loss, it’s possible that some medications could cause continued loss. It’s not very common though, and in the majority of cases the transplanted hair is permanent.

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Hair Loss InformationI Saw Benefits for Months from 0.5mg Finasteride, But Effectiveness Has Died Down – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,
I am a 25 year old male. I got my first transplant when I was 22years old. At that time my hair grew out well but I experienced side-effects from Propecia so decided against the drug. As a result I wasn’t able to maintain the results I got from the first HT. Fast forward 3 years and I am at a worse stage than I was when I was 22.

For the last 8 months I have been taking .5mg of Propecia, the side effects are still prevalent but on far rarer basis which I can handle. The problem is during the first 2-3months I saw significant benefits from 0.5mg of Propceia with regards to hairloss, but for the last 6-8 weeks the effectiveness of the drug has died down and I am losing hair hand over fist. Do you have any advise/suggestions?

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I suspect the short term benefits you noticed in the first 2-3 months since restarting the lower dose Propecia are related to stopping active hair loss, not reversing much. I can’t explain what you’re seeing, unfortunately. Have you talked to your prescribing doctor about his/her thoughts?

I would get a bulk measurement of your scalp hair and then follow-up with another measurement in 12 months. You want to know what is really happening to your hair and this measurement will tell you once you compare the results from the two measurements one year apart.

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Hair Loss InformationI Took Steroids, So Would I Benefit From a Transplant? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

dear doctor.
I am 29 yrs old, I took steroids about 10 years back because I was heavily into bodybuilding and competing. I noticed I started to lose hair so I stopped and went on finasteride which my doctor gave me. I have been on the drug for about 10 years with moderate success, other people cannot see the balding but I can. As I was going bald I would take pictures of my scalp when my head was shaved and I noticed I was thinning in the classic horse shoe pattern with sort of like a thick bridge of hair in the middle of my scalp going from ear to ear but minor thinning in the crown and front part. Since I know my pattern already from taking steroids, would I benefit from a transplant or since I know my final pattern at my age its not worth it?

Thank you, I do hope to hear from you, please.

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As you are now off the steroids and have been for some time, you will be treated as any other balding patient. Of course, you took some steps backward with hair loss that may never return, but that does not mean it is hopeless.

A visit to a doctor’s office who cares about you and has the requisite skills in the hair restoration filed would be your best option. What you need is a good Master Plan for short and long term hair loss management.

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Hair Loss InformationHepatitis B Vaccine and Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I just started the Hep B vaccine and am experiencing hair loss at 54. Will it grow back?? I’m very concerned because of my age.

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All health care workers receive hepatitis B vaccine, yet health care workers are not at any increased risk for hair loss. What you may be experiencing may be coincidental or very rare.

I did find this quote from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases: “There have been rare reports of hair loss after hepatitis B vaccination, with the majority of individuals regrowing their hair (Wise, 1997). Studies are in progress to better quantify the possible slight risk of hair loss.”

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Hair Loss InformationEltroxin and Telogen Effluvium – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have recently been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and I have started eltroxin. I have also been suffering from FPB since the last 8-9 years. Is eltroxin likely to cause a TE to people who is predisposed, like me? When is this hair loss noticed, and can it be prolonged? Can anything be done to contain it?

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There is an association between taking Eltroxin (levothyroxine) and hair loss, particularly in the first few months of taking it. You need to take this complication up with your doctor. It’s worth noting that hypothyroidism itself can cause hair loss, too.