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Hair Loss from SSRIs

Hi, I would like to request clarification on something. I saw a post where you mentioned Sertraline causes hair loss as well as Zoloft. I also saw on some posts where SSRI’s are said to cause hair loss. The questions is how common is this? I have seen different sources use different percentages to represent how rare or often this can occur. I ask this because online it appears as a significant amount of people have voiced their concerns about Sertraline or Zoloft possibly contributing to their hair loss. However, there have to be many people who simply will never come to these forums because they are not affected. Also, how long does the hair loss take? Some posts mentioned period from 2-8 days, while some people blame the meds after they have used them for 4-6 years.

I have been told by several physicians that hair loss with SSRI’s is simply an alergic reaction which is rare. Do you agree with that? Thank you for your help.

Hair loss from SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) drugs are relatively uncommon, but they can occur. First and foremost you need to find out if there is a pattern to your hair loss. Is the hair loss everywhere or just confined to the front/top (in a pattern)? If the hair loss is happening in a pattern like those shown here, then it is most likely not from the drug. Hair loss from drugs will often impact the donor area, which is what we generally refer to as “permanent” hair not susceptible to genetic factors.

Most doctors (and even the doctors that treat hair loss, such as myself) do not know the exact mechanism of why some people lose hair from certain medications. We must believe the patient when they say that they are noticing some correlation with the timing of starting these medications and the hair thinning, but these things are often very difficult to narrow down. It is just not that simple, as the patient may also have underlying genetic hair loss as well. Remember that more than 50% of the population have some form of genetic balding which has nothing to do with SSRIs or other medications! I do not think hair loss from SSRIs (or other medication in general) is an allergic reaction, but more of a rare side effect. If hair loss is caused by a medication, I do not think it would happen in the time frame of a few days, but more likely several weeks to months.

Finally keep in mind of the big picture, rather than focusing only on hair. You are taking a certain medication for a reason, such as the SSRI to treat depression. What you are experiencing with respect to hair loss may or may not be related, but the reason of WHY you are taking the SSRI or other medication is real and the pros and cons (risks/benefits) need to be discussed with your physician before taking any action.

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Hair Loss from Seborrheic Dermatitis in My Eyebrow?

Hello Dr Rassman,
I have recently been diagnosed with seborrheic derm in my right eyebrow by a dermatologist. I have read in previous Balding Blog posts that you don’t believe seb derm causes hair loss as it is primarily a skin condition, and that loss could result only if there is manipulation of the hair follicles and I agree with you! But, my case is such that I am losing anywhere from 3-6 hairs a day in my right brow (which is the only place I have this issue…white flakes that adhere to the follicle and cause weakening of the hair and then soon loss) so I was wondering if you think this means I might not have seb derm?

Afterall the doc just listened to my symptoms and as I was still speaking wrote out a prescription without even looking at my brow! I am thinking it is a condition which mimics seb derm what do you think? I am planning on eventually getting a transplant when the loss subsides but I can’t seem to control the problem first! He put me on desonide and ketoconazole cream which did nothing for the hair loss of flaking and just exacerbated the condition. Any insight you can give I would greatly appreciate. Thank you Doctor.

If you weren’t happy with your dermatologist’s review of your eyebrow (you said he didn’t even look at it before prescribing medication), you should consider seeing another dermatologist that will examine the hair loss.

As for me, I honestly do not know. It is strange that you are losing eyebrow hair on only one side. Perhaps it is temporary and the hair will grow back? Give it time. Don’t jump on the surgery solution. Follow up with your doctor. If this is of any comfort, I have yet to see someone with one good eyebrow and the other bald, unless, they are pluckers or pickers.

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Hair Loss From Root Canal Obturation Paste?

Hello! I’m from France and I saw something about the composition of the root canal obturation’s paste. It contains corticosteroids, and i want to know if that thing can cause a hair loss.

Thank you.

Corticosteroids in excess can potentially cause some general hair loss, but I am not familiar with root canal paste.

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Hair Loss from Radiation

I had a brain tumor when I was a child. I was cured but the radiation I received left me missing much of my hair on my left side. Can hair transplants help?

Yes, hair transplants will grow nicely in radiated scalp skin most of the time. I recently had such a patient come in after about a year from his transplant session with us (post radiation from a childhood treatment of a malignant brain cancer). He was Korean with black straight hair, olive complexion skin and one side of his frontal area almost completely hairless. His results with about 1500 grafts was wonderful and that included his hairline. He may elect to do another session, but frankly the results were outstanding and I did not think that he would push for another session. Clearly, he was happy and his hair ‘greed’ was taking over. Hair transplants work well for many scars and scalp conditions beyond simple genetic balding.

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Hair Loss from Propecia

Hey. I’m 20 years old and I have also had a further back hairline, but only on the side. it looked fine. A year ago i asked my doctor about it because it was a little thin on the right side and he prescribe propecia. Well i had been taking propecia for about 8 months every other day, when all of the sudden my hair was coming out like 15 hairs at a time. when i ran my fingers through my hair tons came out. I lost about an inch and a half on my hairline in 2 to 3 months. My hairline was fine before but it was just thin on the right side. It crazy its bother me alot. So i quit taking the propecia a little less then a month ago. I mean i cant even grow facial hair. so it feels weird that im losing my hair. PLease help. Could this be temporary?

Dealing with someone like you over the internet is very difficult or almost impossible. As I have said many times on this blog, you first need a working diagnosis. Getting your hair and scalp mapped out of miniaturization should at the least establish a proper diagnosis. Having someone with my experience, for example, is critical in making the judgments you need. Questions that stand out for me include:

  1. Are you going through accelerated hair loss?
  2. Do you have other causes of hair loss?

I would want to go through an extensive history on your overall health and the family tree in terms of balding, hair growth (when and where), etc. Get a good doctor and do not treat yourself. It has been said that “A person who treats himself, has a fool for a doctor”.

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Hair Loss From Propecia – Update

There has been some discussion by physicians about patients who take Propecia, or Avodart, who may experience shedding of hair. When this occurs, they believe it may be simply a phenomenon that as the finasteride or dutasteride begins converting the telogen hairs into anagen, the shedding reflects an acceleration of hair cycling. The same theory implies that some people may have a significant amount of hairs in telogen, so their shedding may be increased in the first few months of starting the drugs. If these people wait out the cycle, I believe for a 3-5 month time frame, the benefits of the drug will come on strong.

In my practice I do not remember hearing this complaint so what I am presenting here was precipitated by some questions that came through this blog and information I gleamed from my recent trip to Sidney at the ISHRS meetings where I asked other people about the experience hair loss on Propecia. But the explanation above makes sense to me, assuming the premise that hairs in telogen may be shed more once they are moved along into their anagen (hair building) cycle.

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Hair Loss From Poor Nutrition?

my hair is falling out dramatically. i have suffered very poor nutrition and stress along with some drug use. what should i eat, take, and/or do to stop the loss?

The reason that we do not see hair loss from dietary causes in the United States is because we are well nourished and generally without vitamin deficiencies. In your situation, with a history of poor nutrition and stress, these alone can cause hair loss. To correct this, a proper diet should be followed with a professional dietician. If your hair loss has a pattern to it (front, top, or crown), it may be genetic — in which case, Propecia combined with a good diet correction might be your best bet. If the loss is generalized, the malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies (as well as other causes of this) must be properly investigated and professionally treated.


2005-10-04 14:50:24Hair Loss From Poor Nutrition?

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Hair Loss from Pony Tail?

Does wearing your hair pulled back in a pony tail cause your hair line above forehead to recede???

Wearing your hair pulled back in a pony tail rarely causes your frontal hair line to recede, unless you pull tightly on the hair most (or all) of the time. Traction alopecia is a common form of hair loss in the African-American community as the ‘pig-tails’ that are created by tightly braiding hair grows out, causing continuous pulling pressure to eventually produce loss of hair in the frontal and temple areas. Men who wear turbans all of the time suffer from the same type of hair loss as the African-American women, because the turbans pull on the entire frontal area creating permanent hair loss in the areas where the constant pull is.


2006-02-01 09:25:27Hair Loss from Pony Tail?

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Hair Loss from MRI Scan?

Hello Dr. Im a 20 yr old, white male. Over the past few months my hairline has begun to recede. I’ve also noticed large amounts of hairloss in the shower(150 hairs everytime i wash it). The hairloss began in June and has continued without showing any signs of stopping. I still have a full head of hair and it’s still growing at the same rate, but it’s become thinner, especially on the sides. I’ve also observed that i can pull out some hair easily from any part of my scalp. It doesn’t come out in clumps ,just individual hairs. My scalp has also become alot more itchy and scratching it just causes more hair to fall out. My worry is I had an MRI scan a few years ago – could radiation from that cause my hairloss now or does this sound like male pattern baldness to you? Thank you for help.

The MRI does not use radiation, it uses magnetic fields. There is no connection between magnetic fields and hair loss. You are at the right age for the appearance of genetic hair loss. If you are losing 150 hairs/day, it does sound like you need to have your hair mapped out for miniaturization to get a diagnosis firmly in hand. If you are genetically balding, then drugs like Propecia work to slow, stop, or reverse hair loss. Now is the time in your life that if you take charge, you are best able to manage it. The more hair you lose, the further down the ‘one way street’ you will go to becoming bald.

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Hair Loss from Mono?

Our Dr did a blood test on our 15 year old and it came back that she had mono. I had taken her to the Dr because of severe hair loss. She said the loss was from the mono and it could last up to 6 months. Have you heard of this before?

Illness is a cause of hair loss. Telogen effluvium (see eMedicine article) is what occurs in some people, though it is more common in women than men, and can occur after a bout with mononucleosis. It should pass with time, but this is something she should discuss with her doctor.


2009-02-24 14:46:18Hair Loss from Mono?