Isotretinoin (formerly Accutane) helps control sebum production to reduce breakouts. Some people who take it may notice signs of hair thinning, a lack of new hair growth or more hair fallout than usual. Can Accutane cause hair loss? And if so, why does Accutane cause hair loss?
Unfortunately, the hair loss accutane connection isn’t a fluke. Hair loss is a potential side effect of Accutane. But do you really have to choose between clear skin and good hair? Thankfully, the answer’s no. There are treatment options for those dealing with isotretinoin-related hair loss — and understanding how to treat it just takes a little knowledge.
Here’s what to know about oral isotretinoin’s possible effects on hair, including why it might happen, who’s most likely to experience it, how long it may last and what you can do about it. (And here are some tips for stopping hair loss.)
What Is Accutane?
Isotretinoin (often referred to as brand-name Accutane, which is now discontinued) is a prescription medication used to treat severe nodular acne — the inflammatory type with deep, painful pimples. It comes in a capsule and is often taken twice a day.
As a retinoid treatment, the oral medication is a derivative of vitamin A. It works by lowering sebum (an oily substance your body naturally produces) and preventing dead skin cells from building up and blocking pores.
Accutane Side Effects
Potential side effects of isotretinoin treatment can be aggravating, to say the least.
According to the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), they include:
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Peeling skin on the hands
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Nosebleeds
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Cracked, sore lips
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Sweating
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Dry skin near the eyes, mouth or nose
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Tiredness
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Sweating
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Flushing
More serious side effects include blurred vision, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. If you experience any of these, contact a healthcare provider right away.
Isotretinoin Therapy Drug Warnings
Isotretinoin can’t be taken by women who are pregnant or might become pregnant, as it can cause birth defects. As such, various forms of birth control may be prescribed during acne treatment.
It’s also suggested that men be careful when taking isotretinoin because it’s not known whether it can pass through semen.
So there are definitely some dermatology and health risks to taking this medication — but what about when it comes to your hair?
Does Accutane Cause Hair Loss?
Yes, there is such a thing as isotretinoin-induced hair loss (sometimes called Accutane-related hair loss). Unfortunately, it’s one of the potential adverse side effects of this prescription drug. The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology estimates that about 10 percent of people who take oral isotretinoin experience temporary hair thinning.
What the Research Says About Accutane Hair Loss
A 2013 study found that the acne-fighting drug is connected to temporary hair loss. The researchers also concluded that hair thinning may continue after people stop taking the medication – but that doesn’t mean it’ll last forever. Another study from 2018 suggests that only people who take high doses of an isotretinoin treatment notice a negative impact on hair growth.
Why Does Accutane Cause Hair Loss?
Hair loss experienced while taking Accutane is thought to be connected to telogen effluvium, a form of temporary hair loss often caused by stress or hormonal factors. With telogen effluvium, you’ll likely notice hair loss all over rather than concentrated in one area of your scalp.
Telogen effluvium occurs when a large number of hairs in the growth phase (also called the anagen phase) of the hair cycle suddenly go into the resting phase (aka the telogen phase). New growth can stop for up to six months. Then, when hair reenters the growth phase, the hairs that were in the resting phase are pushed out from the hair follicles, and hair shedding occurs.
Accutane Hair Loss: Is It Permanent?
According to the above-mentioned studies, hair loss associated with taking isotretinoin is temporary. And there’s currently no research showing it may be permanent. For participants in the studies, post-accutane hair loss eventually resolved itself. So if you experience hair loss after accutane, it most likely won’t be a forever problem.
What could cause permanent hair loss are factors that damage your hair follicles, ultimately preventing strands from growing back. One common condition that leads to permanent hair loss is traction alopecia. This happens when hair is continuously pulled on (like from too-tight hairstyles).
Scarring alopecia (when scar tissue builds up and prevents new growth) and alopecia areata (an auto-immune disease that causes thinning) are other forms of permanent hair loss. Thankfully, taking isotretinoin doesn’t cause these conditions.
Talk to Your Provider About a Lower Accutane Dose
As noted, research shows that higher doses tend to result in hair loss, while acne patients on lower Accutane doses may not experience this side effect.
You might consider talking to your dermatologist about potentially lowering your isotretinoin to help prevent hair loss.
How to Treat Hair Loss Caused by Accutane
Experiencing temporary hair loss while taking isotretinoin is undoubtedly frustrating, but you have options. Reversing hair loss from this medication is totally possible. Here are some potential remedies for temporary hair loss caused by Accutane.
Hair Loss Medication
Hair loss medications can be effective. For temporary hair loss, a healthcare provider may suggest topical minoxidil, which comes as minoxidil foam or minoxidil liquid solution. There’s also finasteride , which can be taken in tablet form or as a topical solution. Many find that combining these two medications yields the best results, as with our topical finasteride & minoxidil spray.
This product sends a signal to your blood vessels to open, allowing more nutrients and oxygen to reach the hair, which makes it healthier and stronger. This topical medication also prolongs the growth period, meaning more follicles will form to replace strands that have fallen out.
Supplements for Hair Loss
Supplements can also help with hair fallout.
Biotin
Biotin has a reputation for supporting healthy hair growth. But does it deserve this reputation? Actually, it does.
A study found that taking biotin produces quicker hair growth in those with thinning hair. That said, the study used a marine protein containing biotin with other vitamins and minerals — so it’s hard to pinpoint this B vitamin as a singular driving factor.
Biotin is found naturally in some foods (like eggs, milk and bananas). If you don’t have a vitamin B deficiency, you don’t need a supplement. But if you don’t get enough biotin from food, vitamin B supplements could help.
Hims has a biotin gummy that also has vitamin D in it. Why? Low levels of vitamin D are thought to increase hair shedding.
Collagen
Another popular supplement thought to help with hair health is collagen, which you can get as gummies, capsules and powders. However, research is limited when it comes to the connection between collagen and hair health. So, why do people think collagen can help? Hair is mostly made up of a protein called keratin. Amino acids in your body help build keratin. One of these amino acids is proline.
Proline contributes to collagen. Because of this, some people think consuming collagen could help boost the keratin in your hair, making it stronger and healthier.
Iron and Zinc
Studies show that having a deficiency in iron and zinc could negatively impact hair health. When people increased their intake of these minerals, they saw an improvement in hair growth.
Crab, cashews and oatmeal are all solid sources of zinc. Leafy greens, meat and seafood can help boost your iron levels.
Lifestyle Changes for Hair Loss
There are also some lifestyle habits you can change or incorporate to help with thinning hair caused by isotretinoin.
One thing you might want to give up? Smoking. This habit affects hair loss, and hair regrowth can benefit from quitting.
Not only is the actual smoke a pollutant that damages hair, but cigarettes can also wreak havoc on the DNA of your hair follicles. These things can increase hair loss — something you definitely don’t want if you’re already shedding from taking isotretinoin.
Stress Management
Stress can lead to hair loss, and hair loss can be very stressful. We all know dealing with severe acne can be stressful too.
To sidestep this viscous stress cycle and (hopefully) keep hair loss at a minimum, try stress management techniques. These can include:
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Exercising regularly
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Finding time to relax
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Getting enough sleep
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Spending time with friends or loved ones
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Mediation
How does stress affect the body? Read our blog for insight.
Hair Care for Accutane Hair Loss
One of the common side effects of taking isotretinoin is dryness all over — even in the hair on your head. Dry, brittle strands are more likely to break. When your hair breaks, it looks thinner. Add moisture back to your hair care routine by using hair products packed with hydration. Hims offers thickening shampoo and conditioner that moisturize while promoting growth.
You may also want to avoid too much sun exposure (or wear a hat) to prevent UV light from drying out your strands.
Beyond that, be careful when brushing or combing your hair. A wide-toothed comb is usually best, especially when your hair’s wet, as that’s when it’s the weakest.
Accutane and Hair Loss: What to Do Next
Does Accutane cause hair loss? Potentially. Isotretinoin is used as a treatment for acne. While it can be a miracle drug for cystic acne and other types of severe acne, one of the potential undesirable side effects is hair loss.
Here’s what to keep in mind about Accutane hair loss:
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Hair loss is a possible side effect of Accutane. Though not all patients with acne treated with isotretinoin will notice hair thinning or loss, some will.
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Accutane hair loss probably isn’t permanent. If it happens to you, the good news is this side effect doesn’t tend to be permanent.
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A lower dose might help. Your healthcare provider may be able to adjust your dosage of isotretinoin to prevent more hair loss.
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Treatments are available. Treatments for this type of hair loss include supplements, lifestyle tweaks and prescription medication, like topical minoxidil.
If you notice abnormal shedding, hair loss or thinning, it’s best to speak with a healthcare professional. They’ll be able to assess what’s going on and go over your treatment options.
This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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8 Medications That Cause Hair Loss ( & What to Do About It)
Hair loss is an unfortunate, yet real, part of growing older, and if you’re still young, you may think you have at least a few years before you start seeing signs of balding. Case in point — 30 to 50 percent of men experience male pattern baldness by age 50.
But if you’re in your 20s or 30s and you’re noticing your hairline creeping further back or bald spots growing bigger each day, you’re probably thinking, “What the heck?! Isn’t hair loss only for old guys?”
Ageism aside, there can be many reasons for the extra shedding you’re seeing — one of which is hair loss from drugs. Yep, there are certain medications that cause you to lose hair.
Fortunately for you, we’ve covered what medications cause hair loss, as well as how to grow healthy hair again below.
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If it seems unfair that you can lose hair because of drugs that are necessary for other health conditions, we get it. But it does happen, and we’re here to help.
Medications can cause hair loss in several different ways. Some medications disrupt your hair’s growth cycle, causing it to shed before it reaches its full length. Other medications may increase your production of hormones that cause male pattern baldness, such as dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Most medications with this side effect only cause temporary hair loss, although there are some that can cause permanent loss of hair. Some of the different types of hair loss medications can cause include:
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Telogen effluvium is a type of nonscarring, temporary hair loss that can happen to both men and women. It develops as a response to stress, infection, surgery or medication use. When using a new medication, the sudden shock to your system may prematurely push hair follicles into the resting (telogen) phase of the hair growth cycle. Unlike male pattern baldness, which causes a receding hairline, telogen effluvium usually causes diffuse hair loss all over your scalp.
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Anagen effluvium is another type of temporary hair loss that’s commonly linked to medications, particularly chemotherapy medications used to treat cancer. This type of hair loss occurs when medication affects your hair in the anagen (growth) phase of the growth cycle. Most people notice hair shedding within a few weeks of starting medication.
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Male pattern baldness (which can also happen to women and is referred to as female pattern baldness in that case) is the most common form of hair loss. It’s caused by genetic and hormonal factors, particularly the effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on your hair follicles over time. Although male pattern baldness isn’t directly caused by medication, medications that affect your production of testosterone and DHT can speed up the progression of male pattern baldness. Unlike telogen effluvium and anagen effluvium, male pattern baldness results in permanent hair loss.
And although it may seem obvious if you’re losing hair (one day it’s there and the next it’s not), some signs are less clear.
So what medications cause hair loss? Does Lexapro cause hair loss, or do other antidepressants? Which blood pressure medications cause hair loss? Is hair loss from isotretinoin a possibility? Keep reading to learn more about the drugs that cause hair loss.
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Hair loss is a well-known side effect of many chemotherapy drugs used to treat certain forms of cancer.
Similar to other toxins that cause hair loss, hair loss from cancer medications usually isn’t permanent. Your hair will often grow back in two to three months after you finish chemotherapy, or three to six months after you reach the end of radiation therapy.
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If you take a high blood pressure medication and have noticed thinning hair, you may have wondered if metoprolol causes hair loss.
The short answer: It’s possible. Some blood pressure medications, including beta-blockers, have been linked to hair loss from telogen effluvium.
Commonly prescribed beta-blockers include propranolol, atenolol, metoprolol, timolol, nadolol and others.
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If your healthcare provider has prescribed an ACE inhibitor (another type of high blood pressure medication), you may have asked: Does lisinopril cause hair loss?
Unfortunately, ACE inhibitors are another type of drug that causes hair loss, so lisinopril hair loss could be a possibility.
Commonly prescribed ACE inhibitors include benazepril, captopril, lisinopril, moexipril, ramipril, trandolapril and enalapril/enalaprilat.
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We’ll save you the trouble of looking up if statins cause hair loss or something like “atorvastatin side effects hair loss.”
Although it’s uncommon, some statins, which are used to lower cholesterol levels, may cause hair loss. According to Harvard Medical School, approximately one percent of people prescribed a statin report some level of hair loss during treatment.
Commonly prescribed statins include atorvastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin and others.
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If you’ve been prescribed medication to prevent blood clots, you’re taking anticoagulants, or blood thinners — and telogen effluvium hair loss is a well-known side effect of this type of medication.
Blood thinner medications that cause hair loss include warfarin, heparin, dalteparin, acenocoumarol, enoxaparin and tinzaparin.
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Several anticonvulsants — medications used to treat and prevent epileptic seizures and conditions such as bipolar disorder — are associated with hair loss.
Anticonvulsants like valproic acid (Depakote) and trimethadione (Tridione) have been linked to hair loss. It appears to be most common with valproic acid, with some research showing around nine percent of people who use this medication report some degree of hair loss as a side effect. So that Google search for “Depakote hair loss” wasn’t totally unfounded.
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If you’re one of the many who take antidepressants for your mental health, you’re probably well-aware of side effects. But you may not know that hair loss is a possible side effect, since it’s a less common one.
Some case reports have connected hair loss with common antidepressants such as Wellbutrin, sertraline, paroxetine, venlafaxine and fluoxetine. It is worth noting though that this is reported to occur only in a small minority of people.
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As we mentioned earlier, your body converts a small amount of testosterone into a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, the main hormone responsible for male pattern baldness.
Since DHT is produced from testosterone, any medication that increases your testosterone levels may also increase the amount of DHT that’s produced by your body.
If you use testosterone for hormone replacement therapy, you may notice an increase in hair loss during treatment as your testosterone level increases.
Anabolic steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs that are produced from testosterone may also cause hair loss.
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Hair loss from all these different medications is often temporary and can be treated with several different options.
If you’re prescribed medication, it’s important that you don’t stop taking it without first talking to your healthcare provider. While dealing with hair loss can be frustrating, stopping medication suddenly may worsen your medical condition or cause you to experience other side effects.
This is especially important if you’re taking medication for a life-threatening condition, such as cancer or severe depression.
Here’s what to know about treatments for hair loss from medication:
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If you notice hair loss after starting a specific medication, letting your healthcare provider know is a good first step. They may suggest adjusting your dosage or using a different medication that’s less likely to cause hair loss.
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Hair growth medications such as minoxidil (Rogaine) can stimulate the hair growth process and help you to grow back your hair faster. Minoxidil foam and minoxidil solution are topical treatments that you can apply directly to the parts of your scalp with noticeable hair loss.
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Another hair growth medication called finasteride is an FDA-approved medication that reduces your body’s production of DHT to help with hair regrowth. You can use this medication on its own or use a combination of topical finasteride and minoxidil spray.
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While your diet won’t contribute to (or stop) male pattern baldness, some vitamins and minerals may affect your hair growth. Try to eat a balanced diet that’s rich in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients for healthy hair.
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Stress can also cause hair loss, as it can lead to more hairs falling out or even cause you to pull your hair out. While a couple of days of stress won’t suddenly make you bald, being in a stressful environment for a long time can increase the potential for hair loss. Reducing or eliminating stress may help hair grow back strong and healthy.
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If you’re dealing with hair loss and are using medication, there’s a chance the medicine is the culprit. A variety of medications have been linked to hair loss, resulting in bald patches, excessive shedding and more.
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While the majority of male pattern hair loss is thanks to genetics, some drugs can cause different types of hair loss, such as telogen effluvium, anagen effluvium and male pattern baldness.
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The drugs that can cause hair loss include antihypertensive medications (such as ACE inhibitors or beta-blockers), cancer medications, statins, anticoagulants, antidepressants and medications that increase testosterone.
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Drug-induced hair loss is often temporary, and hair loss treatments can be used to grow healthier hair back. Medications like finasteride and minoxidil are proven to help hair grow, while lifestyle changes like stress reduction and a healthy diet may also help.
Be sure to let your healthcare provider know if you’re concerned about hair loss from medication before you stop taking the drug or change your dosage.
This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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