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What Types of Medication Can Cause Hair Loss?
by April Maguire
Without question, hair loss is one of the most common problems in the world. According to the American Hair Loss Association, by the age of 50, more than 85% of men will have thinning or balding hair. And women don't get to keep all of their hair either, as they make up more than 40% of all hair loss sufferers.
And those numbers only encompass natural hair loss as a result of genetics. What's really scary is that there are several other causes of hair loss, and one of the most prominent is drug-induced alopecia. As the name implies, this type of hair loss is the result of taking certain kinds of medication that cause your hair to thin or shed.
So what causes this type of hair loss? And, most importantly, how can you avoid the types of drugs that are going to make your hair fall out?
Two Types of Drug-Induced Alopecia
For starters, it's important to know that there are two main types of drug-induced alopecia. The more common form is known as telogen effluvium, which is the shedding of existing hairs that are already on your head. Alternatively, the other type is called anagen effluvium, and with this type of alopcia new hairs fail to grow. Of the two types, patients tend to notice anagen effluvium quicker, and both varieties can last for months on end.
The Culprits
So what kinds of medications can cause hair loss? Well, the most well known culprits are without question chemotherapy drugs, which are notorious for causing hair loss all over the body.
But the list of drugs that can cause alopecia doesn’t end there. It includes medications that alter hormone levels, such as contraceptives and hormone replacement therapies. Additionally, antihypertensive drugs, such as ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers, can result in hair loss. And other medications, from non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and anti-arthritis drugs to thyroid medications and antidepressants can cause your hair to shed.
So what’s the solution? The good news is that drug-induced alopecia is largely reversible. Once you stop taking the medication in question, your hair should grow back. So if you suspect that a drug you’ve recently started taking is causing hair loss, then the best way to check is to stop taking the drug and see if your hair begins to grow back.
In some cases however, such as with chemotherapy drugs, the benefits obviously outweigh the risk of hair loss. In these instances, the course of the drug should continue unabated until treatment is complete, and then you can allow your hair to grow back afterwards.
If you or someone you know would like more information about hair loss and how to treat it, please feel free to schedule a consultation or contact one of our representatives today!
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