Clinical research, by top Charlotte dermatologists, has revealed that medications cause alopecia. Alopecia is a condition that means hair loss. Top dermatology hospital has revealed that some prescribed medications contribute to alopecia — which is called
Drug-induced Alopecia
You may have noticed that after continuously taking some medicines, your hair begins to fall in large quantities. This is no cause for alarm, as most hair loss conditions are caused by the type of medicines you are taking. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you have cancer.
Keep reading to find out more about these medications and how they affect your hair.
Medications and Your Hair
These medicines aren’t bad because they are designed to treat some health conditions, but it means you have to sacrifice your hair to get treated.
While some drugs contribute to excess hair growth, others like antidepressants and birth control pills can lead to more hair loss than normal. Sometimes, this side effect can become severe and it affects your eyebrows and lashes too. An example of such types of drugs is chemotherapy drugs.
The extent your hair falls off is dependent on the dosage of medicine you are taking. However, it doesn’t begin immediately when you start taking it. The effects become visible after 3 months.
At first, the hair begins to thin out till it becomes so fragile and then it breaks into large clumps. Clinical research showed that these medications can have chemicals that have a negative effect on your hair.
Such drugs include:
- Antibiotics
- Birth control pills
- Antidepressants
- Cholesterol-lowering drugs
- Anticonvulsants (epilepsy drugs)
- Mood stabilizers
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Steroids
- Weight-loss drugs, and so on
How to prevent hair loss
Alopecia is not a permanent condition, so it is reversible. The best way to prevent hair loss is to stop taking these medicines. However, these medications could be vital for your health, so you cannot just stop taking them till your doctor says so.
When you stop taking the medicines, the hair loss doesn’t just stop like that. It takes about a period of 6 months to have an effect. This gives time for the old hair to fall off and let a new set of hair grow back.
Visit a professional dermatologist to give you tips on how to maintain healthy growing hair regardless of these drugs.
Best medications to take for hair growth
Clinical research has also shown the best medications to take to revive your lost hair. Just like the hair loss medicines, these hair growth medicines require about 3-6 months to show visible results.
Drugs like Finasteride (Propecia®) and Minoxidil (Rogaine®) are perfect for regrowing lost hair. However, it is very important to seek the advice of a medical professional before taking it, to know if there would be any underlying side effects.
Another great way to grow your hair is through undergoing hair transplantation surgery. This involves removing hair follicles from a part of the body and inserting it into the bald area on the scalp.
But as always, it is advisable to seek counseling from a professional dermatologist before undergoing the surgery because it could have some side effects.
Top Charlotte dermatologist for hair transplant
Clinical research by top Charlotte dermatologists has proven that it is safe to undergo a hair transplant surgery only after you have consulted your dermatologist.
Book an appointment with a professional dermatologist to get all the necessary advice you need. Contact Dermatology Specialists of Charlotte, Charlotte’s top Ballantyne and Blakeney Dermatologist, for your dermatology care.