What drug causes alopecia?

Author: Alexis O'Hara  |  Last update: Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Alopecia, also commonly known as hair loss, can sometimes occur as a result of taking certain medications.
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Medications
  • Cimetidine.
  • Retinoids (e.g., acitretin)
  • Antithyroid drugs.
  • Amphetamines.
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Bromocriptine.
  • Levodopa.
  • Tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline)

What is the number one cause of alopecia?

Family history (heredity). The most common cause of hair loss is a hereditary condition that happens with aging. This condition is called androgenic alopecia, male-pattern baldness and female-pattern baldness.

What causes alopecia all of a sudden?

In alopecia areata, the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing inflammation. Researchers do not fully understand what causes the immune attack on hair follicles, but they believe that both genetic and environmental (non-genetic) factors play a role.

Is drug-induced alopecia reversible?

Drug-induced hair loss is usually completely reversible and is, in most cases, a consequence of a toxic effect of the drug on the hair follicle matrix. In rare cases alopecia may be permanent.

How is drug-induced alopecia treated?

Treatment of drug-induced alopecia

Usually, the only treatment required for drug-induced hair loss is to cease the causative drug if it is possible to do so. Once that drug has been ceased, hair shedding settles, although this may take up to 6 months.

FDA Approves First Drug Treatment For Hair Loss Disorder Alopecia

What is the fastest way to cure alopecia?

Topical minoxidil

Minoxidil, commonly known as Rogaine, is a topical treatment that's easy to apply and can be easily purchased over the counter. Minoxidil works to help the hair grow faster once the follicle is no longer under attack by the immune system and is capable of producing hair.

How do you reverse drug induced alopecia?

People can buy minoxidil, or Rogaine, over the counter (OTC) and apply it topically to the scalp. People using minoxidil may start to see their hair growing back within 3–6 months. People can speak to a pharmacist about minoxidil or purchase it online.

Does alopecia eventually go away?

For patients who use treatments, there are several options. However, alopecia areata cannot be "cured." As noted above, most patients experience future episodes of hair loss. Corticosteroids — Corticosteroids, commonly called steroids, are anti-inflammatory medications that are used to treat alopecia areata.

How long does it take for alopecia to go away?

How Long does Hair Loss Last? In half of patients with alopecia areata, individual episodes of hair loss last less than one year, and hair grows back without treatment. These patients may experience recurrent episodes of hair loss that spontaneously regrow or respond quickly to treatments.

Can drugs cause alopecia areata?

There is a long list of drugs that on occasion have been cited as causing hair loss: cimetidine, retinoids, amphetamines, bromocriptine and levodopa. A few isolated cases have been reported with some hypocholesterolaemic or anti-infectious agents. Diagnosis of drug-induced alopecia remains difficult.

What virus causes alopecia?

Alopecia areata is sometimes triggered by viral infections such as influenza that causes excess production of interferons (IFN). IFN- γ is one of the key factors that lead to the collapse of immune privilege.

Where does alopecia usually start?

The first sign of alopecia areata is often a round or oval bald patch on the scalp.

Can stress and anxiety cause alopecia?

A variety of factors are thought to cause alopecia areata (al-o-PEE-she-uh ar-e-A-tuh), possibly including severe stress. With alopecia areata, the body's immune system attacks the hair follicles — causing hair loss.

What are the 3 types of alopecia?

Most people know alopecia to be a form of hair loss. However, what they don't always know is that there are three main types of the condition – alopecia areata, alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis.

What causes alopecia in females?

Female-pattern baldness is a pattern of hair loss (alopecia) caused by hormones, aging and genetics. Unlike male-pattern baldness, female-pattern baldness is an over-all thinning which maintains the normal hairline.

Is alopecia a symptom of something else?

Both men and women tend to lose hair thickness and amount as they age. This type of baldness is not usually caused by a disease. It is related to aging, heredity, and changes in the hormone testosterone. Inherited, or pattern baldness, affects many more men than women.

What shampoo is good for alopecia?

Ketoconazole shampoos help treat Alopecia by cleaning the skin area around your hair follicle of sebum, or the skins natural oils that are produced. Getting rid of these oils can allow your hair follicles to receive more nutrition and release for your hair to regrow.

Does Vitamin D cure alopecia areata?

Calcipotriol, a vitamin D analog, has been reported to be topically used in treating alopecia areata with promising results. Combination therapy of vitamin D analogs with corticosteroids might also be used in treating alopecia areata.

Can a blood test detect alopecia?

Can a Blood Test Detect Alopecia? Yes, a blood test can diagnose alopecia. Your doctor may order several blood works to determine the cause of the hair loss along with a scalp biopsy.

How often should I wash my hair if I have alopecia?

How Many Washes Should You Aim For? While this question truly depends on the nature of your hair and varies from every person, if you have thinning hair, try to wash your hair between 3-4 times a week if necessary; washing thinning hair just 3 to 4 times per week means doing so just about every other day.

Can you claim disability for alopecia?

A 20 percent rating is warranted if the disorder affects more than 40 percent of the scalp. Under Diagnostic Code 7831, for alopecia areata, a noncompensable rating is assigned with loss of hair limited to the scalp and face. A 10 percent rating is warranted with loss of all body hair.

What happens if alopecia is left untreated?

Often, hair grows back within several months, even without treatment. It may grow in fine or white at first, but usually returns to its original texture and color with time. People with alopecia areata may lose and grow back their hair more than once, either in the same patches as before or in different patches.

Can alopecia grow back by itself?

Sometimes, hair regrows on its own without treatment. This happens more often when someone has a few patches of alopecia areata, which have been there for less than 1 year. When hair fails to grow back, treatment can help. Self-care also plays an important role in the lives of people who have alopecia areata.

What helps alopecia grow back naturally?

Natural Treatments for Hair Loss
  • Onion Juice. 1/15. The idea is that the sulfur in onion juice helps hair regrowth. ...
  • Iron. 2/15. This crucial nutrient helps your body make blood, and low levels of it are linked to hair loss. ...
  • Biotin. 3/15. ...
  • Zinc. 4/15. ...
  • Saw Palmetto. 5/15. ...
  • Aromatherapy. 6/15. ...
  • Silicon. 7/15. ...
  • Selenium. 8/15.

What is the new cure for alopecia?

In June 2022 , a medication called baricitinib (Olumiant) received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat severe cases of alopecia areata. It's the first FDA-approved systemic treatment for alopecia. This type of systemic treatment helps treat hair loss all over the body.

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