What medications cause alopecia?

Author: Felipe McKenzie  |  Last update: Friday, August 4, 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)

Which medications cause the most hair loss?

Hair loss is a relatively rare side effect, but a variety of medications may cause it: beta-blockers, blood thinners, antidepressants, cholesterol-lowering drugs, certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and hormone-related drugs like thyroid meds, hormone replacement therapies or steroids.

Why do I suddenly have alopecia?

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.

What is the most common 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.

Is drug-induced alopecia permanent?

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.

What medications cause hair loss? - Dr. K Prapanna Arya

Can anything reverse alopecia?

Can Alopecia Be Reversed? Whether your hair loss is caused by hormones or an autoimmune disorder, regrowing your hair by using new medications and modifying your diet can be possible as long as you start treatment early.

What is the fastest way to recover from alopecia?

There is currently no cure for alopecia areata, although there are some forms of treatment that can be suggested by doctors to help hair re-grow more quickly. The most common form of alopecia areata treatment is the use of corticosteroids, powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that can suppress the immune system.

Where does alopecia usually start?

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

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.

What causes alopecia flare ups?

It is believed that the person's genetic makeup may trigger the autoimmune reaction of alopecia areata, along with a virus or a substance the person comes into contact with. Alopecia areata is an unpredictable disease. In some people, hair grows back but falls out again later. In others, hair grows back and remains.

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.

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 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.

What anxiety meds cause hair loss?

Fluoxetine is the most common SSRI causing hair loss [13]. In a review on this issue, hair loss was found to be present after fluoxetine use in 725 cases and in 6, 7, and only 3 cases using fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and sertraline, respectively [10].

What Vitamin keeps you from losing your hair?

1. Biotin. Biotin (vitamin B7) is important for cells inside your body. Low levels of it can cause hair loss, skin rashes, and brittle nails.

Which blood pressure meds cause hair loss?

Below, we discuss 12 medications or medication classes that can cause hair loss.
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Commonly used beta blockers that may cause hair loss include:
  • Propranolol (Inderal)
  • Atenolol (Tenormin)
  • Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL)
  • Timolol eye drops (Timoptic)

Does alopecia mean your sick?

Alopecia areata isn't usually a serious medical condition, but it can cause a lot of anxiety and sadness. Support groups are out there to help you deal with the psychological effects of the condition. If you lose all your hair, it could grow back.

What autoimmune disease causes alopecia?

Alopecia areata is an inflammatory, non-scarring hair loss associated with autoimmune conditions. It is more commonly seen with thyroid disorders and vitiligo, but alopecia areata has also been linked to diabetes, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.

What immune disorder causes alopecia?

Alopecia areata frequently occurs in association with other autoimmune disorders such as vitiligo, lichen planus, morphea, lichen sclerosus et atrophicus, pemphigus foliaceus, atopic dermatitis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, endemic goiter, Addison's disease, pernicious anemia, lupus erythematosus, diabetes ...

What are the three stages of alopecia?

Everyone is born with hundreds of thousands of hair on the head. The hair cycle consists of three phases: the growth phase, which is called anagen, the resting phase, which is called catagen, and the shedding phase, which is the telogen phase.

How long does alopecia usually last?

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.

How do you stop alopecia from spreading?

Ways to Stop Alopecia Areata from Spreading or Worsening

Avoiding unnecessary hair or scalp trauma, reducing stress and analyzing your diet are all worthwhile endeavors when attempting to prevent alopecia areata from spreading.

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.

What foods should be avoided with alopecia areata?

On the AIP elimination diet, you will avoid grains, legumes, nightshades (such as potatoes and peppers), dairy, eggs, coffee, alcohol, sugar, oil and food additives. After a few months, you can work the excluded foods back in one at a time to figure out which foods trigger an inflammatory reaction.

What helps fight alopecia?

Treatments for mild alopecia areata
  • INTRALESIONAL CORTICOSTEROID INJECTIONS. This method of treatment — the most common form of treatment for alopecia areata — uses corticosteroids that are injected into bare patches of skin with a tiny needle. ...
  • TOPICAL MINOXIDIL. ...
  • ANTHRALIN CREAM OR OINTMENT. ...
  • TOPICAL CORTICOSTEROIDS.

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