Losing your hair? Here are three common medications that can make things worse

In a previous column, I discussed some common medications that can cause or worsen dry skin. In this column, we’ll look at three common medications that may contribute to hair loss or thinning by causing what’s known as drug-induced alopecia or telogen effluvium.

1. Blood pressure medications

Certain blood pressure medications, such as beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors, are known to cause hair loss or thinning as a side effect. Beta-blockers like propranolol can change your hair growth cycle, causing more hairs to enter the shedding phase than normal. This can lead to thinning. ACE inhibitors like lisinopril may change the way nutrients are delivered to hair follicles, which can also lead to hair thinning or loss.

2. Oral acne medication

Accutane is an oral form of isotretinoin, a derivative of vitamin A, that is used to treat severe acne. While it can be very effective at getting painful acne under control, this medication may lead to hair thinning due to an increase in vitamin A levels. Additionally, Accutane works by decreasing the production of sebum, or oil, which works well to clear acne but can also negatively affect hair growth.

3. Antidepressants

Hair loss or thinning from antidepressants is not typically very common, but it can occur with certain medications. While it is not yet fully understood why, researchers believe that changes in hormones and nutrient absorption may be behind changes in the hair growth cycle while taking antidepressants.

Some antidepressants tend to lead to more issues with hair loss or thinning than others, so if this becomes a concern for you, talk to your doctor about other medication options.

How to manage hair loss or thinning

In most cases, unwanted effects on hair due to these medications are temporary and should resolve on their own once the medication is stopped. However, never stop taking medication without talking to your doctor first.

For many people, the benefits of these medications outweigh side effects like hair thinning. However, there are some things you can do while on these medications to help with hair density:

▪ Try a hair growth supplement like Viviscal or Nutrafol.

▪ Manage stress and eat a balanced diet.

▪ Avoid harsh hair products and dyes, which can make hair more prone to breakage.

▪ Have routine blood tests to check your thyroid and iron levels and make sure you are not anemic

If hair loss becomes severe, talk to your doctor. In some cases, medications may be able to be adjusted to help minimize symptoms.

Bottom line

While hair loss or thinning associated with medication can be unsettling, these effects are usually temporary and can often be helped with hair growth supplements or medication adjustments cleared by your doctor.

I’m still on sabbatical and no longer run Baumann Cosmetic Institute, so please follow @SkinTypeSolutions on social media, or visit LeslieBaumannMD.com.