Does Accutane cause hair loss?

Does Accutane cause hair loss?

Accutane is a commonly prescribed medication for severe acne. Although side effects vary, worrying about hair loss is a very visible and emotional side effect once it occurs. Often it is an additional socially disruptive ordeal for a subject while attempting to clear their complexion and rid themselves of painful bumps. He begins to lose his hair, sometimes up to 3-4 months after starting Accutane.

Accutane does not damage hair follicles, it alters chemical receptors, none of which are linked to hair loss. It makes them more responsive and causes a “shock” to the body. A lack of sebum (oil from follicle production) also occurs. Accutane “dries up” oil-producing glands in the body to dry up the excess oil that produces acne; It can also affect other oil-producing glands, including hair. When the hair follicle dries out, it loses its ability to continue to “grab” the hair and it falls out. A new hair begins to be produced, but is a much finer, wispy hair that is not as strong as the previously lost hair.

It's normal to lose hair every day throughout your life. Accutane speeds up the process. In the case of male pattern baldness (or MPB as it is commonly called by men), there are only so many cycles of hair loss/replacement in a lifetime. Accutane hair loss consumes one cycle and replacement hair comes back well or not at all in some areas, accelerating male pattern baldness. This hair loss would have occurred at a later date without the influence of Accutane, but the process is accelerated. Some male patients suffer from permanent hair loss in areas due to male pattern baldness (MPB) and may blame the Accutane. However, once Accutane is no longer taken, hair production cycles return to normal, regardless of what cycle they are in.

Some hair loss patients have taken “megadoses” of vitamins A & C and biotin, with limited success, while still receiving Accutane. Because the liver produces biotin and biotin production decreases during Accutane treatment, some doctors have also prescribed protein drinks and 2.5 mg of “Mega.” doses of biotin. Some patients also take these 2 months after stopping Accutane.

Hair loss continues for 5 weeks to 5 months after stopping Accutane. Once the chemical reactors have been changed, it can take this long for the body to switch again and the hair loss cycle to complete and move on to the next cycle. Normally, the next hair cycle will return to normal without any remaining Accutane chemicals, producing normal hair like that lost before taking Accutane. In male pattern baldness, the hair thickness and structure return to normal. However, if you have baldness in your inheritance, you may notice that the pattern baldness has started where there was none before, or is more visible if it has already started before taking Accutane.

Some patients have started taking Propecia or Rogaine after stopping Accutane to try to repair hair loss. However, these medications also have side effects. Without medication, hair production will return to normal on its own within a year or sooner.

Inspired by Tracy Ballisager