Hair loss and Hormones

Why is my hair falling out?

Many women are asking this question.  Often times the condition is called androgenic alopecia.  Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss.  Androgenic is referring to the breakdown of the androgen “testosterone” into dihydrotestosterone (DHT).  Research shows that this breakdown occurs at the hair follicle.  The reason for this breakdown is due to the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase.  I tell you all this not to put you to sleep with “medical talk” but to give you a target to shoot for.  That target is 5-alpha-reductase.  Here is a list of common symptoms that your 5-alpha-reductase is doing its job too well.

Could it be one of my medications?

Don’t forget about your medications.  As a pharmacist I have often been asked “is hair loss a side-effect of my medication?”  Yes, some medications can cause hair loss.  Here is a short list of common medications that can cause hair loss.

Anticoagulants – Warfarin (coumadin)
 Gout Medications – Allopurinol
 Beta-Blockers – Atenolol, Metoprolol, Propranolol
 ACE inhibitors – Captopril, Lisinopril, Enalapril
 Acne Medication – Accutane
 Female Hormones – Birth Control Pills, and Premarin
 Male Hormones – Testosterone and anabolic steroids
 Antidepressants – Amitriptyline, Paroxetine, Sertraline, Fluoxetine and many more

This is a simple list of the most common medication-induced alopecia.  If your medication is not on the list it could still be affecting your hair loss.  Contact me with your list of medication and I can review them for you.

What can I do to keep my hair?

We have recently started formulating a couple prescription medications to help you hang on to your hair.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17YPZuKFGVUe5MjoblHflkl1uVG_1zvfb14qanJHnRys/pub

What products or treatments have helped you hang on to your hair?