How can I stop the intense hair shedding post-Accutane?

Question

I was on accutane for 6 mnths, ending in Aug.2015. I started at 40mg, moved up to 60, and spent the last two months on 70. A month into the 70mg treatment my hair started shedding. It's still thinning. I have to use Drano every 2 weeks, b/c I'm shedding so much. I started w/ a lot of hair, which is my only saving grace. I'm using 2% minidoxil for about a mnth. My dr told me to use Rogaine & come back after 6 mnths. I feel desperate. At this rate I'm going to be bald in a yr. What else can I do?

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Thinning Hair -- Rogaine, Propecia, Viviscal, Progesterone, PRPIf you have thinning hair you really need an evaluation to see if it is genetic or from another cause like stress or autoimmune.  If it is determined to be genetic there are many options and traditional treatments like rogaine foam and propecia pills can be used.  I have great success in my practice using injectable progesterone and prp to the scalp.  Postmenopausal women also benefit from spironolactone.  I suggest seeing a dermatologist with expertise in hair loss.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

It may take a year for your your hair loss to stabilize or see any regrowth.  Hair loss is a known side effect of using accutane.  It is always a good idea to see a doctor for an examination to make sure there are no other cause for your hair loss.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

Shedding from a drug can last 9-12 months, and rarely a chronic form of shedding develops. Any type of shedding, including accutane shedding, can sometimes unmask underlying androgenetic hair loss, which also can give sheddingWithout seeing your scalp and knowing more about your history, I can't comment if Accutane is the culprit but it can be in some individuals. Minoxidil can also trigger shedding and it too can cause shedding for many months ad well.In general, anyone with shedding needs a full medical history, a full scalp exam and blood tests for iron, thyroid, and possibly other tests too. If the scalp exam is normal and the blood tests are normal it's a matter of waiting in most cases for the shedding to slow or stop.Drug induced shedding is not common but if truly turns out to be drug induced shedding these can be challenging to diagnose and treat because other hair conditions are often present. Many individuals with drug induced shedding have other reasons for shedding and possibily androgenetic thinning present as well.I appreciate just how worrisome this can be.  It would, however, be extremely rare for a given individual to bald within a year.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

This happens and your doctor will be the best source of information. Follow his advice and you have to have patience.

How can I stop the intense hair shedding post-Accutane?

Answers (4)