Can Accutane permanently thin hair? (Photo)

Question

I am a 21 yr old male that took accutane for 2 months and stopped because of hair shedding. However, after 7 months, I’ve noticed that my hairline receded and that my hair is growing thinner and slower. The hair on my head keeps shedding and I see scalp now. I think accutane may have permanently thinned some hair follicles. Is this possible? What can I do?

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Accutane (isotretinoin) is a powerful medication used to treat severe acne. One of the side effects of Accutane can be hair thinning or hair loss. However, this is usually temporary and hair typically returns to its normal growth pattern once the medication is stopped.
It's important to note that everyone responds differently to medications, and while most people will see their hair return to normal after stopping Accutane, there are some anecdotal reports of individuals who have experienced long-term or seemingly permanent hair thinning.
However, it is difficult to definitively say whether Accutane was the sole cause in these cases, as hair loss can be influenced by many factors including age, hormonal changes, stress, and other health conditions.

Can Accutane permanently thin hair? (Photo)

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