A Woman Went Viral for Documenting Her Hair Loss After Stopping Birth Control, But Can That Really Happen?

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It is not precisely information that undesirable signs, akin to heavier durations, acne, and temper swings could seem when you cease taking hormonal contraception after being on it for some time. However what about hair loss?

TikTok consumer Chancey Classes documented her private expertise with dramatic hair loss which will have been a results of quitting her contraception routine in a now-viral TikTok video, and the web has questions. (Associated: The Relationship Between Birth Control and Hair Loss)

“Contraception does not mess you up that dangerous…” wrote Classes (seemingly sarcastically) within the textual content displayed on her TikTok video, which has amassed 9.4 million views and greater than 14,000 feedback. The transient clip options photographs of Classes’ hair, together with a picture of her holding a clump of strands and one other which reveals massive bald spots on her scalp. Classes mentioned she initially seen some shedding after stopping contraception, nevertheless it continued to worsen with time and he or she “nearly went bald” inside a four-month interval, she lately advised Buzzfeed.

If you happen to’re one of many millions of people in the U.S. taking birth control pills, this video is probably going a bit nerve-wracking, however earlier than you panic, preserve studying for professional insights on why an individual may expertise hair loss after stopping contraception, how widespread it’s, and whether or not or not it is preventable.

Can stopping contraception trigger hair loss?

Sadly, the quick reply is sure. Whereas now not utilizing hormonal contraception does not sometimes lead to hair loss as dramatic as what Classes confirmed in her video, elevated shedding is a risk, says Mona Gohara, M.D., affiliate medical professor of dermatology at Yale College of Drugs. Chief among the many causes is the hormonal change that happens when an individual stops taking contraception. “Any physiologic or emotional shift can have an effect on our our bodies,” notes Dr. Gohara. “And a rise or lower [in hormones from birth control] can definitely shift the hair cycle towards shedding or development relying on the situation.” (Associated: The Birth Control Side Effects to Know for Each Type of Contraceptive)

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Stress, whether or not situational or inner (e.g., your physique going into panic mode after stopping contraception), is usually the foundation reason behind sudden hair loss, provides Jessica Shepherd, M.D., ob-gyn and chief medical officer at Verywell Well being. “Hair loss that happens after stopping contraception is normally often called telogen effluvium, which generally happens after the physique experiences excessive stress,” she says. “The stress pushes follicles right into a resting part and might result in the hair briefly falling out.”

Progestin is the hormone present in contraception that is sometimes guilty for hair loss, whether or not an individual is beginning or stopping contraception, provides Dr. Shepherd. “Progestin is a hormone that has androgenic exercise, and androgens, particularly dihydrotestosterone (DHT), that are the hormones that make the hair enter the shedding part and keep on this part, in the end inflicting contraception hair loss,” she explains.

Whereas hair loss can happen when an individual stops utilizing contraception, there are a number of essential factors to notice about Classes’ expertise particularly. She advised Buzzfeed that she believes being on contraception for a few years after which stopping is what induced her excessive hair loss. However analysis hasn’t discovered a relationship between the length of contraception use and the chance of hair loss after discontinuing it, says Dr. Shepherd. Since posting her preliminary video, bloodwork and a biopsy revealed Classes was coping with alopecia areata, she defined in another TikTok video. That is noteworthy, as a result of alopecia areata is an autoimmune illness that ends in patchy baldness. The situation will be triggered by stress, hormonal imbalance, and thyroid abnormalities, however not sometimes from beginning or stopping contraception, in line with Dr. Gohara. “Though contraception just isn’t a typical set off [for alopecia areata], if the hormonal variation is critical, it may theoretically achieve this,” she provides.

Are you able to stop hair loss after stopping contraception?

Finally, an important step you possibly can take to stop hair loss from going off of hormonal contraception is discussing making modifications to your contraception and your choices to assist thwart potential hair loss along with your well being care supplier beforehand. If you happen to do expertise hair loss after you cease utilizing contraception, the sooner you deal with it, the higher, in line with Dr. Shepherd. Nevertheless, earlier than you possibly can deal with it with remedies, you will need to get to the root cause of the hair loss. In case your hair loss is attributable to stopping hormonal contraception, some issues that may help with hair regrowth are taking supplements (after consulting along with your physician), specializing in consuming a nutritious diet, and minimizing stress when doable, say consultants.

Nevertheless, it is essential (and reassuring) to needless to say hair loss, particularly excessive or sudden hair loss, attributable to stopping contraception is uncommon, and if it does occur, it is sometimes momentary. “More often than not, this isn’t a trigger for concern and may go away the longer you have been off the strategy of contraception you have been utilizing,” says Dr. Shepherd. “Some individuals may very well expertise the other and discover their hair has grown extra,” she provides.

TLDR: Classes’ viral TikTok video calls consideration to a uncommon facet impact of going off of hormonal contraception, however there is not any method to make certain if her alopecia areata analysis, stopping contraception, or a mixture of issues induced her extreme hair loss. Let this be your reminder to seek the advice of along with your physician for individualized steerage if in case you have issues a couple of medicine.