Dermatologist explains over-the-counter hair loss treatments

Folks get determined after they discover they’re losing their hair, and infrequently flip to a number of over-the-counter treatments earlier than visiting a dermatologist.

However dermatologists can doubtlessly save sufferers’ cash and restrict everlasting hair loss by educating sufferers about widespread over-the-counter choices, says Kimberly S. Salkey, M.D., affiliate professor of dermatology and director of the dermatology residency program at Virginia Commonwealth College.

Dr. Salkey, who moderated the Alopecia and Hair Loss session, July 25 on the American Academy of Dermatology’s (AAD’s) 2019 Summer season Assembly in New York Metropolis and introduced “Frequent questions from sufferers with alopecia,” says she addresses sufferers considerations merely and scientifically.

Listed here are her solutions to among the commonest questions she encounters on OTC hair loss therapies:

1. Can biotin supplementation assist? In all probability not. Right here’s why:

Sufferers typically ask about biotin supplementation for hair loss. Dr. Salkey explains that research have proven that people who find themselves profoundly poor in biotin do have issues with hair manufacturing, however in addition they have a variety of different neurologic well being issues.

“The probability that an in any other case wholesome particular person has a biotin deficiency that’s inflicting hair loss is slim,” she says. “But many sufferers take excessive doses of biotin dietary supplements in an effort to attempt to assist with their hair loss. There’s no proof that taking excessive doses of it will have any influence on their hair progress in any respect.”

2. If I begin and cease minoxidil, I worry all my hair will fall out!

Dr. Salkey says sufferers recurrently are available with this concern: They’ve heard that in the event that they use minoxidil (Rogaine, Johnson and Johnson) and cease, all their hair will fall out.

“I inform them that’s not true and clarify that they if they begin and cease utilizing Rogaine they may lose the hair they acquire and preserve because of utilizing it. However Rogaine doesn’t make all their hair come out,” she says.

Nonetheless different sufferers have heard that after you begin utilizing Rogaine, you must use it perpetually.

“There could also be somewhat extra fact to that. In case you get a great profit from it, you do must proceed utilizing it in an effort to preserve that profit,” Dr. Salkey says.

Some additionally don’t notice different merchandise that make hair loss remedy claims additionally are likely to comprise minoxidil. The exact same sufferers that don’t wish to use Rogaine due to hair loss fears ask Dr. Salkey about different merchandise that declare to be scientifically confirmed hair loss therapies. Dr. Salkey says she factors out the widespread energetic ingredient.

3. Is my treatment inflicting hair loss?

Sufferers typically hear from well-meaning associates or different sources that their medicines is likely to be inflicting their hair loss. This may be tough and considerably harmful, in response to Dr. Salkey.

“There are some medicines which are related to hair loss. However it may be a horrible scenario, let’s say, when a affected person stops taking their blood stress treatment as a result of their good friend instructed them that it might be the reason for their hair loss. Their blood stress goes sky excessive and so they nonetheless have hair loss,” she says .

She explains to sufferers that they need to at all times see their physician earlier than stopping a prescribed treatment and that treatment won’t be the perpetrator.

4. How about stress?

Sufferers typically are available with a protracted historical past of gradual, progressive hair loss, however they didn’t search medical consideration as a result of they thought it was simply as a consequence of stress. Within the case of scarring alopecia, time misplaced equals everlasting hair loss. 

It’s at all times good to loosen up, however that doesn’t imply their hair will regrow, Dr. Salkey explains. She additionally educates sufferers that they should are available on the first signs of hair loss when it’s extra prone to be treatable, moderately than later when it’s not.

The take-home message for dermatologists is they should higher educate sufferers about the necessity to see a dermatologist about hair loss considerations, as a substitute of making an attempt to self-treat.

“Folks have fallacious concepts about what they suppose is inflicting their hair loss, like stress or medicines, after which they’re not getting the care they want in a well timed method when the care might have a big effect,” Dr. Salkey says.

Disclosures:

None.