Qualified trichologist, Hayley Handy, who has 20 years of experience in the industry, knows the impact that medication can have on the hair.
Hayley shared her knowledge on how, in certain circumstances, medication can contribute to hair shedding, but she also highlights that there can be other contributing factors and medication should not be stopped or changed due to this specific reason.
Medication is something that comes up frequently when discussing hair loss. Some medications can contribute to shedding, but it is important not to automatically assume that the medication itself is the only cause.
Starting a new medication often coincides with other changes within the body, whether that is illness, hormonal changes, stress or adjusting treatment and dosage. Any significant change can potentially disrupt the hair-growth cycle and contribute to telogen effluvium, a common form of temporary hair shedding, which typically becomes noticeable sometime after the initial trigger.
Thyroid treatment is a good example. If somebody is starting levothyroxine or their dose is repeatedly being adjusted while their thyroid levels are being stabilised, they may experience increased shedding during that period. Once the underlying condition and medication dose have been stable for a while, that shedding may begin to settle, although hair recovery itself takes time.
The important thing is that medication should never be stopped or changed purely because of concerns about hair loss without speaking to the prescribing clinician. Trichologists can look at the timeline, hair-loss pattern and other possible contributing factors, but medication decisions need to be referred to your GP or relevant medical professional.