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Rogaine for medication induced telogen effluvium
Hi all!
I would really appreciate anyone's input, advice, or support.
I am a 23 year old woman who took Accutane for acne from December 2015 to March 2016. During and after the medication I experienced hair loss. Hair thinning is a side effect of this medication, although I was not aware of that when I started it.
I have seen 3 different dermatologists and all have said that I most likely am experiencing Telogen Effluvium brought on by the medication.
I am a vegetarian. I have had blood work done and everything came back "normal". I did notice my serum ferritin was at 13 so I am now taking an iron supplement requested by my primary doctor. I also take Viviscal, a probioitic, Vitamin E, Vitamin D3, Omega 3, B12, and Biotin.
Since stopping Accutane in March (stopped early due to the ongoing hair loss) I have been taking Solodyn, an oral antibiotic for acne. I am slowly decreasing my dosage of Solodyn and should be done with it in the next few months.
I have also been taking Ortho Tri Cyclen since November of 2015. I have taken this in the past (high school) without any issues I can recall.
I cannot stress enough how much this has affected me. I have taken a leave of absence from graduate school. I shaved my head in April just to avoid watching my hair fall out.
My dermatologist recently mentioned that I could use Ketaconozole shampoo and try Rogaine (5% foam for women) to help speed up regrowth. I have been using the shampoo 2x a week and Rogaine daily. I have only been using the Rogaine for a week and have noticed increased shedding. I have heard that shedding is a sign the Rogaine is working but I feel like I do not have much hair left to lose.
Also, it is worth noting that the majority of my hair is currently about 2 inches long but the hair that I am shedding throughout the day is only half and inch to one inch long. I am concerned this is a sign that I am short cycling or have truncated growth. I have read that the rogaine can help with this as it prolongs the anagen stage and jumpstarts normal hair cycles.
Does anyone have any experience using Rogaine for Telogen Effluvium? How long will I continue to shed? Does anyone have any experience with medication induced hair loss? Has anyone else experienced short cycling or truncated hair growth?
Truly appreciate all of you.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Vicki on
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I have had to shave my hair very very short - horrific experience but my hair is so thin now its my only option. I have gone from having very thick hair to this in 3 years. I have sjogrens and lupus. I did got a top dermatologist in UK who specialises in hair, he wasnt much help. He did make me use his stronger version of Minoxdil and it didnt work for me. I felt it aged my skin too. Also he made it very clear that if it worked as soon as I stopped any hair growth would fall out again. I am now giving Low Dose Naltrexone a go as there is some hope that this can help with alopecia. So far it is not working for me, but I am going to stick with it as I have seen success stories (there is a group on here an on Facebook about LDN and alopecia).
Are you losing hair anywhere else? I have hardly any hair on my legs, armpits etc, and now my eyebrows are thinning.
Losing hair is emotionally hard - trust me I know! It makes me feel old, look ill and the not knowing if it will come back is a killer. Its great how some people on here are able to accept it and move on, I just feel stuck! I havent found a good wig yet, so that hasnt helped. A wig also irritates my scalp and I worry about the wind, if people will know its a wig.
Back to your original question - I personally would stop using it, its messy and you dont get much benefit and you will have to use it for life for a bit of peach fuzz.
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Permalink Reply by Frankie on
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Hi Vicki!
Thank you so much for replying. I am sorry to hear about your experience and I can completely relate to what you are going through.
Mine has not gotten any better-only worse. I recently purchased a Follea wig. My new "to do" list in order to move on is as follows:
1. Get used to wearing wig.
2. Shave head.
3. Tell friends and family that don't know yet-be open about condition.
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Hi Frankie
Yep a wig is hard to get used to, but finding a nice one is even harder! What do you think of Follea? Can you wear sunglasses with it on?
When you have your head don't shave it all off at once, use different blades. And then go shorter and shorter, you may not need to shave it completely off but leave a tiny bit of length (buzz cut). I know I will eventually have to shave it all off, but not yet.
All my friends have family know but I have only seen some family and I have isolated myself from my old friends. New friends who dont know what I looked like before are used to me walking around in a hat. Not a great life I know so I suppose I need to put that on my To Do List. I just keep hoping this will turn around and my hair will start growing thick and strong again.
Does your scalp itch, and hurt? Has your hair become thinner in the strand itself and brittle/dry?
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I like it so far! I got the aero wig. The only thing I'm not completely comfortable with is the lace part. I am hoping to get another wig with a silk top which I feel will be a little less noticeable. I will try to post a picture of me wearing it soon. And yes i can wear my glasses with it easily, right over the ear tabs.
Thank you for the tips on head shaving. :)
I hope it does grow back-for the both of us. If my hair grows back one day, I will be happy to share the joy with all of the people who know how much I have struggled.
My scalp does itch and slightly ache from time to time. Not sure if the actual strands are getting thinner though.
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Permalink Reply by Momtoalopecia on
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Please do some research on Monat. It is hair care that is helping people grow back hair. My son has alopecia and had to take steroid injections in his scalp. He started using the products and has not had to have an injection in a year. His shedding stopped immediately. Then his hair started growing back. I can't tell you how much it has changed his life. A friend of mine used Rogaine and got some results but after he used the Monat products he had amazing hair growth. I can email you some information on the products. You can email me at jbenda2014@outlook.com.
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You bring this product up a lot but I see no proof on how it can help with alopecia. Sorry to ask but are you a distributor or in some way connects to the Monat products? Where is the science behind this, lab results, dermatologists recommendations? Sorry to ask but after having tried several things my specialist warns me not to keep wasting money on products that simply cant help with the body attacking itself, which is what alopecia is.
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Permalink Reply by Queenofspinny on
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Hi Frankie!
I am also going through "Telogen Effluvium" and it SUCKS big time!
This is actually my 4th go with TE in the last 10 years, so I'm starting to get used to shedding... but I know how scary and frustrating it can be.
Hair loss is VERy emotional, especially for us gals, but just know that you are not alone.
That being said, yes, Birth Control can and will cause hair shedding and so can starting and stopping medications.
I don't have any idea why my TE comes and goes, as it is more cylical, but I have shed anywhere between 3-7 months at a time... So I'll shed, then my hair will grow for 3-4 years...then for some unforseen reason I then again shed.
I have also had the "short cycling" of it...and that's equally as frustrating.
That being said, I am wondering how long you have been shedding? Perhaps the TE has become chronic due to the extreme stress that it causes...which CAN happen too!
I saw that you bought a follea, have you been wearing it?
Has your hair gotten so bad that you need it???I used rogaine once back in 2007 and I honestly didn't stick with it... so I can't offer any advice the defectiveness of it with TE. I have heard from other women though, and they swear by it!
It can cause a little extra shedding initially (this is what I've heard) but that should subside after your scalp adjusts. I have heard that the 5% men's strength is the only way to go.
Also, there are a TON of options for scalp concealers that work really great too!
Just know this... I know how difficult it is to experience this, and it is not easy. I know that struggle, but trust me when I say you are NOT alone. So many people (especially women) experience different types of hair loss (as you have probably seen on this site) and there are options and lots of support!
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Thank so much for your reply! Perhaps I will give Rogaine a try. I have been shedding for about 9 months now. I am wearing the Follea - my husband says I don't need to wear it, but I feel much better wearing it. I actually got a scalp biopsy done recently and it said i had a "differential diagnosis of teolgen effluvium and alopecia areata" - fun, haha! So for now I am getting used to wearing my wig and trying to stay positive about this time in my life.
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I hear that the Rogaine can speed things up-regrowth wise, but as far as the TE as I'm sure they have told you...it will have to "run it's course". It sounds like you are Chronic TE-since your shedding has lasted longer than 3-6 months.
That is a VERY interesting biopsy! Alopecia Areata is actually auto-immune, so I wonder if there were signs of inflammation? Typically AA falls out in round patches, I do know that there can be a "diffuse kind".... Scalp biopsies are VERY hard to read and diagnose, they are not like skin biopsies where the dermapathologist can clearly see the different cells (at least that is what I have researched and also have learned from several Derms).
I know how hard it is, it totally sucks! You cannot control it, and that's really hard. I'm glad to hear you are staying positive, that is all you can do! Day to day girly... the hardest part about it all is acceptance... and fear of the unknown. Trust me though, there are SO many women struggling with hair loss, and you can and will be full-filled with or without you hair! Losing my hair is teaching me to love myself more...it's a tough one for me, so I"m still working on it haha!
How are you liking the Follea? I'm not really to a hair wearing point, but I have looked off and on just for ideas and to have a plan. I know they are seriously pricey, but I am sure it is well worth the mola!
Which one did you get? Which color? Do you feel like people can tell?
Keep your chin up lady!
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Hey!
I really love my Follea. I got the Aero in color 5030 ...its kind of like a light brown color. I will have to post some photos soon.
When I first started wearing it I was very nervous that people could tell. Lately, however...I just don't care as much!
I am realizing that alopecia is nothing to be ashamed of. It is something completely out of my control and I am just having fun with it.
I love your attitude and journey towards self love. I am also on that journey. It has been so comforting to know that I am not alone in this.
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