How Medications Impact Hair Growth: Effects & Treatments

Many drugs have significant effects on hair growth in humans. Drugs may cause hair loss, fuel hair growth, or make changes in hair form and color.

Hair Loss Medicines

• Hair loss medicines can help slow down the thinning of hair by enlarging existing hairs and growing new ones. But these medications must be taken constantly; otherwise hair loss will start again.

Medication for Androgenetic Alopecia

• Medication that is often used to treat androgenetic alopecia or inherited hair loss includes Minoxidil and Finasteride.

Medication for Alopecia Areata

• Medication used to treat alopecia areata, which is caused by the immune system attacking the hair follicles, includes corticosteroids, contact immunotherapy and Psoralen with ultraviolet A light (PUVA) therapy.

Expectations

• When taking medications for hereditary hair loss, you must not expect to grow a full set of hair. Instead, look forward to some improvement on the top of the head only, not on the entire forehead area.

Warning

• The use of Finasteride has not been proven to be effective in women, and the Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved its use for women. In fact, women who are pregnant should not handle any Finasteride tablets since it can cause birth defects.