Could you please update on your hair loss? My 16year old son took doxy for approximately three months and has had substantial hair thinning. Please tell me this is not permanent and his hair will grow back!
You have my sympathy. I was prescribed a low daily dose of doxycycline six months ago to help my rosacea, which was severe. The pills have made a positive difference to my skin but my hair, previously very thick, has been shedding for months and is now noticably thin and dry-looking. It's reached the point when I'm debating which is worse: going back to a red, inflamed face or persisting with the treatment and ending up with the female version of a tortured Donald Trump comb-over. The hair loss is so constant that I can no longer cook without putting on a scarf to prevent stray hairs from falling into food. Nice!
My dermatologist - I'm being treated on the NHS, in the UK - seemed vague about whether this is a recognised side effect but I have few doubts that there is a link. (Past, shorter doses of anti-biotics have tended to have the same effect. It is just more pronounced this time.)
The question is, what do I do about it?
Hi there,
Hair loss can be a side effect of some medications.Doxycycline in general does not cause hair loss as its common side effects. Hope you are doing well. Every person has some hair loss. Hair loss of about 50-100 per day is normal. Medical causes of hair loss are hormonal problems (low thyroid), seborrhea, alopecia areata, stressful illness. Other causes: genetic male/female pattern baldness, telogen effluvium. It would be best to consult a skin specialist for your symptoms to find out the cause of your complaints. Increase the intake of proteins in your diet, take a multi vitamin and zinc supplements. Adequate sleep and hydration are also important. Use a mild shampoo and conditioner. You might need to get investigated further maybe to establish a cause of the hair loss - hormone levels, thyroid function tests, any skin disease etc. This would help in establishing a diagnosis and then planning further management of your symptoms. Keep me posted. Hope this helps. Good luck and regards!