Birth Control: 9 Ways To Stop Hair Loss
How to Stop Hair Loss from Birth Control
After its FDA approval in 1960, birth control pills had become a preferred method for most women even today.
At about 15 to 49 years old, women have used some form of Contraceptive Method throughout this period.
Every year, women use pills for birth control or treating medical conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), amenorrhea (lack of periods), and heavy menstrual periods.
Just like any medication, side effects are inevitable. Some women may experience their hair thinning after a few uses. For others, they may experience some Hair Loss after they stop taking the pills.
The connection between oral contraceptives and hair loss
Today, men are not the only ones having this problem. More women are also experiencing drastic hair loss from taking birth control pills even at a Young Age.
Birth control pills prevent pregnancy by using man-made hormones such as progesterone and estrogen. Women who are particularly sensitive to these hormones may experience side effects like headaches and hair loss. Women with a family history of alopecia may even be more prone to this condition after only a short exposure.
Your hair grows in cycles: anagen (the active phase that lasts 2 to 7 years), catagen (the transitional stage that lasts 10 to 20 days), and telogen (resting phase). With birth control pills, it interferes the duration of the growing to resting phase resulting in massive hair loss.
Treating hair loss from birth control pills
Some hair loss effects may be temporary. Your hair may go back to its healthy state after your body gets used to the pill’s effects.
Moreover, if your doctor advised you to stop taking the pills, you may also observe your hair growing back as it used to after several days or months.
1. Use a mild shampoo.
Hair behaves differently from your body. The heightened testosterone levels in your body before menstruation may cause your hair to be oiler. To counter this, you can cleanse your hair using a mild shampoo so it takes away dirt, debris, and oil from the scalp to the ends.
2. Start looking into your diet.
Lacking certain nutrients such as vitamins B, A, and E could be another factor for your hair loss. Vitamin A, commonly found in foods like cod liver oil, carrots, and sweet potatoes, helps stimulate sebum production to protect your hair from brittleness. Vitamin E found in seeds, green leafy vegetables, and nuts can help improve blood circulation to maintain the delivery of nutrients from your body to your hair. And lastly, vitamin B complex found in eggs, milk, and cheese protect your hair’s natural color.
3. Don’t brush your hair when wet.
Your hair is in its weakest state when it’s wet. When you’re experiencing hair loss, avoid combing your hair until it’s semi-dry or fully dry. If you need to comb your hair, you can use your fingers or a wide-toothed comb. Brush your hair sparingly and wear your hair down. Avoid touching it frequently as this could lead to more hair fallouts.
4. Don’t rub your hair with the towel.
Friction caused by rubbing could easily detach weakened hair follicles from the roots, causing massive hair fall after doing so. It might be best to let your hair dry naturally.
5. Recharge your mind.
Stress may also contribute to hair fall. Exercises like walking, biking, or jogging could help improve your overall health while reducing stress levels. Meditation is another way to ‘de-clutter’. Studies have shown that practicing at least 10 minutes of meditation every day could improve mental agility and focus. You can also take this opportunity to get organized and plan the day. This will help you from being overwhelmed and prioritize tasks to achieve realistic goals.
6. Use natural topical treatments.
Rosemary oil helps improve the blood circulation in your scalp. It helps your hair follicles absorb more nutrients to maintain its integrity, luster, and suppleness. You can also use ginger, onion, or garlic as topical treatments for hair growth if rosemary oil is not available. Use this once or twice a week before bedtime.
7. Braid your hair before sleeping.
Your hair easily gets tangled in your sheets during sleep. Braiding could reinforce the ‘strength’ of your hair and lessens the chances of fallouts. You can apply some moisturizing oil to the bottom of the braid to keep it supple.
8. Use Minoxidil.
This is usually the medicine of choice for treating hair loss. This FDA-approved drug works by speeding the hair growth process and will usually show results within a few months of continuous use. Before using this, your Healthcare Provider will have to evaluate your family history and health conditions first to avoid complications.
9. Opt for low-androgen contraceptive types.
Low-androgen pills may contain higher estrogen hormones than progestin. This allows your hair to stay longer in the anagen phase while boosting hair growth. Norethindrone-ethinyl estradiol, desogestrel-ethinyl estradiol, and norethindrone fall under this category. While this is a viable option, it’s important to speak with your doctor about this to avoid any side-effects. For individuals with a family history of alopecia (hair loss condition), it might be best to talk with your physician for non-hormonal birth control methods.
The Take Away
If your hair doesn’t seem to return to its natural state after taking all these steps, it’s best to talk with a Hair Loss Doctor. Speciality doctors such as these are more adept in providing medical treatments to help your hair return to its normal state. In some extreme cases, a Hair Transplant may be advised for individuals who are not responsive to traditional medicines.
