Metformin And Hair Loss: Is There A Connection?

Health conditions like diabetes and ovarian disorders are difficult enough to deal with. Wondering whether Metformin causes hair loss can take a toll on your mental wellness as well.

Metformin is a prescription drug for treating type 2 diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In that location take been some reports of people experiencing hair loss later on taking Metformin for a prolonged period. Continue reading to learn about the link between Metformin and hair autumn.

What Is Metformin?

Metformin or metformin hydrochloride is prescribed to manage type 2 diabetes in high-risk people (1), (two). The drug is on the Globe Health Organization's (WHO) List of Essential Medicines (3).

Metformin helps control the sugar levels in your blood and increases the body'southward response to insulin. Information technology is available as a liquid, a tablet, and an extended-release (long-acting) tablet and should exist taken orally (2).

Although metformin is well tolerated, information technology may crusade a few side effects, like (2):

• Bloating
• Constipation
• Breadbasket pain
• Gas
• Heartburn
• Headache
• Muscle pain

In rare cases, metformin may also cause breast pain. A few people reported hair loss as another possible side effect of metformin usage. Is that truthful? Let's take a closer look.

Does Metformin Crusade Hair Loss?

There is no scientific evidence to establish a direct link between metformin and pilus loss. However, a few isolated reports of people experiencing hair loss while taking the drug take emerged in the past few years.

In one report, an individual with type 2 diabetes who took metformin and sitagliptin experienced excessive shedding of the scalp and eyebrow hair (4). In this case, hair loss may have been drug-induced, but there is no conclusive evidence to bear witness the aforementioned.

Some other study found that metformin's long-term use may reduce the levels of vitamin B12 and folate (5). The lack of these two vital nutrients may trigger hair loss (6).

If you are taking metformin and notice hair loss, it might exist due to the lack of vitamin B12. Let'due south accept a closer look at this in the next section.

Metformin And Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Metformin can lead to reduced vitamin B12 absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. An average of half-dozen% to thirty% of patients who used metformin can develop vitamin B12 deficiency. The American Diabetes Association treatment guidelines recommend regular monitoring of vitamin B12 levels in people with diabetes who take metformin (7).

Vitamin B12 is necessary for Deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, neurological function, and red blood cell formation. A deficiency of this water-soluble vitamin can lead to numerous serious health issues, including hematologic and neurologic symptoms (8).

Vitamin B12 deficiency is likewise linked to hair loss (6). Low levels of the vitamin can lead to weaker hair follicles. It tin can besides crusade anemia, which is associated with hair thinning and hair loss. Premature graying is another possible symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency.

It is unclear whether metformin leads to hair loss or non, merely diabetes patients using the drug may experience excessive hair fall for many reasons. We examine the several underlying reasons below.

Diabetes And Pilus Loss

Studies have found a correlation between blazon two diabetes and the risk of pilus loss (nine). Diabetes can tedious downwardly hair growth and crusade excessive hair loss. It is not rare for those with type 2 diabetes to lose eyebrow hair and torso hair. The rate of hair regrowth is besides slower.

People with diabetes are also more than likely to develop baldness areata universalis – a status in which the immune organisation attacks the hair follicles, causing consummate loss of body hair (10). The stress of living with a chronic medical status like diabetes tin also trigger hair fall and thinning hair.

Currently, in that location is no concrete proof to propose that metformin can cause hair loss. Thus, it is also helpful to await at another related causes of pilus loss to identify the existent trouble.

Metformin does accept many unpleasant side effects, merely excessive hair fall and balding are not among these (2). If you are experiencing hair fall while taking the drug, you lot may desire to consider several other related factors (11):

• Genetics

Family history tin have a great bear upon on a person'due south hair wellness. If you have a family history of alopecia and pattern baldness, you are more probable to develop information technology.

• Medications And Supplements

Prescription drugs and steroids for conditions similar cancer, depression, centre problems, blood pressure issues, and arthritis may cause hair loss. If you are taking whatsoever other drug along with metformin, consult your doctor about drug interactions.

• Hormonal Changes

Pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and thyroid problems involve hormonal changes that may cause severe pilus fall. Discontinuing nativity control pills may too cause hormonal imbalance and hair autumn.

• Medical Conditions

If you lot have other medical weather condition, your hair loss can exist caused by several reasons other than metformin. Conditions like thyroid illness, autoimmune diseases that attack hair follicles like alopecia areata, and fungal infections like ringworm tin lead to temporary or permanent hair loss. Trichotillomania, a hair-pulling disorder, and diseases similar lichen planus and some types of lupus too crusade excessive hair fall and balding.

• Stressful Events

Going through an extremely stressful issue like the death of a loved 1 or a divorce can cause a general thinning of pilus and excessive hair fall. People who accept been through physical trauma may also experience pilus loss. Stress-induced hair loss is ordinarily temporary.

• Hairstyles And Hair Treatments

Individuals who love experimenting with their hairstyles may experience a blazon of hair autumn called traction baldness. Sometimes, permanent pilus treatments may as well cause pilus to fall out. Oft, hair loss due to these reasons is temporary. However, if the follicles are damaged, hair loss may be permanent.

Before assuming that taking metformin is causing your hair to autumn, consider the above factors. Just if you lot are certain that your hair loss is linked to metformin, hither is what y'all can do to manage the situation.

How To Treat Metformin Hair Loss?

• Become A Complete Claret Test

Iron deficiency and hormonal imbalances can crusade hair fall (12). To determine the exact reason or deficiencies, do a claret test and consult your dr. for advice.

• Follow A Healthy Diet And Take Supplements

A well-balanced nutritious diet is important for maintaining good hair wellness. Insufficient nutrition can crusade a range of health problems, including hair fall and thinning hair (12). Consume lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds, and nuts in your diet. Consult your medico and ask them if you need any multivitamin supplements to meet your unique nutritional requirements.

• Consult A Trichologist

Yous may as well consult a trichologist, an adept in pilus health, for guidance and solution.

• Change Your Hairstyle

Losing hair can be distressing. Avoid styling your hair in a way that might pull the roots. Consult a good hairstylist and style your hair in a way that makes information technology await fuller.

If you are considering taking metformin for health reasons, here are a few things you need to proceed in mind.

Things To Know Earlier Using Metformin

Apart from the previously discussed side effects, here are a few things to remember before you commencement taking metformin:

• Chance Of Lactic Acidosis

Metformin may rarely crusade a serious health condition called lactic acidosis (2). It is a medical status characterized by lactate buildup in the torso, leading to depression bloodstream pH. Lactic acidosis is often the result of an underlying chronic medical condition, medication, or poisoning. Consumption of alcohol increases your risk of developing lactic acidosis.

• Allergies

Earlier taking metformin, do inform your doctor if you lot have whatsoever allergies. A few medications and drug interactions may crusade allergic reactions.

• Serious Medical Issues

If you lot are above the age of 65 or have medical conditions like kidney disease, center disease, cancer, or liver disease, talk to your doc almost your health history. As well, tell them nearly your smoking and drinking habits, if whatsoever.

• Other Prescription Drugs And Supplements

If you accept any prescription drugs to manage other health conditions, hash out this with your doctor before taking metformin. Some drugs tin can crusade unpleasant reactions if taken together (two). Also, tell your physician about any nutritional supplements like multivitamin pills or herbal remedies you may be taking.

Summing It Up

Metformin is a starting time-line drug prescribed for type 2 diabetes. Though at that place is no scientific proof that links metformin and hair loss, a few reports show people experiencing heavy hair loss later on metformin utilise. Your hair loss can as well be directly linked to type 2 diabetes and associated complications. If y'all accept blazon 2 diabetes and accept metformin, and have recently noticed hair loss, consult a doctor to find out the exact cause. Likewise, eat a nutritious nutrition and follow a healthy lifestyle to maintain your overall health.

Sources

Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic enquiry papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Check out our editorial policy for further details.

• Metformin: Current knowledge
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4214027/
• Metformin
  https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a696005.html
• Essential Medicines Listing (EML) 2017
  https://world wide web.who.int/selection_medicines/committees/skillful/21/applications/s18_T2D_antidiabetics_rev.pdf?ua=1
• Loss of Eyebrows and Eyelashes During Concomitant Treatment with Sitagliptin and Metformin
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27758711/
• Agin result of metformin therapy on serum vitamin B12 and folate: curt-term handling causes disadvantages?
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23751310/
• The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Hair Loss: A Review
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6380979/
• Association between metformin dose and vitamin B12 deficiency in patients with type 2 diabetes
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6867725/
• Vitamin B12 Deficiency
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441923/
• Association of type 2 diabetes with central-scalp hair loss in a large cohort study of African American women
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6831789/
• Simultaneous development of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and baldness areata universalis
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2012115/
• Alopecia areata
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573125/
• Nutrition and hair loss: effects of food deficiency and supplement use
  https://world wide web.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5315033/

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Ramona is an associate editor at StyleCraze. Prior to that, she authored over 200 articles on pare and pilus care.... more

Dr. Shruti Chavan is a consulting dermatologist at MedicoSheth's Skin and Hair Clinic since 6 years. She is a co-committee... more

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