Can Illness and Medications Cause Thinning Hair?
Can Illness and Medications Cause Thinning Hair?
Illness
There are a number of illnesses that can cause thinning hair such as chronic illness and illnesses that result in high fevers. When a person becomes ill it sometimes causes the hair to begin the resting phase. In this phase one may see excessive shedding. Diseases such as thyroid disease can also cause hair to thin.
Usually thinning hair caused by diseases is treatable. Additionally, excessive shedding caused by illnesses normally corrects itself over time.
Medication
Some medications that are prescribed for certain illnesses have side effects that are sometimes quite serious and harmful. Thinning hair/hair loss is one of those side effects. It is imperative that you consult with your doctor about the possible side effects of any prescribed medications you may have to take.
Some medications that may cause alopecia:
Lithium (can cause thyroid problems)
Depakote
Some medications prescribed for bipolar disorders
The specifics of why medications cause alopecia are unknown. However, some medications result in more hair follicles being in the resting phase than normal. This means that less hair is growing and more hair is pushed out.
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