Before we talk about hair loss, it is important to know how hair grow. Normally, hair grow in cycles that consist of three phases: anagen, categen, and telogen.
- Anagen is the active phase that lasts from 2-7 years. Follicles actively produce hair and they grow well.
- Catagen is the phase of transition from anagen to telogen. It may last for 10-20 days in which hair stop growing.
- Telogen is the dormant or resting phase that may last upto 100 days. Hair have completed their life cycle and start to shed. Follicles are at rest and they don’t produce hair. You may find lots of hair strands in your comb at this phase, but as long as they are about 100-150, you need not worry.
Pills causing hair loss
Now, for those wondering, “can birth control cause hair loss,” may be disheartened by the answer.
Recent studies have shown that birth control pills create a change in hair growth cycle. The pills may induce the telogen phase to come sooner than normal and may also extend the period of telogen phase. This results in more hair shedding.
The consequence is that your mane become thin, but shed hair are not replaced by new hair, as follicles are in resting stage.
Experts call this type of hair loss as Telogen Effluvium.
You may find, to your horror, huge number of strands in your comb, pillow, on the floor, and in your hands as you run your fingers through your tresses.
Who is more susceptible?
Not every woman on birth control pills suffers from hair loss. Women who are more sensitive to hormones present in the pill formulation suffer from hair loss.
The sensitivity comes from your genetic makeup. If your mom or dad or any blood-related family member has had suffered from hormone-induced hair loss, you are more likely to suffer too.
We get our genes from our parents. Certain genes, which your parents may have got from their parents, may stay recessive in them. It is possible that they may become dominant in you.
So, there are also cases wherein your parents did not suffer from hormone-related hair loss, but your grandparents did. And now you are suffering.
If you have a family history of baldness, then beware! Birth control pills may accelerate the process of hair loss.
What to do?
Talk to your doctor and change the pills. Choose pills that contain more estrogen and less progestin. Such pills have low androgen index. They, in fact, can keep hair growth stimulated by lengthening the anagen phase.
You can also choose other forms of birth control like skin patches, vaginal rings, progestin implants, or hormone injections. Or maybe ask your partner to use condom always.
How to treat pill-induced hair loss?
Hair loss due to birth control pills is mostly temporary. You stop taking the pills or change the formulation; you may find a change in your hair loss condition.
Meanwhile, you can use a good sulfate-free hair loss shampoo or even choose minoxidil-infused hair regrowth treatment. Please consult a doctor and a hair expert both before you make a change in your pills and before you start a minoxidil treatment, respectively.
