Acne.org Products
Hey there! I'm really sorry to hear that you are going through this, man...I feel for you.
I know that this is a question you have probably been asked numerous times but still - do you have MPB history in your family (from your mother's side)?
Stay strong!
Small update - may be the last one. So yeah, if nobody went bald from iso i am the "lucky" one. Again -> no mpb history, great hormone levels, all minerals and vitamins great. I lost 95% of hairs on the top. Sides and back are better then that, i think 5O%, but it is getting worst fast. I don't know what happened but after flu and 2 doses of antibiotic it all went horribly wrong. I shed a lot, and i have so little. So full bald head is what my future is. I don't know what to do now...i am thinking about hair piece, wig, tattooed hair. But i don't like any of those. If bald, i will look terrible. Really, i have got small head with little acne on it. All the time during treatment for acne - not only iso - i used to say to myself - at least you have got great hair. My mom saw me today after 4 months. I asked her for honest opinion. She said that my hair look terrible and she is very sorry for me. Without nanogen i can't go out or even look in the mirror. So many years of struggle. I have got acne since...12yo. So since then, for 13 years everyday i looked in the mirror to look at sth terrible. First acne, then balding. When my hair is wet and i touch them, only touch with 1 finger, i see some hairs on my finger. I really don't know what to do...
Wet hair from yesterday -> [Edited link out]
@sztuka 1988
Hey bruv,
I've already sent you a private message but I thought about you yesterday so I wanted to drop you a few more lines. I will be frank with you. I think that you should shave your head. You will feel and look much better. Trust me, it's better to shave off the remaining hair and I am positive that you will look fine that way as opposed to now with that visible recession. This will ease you up and will lessen the stress you are experiencing at the moment. When I did the same thing last year I felt so liberated and definitely better about myself. At the end of the day, you should find a way to be at peace with yourself. Looking at falling hairs and touching them won't help one bit. On the contrary, it will make you even more self-conscious about your appearance.
You are a man in your prime and you should not worry to such an extent about that problem. Yes, it is unpleasant, yes, most certainly accutane has caused that but beating yourself up over it is a self-damaging thing. Do not do it!
Please consider what I've suggested, mate.
Hey All,
Just stopping by for an update. I'm a 29 years old male and it's been about 3 years since my accutance course. I should mention that, there's NO history of MPB in my family, ever.
My hair is still very thin, lost about half inch on my hairline from the accutance course and still suffering from chronic telogen effluvium.
On average, I'm losing about 30-40 hairs every time I wash my hair and run my fingers through my hair.
I've read someone's post that you should avoid all fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E & K), not just vitamin A. So, I'm going to try that. I'd rather be vitamin deficient than bald! =P
I think putting emo oil on my scalp helped a bit but it's become too much of a hassle and gets messy during sleep, so I gave it up.
I hear telogen effluvium can resolve itself over the course of many years, but who the heck knows at this point.
Please stop by update us on your progress and help each other out, we all know losing your hair prematurely due to a drug can be a traumatic experience.
Hey there, bruv. If I have to be perfectly honest with you, avoiding vitamins sounds like a really bad idea to me. Avoiding vitamins means that you would have to inevitably avoid certain foods. This means that you will have a poor diet and eventually you will cause more damage that it's already done. Please think it through before doing anything irrational. There is no way that you could force yourself not to touch a group of foods for a prolonged period of time, not to mention that you shouldn't. And more importantly by doing that you will probably increase the shedding. Balanced diet is key when fighting such irregularities.
On the other hand, this theory sounds like...utter bullshit to me. Avoiding all fat soluble vitamins because you have overdosed on one (that has a different structure and effect on the body)? There is no way that could be backed up medically. Please consult with a doctor.
Wow it's depressing to read that even the creator of this threads hair stopped shedding within 9 months.
I've been shedding over two years now with no end it sight, with no regrowth to speak of..and so so dry and brittle now..
I must be compleltey screwed
I see your posts all the time, and I am so sorry for all the negative experiences that you have had while on this drug. I'm trying to find experiences of people who have suffered hair loss after discontinuing Accutane. I've seen many posts of people complaining about their hair loss, but I've seen only a handful of people follow up with their original posts, so there really aren't any answers from people yet.
You said your hair has been shedding over 2 years now. If that's the case, you're probably bald or very close to it. One cannot lose hair for that long without regeneration, and NOT be bald. If you have pictures, or can clarify what you mean, I would really appreciate it and I'm sure others would, too.
Hey there, bruv. If I have to be perfectly honest with you, avoiding vitamins sounds like a really bad idea to me. Avoiding vitamins means that you would have to inevitably avoid certain foods. This means that you will have a poor diet and eventually you will cause more damage that it's already done.
I've experienced a very HEAVY hair shedding for a week after drinking kale shakes daily for a period of 2-3 weeks. Kale has very HIGH amount of vitamin A in it. It could be a sheer coincidence, but that experienced has convinced me to at least stay away from vitamin A rich foods.
In terms of other fat soluble vitamins (D, E, K), I actually take 2000IU of vitamin D3 daily for energy and mood. Vitamin D deficiency is quite common for people who do not get a lot of sun light. I eat a lot of nuts which are vitamin E rich and plus most of population are not vitamin E deficient. Pretty much same story with vitamin K. I also take biotin supplement but not even sure if that does anything at this point.
Without going into specifics, fat soluble vitamin levels affect each other in our bodies, so I just threw out an blanketed statement about the vitamins. It wasn't a very well thought out statement, so I do take it back. I was bit traumatized by the heavy shed after introducing kale to my diet. Plus, I am a healthcare professional, so no need to consult a doctor here. =P
It's been about 3 years since my accutane course. My hair count and density is about 70% of what it used to be and it doesn't seem to be improving but it doesn't seem to be getting worse either. My hair is thinned in ALL areas of my body except for my nose hair. (What a twisted joke). Definitely a case of chronic telogen effluvium.
@Livetoregret,
I just saw your pictures and you are one GORGEOUS lady. I do see that your hair has gotten thinner and brittle but you're still far more prettier than your average girl on the street. It is a damn shame that your hair volume/density has decreased at young age but I bet you that no one you meet will ever think your hair looks ugly or weird.
You sound very distressed and I would recommend some counseling therapy or even low dose SSRIs for a while if you think the stress/depression is keeping you from being functional and enjoying life. Best wishes.
Hey there, thanks for getting back to me on this one. I hope I haven't offended you with my previous post on the vitamin subject. I do see your point and I agree with what you've said. I do avoid vitamin A as well because of the same reasons. At first, when I was really depressed and desperate to prevent further shedding, I was doing the same thing - avoiding all vitamins but at a certain stage of the whole drama I decided to stop doing that. Anyways, I wish you a speedy recovery 
Quick update on my situation - still shedding, probably the same amounts, no further recession just shedding all day long. I guess with chronic TE this is expected to happen. Overall, I keep my spirit high and refuse to give into the fear of getting bald. I had enough of that.
Hey guys,
What's going on with you all? Any updates from anyone?
Nothing new to report. I'm 3 years post accutane. No signs of recovery of yet.
I'm still shedding and my hair is just as thin as it was last year.
I did start this "no poo" method and only using water to wash my hair. I think natural oil does keep my hair in better shape.
I really miss my thick hair... =(
At this point, I don't think my hair will recover. I think accutane permanently miniaturize my hair follicles all over my body.
It's a god damn poison and I'm so stupid for taking it.
I'm hoping for some stem cell break through or miracle in next decade to restore my hair follicles at this point.
Hello guys! My name is Lucas Im 18 and i have been lurking on this site for a while
. Anyways I am on my 6th and final month of accutane (this is my second course since 2010 in which i was on a very low dose at that time) On this course which i started back in June I started off the first half of my course with 40mg a day and then on my second half i was bounced up to 60mg a day. I noticed on my 5th month my hair was looking thin and looked very limp and noticed my hair was shedding about 30 hairs in the shower and another 10 when i would proceed to towel dry, i also noticed that the back of my hair where my crown is looks very weird and i can see it more then before which freaks me out. When i went in to see my derm, she conducted a hair plucking test? I don't know what she did that for, but she the shedding will stop once I have completed my course but she lowered me to 40mg for the last month which i am currently taking. I am afraid that my hair might not go back to its original look it looks very dull and thin and not as bouncy no more! 
. I shed every time i shower and i shower every other day. I feel like stopping my course now, i just don't know what to do.. PLEASE HELP 
Hello guys! My name is Lucas Im 18 and i have been lurking on this site for a while:wavey: . Anyways I am on my 6th and final month of accutane (this is my second course since 2010 in which i was on a very low dose at that time) On this course which i started back in June I started off the first half of my course with 40mg a day and then on my second half i was bounced up to 60mg a day. I noticed on my 5th month my hair was looking thin and looked very limp and noticed my hair was shedding about 30 hairs in the shower and another 10 when i would proceed to towel dry, i also noticed that the back of my hair where my crown is looks very weird and i can see it more then before which freaks me out. When i went in to see my derm, she conducted a hair plucking test? I don't know what she did that for, but she the shedding will stop once I have completed my course but she lowered me to 40mg for the last month which i am currently taking. I am afraid that my hair might not go back to its original look it looks very dull and thin and not as bouncy no more!
. I shed every time i shower and i shower every other day. I feel like stopping my course now, i just don't know what to do.. PLEASE HELP
You should stop immediately. Accutane hair loss is not easily reversible. The sooner you stop the more chance you'll have for recovery.
Hello guys! My name is Lucas Im 18 and i have been lurking on this site for a while:wavey: . Anyways I am on my 6th and final month of accutane (this is my second course since 2010 in which i was on a very low dose at that time) On this course which i started back in June I started off the first half of my course with 40mg a day and then on my second half i was bounced up to 60mg a day. I noticed on my 5th month my hair was looking thin and looked very limp and noticed my hair was shedding about 30 hairs in the shower and another 10 when i would proceed to towel dry, i also noticed that the back of my hair where my crown is looks very weird and i can see it more then before which freaks me out. When i went in to see my derm, she conducted a hair plucking test? I don't know what she did that for, but she the shedding will stop once I have completed my course but she lowered me to 40mg for the last month which i am currently taking. I am afraid that my hair might not go back to its original look it looks very dull and thin and not as bouncy no more!
You should stop immediately. Accutane hair loss is not easily reversible. The sooner you stop the more chance you'll have for recovery.
I want to stop but then again I just want to finish the course and get it over without a chance of remission since I only have 20 days left in my course. I do remember my derm telling me that if i quit early there will be a greater chance for remission and a possibility of reduced "limited results" she says that my hair only looks the way it is because of how the oil glands have shrunken and that they will go back to normal once im off tane.
Hello guys! My name is Lucas Im 18 and i have been lurking on this site for a while:wavey: . Anyways I am on my 6th and final month of accutane (this is my second course since 2010 in which i was on a very low dose at that time) On this course which i started back in June I started off the first half of my course with 40mg a day and then on my second half i was bounced up to 60mg a day. I noticed on my 5th month my hair was looking thin and looked very limp and noticed my hair was shedding about 30 hairs in the shower and another 10 when i would proceed to towel dry, i also noticed that the back of my hair where my crown is looks very weird and i can see it more then before which freaks me out. When i went in to see my derm, she conducted a hair plucking test? I don't know what she did that for, but she the shedding will stop once I have completed my course but she lowered me to 40mg for the last month which i am currently taking. I am afraid that my hair might not go back to its original look it looks very dull and thin and not as bouncy no more!
You should stop immediately. Accutane hair loss is not easily reversible. The sooner you stop the more chance you'll have for recovery.
I want to stop but then again I just want to finish the course and get it over without a chance of remission since I only have 20 days left in my course. I do remember my derm telling me that if i quit early there will be a greater chance for remission and a possibility of reduced "limited results" she says that my hair only looks the way it is because of how the oil glands have shrunken and that they will go back to normal once im off tane.
That isn't always the case man. Tons of peoples' hair loss never comes to a halt after they finish taking accutane. You shouldn't risk it. Since you only have 20 days left I'm assuming your face is mostly clear. I would say stop the drug and wash your face twice a day and avoid oily/fatty foods to prevent acne. More accutane in your liver will only prolong the hair loss and lessen your chance of recovery. Accutane is not something you play around with and if your body is already giving you signs of discomfort (i.e hair loss) I think it's time to stop.
Hi all!
I haven't post in here for a while...
Now, 3 and a half years post accutane (i took it for 9 days) , I have a few words to say. So, as you remember I was complaining about skin thinning, slow healing, joint stiffness, body and scalp hair thinning. two years ago I got some tests done, but none of them gave me an answer about my problem. I have to say that i still have problem with my thin skin that is healing very slowly and my hair is still thinner than it was in the beginning (before accutane), i still have bald spots on my legs, underarms and etc. but it is not getting worse...! I was taking KAL's Selenium supplement, and sometimes,but very rarely, vitamin D3 with calcium, and that's it. I noticed that my skin is healing way much better when on Selenium and even my bald patches on legs and underarms are better. I noticed summer days are great for my problems - hair looks better, underarm has no bald spots ...and my skin complexion is great (healing just fine and stuff) Three months ago i stopped taking Selenium ( i wanted to take a break) and now i see that my hairline is starting to recede once again slowly, and my underarm and legs are much balder...so I get the point . Can anyone explain what is that miracle connection between Selenium and hairloss&skin healing?My joint pain is not interfering in my everyday activities, so i'm not much complaining on it... anyway...i got my blood tested last week, and my doctor told me I have low platelets...so I told her that i think that i have some autoimmune stuff going on in my body and that i want to find out am I wrong or not, and she gave me a recipe to immunology lab...so I will inform you about it...anyway I managed to brighten myself up since i last posted in here...i stopped worrying so much and decided that i will not spend my life sad and miserable, and since i decided to be happy- I really am happy! If my hairline continues to recede i will order a few wigs and change my hairstyles every day
Hi all. Thought i'd share my horror story regarding Accutane Hair loss.
A little over a year ago i started taking accutane from 20mg to 25mg per day for 9 months.
I started noticing my hair was falling a few months after the end of the treatment. I'd say about 2 months after but it could have started before.
The shedding has been crazy, up to 1000 a day (not kidding), that's why i'm laughing when i read guys talking about "shedding" when they lose 40 hairs a day (wich is completely normal).
The only man in my family who had thinning hair was my grandfather on my mother's side. But he wasn't even bald, just had thinning hair at 60y/o like most men. My father is 57 and has great hair, my grandfather died at 79 with a full head of hair, all my uncles on both sides still have all their hair at 45-55 y/o.
The first derm i saw (the one that got me on accutane in the first place) said he didn't think it was related to accutane and that i just had MPB.
Second derm i saw said that i could have experienced TE due to accutane leading to MPB (he said that the hair comes back shortly after if you don't have MPB).
It's been around 5 months and a half and i'm still shedding, it slowed a bit (now more like 200 hairs a day not 500-1000) but i think it's only because i lost 60-70% in those 4-5 months so there is not much left to lose.
I'm also losing 10 to 15 eyebrows per day wich is definitly not normal. And i'm losing body hair more easily (nothing crazy tho).
I really don't know if i have MPB or not. The fact that it does not run in the family, the exessive shedding and the loss of my eyebrows tells me it might be something else.
On the other hand i'm really pessimistic about ever recovering from such a hard blow.
I started finasteride and minoxidil just in case...
From what i've read it's really hard to tell what we all have, if it's TE, PB, AA etc...
Some recover after months or even years, some don't. I hope i'll be part of the lucky ones.
What do you guys think ?
On a side note i'll never recommand ANYONE to go on accutane. If i knew it could do this to me i would NEVER have done it and i would give a LOT to get back and never take this poison.
What is more important to you, a few years of acne or being bald for the rest of your life ? Do you really want to gamble with your hairs ?
I also still have dry lips and dry skin from this shit.
Hi all. Thought i'd share my horror story regarding Accutane Hair loss.
A little over a year ago i started taking accutane from 20mg to 25mg per day for 9 months.
I started noticing my hair was falling a few months after the end of the treatment. I'd say about 2 months after but it could have started before.
The shedding has been crazy, up to 1000 a day (not kidding), that's why i'm laughing when i read guys talking about "shedding" when they lose 40 hairs a day (wich is completely normal).
The only man in my family who had thinning hair was my grandfather on my mother's side. But he wasn't even bald, just had thinning hair at 60y/o like most men. My father is 57 and has great hair, my grandfather died at 79 with a full head of hair, all my uncles on both sides still have all their hair at 45-55 y/o.
The first derm i saw (the one that got me on accutane in the first place) said he didn't think it was related to accutane and that i just had MPB.
Second derm i saw said that i could have experienced TE due to accutane leading to MPB (he said that the hair comes back shortly after if you don't have MPB).
It's been around 5 months and a half and i'm still shedding, it slowed a bit (now more like 200 hairs a day not 500-1000) but i think it's only because i lost 60-70% in those 4-5 months so there is not much left to lose.
I'm also losing 10 to 15 eyebrows per day wich is definitly not normal. And i'm losing body hair more easily (nothing crazy tho).
I really don't know if i have MPB or not. The fact that it does not run in the family, the exessive shedding and the loss of my eyebrows tells me it might be something else.
On the other hand i'm really pessimistic about ever recovering from such a hard blow.
I started finasteride and minoxidil just in case...
From what i've read it's really hard to tell what we all have, if it's TE, PB, AA etc...
Some recover after months or even years, some don't. I hope i'll be part of the lucky ones.
What do you guys think ?
On a side note i'll never recommand ANYONE to go on accutane. If i knew it could do this to me i would NEVER have done it and i would give a LOT to get back and never take this poison.
What is more important to you, a few years of acne or being bald for the rest of your life ? Do you really want to gamble with your hairs ?
I also still have dry lips and dry skin from this shit.
You definitely don't have MPB. People who have MBP don't lose hair in "sheds." It just slowly falls out over the years. You probably have either TE of diffuse AA. I'm almost 7 months post-tane and my hair loss has only gotten worse, though I don't lose anywhere near 1000 hairs a day. Thats pretty insane. I also lose eyebrows and eye lashes but for whatever reason my body hair now grows thicker. My best advice is to treat your hair loss like AA, because thats most likely what we have.
Could it be Anagen Effluvium also ? http://www.hairlosstalk.com/hair-loss-news/article253.php
Are you currently treating your hair loss like AA ? What is the treatment ?
I think the key to understanding our problem is to observe accutane induced hair loss on women. Because FPB is very rare so they don't have the same problem as we do (wich is that our hair loss can trigger MPB if we're predisposed). From what i've read most of them eventually recover from it, tho it can take a long time (up to ~2 years).
Also from what i've read, accutane is vitamine A, that is what is causing the hair loss. If you have to much vitamine A for a long time in your body it can destroy healthy cells (like hair cells). It's the same pattern as chemotherapeutic drugs, from wich you can lose all your hairs (even body hair, eyebrows, eyelashes etc...) but it eventually grows back.
The fact that i still have dry lips, dry skin, losing eyebrows etc... tells me that the drug is still in my system somehow.
I'll try to do blood work to check my vitamine A, diabetes, DHT, testosterone and iron levels.
What we should try to do is tracking down some kind of doctor that is aware of the situation and has done some kind of research (even just checking internet for testimonies) and knows a little about accutane induced hair loss (so Vitamine A induced hair loss). Because the derms i saw didn't know jack shit about it and that's what's really frustrating about it. Nobody can tell us what we have.
Hello. I would like to make an update to my situation. It's been 2 years and 2 months since my last dose of that drug. I am still sheeding, same amount every day.
I use only shampoo. I don't take any vitamins or other things. I have very few hair left. I would go bald if not the Toppik or Nanogen - hair makeup product. I use it every day. Apart from big temples there is no sign that i have little hair. That isn't a solution i know. But i know that i will go bald whatever i do and just want to make it happen a little bit later than now.
For my acne i found new thing. It's surgeons soapy thing to sterilize hands before operation. I apply it on tissue and rub it on my face and spots. I use it twice a day. If it is hot few more times. It helps. For last months i had between 0 and 3 spots at one time. Now i have only one, but still i rub it all over my face. I look good, like a healthy non-acne-suffering person. That thing is called Ecolab Skinman Soft. It have: isopropanol, benzalkonium chloride, undecylenic acid
Cheers
So far I've been reluctant to treat my hair. My dermatologist suggested 5% rogaine (minoxidil) but from what i've read it isn't much help to people in our situation and can even make things worse. I took 5000 mcg of biotin for a while but it didn't do anything and just made me break out. A poster named ivmi said they had success with selenium so for the past week I've been trying that. I'll make an update if anything improves.
Many people on side effect forums seem to believe long lasting accutane side effects are due to excessive Vit A being stored in our bodies. For me personally, the traditional accutane symptoms (dry skin, dry lips, dry eyes, nose bleeds) halted once I stopped the drug. It wasn't until 5 days after I ended my treatment that my hair started falling out. I don't exactly see any evidence that our follicles have been destroyed but the oil gland in our scalp has definitely shrunk.
Possible Solutions include:
-essential oils (castor oil and coconut oil are apparently great for hair re-growth)
-liver cleanse
-colon cleanse (one poster said this cured his hair loss which had lasted 3 years)
-minoxidil (hardly a solution)
If you don't have the usual symptoms of dryness it means that your oil glands are fine (i still have dry lips and dry skin)
I also think it's vitamine A related (why would i lose my eyebrows if it wasn't ?) That's why i want to do blood work to check my vit A and B levels.
Anyway i think the best "cure" for us is to stay of the forums as much as we can, not to worry about it too much, try not to pull your hair out, hit the gym to regain confidence in your appearance. Don't let this prevent you from living, 20% of men start losing their hair in their 20s anyway, if you are in good shape, confident, funny etc... girls don't care about your hair.
Stay strong my friends
Hi everyone,
Please please help!
I'm 21 yo female and I took accutane for roughly three to four weeks last summer. Started to lose hair two months after stopping accutane. I corrected my low iron and am still working on my vitamin D level. I had symptoms such as shortness of breath, palpitation, extreme fatigue for a few months since hair loss but now they are gone.
My hair is still falling out and I am really scared and feeling hopeless.
I started to take milk thistle and dandelion yesterday. I started 5 mg biotin since the end of March. I havnt tested every thing to rule out other triggers yet but I'm quite sure it's accutane induced.
I read that it takes some people only a few months to stop the shedding while others over a year.
I have no problem with dry skins or dry lips. I had no side effects when on accutane. My body hair is still ok. I have no family history of hair loss.
Please please tell me what could work for me. I'm also considering liver/colon cleansing as my life is ruined now. Everyday I woke up wanting to kill myself.
Thanks
Also will flax oil help?