Anonymous Question Can Metformin cause hair loss?

[Celeriac]

For anyone concerned about nail health, I can recommend Perfectil. I tried the cheaper Boots version and it did nothing for hair or nails. Perfectil didn't work for my hair but it did work on my nails - took about three months. I do have problem nails now, but it's because I use coconut oil as moisturiser on my hands. I had the same thing from neatsfoot oil when I worked with horses, the oils make them too soft. But that's probably just me.

I've seen lots of great reviews for Revlon Post Trauma Nail Treatment btw.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

I have read all the above comments with interest as I have experienced considerably thinning of my hair, and my nails are in a bad way - and I have not taken Metformin. Just controlling the diabetes with diet and as much exercise as my other problems allow. I was diagnosed in January this year and my HbA1 has gone from 63 to 34 in that time. My G.P. is very pleased, but I am definitely concerned about the hair and nail problem. I have been following the low carb diet and wonder if this is causing some kind of deficiency.
I have decided to try Biotin and will report back regarding success or failure in due course.

You might want to ask your GP about your symptoms, because they could be caused by something else. There are various blood tests you can have for deficiencies.

 

[baglady]

Anonymous question submitted:

Hi i was just wondering can you lose your hair from taking metformin im really scared and so paranoid about my hair

after being put up to 3 metaformin tabs a day, hair loss was awful. i have long hair & its like i was shedding. huge tennis size balls of it every time i washed it or even brushed it. after a bit of research (ie Google) i bought a years course of Biotin & a bottle of Alpecin. i was hoping to balance out the effects of the loss from the medication. after about a month or two hair loss did seem to lessen but it was still quite a bit. so i eventually changed to 2 tablets of Metaformin plus 1 of Gliclazide. now hair loss back to normal. i am continuing to take the Biotin (bought on Amazon) but only ever bought one Alpecin. with a little more time, confident hair will recover its thickness, its getting there.

 

[jennygee]

Further to my previous posts regarding thinning hair, I have been using Biotin for several weeks now and there is a definite improvement in the condition of my nails and my hair appears to be thickening - long may it last!!
I was extremely low when I realised how thin my hair was, so any improvement is very welcome.
Jenny

 

[phil1966]

My hair has definitely got thinner in the last year since I've been on Metformin and I'm developing a bald spot on my crown. However, I'm also approaching fifty so it could just be that

 

[niccih]

I was diagnosed with type 2 a few years ago and immediately put on metformin/ I started to notice my hair thinning and asked the doctor who said it was normal for menopausal women to lose hair and nothing he could do about it.... i was so depressed. i was also very overweight so I paid for weight loss surgery. Since the op I have not taken any medication for diabetes and my hair has grown back. I do also take supplements.

 

[cami1968mc]

Anonymous question submitted:

Hi i was just wondering can you lose your hair from taking metformin im really scared and so paranoid about my hair

To submit a question, please go to http://www.diabetes.co.uk/ask-an-anonymous-question.html

 

[ExChocoholic]

Really feel diabetes is the main factor.

 

[nadika80]

i read about metaformin when i was put on it and i think i read sumwhere that it can do something 2 ur vitamin b12? level in the blood which can cause ur hair 2 thin out??

Yes that's true in my experience. My hair stated falling out since the start of Metformin and really started to come out in clumps when the dose increased. I was panicking and started to take high doses of vitamin B complex, and it halted. But still hair is thin and scanty

 

[Flora123]

My thinning hair was the reason I consulted my GP who took bloods which showed diabetes with a HbA1c of 16 so, in my case it is the diabetes which causes my hair loss. P.S your hair sheds 3months AFTER the event/illness which causes the loss

Me too! Hair loss and checking bloods for that showed my diabetes. Problem still not been addressed as the GP went into complete panic mode about diabetes.

I’m not sure if it’s diabetes but with my age it could be hormones. It is really depressing. I consulted a specialist (before diagnosis) who said nothing you put on your hair can prevent hair loss. It has to come from within. I’m not on metformin.