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The Birth Control Pill and Hair Loss Part 2


This is an update on my previous post, The Birth Control Pill and Hair Loss.

Take about abrupt! Everything I’ve read has said that it takes about 6 months for the pill to completely leave your system and things to start going back to normal.  I had expected gradual changes leading up to the 6-month mark, but that didn’t happen in my case.  All of a sudden, right at the 6-month mark, things changed dramatically.

First of all, the bad new: My skin is back to the way it was before the pill.  The main reason why I went on the pill in the first place was to help control my oily skin and acne. The pill did wonders for me - my skin settled down and got really smooth. Now it’s back to being oily and starting to get clogged and bumpy again. ARGH!  I hate having to choose between clear skin or healthy hair!!

Speaking of hair, YES my hair is growing back!  There are soft downy hairs sprouting along my hairline and I’m shedding much less in the shower. So for all the ladies that are in the same boat, please don’t despair.  With patience, your hair will grow back just like mine is doing.

Even though I like having more hair again, I do miss the clear skin. Also, my cycle at the 6-month mark was more irregular and painful than usual.  I guess things really are going back to “normal” now that the birth control hormones are out of my system. Maybe one day, when I no longer want thick, long hair, I’ll go back on the pill to take care of other issues, but as it stands, I’ll just have to find something else besides the birth control pill to keep my skin clear.

Hang in there ladies!

Update January 4, 2011: Yes, my hair is growing back!  I just wanted to share an updated picture where you can very clearly see hair growth.  Please note, I don’t have bangs (a fringe) - what you see is just new hair growth that’s shorter than the rest of my hair and a bit unruly!

Standing on Hollywood Blvd, NYE 2010

Standing on Hollywood Blvd, NYE 2010

So far those that have gone through the same, keep the faith!



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Posted Wednesday, June 9, 2010 under: Health & Fitness. Get comments feed. Add a comment or trackback.














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  • Tlynn_0804
    Hi Vuthy, I have been going through the same kind of thing. I experienced hair loss for the last 5 years (well I think it has been that long didn't really pay attention until about a year ago) that was from birth control (also not too sure about that.) Anyway, did you ever have any dandruff or scalp inflammation after quitting the birth control? I quit it about 10 months ago, and I have lots of regrowth, but I have also had redness, inflammation, itching & some dandruff.
  • Hello. I bet it's going to be different for everybody, the whole experience of going off the pill. I haven't experienced any dandruff or scalp issues. This is probably because I have always had oily skin (the main reason I went on the pill in the first place was to help with my oily skin/acne). Now that I'm off the pill, my skin is back to being oily though not as bad as years ago. My hair gets oily also and I can't really go more than a day without washing. It's awesome that you have regrowth! Hang in there.
  • Abby
    I think it's so awesome that you've taken the time to update.

    At it's worse, how much hair do you think you lost from being on/going off the pill?
  • Hi Abby, I really can't say how much I lost while on the pill. I was on the pill for three years and it happened so gradually. I never had thick hair to begin with but it wasn't as thin as it was towards the end there. I can assure you though that my hair is definitely growing back, it's a lot thicker than it was a year ago, the thinning spot at the top of my head is no longer visible, and I still continue to have visible growth. Don't despair - stay positive and stay healthy too! Also, I try to take daily vitamins and drink plenty of water to help "feed" the growth.
  • Lin
    Hey! Any new updates since quitting birth control? Has your hair continued to improve?
  • Yep, it's been nearly a year now since I quit, or about 6 months after it's suppose to be out of my system, and my hair is still growing back. There's short hairs all around my hairline, temple and crown. Looks like flyaways/breakage because they're too short to lie flat but nothing a bit of hairspray or gel won't fix until they're long enough. I'm so happy I went off the pill and I feel a lot better knowing I'm not messing with my hormones.
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