There are many causes for hair loss that are instigated by different factors including illness, stress, and genetics. For the vast majority of us, hair thinning or loss is a reality that we will have to face at some point… whether it be temporary or permanent.
One form of hair loss caused by illness is alopecia areata. This auto-immune disease affects approximately seven million Americans – or around 2% of the population. It’s a condition that often causes hair to fall out in inconsistent batches, unlike male or female pattern baldness which creates hair thinning and loss in more predictable patterns.
Antihistamines & Hair Loss
There is currently no cure for alopecia areata, but there are some treatments available. Some have also suggested that certain antihistamines may help fight alopecia areata. Let’s take a look at the more commonly known and available antihistamines.
Does Zyrtec Affect Your Hair?
Zyrtec contains cetirizine and is both a second-generation antihistamine and an H1 histamine blocker. Over the years this medication (and many other allergy medications) has gone from requiring a prescription to being available over the counter. Just because it is a readily available medicine doesn’t mean it is not without any side effects.
While many of the side effects associated with Zyrtec are fairly mild and standard (including drowsiness and sore throat), in some rare instances it can also increase anxiety. Depending on how high your anxiety gets, it could potentially cause stress levels that can contribute to hair loss.
Does Claritin Make Your Hair Fall Out?
Claritin – though containing loratadine rather than cetirizine – is very similar to Zyrtec and contains the same risks and benefits. One is not clearly any better than the other. However, your body may react differently to loratadine than to cetirizine.
If one is causing you anxiety, switching to the other may be the best approach.
Does Allegra Help Hair Growth?
Unlike Zyrtec and Claritin, Allegra contains fexofenadine. This particular drug, unlike the ones used in Zyrtec and Claritin, does not cause drowsiness as a side effect.
Additionally, fexofenadine has been shown to help improve hair growth with those suffering from alopecia areata when combined with topical corticosteroids and superficial cryotherapy. Another antihistamine, ebastine, had shown similar results to fexofenadine… but is unavailable in the United States.
That said, Allegra itself does not instigate hair growth. If you are experiencing hair loss, you need to consult with a hair restoration expert.
RHRLI Can Put You On The Hair Restoration Path That’s Right For You
Although we can experience temporary hair loss from outside forces such as side effects from medication, many of us face unavoidable hair loss… especially as we get older. We can try to look for tips and tricks to avoid more involved hair restoration techniques but there are very few options available that can truly restore your hair outside of licensed professionals.
Here at RHRLI, we offer free consultations in our proven facility – which utilizes the ARTAS® robotic hair transplant system. We’ll assess whether robotic hair restoration is an appropriate treatment for you or if one of our other hair restoration services would be a better fit. Learn more by contacting us today.