new thread
ever since birth, i have always had the STRAIGHTEST hair, but last year, basically overnight it turned realllly curly. i lost a good portion of weight last year (by that i mean from 215 lbs to 155 lbs, and im only 5'8 and 18 years old), and i went on Accutane for my skin. I was just wondering if anyone had any answers for me. My mom has curly hair and my dad has straight hair, but it was really random how my hair just changed like that. please respond if you have any good answers...i really appreciate it
i was on the same meds a couple of years back, though at the time my hair was short. i have heard though that side effects included hair thinning, but dont know if that would account for curlyness. you might be best to ask on an accutane msg board on yahoo groups, becuase there should be more people on there that have long hair than people here have tried accutane.
Mark
did you always keep your hair short and just recently started growing it out? a lot of times people dont realize how curly their hair is until they let it grow.
Our hair is affected by any chemicals within our body. Losing weight might have changed your body chemistry a bit too. Remember though, that our hair changes as we grow up and continues to as we age.
I did an Ovidmed search for journal articles since 1996. There is only one that cross-indexes accutane and hair. The abstract is below. You can request the entire article from your local library.
ToddB
Unique Identifier
11179927
Authors
Hull PR. Demkiw-Bartel C.
Institution
Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Royal University Hospital, and the University of Saskatchewan, Canada.
Title
Isotretinoin use in acne: prospective evaluation of adverse events.
Source
Journal of Cutaneous Medicine & Surgery. 4(2):66-70, 2000 Apr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Isotretinoin is an effective treatment for severe acne. Although the spectrum of side effects has been well documented, the changing incidence of such side effects over the course of treatment has not been studied in detail. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to examine a group of patients monthly over their course of treatment and prospectively document the side effects experienced. METHODS: Over the period between January 1991 and July 1996, 124 courses of treatment with isotretinoin for severe acne were followed. The patients were treated for 4 months at a dose of 1 mg per kg body weight. A questionnaire was administered monthly, inquiring specifically about side effects known to be associated with isotretinoin. Any additional side effects were also noted. RESULTS: The majority of patients experienced persistent dryness of lips. Dry eyes affected 40% of patients; this continued throughout treatment in 25%. Contact lens wearers were more likely to develop conjunctivitis. Lower back pain was reported early in about 30% of patients and fewer than 10% of patients would develop it later in the course of treatment. Arthralgia was noted in 16.5% of patients at the first visit and there was little change with ongoing treatment. Hair loss was experienced in a small percentage but was rarely noted on more than one occasion. Headaches occurred in less than 10% and were occasionally severe, but most often intermittent and recorded at a single visit. Depression occurred in 4% of patients and tended to persist throughout the treatment. All these patients completed the full course of treatment. CONCLUSION: This prospective analysis has shown that patients treated with isotretinoin experienced a predictable series of side effects. Some occurred fleetingly, but several persisted for the duration of treatment.
I'm not a doctor, but the type of hair you have is based on the shape of the hair....follicle??? That's probably wrong. The pore that the hair comes out of. If it's perfectly round, your hair will be straight. If it's oval, your hair will curl.
Where are all the hairstylists? hehehe
It could be the drug, it could be age. The shape of the pore that your hair is coming out of has changed. Enjoy your hair.
It could also be stress, vitamins and/or protein...