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HotRag
June 6th, 2010, 11:09 PM
Hi!

My doctor wants me to try doxycyklin to check if I have chronic Borreliose (=Lyme's disease).

I have eaten it before with no problems. But last year I had problems with hair loss due to medication induced scalp problems (or if it unduced both hair loss and scalp problems directly). Maybe I had fungal problems on scalp.

So now I wonder if anybody has experienced scalp problems or hair loss after eating antibiotics, especially doxycyklin (often used to treat Lyme's/Borreliose). Or if anybody knows anything about this.

I have googled on this, but not a single hit that said hair loss or scalp problem can be induced from antibiotics. But several hits that says fungal problems can come from antibiotics. But when it said what fungal infection, it was on/in genitals or in stomach.

I am very afraid of starting the hair problems again.

Gypsygirl
June 7th, 2010, 12:47 AM
I actually did a Google search like this a couple of weeks ago because I was shedding like crazy and my scalp was very itchy while on an antibiotic! Try "antibiotics scalp"- you'll get lots of results! Honestly, though, even if the antibiotic might cause you a hair-related problem or two, you should take it. Your overall health is important and you can't have healthy hair if you're not healthy, either. The problems will dissolve into air as soon as you stop taking the antibiotic, and they won't make you take it forever! Just my 2 cents... Good luck! :flower:

HotRag
June 7th, 2010, 01:13 AM
I actually did a Google search like this a couple of weeks ago because I was shedding like crazy and my scalp was very itchy while on an antibiotic! Try "antibiotics scalp"- you'll get lots of results! Honestly, though, even if the antibiotic might cause you a hair-related problem or two, you should take it. Your overall health is important and you can't have healthy hair if you're not healthy, either. The problems will dissolve into air as soon as you stop taking the antibiotic, and they won't make you take it forever! Just my 2 cents... Good luck! :flower:
Thank you!

I can't still find info though. Just that antibiotics is used to treat itchy scalp and so on. Do you have a link or two?

What was the name of the antibiotic you used? Maybe doxycyklin is narrower in spectrum of what it treats, and that is better concerning problems with fungal infections due to antibiotics. I should look that up about doxy.

I am not sure about the Lyme thing. I have had Lyme's disease and had a treatment. After the treatment I was much better, back to before (I have had a fatigue issue since the 90's so I was not suddenly all healthy). To treat it now is just a trial and error thing (doctor said the same).

I think I may be "too healthy" to have Lyme disease.

And I am so totally scared of getting hair issue back just for trying something that feels not so likely. It was like hell to shed so much. A VERY bad thing for my mental health. I am just back to normal shedding since some months, still dreaming about it and still go scared days when I shed a bit more than others (I know it's normal to not shed the same every day, but all the feelings comes back).

I was also treated with natural desiccated thyroid, with success (until I stopped SSRI and went up in metabolism, had to stop taking the thyroid). Now I am waiting to see what happens with this stop of SSRI. I feel much better in the fatigue/metabolism thing.

HotRag
June 7th, 2010, 01:14 AM
The problems will dissolve into air as soon as you stop taking the antibiotic,
Forgot to ask, did your itch and shed disappear as soon as you stopped taking the antibiotics?

Gypsygirl
June 7th, 2010, 01:35 AM
I had to take Levaquin (levofloxacin) because of a nasty bacterial sinusitis. The itchies went away about 2 days after I stopped taking the meds, but the shedding continued. I think it was some kind of seasonal shed, though...

I don't have time to go on a search right now but I have one link bookmarked on here. According to this article antibiotics can cause hair loss but not until a couple of weeks later:

http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Hair-Loss-Caused-By-Antibiotics/860179

Hope that helps- but I really do think that you need to talk to your doctor about all of this.

HotRag
June 7th, 2010, 02:07 AM
I had to take Levaquin (levofloxacin) because of a nasty bacterial sinusitis. The itchies went away about 2 days after I stopped taking the meds, but the shedding continued. I think it was some kind of seasonal shed, though...

I don't have time to go on a search right now but I have one link bookmarked on here. According to this article antibiotics can cause hair loss but not until a couple of weeks later:

http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Hair-Loss-Caused-By-Antibiotics/860179

Hope that helps- but I really do think that you need to talk to your doctor about all of this.
Thank you again.

I checked doxy, and it is a broad spectrum antibiotic :(

Well, I will have to discuss more with my doctor. He is really good (especially compared to the other I have met, since he take serious on fatige problem AND understand difference between optimal blood work values and "labs normal curve 'in range'") but he thought hair loss was a "pffft" problem and that I had a lot of hair so hair loss was "so what".

The other docs I have met, thought that "everybody is tired, just pull yourself up" and borrelioses allways disappear from one mini treatment with doxy. They wont treat again if one has not erytma migrans, since they cant test it if one has had it once. So stupid since erytma migrans is not present at every infection, and I did not have that, nor did my husband that got borreliose arthritis (that they couldn't find until he got to the fifth doctor that took the test, the other refused that).

Gypsygirl
June 7th, 2010, 02:13 AM
Maybe seeing a female doctor would be a good idea... ;) I'm sorry you're going through this... :(

HotRag
June 7th, 2010, 02:26 AM
Maybe seeing a female doctor would be a good idea... ;) I'm sorry you're going through this... :(
I did have a female doctor (dermatologic specialist) at this clinic at first. She had me during the hair problem. She sent me to this other doctor to check my old fatige issue :)

I could call her to ask about this, but I think they will think I am really annoying :p

I think my scalp is balancing right now, not stabilized totally yet, just gotten well from last years experience. Maybe it is easier to get scalp and hair issues right now.

Anyway, I will also call a pharmaceut and ask about scalp fungal infections or scalp problems with antibiotics and especially doxy.

Hope more people will write in this thread!

Coffeebug
June 7th, 2010, 12:15 PM
I took doxycycline for quite a while and had no scalp / hair problems while I was on it.

HotRag
June 7th, 2010, 01:19 PM
I took doxycycline for quite a while and had no scalp / hair problems while I was on it.
Thank you for your response :) Sounds good. I heard today from another forum, the same. She said that doxy was the antibiotic that had least side effects for her, and that she got severe side effects from almost everything else.

She had lost hair from other antibiotics.

LawyerGirl
June 7th, 2010, 01:25 PM
There was some discussion on fungal problems on the scalp and people have used Monistat for it with success!

Amraann
June 7th, 2010, 01:34 PM
I had not heard of this before.

I do know that they cause yeast infections for me and in the past caused spots of lighter skin on my stomach.
Monistat cleared up both so maybe the above advice by lawyer girl would work?

I think they also have pills now that clear up yeast/fungal infections.

HotRag
June 7th, 2010, 01:35 PM
There was some discussion on fungal problems on the scalp and people have used Monistat for it with success!
I am a bit afraid of everything for now (remembering my last horrifying year with scalp problems and hair loss) ^_^

I have gotten over sensitive to a lot of stuff. For example I got a steroid liquid, that made my scalp itch and red and lose more hairs.

But maybe this cream is better than harsch ketokonazole schampoos (used once ten years ago - hair was destroyed by dryness) and isopropyl alcohole stuffed liquids. I will remember if I have to use.

The anti fungal one eats, has alopeci as a side effect :S

HotRag
June 7th, 2010, 01:36 PM
I had not heard of this before.

I do know that they cause yeast infections for me and in the past caused spots of lighter skin on my stomach.
Monistat cleared up both so maybe the above advice by lawyer girl would work?

I think they also have pills now that clear up yeast/fungal infections.
Thank you for your answer :)

Did you get yeast infection on skin/scalp?

LawyerGirl
June 7th, 2010, 01:39 PM
Here is the thread, it's really long but has a lot of information: Monistat Thread (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=156&highlight=monistat)

Faepirate
June 7th, 2010, 02:08 PM
Yes antibiotics can cause all sorts of yeast/fungus problems. They kill a lot of the friendly bacteria that help to keep harmful organisms at bay - that includes the friendly bacteria that live in your skin. I had a similar thing happen when I was on oxytetracyline for 3 months, except my problem was eczema caused by a fungus. I had it before the antibiotics but it got MUCH worse very suddenly and it got totally out of control. Not fun. Mostly it was my face that was affected but my scalp as well. It's itchy and a bit inflamed around the hairline at the front. I've been off the antibiotic for a few weeks now and I'm still struggling to get my skin and scalp back in check!

Be aware that after a month or so of broad spectrum antibiotics, because it upsets the balance of your internal flora, it can take a long time (weeks or even months) for your body to get everything back to normal. High-strength probiotics might help. You could also try raw honey on your scalp if monistat doesn't work sufficiently. It's a natural antifungal. So is virgin coconut oil.

magpielaura
June 7th, 2010, 02:37 PM
Doxycycline is also used an anti-malarial. DH and I both took it for months when we were travelling, and I don't recall that problems with hair were among the side effects that were possible (there are always loads listed in the leaflets that come with all medications, most are very rare). DH did experience some photo-sensitivity in the first few weeks but this wore off - it is not uncommon to find you get sunburnt more quickly when taking it. I didn't notice any difference at all, and didn't need to take anything to replace any killed off friendly bacteria. It could be very different for you of course, but don't assume it will make you ill.

I'm not saying you should take it, that is for you to decide. There are usually loads of things online with people saying how bad something was for them; if you are stuggling to find anything I suspect you don't have too much to worry about. Faepirates suggestions seem very sensible if you do find you have fungal problems.

GRU
June 7th, 2010, 06:00 PM
I'm currently taking Augmentin (Amoxicillin Clavulanate), and have taken it (and other) antibiotics in the past without any fungal problems.

Scalp fungus does not like a low pH environment. Perhaps something as simple as an acid rinse would be sufficient to keep it at bay.

rosek
June 7th, 2010, 11:13 PM
As Faepirate said, antibiotics kill bacteria - good and bad. They do not affect fungi (or viruses). See the name of you previous treatment - ketokonazole? Azoles are a class of chemical very commonly used to kill fungi. Antibiotic treatment may allow for the growth of fungi which would normally be kept in check by bacteria present on the skin (these are good, and normal).

Coffeebug
June 8th, 2010, 12:44 PM
I found an old Doxycycline leaflet and there was no mention of hais loss on that either, even though the side effects listing was comprehensive.

I can totally understand you feeling paranoid though, after having such a rough medicine-related experience before. I really hope this works out well for you - it sounds like you're due a break somewhere!!

Amraann
June 8th, 2010, 01:09 PM
Thank you for your answer :)

Did you get yeast infection on skin/scalp?


I don't think that I did but it was like 21 years ago when a DR gave me antibiotics for months while I was pregnant.
My hair was thicker and shedding more due to pre-natal vitamins and I was so miserable uncomfortable that I probably would not have even noticed.

Times sense then that I have taken antibiotics I still get the yeast infection but never as bad as that time.

Maybe as a preemptive measure your Dr can give you something to treat a yeast infection when he prescribes the antibiotics?

Unofficial_Rose
June 8th, 2010, 01:46 PM
Be aware that after a month or so of broad spectrum antibiotics, because it upsets the balance of your internal flora, it can take a long time (weeks or even months) for your body to get everything back to normal. High-strength probiotics might help. You could also try raw honey on your scalp if monistat doesn't work sufficiently. It's a natural antifungal. So is virgin coconut oil.

Not wishing to derail thread, but I am relieved to read your post! I finished my 3rd (and last) consecutive course of antibiotics and I still feel a bit tired & crappy. :(

They didn't affect my hair or scalp - I didn't realise how lucky I've been.

Monistat has to be worth a try for the OP, bonus is that you may get extra growth.

ShadowSwallow
June 8th, 2010, 06:10 PM
First, I'm sorry to hear about your Lyme Disease. Why don't you join us over at the Chronic Lyme Disease thread (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=40430)? :)

Second, while on antibiotics (and after stopping them) it is very, very, very important to take a good probiotic to make sure that your internal flora doesn't get out of whack. I've been on antibiotics for 3 years straight now and haven't had any fungal-related issues (and have the blood work to prove it!) because of how faithful I've been with the probiotics.

Best of luck! :flowers:

PS: It's Doxycycline. I've been on that for 2.5yrs and Azithromycin for 3yrs. ;)

sugarpixie10988
June 8th, 2010, 06:26 PM
I was on Doxycycline for my acne for about a week a few months ago. I didn't notice any hair loss, but it made me really sick! I was on several other kinds of antibiotics for about three months straight, but still didn't have any kind of hair loss. The only side effects I noticed besides getting sick on Doxycycline was feeling tired and icky. Good luck! :)

pepperedmoth
June 9th, 2010, 10:02 AM
Antibiotics kill all bacteria, not just the 'bad' ones. They do not kill fungi. HOWEVER, when the body's ordinary growth of 'healthy' bacteria is killed by antibiotics, other things, often like fungi, grow in their place. This is why yeast infections occur so often while folks are on antibiotics.

Usually these infections are in the groin or the skin folds, because this is where most people are susceptible to them. However, if you are susceptible to fungal infections on your scalp, you may well get one there.

In order to prevent this, many people take a probiotic (or eat lots of yogurt) while on antibiotics in order to restore the 'good' bacteria and prevent a fungal infection.

Talk to your doctor. He or she may be able to recommend something, and will also be able to prescribe an anti-fungal cream should an infection occur.

HotRag
June 10th, 2010, 09:35 AM
Thanks for all of your answers!

I was going to answer you yesterday or if it was the day before even, but forgot and then had so much to do...

I will see the doctor in beginning of August, and have time until then to start with the doxy (or at least 14 days before the meeting). The doxy I have gotten, is for ten days, so it is not meant to be eaten for months (one good thing). This one was as a trial and error to see if I got any reaction on my fatigue.


I've been off the antibiotic for a few weeks now and I'm still struggling to get my skin and scalp back in check!

Be aware that after a month or so of broad spectrum antibiotics, because it upsets the balance of your internal flora, it can take a long time (weeks or even months) for your body to get everything back to normal. High-strength probiotics might help. You could also try raw honey on your scalp if monistat doesn't work sufficiently. It's a natural antifungal. So is virgin coconut oil.
Sorry to hear about your problems.

Doxy is broad spectrum, but I am supposed to take it for just ten days. I won't try stuff on my scalp for now (had problems) but I do use antidandruff shampoo, mild, and do ascorbic rinse. The shampoo is good against yeast (but milder than the zinc shampoos or keto) and ascorb does it's job without giving me itch live ACV.


Doxycycline is also used an anti-malarial. DH and I both took it for months when we were travelling, and I don't recall that problems with hair were among the side effects that were possible (there are always loads listed in the leaflets that come with all medications, most are very rare). DH did experience some photo-sensitivity in the first few weeks but this wore off - it is not uncommon to find you get sunburnt more quickly when taking it. I didn't notice any difference at all, and didn't need to take anything to replace any killed off friendly bacteria. It could be very different for you of course, but don't assume it will make you ill.
[...]
There are usually loads of things online with people saying how bad something was for them; if you are stuggling to find anything I suspect you don't have too much to worry about.
Yep, I couldn't find anything about hair loss or scalp when gooling on doxycycline. But for many other antibiotics.


Scalp fungus does not like a low pH environment. Perhaps something as simple as an acid rinse would be sufficient to keep it at bay.
I do use ascorbic rinses. Can't use ACV anymore, but ascorbic acid seems fine. Can't feel a thing on scalp but hair gets shinier and smoother.


I found an old Doxycycline leaflet and there was no mention of hais loss on that either, even though the side effects listing was comprehensive.

I can totally understand you feeling paranoid though, after having such a rough medicine-related experience before. I really hope this works out well for you - it sounds like you're due a break somewhere!!
No listing of hair loss in Sweden either. It says one can get fungus growth in stomach or vagina though. I did use doxy 2 years ago, and did not get any overgrowth then, but since then I have had the bad experience on my scalp X(

Yea, I am paranoid about this :(


Here is the thread, it's really long but has a lot of information: Monistat Thread (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=156&highlight=monistat)
I have read parts of it. It is interesting, but I never dared to try it to get faster growth. I read someone can get hair loss from it? Or is it just when one are stopping it, and get the non shedded hairs to shed?


I don't think that I did but it was like 21 years ago when a DR gave me antibiotics for months while I was pregnant.
My hair was thicker and shedding more due to pre-natal vitamins and I was so miserable uncomfortable that I probably would not have even noticed.

Times sense then that I have taken antibiotics I still get the yeast infection but never as bad as that time.

Maybe as a preemptive measure your Dr can give you something to treat a yeast infection when he prescribes the antibiotics?
The problem for me then, is that antifungal medication has hair loss as side effect X) I am so totally scared of this right now.


First, I'm sorry to hear about your Lyme Disease. Why don't you join us over at the Chronic Lyme Disease thread (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=40430)? :)

Second, while on antibiotics (and after stopping them) it is very, very, very important to take a good probiotic to make sure that your internal flora doesn't get out of whack. I've been on antibiotics for 3 years straight now and haven't had any fungal-related issues (and have the blood work to prove it!) because of how faithful I've been with the probiotics.

Best of luck! :flowers:
Thanks!

I will check the Lyme thread!

I have bought two strong probiotic, with different kind of good bacterias. In both there are 11 kinds in total.

Also bought two kind of probiotic yoghurt with really high amount of bacteria. Different kinds in the different yoghurts.

I will eat the yoghurt anyway, and take the pills if/when I take the antibiotic.

Problem with the yoghurt, is that it is low fat. I don't want that. I would have been great to eat this on regular basis, if it was normal fat.


I was on Doxycycline for my acne for about a week a few months ago. I didn't notice any hair loss, but it made me really sick! I was on several other kinds of antibiotics for about three months straight, but still didn't have any kind of hair loss. The only side effects I noticed besides getting sick on Doxycycline was feeling tired and icky. Good luck! :)
Great you did not have hair or scalp affected. Sickness will be over when one stops eating the stuff, I hope.

I was on doxy for three weeks two years ago. My Lyme symptomes got worse. Thought about herxheimer.

But when I stopped, I got better, and the Lyme symptomes went away.

My husband got doxy for ten days when he had Lyme (borreliose arthritis) and he got worse, and then he did not get more doxy. He never got free from the joint pain. I think HE could be the one with chronical Lyme :( Doctors in Sweden says that everybody allways get totally free from Lyme if taking doxy for ten days :@ Neighbour countries says that is not true.


Antibiotics kill all bacteria, not just the 'bad' ones. They do not kill fungi. HOWEVER, when the body's ordinary growth of 'healthy' bacteria is killed by antibiotics, other things, often like fungi, grow in their place. This is why yeast infections occur so often while folks are on antibiotics.

Usually these infections are in the groin or the skin folds, because this is where most people are susceptible to them. However, if you are susceptible to fungal infections on your scalp, you may well get one there.

In order to prevent this, many people take a probiotic (or eat lots of yogurt) while on antibiotics in order to restore the 'good' bacteria and prevent a fungal infection.

Talk to your doctor. He or she may be able to recommend something, and will also be able to prescribe an anti-fungal cream should an infection occur.
Do you think probiotics can stop yeast to grow even on skin? I thought it was mainly going to stop it in the stomach. If it can stop in other places, it is great.

pepperedmoth
June 10th, 2010, 10:32 AM
Do you think probiotics can stop yeast to grow even on skin? I thought it was mainly going to stop it in the stomach. If it can stop in other places, it is great.

Well, probiotics stop yeast in the female genitalia . . . it's at least worth a shot for the skin.

princessp
June 10th, 2010, 10:35 AM
Consume Kombucha, Kefir, yogurt, etc while you're on antibiotics and for 2 weeks after.

HotRag
June 11th, 2010, 12:24 PM
I will take both probiotic in capsules, and eat yoghurt (the ones that has extra probiotic in it, and the one that is as antural as possible) while I eat the antibiotic. :) (EDIT: and two weeks after :))

Maybe I could wash my hair (= scalp) a bit often just during that time too. I use shampo that is good against yeast, and rinse with ascorbic acid (gets pH down).