Learn everything you need to know about fluocinolone in hair loss formulas including benefits, side effects, and what to expect.
Fluocinolone is a corticosteroid medication commonly used in dermatology to help relieve itching, redness, scaling, inflammation, and general discomfort from skin conditions. However, it can also be used in scalp conditions like seborrheic dermatitis or scalp psoriasis.
Sometimes, you might see topical fluocinolone used or included in hair loss treatments in situations where seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis may be causing or exacerbating the hair fall. Also, some studies suggest there may be a benefit in using fluocinolone off-label for hair loss caused by alopecia areata or alopecia totalis.
Below, we will review why fluocinolone is sometimes used in hair loss treatments, what you should expect from using topical fluocinolone, cover the possible side effects, let you know who might benefit from a fluocinolone formulation, which people should avoid fluocinolone, and let you know where you can find fluocinolone-containing formulations (if they are appropriate for you).
Fluocinolone can be used to help calm down redness, itching, swelling, and general discomfort that can occur with scalp conditions like psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis. Sometimes these scalp conditions can lead to hair loss or make them worse, so treating them with fluocinolone may help with the recovery of the lost hair.
Scalp irritation can also sometimes occur from the use of hair loss medications themselves, whether from the active ingredients or agents sometimes used in the formula like propylene glycol. If you have experienced scalp irritation from a topical hair loss treatment, your doctor may opt to include a small amount of fluocinolone in the topical formulation to help you continue on your topical hair loss treatment plan with less discomfort.
Finally, some studies have shown that using topical fluocinolone for hair loss conditions like alopecia areata or alopecia totalis may help enhance hair regrowth. One study reported that 61% of participants with alopecia areata or alopecia totalis had a therapeutic response to topical fluocinolone treatment.
If you are currently dealing with redness, itching, inflammation, and irritation on your scalp for whatever reason, you could expect fluocinolone to help calm that down.
You may see improvements in scalp conditions like seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis. If you have alopecia areata or alopecia totalis, you may experience faster hair regrowth in the affected hair loss areas.
The potential side effects of topical fluocinolone that may occur but typically do not require immediate medical attention may include: irritation, burning, itching, dry skin, redness, scaling, and increased hair growth on the face or body. However, if these issues continue, worsen, or become bothersome to you, report them to your doctor.
Potential side effects of topical Fluocinolone that may be more serious and should be reported to your doctor as soon as possible may include: red spots on the skin, skin conditions that are not healing, red, painful, or pus-filled blisters in the hair follicles, continued itching and burning of the treatment area, or thinning of the skin with easy bruising.
Patients who have tried topical hair loss formulations, but experienced irritation or inflammation from the treatment may be able to use a formula with fluocinolone to help attenuate the irritation.
Also, people who are experiencing hair loss from scalp conditions like psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis may experience relief from the condition and potential regrowth of hair lost from the issue when using fluocinolone.
Finally, fluocinolone formulations may be a good choice for people experiencing hair loss due to auto-immune situations like alopecia areata or alopecia totalis.
Fluocinolone may not be a good choice for you if you have a history of unusual reactions to fluocinolone or other steroids.
Also, if you are diabetic, have an active infection, a large area of damaged or burned skin, skin thinning or wasting, or if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to become pregnant, fluocinolone may not be a good option for you.
Fluocinolone is currently available as a manufactured retail prescription medication in ointment, cream, oil, solution, or shampoo forms.
But, these manufactured prescription fluocinolone formulations do not contain more than just the fluocinolone.
If you are looking for combinations of active hair loss medications, you would need to look to a compounding pharmacy to build the formula for you, along with a prescription from a doctor ordering a multi-ingredient compounded medication listing the exact ingredients and strengths needed.
At Strut, our doctors are well-versed in compounded hair loss treatment options, and can prescribe multiple-ingredient fluocinolone hair loss treatments when they are warranted.
Here at Strut, we offer the option of including fluocinolone in your multi-ingredient hair loss treatment, if it is appropriate for you. We also offer hair loss formulations without fluocinolone if it is not necessary.
Learn more about our customized prescription hair loss treatments featuring ingredients like Minoxidil, Finasteride, Dutasteride, Tretinoin, and more.
If you are interested in giving prescription hair loss medications a try, simply select your base product, and complete a free online questionnaire and image-based consultation in under 15 minutes. Our U.S. doctors will review your information and develop a treatment plan based on your current hair, your goals, and your personal preferences (if a prescription is appropriate for you).
Then, your medication will be made at a U.S. compounding pharmacy and shipped to your front door with our fast and free shipping.
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