Possible Side Effects of Using Nizoral Shampoo
Posted by Health and Well Being on September 12th, 2017
Nizoral shampoo is often prescribed or purchased over the counter to treat dandruff. Nizoral has a high concentration of a specialized ingredient known as ketoconazole. Ketoconazole is a synthetic medication that treats fungal and yeast infections on a patient’s skin. Ketoconazole interferes with the membranes of the fungi, specifically by creating holes in the cell membrane. Doing so slows down the cells' growth and ultimately kills the fungus cells.
Interference with these microorganisms means that this shampoo is effective when it comes to fighting those infections. Consequently, many people have chosen this shampoo for treating infections such as seborrhoeic dermatitis, pityriasis versicolor, and seborrhoeic dandruff.
Nizoral shampoo is one brand of shampoo that contains ketoconazole, though there are others. However, Nizoral is also touted for its ability to restore hair growth for those with thinning hair, or with a number of other hair loss conditions.
Nizoral rarely causes any side effects, but you should protect yourself by knowing what the warning signs of negative or allergic reactions.
Side Effects on the Hair
According to drugs.com, only a small percentage of the users experience slight hair changes. Some changes include:
- Hair texture
- Excessively oily or dry hair
- Discoloration for gray or chemically altered hair
- Loss of waves in curls/waves
- Hair loss
- Alopecia
Effects on the Skin
Even though the effects of the shampoo on the skin are rare, they are not impossible. Those effects include experiencing itchiness, a burning sensation, stinging, an appearance of pimples and eczema.
Fortunately, you can minimize the effects by taking various precautions as you use Nizoral shampoo. For instance, keep it away from your eyes when you are washing your hair. Remember, it can irritate on the mucous membrane if it touches your eyes. In case the shampoo gets into your eyes, cleanse it with plenty of water to ease the effect. Use as much water as possible and be as gentle on your eyes as you can be.
Allergic Reactions
Some people are highly sensitive to chemicals in beauty products and the like, and irritants in the environment, and if you are one of those people, then it is possible for you to experience an allergic reaction after using Nizoral shampoo, which can cause severe allergic reactions, which include but are not limited to: hives or rashes, swelling or tightening of the throat, or shortness of breath. If you experience anything that feels adverse, you should take it seriously. Stop using the product and seek immediate medical attention.
Failure to seek immediate medical attention could result in worsening effects such as anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction by your body. Several users have reported that they experienced inflammation known as contact dermatitis after using the shampoo. There's really no way to know if you'll have an allergic reaction though, so use the product with caution.
Read the instructions and follow them to the letter whenever you use Nizoral hampoo so that you can avoid any of these reactions.
Using the Shampoo While Pregnant
According to the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Nizoral shampoo is a Pregnancy Category C drug. That means studies on animals have shown that when applied topically, Nizoral causes no harm to the fetus. However, studies done on pregnant rats did show that using ketoconazole can cause harm, specifically birth defects, to the babies. That being said, the drug's impact on the human fetus remains unknown. If you are expecting a baby and you want to use this shampoo, then you should only do so if the expected benefits of using it far outweigh the potential risks of using it.
If you have fungal or bacterial infections, you can take advantage of the medicinal benefits of Nizoral shampoo. However, you should try a little amount of it first to see the type of effect it will have on you. In other cases, you might also consider consulting a physician before using it especially if you are expecting a baby. If you had no reactions after this initial trial but have an allergic reaction after using the shampoo consistently, seek medical attention quickly.
