Chin/Beard Hair loss with Deoxycholic acid (Kybella/Belkyra) Injections in Men

Can men receiving deoxycholic acid (Kybella/Bekyra) injections experiencing hair loss in the beard area?

Fat under the chin is a common cosmetic concern for men and women. Many people seek cosmetic options to reduce the appearance of fatty deposits under the chin. These are commonly referred to in the public as a “double chin.” Medically, these deposits are known as “submental fat.”

Liposuction is a well-known means to reduce submental fat. In 2015, both the FDA and Health Canada approved a new treatment known as deoxycholic acid (Kybella in the US; Belkyra in Canada) to reduce moderate to severe submental fat.

Deoxycholic acid is approved for treating submental fat. Hair loss int he beard may be a side effect for some men receiving deoxycholic acid injections

Chin/Beard Hair loss with Deoxycholic acid (Kybella) Injections in Men

A recent article by Canadian dermatologist Dr. Dorota Kadlubowska summarized the safe techniques for deoxycholic acid injections and the side effects that are possible. I took particular note at the hair loss related side effects of deoxycholic acid injections.

Dr. Kadlubowska pointed out that a 2017 article by Shridharani and colleagues published in the journal Dermatologic Surgery was on the of the first to report a short term (transient) type of hair loss that could occur in some males receiving deoxycholic acid injections. The study indicated that about 17-24 % of males had this type of transient hair loss and all cases resolved within seven weeks.

Dr Kadlubowska mentioned that that not all patents had the rapid improvement that the original 2017 article showed. Specifically she described a report by Grady and colleagues in 2017 showed that resolution took 7 months in one patient. In another patient, there was only a 60 % improvement even 14 months after the first treatment.

A 2019 study by Sebaratnam and colleagues suggested that the mechanism of the hair loss appears to be that of a telogen effluvium rather than a true immune based alopecia areata type mechanism.

Summary/ Conclusion

Hair loss is an important side effects of deoxycholic acid injections to be aware of. The FDA prescribing information sheet lists this as a side effect and encourages physicians to avoid further injections until the hair loss resolves.



Reference

Grady B et al. Dermatol Surg 2017; 43(8); 1105-08

Kadlubowska D. Safe Deoxycholic acid Injection Technique for Submental Fat Reduction. Canadian Dermatology Today. Volume 1. Issue 2. Page 25-28

Sebaratnam DF et al. JAMA Facial Plast Surg 2019; 21(6) 571-2

Shridharani SM. Dermatol Sure 2019; 45 (10); 1285-93