Steroid injections

[SU21]

Hi there, I've just joined the site, has anyone had steroid injections on scalp? I have agreed to have this done but the dermatologist I spoke to told me it is painful and also gives you dermatitis and that they can only do a small area as too much steroid can cause Cushings disease. I have my appointment at the end of August but it's really put me off having them. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks...

[Billy2006]

Hi Su. I have had steroid injections. I started them within a few months of starting to lose my hair and had them 2 or 3 times. I didn't find them painful, and I had quite a lot of them. The dermatologist used an extremely fine needle and it really didn't bother my during the treatment itself but I will say that my scalp felt a bit bruised and tender for a few hours afterwards. I was warned about discolouration and about pitting. I decided that if it was successful, any side effects would be covered up by new hair and if it wasn't, well it was worth taking a chance. As it happens, I didn't really notice any lumps and bumps. The treatment did work and I had quite thick regrowth apart from 2 small patches at my temples and a small one at the back. I tried further injections in the patches but they were stubborn and never came back.

It all started to fall out again 6 - 8 months later and 3 months after that I had lost the lot. But for a short period I had enough regrowth that I felt confident to bare my head on holiday and whilst at the gym.

It's a very personal choice. For me, I wanted to know that I had tried everything I was comfortable with to get my hair back, but if nothing worked I'd learn to live with it. If I didn't try I'd always wonder "what if?" But everything for me would stop short of taking any medication orally - anything that would affect my whole body rather than my head was too far for me.

Whatever you decide will be the right decision for you. There are no right or wrong answers.

[SU21 in reply to Billy2006]

Hi Billy, thanks for your reply. My first appointment is next Tues and I'm assuming it will be a consultation first. I will discuss things with the Dermatologist and then decide. My hair loss is ongoing and I have rheumatoid arthritis so don't know what the actual cause is, I take weekly injections at the moment for RA and have had treatments stopped, in case they were causing hair loss. I'm sorry to hear about your experience too. I know there are options and its about finding what works for you...

[dansker]

It didn’t help any. Also, there’s a risk if they inject too close to the eyes, it can affect your eye sight. I would’t do it if I were you.

[SU21 in reply to dansker]

Hi Dansker, I think I've decided not to have them, my appointment is tomorrow so I'll see what other treatments are available. Thanks for your reply...

[dansker]

All the best to you. I’m sorry, but I don’t believe there is any good treatment (yet).

[SU21 in reply to dansker]

Thank you, all the best to you too. I tend to agree with you about treatment. It's just trial and error to see what works for each individual. I was offered hair pieces or wigs over the phone, I think I'll opt for that in the meantime, no horrible side effects...

[dansker]

I use a wig…I hate it when it is hot, but it’s better for me than nothing.

[SU21 in reply to dansker]

Absolutely, I am looking at hair toppers as I may get away with one of those but dill use a wig if need be, do you get them on nhs?

[dusty2 in reply to SU21]

Hi, I am the same as dansker & wear a wig. I also find it hard when it is really hot, Apart from that I don’t have any other bother about wearing a wig. It is almost 3 years now when I had to start wearing a wig. I lost my eyelashes last year & although I got liner eyeliner tattoo I find that the hardest to cope with. In Scotland you get wigs on NHS.

[SU21 in reply to dusty2]

Hi Dusty, so sorry to hear about losing your eyelashes, it's bad enough to lose your hair. I am lucky in the sense that I can still cover my hair loss with root spray but I can't wear it up as it's all gone from underneath, I have dermatologist appointment tomorrow, I did agree to injections but have since changed my mind. I have made an appointment with a wig shop also, I live in Scotland so should get one on nhs. Thanks for your reply...

[dusty2 in reply to SU21]

Hi, I wasn’t offered injections as it was too far gone the dermatologist said. Two weeks later it was all gone. It is dermatologist that does a prescription for you for wig or topper. You also get a list of salons to go to decide what suits you best. You get 4 a year which they usually split as 2 every 6 months. The choice is good as you can pick anything apart from real hair wigs.Hope your appointment goes well.

[SU21 in reply to dusty2]

Hi, thank you and thanks for the info. I wasn't sure what to expect. Have you looked at the auto immune protocol diet? I have checked it out and am considering giving it a try. It's pretty strict but can heal the body and there's a chance that hair can grow back. If you look on YouTube at Vanillawell, if it's something you'd be interested in? ..

[dusty2 in reply to SU21]

Hi, Thank you I will have a look I have not heard of it.

[SU21 in reply to dusty2]

You're welcome, anything is worth a try. Please let me know what you think? All the best...

[dusty2 in reply to SU21]

I have had a quick look at it, I think it would be hard to stay on any length of time. I will have a proper read of it tonight.

[SU21 in reply to dusty2]

Ok I think it's strict but worth a look at least ...

[dansker]

I’m sorry, I don’t know what nhs is. I live in Denmark, and here I get the wigs from a local hairdresser, but I don’t pay for them myself, it’s payed for through the social system.

[SU21 in reply to dansker]

Hi, it's good you don't pay for wigs, it's the national health service in the UK...in Scotland prescriptions are free...