I wonder if anyone has lost their eyebrows?! Over the last 3 years since taking hydroxychloroquine & steroids (continual) my eyebrows have

[loopy-lou]

almost all fallen out. It looks awful and I have to use eyebrow pencil which looks fake. I have to then make sure I remember to smudge the line in-have forgotten once or twice!

[Andromachi]

I also take plaquenil and medrol for more than one year consecutive but I don't have these problems.

[loopy-lou in reply to Andromachi]

Hi Andromachi

Thanks for this. I wonder then if it is the steroids or perhaps like everything some things effect some people more. I miss my eyebrows!x

[sebitha]

Hi Loopy-Lou.

yes I've lost hair from my eyebrows (and head). One brow has a scar, so looked much balder than the other! I'm on pred & plaquenil. Some hair has returned on my head and brows since being on the meds. The hair on my head has a different texture, but I'm delighted to have it, all the same.

I grew a long fringe, used benefit brow-zings and hoped no one would notice. This went on for months and only my daughter noticed.

If I remember correctly the plaquenil side effects list hair loss and colour change. Although I have also read that it can help with hair loss too, which is correct in my case. It seems our meds can be as unpredictable as our SLE!

Would you discuss with your GP or Rhuemy!

Best wishes Seb.

[loopy-lou]

Hi Sebitha

Many thanks for your reply-at least I know I am not alone. I hope your hair continues to return to you! I mentioned it to both my GP & Rheumy...GP shrugged and Rheumy said it wasn't my meds!! I don't agree as it has happened since the meds slowly going over the last 3 years. Anyway, waiting to see a new Rheumy as my current one doesn't answer questions...he told me he has to think in a linear fashion!x

[kulie13]

Actually it could be nothing to do with the meds and everything to do with your age (which I don't know so this is a guess) - my eyebrows are very thin and I've been told this is a hormonal thing. I also no longer have to shave my armpits (hurrah). Have you ever noticed that as men get older they sprout hair from their nose and ears? Well, it turns out that women lose body hair and men gain it, especially for women that will occur after or during menopause. I do take plaquenil as well but I don't blame it. Ask your GP about hormonal hair changes and see if s/he knows anything about that..

[loopy-lou in reply to kulie13]

Thanks Kulie, I think you may be right. I am 54 and went through an early menopause. That was easy compared to Lupus! I don't have to shave my legs they remain lovely and soft! Also, reading what TeganSara has mentioned I also have a underactive thyroid & take 150mg of thyroxine too. All in all Lupus meds, thyroid and post menopause - perhaps no wonder! I just hate eyebrow pencils though!!

[TeganSara]

You do lose your eyebrows sometimes if you have an underactive thyroid

[loopy-lou in reply to TeganSara]

Hi TeganSara

I do have an underactive thyroid too & have taken thyroxine for 17 years. I think you are right-it has happened in the last 3 years which is why I thought Lupus.

[Welshexile]

my eyebrows and eyelashes are the only hair I have left and the eyebrows do a 'Ted Heath' regularly which drives me bonkers......I'll swap you my eyebrows for some head hair lol

[loopy-lou in reply to Welshexile]

Lets swap!!! I never thought I would envy people with eyebrows!!! Enjoy them!

[Emmamarie]

I have lost all my body hair since being on the pred, which I can honestly say I don't miss but still have eyebrows. Hope yours grow back in you can have them tatooed on if it bothers you so much be well

[loopy-lou in reply to Emmamarie]

A friend also suggested tatooed eyebrows-"ouch"- I wonder if they would look fake?

[Hidden]

You are not alone.

Eye brows, eye lashes, hair, body hair, even nails!

All can (and sometimes do) fall out due to Rxs (Prednisone a well known offender), symptom flares, hormone imbalances, age, genetic predisposition, ...

SUGGESTION 1

False facial hair - eyebrows specifically - at a theatrical make-up store (expensive when professionally applied and time consuming but can have awesome results).

When applied correctly these appear very realistic.

Be certain the glue used is hypo-allergenic and can be removed with simple petroleum jelly if necessary. Other removers can have negative effects on Prednisone thinned skin / lupus hypersensitive skin.

Some lupus patients can not tolerate the glue - some can. Be certain to test the glue on your skin prior to full use. On the inside of your wrist is a good site for a 24hr reaction test.

I would NOT advise tattoos. Dyes can be toxic to lupus patients - even dyes from organic sources. Be very careful.

SUGGESTION 2

Sunglasses or glasses (with or without Rx lenses). They give the face normal shape / depth that is lost when eyebrows or eyelashes have fallen out.

ABOUT EYE PROTECTION

All lupus patients should protection their eyes from sun exposure. There is a higher potential probability of ocular cancers in lupus patients. Simple daily exposure can have harmful effects. Yes, even in overcast foggy London.

Different tints are useful for different weather conditions.

Gray: Gray is a popular neutral tint that allows the eyes to perceive colors in their purest form. Gray tints reduce brightness and glare. Choose gray for driving and outdoor sports such as golf, running or cycling.

Yellow/Orange: Yellow and orange tints increase contrast in hazy, foggy or low-light conditions. These tints tend to make objects appear sharper both indoors and outdoors, but can also cause color distortion. Choose yellow shades for snow activities and indoor ball sports.

Green: Green tints filter some blue light and reduce glare, while offering high contrast and visual sharpness. Shades of green also tend to reduce eyestrain in bright light. Choose green for precision sports such as tennis, baseball and golf.

Amber/Brown: Amber and brown tints reduce glare and block blue light, giving them the ability to brighten vision on cloudy days. By blocking blue light, these tints increase contrast and visual acuity, especially against green and blue backgrounds such as grass and sky. Choose amber and brown tints for fishing, baseball, golf, hunting, cycling, and water sports.

Rose/Red: Rosy tints increase contrast by blocking blue light. These tints have a reputation of being soothing to the eyes and more comfortable than others for longer wear-times. They also help with visibility while driving, and seem to be a favorite among computer users as they reduce glare and eyestrain.

PLEASE PROTECT YOUR EYES PEOPLE!

[loopy-lou]

Hi Nouska

What a lot of information, thank you so very much. I hadn't thought about theatrical eye brows. I a going to look into it and perhaps use for special occasions. Much better than a fake smudged eyebrow pencil look. A good idea. My eyes are very sensitive too. When I flare and my face burns up, sometimes my eyes feel like they are burning too. We must all think of our eyes!

[Lulabelle]

Yes - all my hair has gone thinner and my i add (private hairloss) or is that too much information! saves on the waxing!

Being serious - I have found a cracking eyebrow makeup by Benefit - which is a dark brown powder and setting gel which you out on with a brush. I must admitt the brows look really good when using this and I have had comment's from my colleagues who think I have had them professionally done!

Lulabelle x

[loopy-lou]

Hi Lulabelle

Many thanks for all your information. I really appreciate it. I will go and look at eyebrow make up by Benefit. I have also found if you search false eyebrows on ebay it comes up with real hair eyebrows in different shades that you can glue on. I don't know how good they are. I will try Benefit first though-sounds good. It is worth knowing about the fake ones too if they get too bad. Thank you again! x

[cheeseyquaver]

Hi Loopy-Lou I'm very new to this site but just thought I would add to the other comments that I lost almost all my eyebrows and had to just use a pencil during a really bad flare an also several patches of hair but they did grow back and my hair too although i still regularly get baldy patches i call them crop circles cos thats what they look like!! Not sure if it was meds that caused its just the stress of the really bad flare as i get extreme facial lesions. But my point is they do grow back!! XX

[loopy-lou]

Hi Cheeseequaver

Thank you so much for your reply-it is so good to compare notes. I am pleased to hear your eyebrows have grown back and hope you don't have further problems. I have been lucky so far with the hair on my head. Sorry to hear you haven't. You just never seem to know what lupus is going to throw at you next! My eyebrows have been falling out for about three years and being fair they were not that dark to start with. I feel my face looks incomplete so have the daily ritual of applying eyebrow pencil that looks so fake. I am going to mention it when I see my new consultant. How long did it take for yours to grow back? I think the meds must have something to do with all our hair problems. Just having a sit down as a fatigue day today!xxx

[MalloryKnox]

I know exactly how you feel I began losing my eyebrows 7 years ago after I gave birth to my son. Firstly they just thinned out until I almost lost them and they ended up growing back, but about a year and a half ago I lost them completely. I paid $700 for a biopsy to be given a vague diagnosis of "suspected alopecia" after getting back "normal" test results for hypothyroidism. The daily chore of having to draw on your eyebrows just to appear "normal" is something people can't understand unless they've had to do it themselves. People always stare and ask about my eyebrows and it's something that really bothers me. I haven't lost my eyelashes thankfully or my hair but I'm so sick of feeling like a freak and having the inconvenience of having to draw on my eyebrows. I have heard of eyebrow implants and I'm looking into them, it seems like my only choice at this stage. Everything else looks too unnatural and ridiculous. Ahhh I wish I could give you a big hug. Best of luck to you xox

[loopy-lou]

Thank you for your reply. I was only looking in my car mirror a while ago thinking how ridiculous I look with eyebrow pencil!! I am sorry to hear you are the same-you are not alone. Like you I still luckily have my eyelashes and a head of hair! I did look up theatrical eyebrows on ebay and you can buy natural hair eyebrows that you glue on. (special type of glue needed too). From what I saw they come in different colours. I haven't got any yet but they sound a possibility to use for going out occasions. Please let me know how you get on with any information about eyebrow implants. I don't know what meds you are taking but I do think steroids play a part in it too. Also even if you have had "normal" results for hypothyroidism it may be worth having it rechecked after a while as results can vary. Hugs to you and hope between us we find a good solution. I will let you know if I find anything else. Good Luck.xxx

[dgleds]

Old post I know, but I have been on hydroxychloroquine for about a year and a half...I also take synthroid...I never noticed it until recently, and mostly when looking at photos now and then...My eyebrows have either lightened in color, or have thinned out...The shape is still there, but they look different. MY hair on head is thinner, and on my legs has gotten very patchy the hair...I don't think its thyroid related or synthroid, because Ive had that 17 years, and its been ok...This is either from mild lupus, or hydroxy(plaquinil), or post menopause stuff..(I wish I knew)...I must say 17 years ago my hair did change a bit from thyroid probs, because my hairdresser noticed it then, but it got ok again...This is odd with the leg hair and eyebrows...a first!

[aries67]

I know this is a very old post but I would like to add that I have almost no eyebrows left . I am not 'yet' diagnosed with lupus so am on no medication but eyebrow loss can be a symptom of the lupus itself and this along with other symptoms is the reason I suspect lupus in myself.

[loopy-lou]

I do sympathise. I now have no eyebrows at all and continue to do the best with an eye pencil. If you are getting other symptoms you should see your GP as a diagnosis can take years. Good Luck.

[aries67 in reply to loopy-lou]

Hi loopy loo

Thanks for the reply. I am actually going through the process atm. Rheumatologist said ana of 1:80 is too low to consider lupus. He can't explain my joint pain as there's no morning stiffness and can't explain my eyebrowloss or red rash over my cheeks and nose. He asked what id suggest we do next. I said a referral to a dermatologist and he said your probably right. My GP has put me on anti anxiety Meds which treat OCD lol. I can see this is going to take years. The thing is if I am in the early stages of lupus then I would like to discuss with doc the possibility of a low dose med which could potentially keep it at bay. I know there's a research study going on atm regarding this.

As for my eyebrows I m hoping to have them tattooed once I've seen the dermatologist. I have read tho that clinique do a really good fibre eyebrow pencil. Best wishes

[loopy-lou in reply to aries67]

Hi Aries

Thanks for your reply. I have heard others being given anxiety meds, as if it is all in the mind! You know your own body the best. Keep pushing for what you want. You could always ask the opinion of another rheumatologist. Keep photos of any rashes and a diary of any other symptoms, however small.

Have you had your thyroid checked too?

Thank you for the information about the clinique fibre eyebrow pencil. It looks really good. I am going to buy one.

Look for further information regarding tattoos if you are diagnosed with lupus. I think I read it isn't advisable. I also thought about this in the past.

I hope everything works out for you.

[misty14 in reply to loopy-lou]

Hi Loopylou

Just seen your eyebrow post and I can so relate to it. I've got half mine and eyelashes ok . Hair comes out from time to time but eyebrows been going for years. I've not done anything about it but it does look weird but I m happy to live with it. My thyroid has been tested and is normal!. I think there's an expensive beauty treatment called threading that puts them back. I'm not sure. Hope you can get better results too. It does affect our self esteem this illness with lots of body changes!. X

[loopy-lou]

Hi Misty

Isn't it a pain. I even open the door to the postman without my eye pencil on now! Did you see Aries mentioned Clinique do a good fibre eyebrow pencil. I am going to give that a go. I did see on Ebay that you can buy real hair eyebrows. I haven't as yet, only because I thought I may react to the adhesive. I am on thyroxine for an underactive thyroid but still have no eyebrows! I do agree with you, I hate all the body changes. Take care x