Hi everyone,
Just wondering if anyone has found ways to reduce the hair loss on methotrexate or entanercept? Mine is coming out more and more and is starting to be noticeable. Don't want to stop the meds as they are working pretty well, but don't exactly want to end up bald either! Hope your all doing ok.
Hi Natikins, I shall look forward to replies as I am in exactly the same situation. I take 5mg of folic acid every day except MXT day, but my hair is thinning at an alarming rate.
I have tried various shampoos to boost it, I've just started using Cliniscalp by Joica.
The combination of MXT and Hydroxychloroquine has made a great difference to my RA, but also to my hair!
I'm on exactly the same meds and I'm having exactly the same problem! Apart from the various expensive shampoos which claim to help thinning hair I think a good hairdresser who understands our worries is the best most of us will manage. It's a tough choice I know, but as the combination of meds seem to work I think I'd rather have the thinning hair than stop taking them. I just keep trying different shampoos such as Matrix Total Results and Philip Kingsley (I think that's his name!). They seem to be helping a bit. Good luck.
Hi, I have the same problem whilst taking Entenacept injections. I am about to come off prednisilone 20mg per day next week as I will have restarted the injection and had 12 injections by next Tuesday. My GP thinks it is the prednisilone that is causing the side effects. I have just started using Argan Oil as a friend suggested I try it to repair my hair which is very thin and breaking at various lengths, comes out in handfuls. I would be very interested if anyone else has any suggestions. I have only been using Argan Oil for a couple of weeks so it is too soon to say if it will help. Good luck, it is good to hear the meds are working well. Take care. x
I tried argan oil Sue, in it's natural oily state not in a hair product as it was before those products came on the market. All it did was make my hair terribly greasy & smell as though I'd not washed it for a fortnight, even using the teeniest of amounts. Maybe the shampoos & conditioners available everywhere now that just have a small amount in are better but I certainly couldn't continue to use pure argan oil, whether it helped or not!
I've even tried using it on my skin as is also suggested on the label but couldn't be doing with the smell, so annoying as it wasn't particularly cheap & now it's just sitting in my makeup drawer! My hair never became brittle even though it was longer than I have it now, it always came out in strands from the root, still does but far less now it's a shorter style.
I hope for you it is the prednisolone that's the cause & you notice a difference after you've tapered it. 
Hi Nomoreheels, so far Argan oil doesn't bother me, my sister also uses it on her arms and leg, as she has psoriasis and she finds it better than the ointment which is very greasy that her GP gives her. I just use a tiny amount on my towel dried hair and so far it is ok. I really do hope it is the prednisilone that is the cause as my GP said my hair should start to grow again once I have stopped taking it. My hair has always been fine but I did have a lot of it and it was always in a very good condition.
Your hair sounds similar to mine, plenty of it but fine. It's possible the oil I have is different but it's more like the texture of olive oil. I know it was from Morocco but the oil has dripped onto the label & the paper's soaked it up & diminished the writing on it so can't see what the purity is anymore! Anyhow, I'm pleased it works for you & your sister. I tried it on a stress eczema patch but again couldn't stand the smell so not sure if it would've worked for that but my Cemalyt cream sorted that out so all's well!
Hi, glad to hear the cream is working for you, the ointment was like putting on Vaseline and very thick and sticky, not good under clothes. My from sister buys her Argan oil which is 100% online from a company called simplyargan.co.uk. A friend gave me mine which is specifically for my hair, it isn't very thick and I only use a couple of drops in my hand. I did go online and look at other items available. I am waiting to see how I get on once I have stopped the prednisilone as you say it is expensive. Take care, x
Me too. I'm washing my hair less frequent try than I used to. This seems to slow down the loss a bit. My hair has gone very curly. I encourage this as it seems to disguise the thinness a bit. But for me, there's no dilemma. I'd rather be bald and mobile, than hairy and bed-ridden.!
Hiya Natikins. I find keeping my hair shorter certainly helps. The longer mine gets the more I find I have to use conditioner & hair products each morning otherwise it tangles whilst styling it, not good & it's happening at the mo so must make an appointment! Keeping it shorter also helps me as it takes less time to dry & as it's become more wavy, particularly at the back, I can just leave that to go it's own way. I find this means I don't need to mess with it as much which results in fewer hairs round my hotbrush & hairbrush. I've tried using different shampoos in the past 5 years whilst being on MTX, including the ones mentioned by Feta, & noticed no difference except considerably less money in my purse so have decided that a good shorter cut from a hairdresser who knows how to cut it into a style to make the most of the texture of my hair is the only way for me.
I tried all the different shampoos and washed my hair less frequently. Nothing worked so was advised by my rheumatologist to reduc MTX dose, which I did but of course this made my joints worse. Stopped MTX and my hair is now no longer falling out and new hair is growing. Just started Humira which I think is working. Clemmie
Hi Natikins,
The information on hair loss and MTX from NHS National Patient Safety Agency states :
Thinning of the hair - this can happen , although it is uncommon and, if it does happen it is usually slight. Hair growth usually returns to normal on stopping treatment. If you feel this becomes more than very slight hair loss/thinning you should discuss with your doctor/rheumatology team.
Hope this helps,
Kind regards
Emma
NRAS Membership Supervisor
Hi-
The meds seemed to be working okay for me as well, but I had the same problem with the hair loss. Shortly after this, I noticed that I couldn't concentrate and had difficulty thinking clearly. It went on for more than a month before I decided to stop taking it. I am now taking Thunder God Vine. I feel as "good" as I did on MTX with a little hair loss, but it isn't negatively affecting my brain. If you want to stay on MTX, I don't know how you'll prevent the hair loss. Maybe Sage tea? I hope it all works out for you.
Thank you everyone for your replies. I have cut my hair shorter already. Had about 5 inches off but still not exactly short so I guess I'll look into cutting it shorter. I'm seeing my hairdresser this week so hopefully she will be able to help. I'm hoping she might know about the shampoos that might help too. I'll let you know if I find anything that works.
Hi Natikins. Just to say that the first time I tried MTX last year I lost a lot of hair. It became very dry and brittle. Some of the hair loss was from the ends where it broke and some of it was from the root, for example my hairline was receding. I had a 6 month break from MTX as I was too distressed to continue, but when I agreed to give it another try I was pleased to find that the hair loss was MUCH less, and within 2 months of restarting it was growing back underneath like crazy. It's drier than before so I use a quality shampoo and lots of conditioner for dry hair. Before I restarted MTX I went 5 months without colouring it - the grey hairs looked a devil but I'm sure it helped. The only thing I did that made the hair loss worse was to use a serum that was supposed to increase growth. It dried my hair out even more and I think it made things worse. Wishing you the best of luck. I know how it feels when your hair starts thinning. Nobody else notices but that doesn't help the way you feel. Angela x
I use Ojon Volumising Shampoo and Conditioner and bought a Magnetic Hairbrush, which I use a lot. This has worked quite well for me as the hair loss has stopped and my hairdresser says my hair is thickening.
nothing has worked for me either, lost at least 50% of my hair volume now, was advised not to take more folic acid but was given no explanation why, and no shampoos can stop it from falling out as the MTX closes hair follicles, also the issues start internal from the meds and shampoos work externally, but some can give the illusion of thicker hair. Let me know if you find something that works though. I'm going to see Rheumy soon and hoping he can put me on Humira early (am supposed to start in December) so hopefully I can greatly reduce my mtx amount or stop it completely. (probably not likely)
People are now starting to notice my hair loss, whereas before no one ever said anything. A co worker friend asked me if Im sick and her eyes where huge like saucers when she saw the hair that was left on the back of my chair when i got up from where i was sitting...then i saw the clump stuck to the head rest...not fun, but it is what it is.
I also read what EmmaS wrote, the makers of Metho. claim hair loss is an uncommon side effect, I read that too in the side effects of the drug......I think the company says that just so they dont scare people out of taking the drug, its seems its a little more common than an uncommon side effect. I wish they would print stats like 20% chance or 30% chance of hair-loss, just saying its uncommon and giving no stats on how many people they are comparing it too, doesn't tell us much.
I wish you all the luck Natikins, many of us know your stress of dealing with hair-loss, thanks for posting.
Hi Natikins, I haven't been on here in awhile, but your post prompted me to reply. My hair loss started right away with taking MTX. I was also having itchy scalp so I made an appointment with a dermatologist. His suggestion was to get off MTX which I considered ridiculous and was not a choice for me. I take 3 mg of folic acid a day and 5000 units of Biotin, which is an over the counter supplement. Raising the folic acid from 1 to 3 completely cured the itching. Some people say that Biotin does nothing for them, but I believe it has helped me. Not only has my hair gotten thinner with MTX, but the texture completely changed almost from when I started MTX. I can see a big difference in how I look, but no one I know has commented. As MTX has proven to help my RD and keep me from being completely bedridden, I will continue to use it as long as I am able. Just to let you know, my niece, who has RD and takes basically the same meds I do has had no hair loss at all! I guess we are all different in how we respond to meds. I inject 20mg of MTX a week and she takes the pills equivalent to that so I don't know if injections tend to cause more problems with hair than pills, or if it's just how meds affect each individual. Good luck to you! It makes me sad at times, but I am able to walk and do things now, even work part time- last year before the MTX kicked in I wasn't able to do much of anything except get to bathroom and was in agonizing pain.
Apparently my grandad used to swear by baby bio! But I don't think I will be trying that! Haha!
I've heard increasing folic acid and taking vitamin b12 can help. A girl I work with takes both to help her hair, she doesn't have RA or take any other meds. Think the b12 has to be prescribed though. I'm definitely going to give the magnetic hairbrush a go too.
Washing my hair tonight, worried about how much will come out!
Hi I don't know whether this will help you but i use a product called Joica K- PaK liquid Re constructor it has carotene in it which puts all the goodness back into your hair, it isn't cheap about £16.00 a bottle, you can buy it in most hairdressers. I suggest you let them see the condition of your hair and ask them if it could help. I have found it has helped mine but we all react differently to products.
Hi I know I'm late commenting but was interested in reading everyone's replies. I'm taking both mtx and etanercept and have found I'm experiencing some hairloss. In fact years ago when I was first diagnosed and taking mtx it happened then. I eventually stopped the mtx and my hair grew back. This time it hasn't been as bad and I think having a baby also has an impact so I'm waiting to see if it calms down before I get too panicked. But I just wondered if anyone had been told by their Rheumy that hair loss is part of the disease? When I went last month I told him I was worried by the hair loss and he told me it's part of the disease and some people will get it anyway regardless of the meds. He did say that I had ana antibodies (I have RA and sjorgens) which will have a greater impact on my hair and he would like me to start hydroxy again in the future because of the anti bodies. He then said that this might help my hair too. But I'd never heard that about hair loss and RA before has anyone else?
Also as a side note after my second son was born I had terrible hair loss resulting in a bald patch on the side. I took nourikin hair tablets (expensive at £50 but i was desperate). They were brilliant after just a week I noticed a difference and my hair grew back really shiny too. They mainly contain glucosamine and silica and if it continues I might try them again. Interestingly my RA symptoms started when I was pregnant with my second son but took another 18 months until after he was born that I was diagnosed. Now I'm wondering because of the hair loss comment by cons if the huge loss after his birth was also down to RA? I find it very hard having thinning hair. It's much more of an emotional/self esteem thing for women i think. Well it is for me any way. X
Hiya Giggle! There is some evidence to suggest that's the case. In fact there's a particular type of alopecia that it's thought can be triggered by inflammation, alopecia areata. I would think many of the cases we hear of on here are caused by the meds we need but I'm a great believer in the more healthy you are the better your skin & hair is. If my skin starts to look sallow & my hair is dull I'm generally coming down with something or a few days later I have been known to flare. Hormones can also have their part in hair thinning, particularly around menopause time but you're a way off that!
Hope you & Harry are fine otherwise? xx
Oh no I didn't know that about alopecia areata. I agree about the being healthy i notice a difference in my skin especially. Also I definitely notice a difference in my symptoms if I've been eating lots of unhealthy food ect.
Harry is great thank you lovely. I'm slowly noticing an increase in my pain and stiffness so I guess I'll probably end up taking the hydroxy again too. I just wish that the meds were kinder if that makes sense. Or there was something else we could do instead of popping pills and injecting chemicals or actually a cure would be nice lol. Hope you are doing ok too x
There's quite a lot of info out there but I've stuck to the UK based ones, they tend to have more medically based info.
I'm pleased Harry's great but sorry to hear that you're not doing quite so well. I've said this before but wouldn't it be wonderful if we had a one size fits all med.... one that nobody has any side effects from?!
I'm ok as far as RD is concerned, thanks for asking. Just trying to get OA & CS pain controlled at the mo. Getting there but I really don't want to increase the BuTrans dose so will try & live with what that's not covering. I say that now, I'll probably give in when my system gets used to the dose I'm on now! x
Yes that would be amazing wouldn't it. No side effects and only one type of medication. Heaven lol. I don't think the change in the weather is helping either. It's cold and damp which just isn't good for joint pain. I'm like you I'd rather see if I can manage than increase doses of meds. I hope things get easier for you soon xx
Thanks Giggle, you too. xx
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