Hair loss

[WiltonT]

Hi, just wondered if anyone else has experienced hair loss? My hair is slightly thinner but noticed today I have barely any hair on my eyebrows! 

[Crusee]

Hi

I haven't noticed any hair loss or thinning on my eyebrows but they are very light in colour so it is not so detectable.As soon as I have finished this reply I will go and check properly!

I have though had significant hair loss from my head due to sulfasalazine and methotrexate injections.

Fortunately my hair is very long and thick so it is not too noticeable but I know just how much has gone.It is particularly noticeable when it is wet or when I wear it up.I can also tell when I brush or comb it.I have now been stopped from taking both these meds just over 5 months ago,thankfully, and I don't think I am imagining it but I believe that it is starting to get a little bit thicker.

I think a lot of folks have experienced hair loss as a side effect with some of the meds they are taking.

Crusee

[WiltonT in reply to Crusee]

Thanks, I have recently started the methotrexate injection so maybe that's why! Xx

[Birthdaygirl]

Hiya

Sorry to hear this. I lost a patch of hair on the left side of my head and generally my hair thinned out. I was on oral methotrexate and folic acid and then sulphasalazine. My eyebrows are thin anyway and they stayed that way and so I guess I was fortunate they didn't disappear altogether. Since stopping both drugs my hair has recovered and the 'bald patch' has recovered a bit of hair growth. I think the methotrexate was more of a problem than the sulphasalazine.

Have a chat with your rheumy nurse. It is good for them know what sort of side effects you are getting whatever they are. They may have some good advice.

Hope it doesn't get any worse.

Best wishes

BG

[nomoreheels]

When I first started MTX tablets I did & get a little more in my brush when I have an increase but fortunately it always settles. In fact what is grown back is positively wavy so give my fine hair a much needed boost. My hairdresser always notices when my hair is not in good condition, usually if I've left it too long between appointments, & it definitely comes out more the longer it gets, probably caused by dry ends & me trying to style into something that doesn't resemble a bird's nest. 

Did your Rheumy say you could increase your folic acid? Not replacing enough folate can cause hair loss amongst other things. It does seem a few of the meds we need can cause some hair thinning, even loss, but I think the fact we're trying to calm down our overactive immune system could be somewhat to blame in some instances, particularly so if it is not a common side effect of the meds but of course it is for MTX. It must seem alarming if you've not experienced it before but increasing the days your Rheumy says to take folic may well help.

[medway-lady]

I had horrid hair loss on MTX and it was stopped. Then it did recover alright. But my eyebrows are not good its definitely down to thyroid failure and a well known issue with that. 

[keeta]

Yes I. Ve been on methetrexate  injection  for a while and my hair has gone very thin.had to go off it for a while because  of other  problems  and it thickened  up slightly  in that period. 

[Hidden]

Like Medway-lady I have sparse eyebrows also due to an underactive thyroid. It may be worth you asking the GP to check your thyroid levels when you next get your bloods done. I struggle with hairloss on mtx and I did come off it at one point because of this. I'm now on injectable which I tolerate much better but if I have more than 15mg my hair starts to come out again. 

I find it helps to take Biotin 5mg supplements. I also have an eyebrow kit from Clarins which is excellent and helps my eyebrows look more full without looking like "scouse brows ".

I hope you can get yours sorted but do speak to your Dr as it's too easy to blame mtx when it could be down to something else. x

[medway-lady in reply to Hidden]

 To right paulywoo

[Cagsie]

Practically no eyebrows now, not sure how much due to my medication and how much to age. Seen adverts for Wonderbrow, not sure how you apply it and how it works. Thought about trying but my eyes are very sensitive to makeup I'm not sure. We could start a new fashion craze, The brow less wonders. If you find something that helps please post so I can try it x

[3LittleBirds2 in reply to Cagsie]

Wunderbrow is very easy to apply you simply brush it on in fact it's going to be my next choice of product..I'm using a benefit one at the moment which is really good too.  Eyebrows do thin and loose their colour as we age or like mine have take on a different life of their own so you get really long Denis Healy like ones!!! it can be very aging...a nice well groomed eyebrow can completely lift a tired face!  It's my treat to have them tinted and waxed, in between treatments I use a powder.Also  a few years ago it was the fashion to pluck them to a line and ladies of a certain age can never get them to grow back.  Good luck with whatever you choose but I can certainly recommend doing it.

[kalel in reply to 3LittleBirds2]

I was fairly young when I started getting grey hair but I have been using he shou wu in tablet form and that has stopped my hair from going grey.  I was surprised that it worked so well for me because my chinest herbalist said that because my inflammation levels were so high it may not work. 

If you are worried about hair loss get some blood work done and maybe see a tricologist. 

I have never used this product before but I have heard that viviscal is great for hair loss

[Cagsie]

Thanks, not enough brow to tint, so will try Wonderbrow X 

[Punkincarlson]

It's a hormone imbalance...too much androgens. Balance hormones by removing dairy and conventional meat products from your diet as they are pumped full of chemicals and hormones that over run your own hormones. Also getting off of hormonal birth control if you are female and taking that.

Stress can also play a huge factor in hair loss.

You can try black Jamaican castor oil on the scalp a few times a week to encourage regrowth. Rosemary oil on scalp can also encourage growth.

There are red light therapies out there as well, but those are more expensive