Hi I am on methatrex hydroxy and Baracitinib My hair is a shadow of it’s former self, curl virtually gone, thin and lank and falling out continuously. The gaps on the scalp are obvious.
I am relatively controlled and am considering stopping one of the drugs to try and halt the decline. It may be a waste of time but I am so sad every time I look in the mirror. My hair was thick and curly a few years ago. Any similar experiences or advice as to which drug would be the most responsible
Hi I’m so sorry to read this. My hair is the same. Im on the same drugs as you apart from the Hydroxy. My hairs been like it for years now...I’ve noticed when my RA isn’t controlled my hair falls out more then too,
I’ve been on the Baricitnib for 9 months now and I haven’t noticed it being any worse. So I would think in my case it’s the methotrexate.
Do you take folic acid? I take that everyday apart from mtx day.
Adhocly the Dr will check my vitamin levels and im often deficient in vitamin D, vitamin B and iron. So I take supplements. I imagine that could contribute too. So maybe worth checking?
I’ve recently changed my shampoo as the one I like to use has been in the media recently for causing hair loss
Hope things improve for you I know how upsetting it can be. Take care 💗
Been on mtx and leflunomide for the last 12 months. Recently increased the lef with no increase in hair loss, but for the first 4 months I was just on mtx, I was waking up with hair all over the bedside cabinet every morning, so I suspect the primary culprit for me is that, and it is a chemotherapy drug at the end of the day. As a guy, the response I’ve had is doctors just shrugging and saying oh well: there seems to be this perception that hair loss in men is ‘no big deal’, when in actual fact most blokes find it pretty devastating, even if it’s just normal male pattern baldness. My hairline has receded by more than an inch on treatment, and I’ve gone from a very full, thick head of hair to being thinned all over my head to the point I’ve had to cut it to less than a cm on top to try and make it look semi ok. One of the few things I actually really liked about my physical appearance was my hair. I’ve read on here that ladies often tend to get a much more sympathetic response to medication related hair loss, so it’s definitely worth a chat. In my own case, I probably wouldn’t mind quite so much if my arthritis was well controlled, but it’s not 🤷♂️
I started with Mtx, I had hair lost since day one. It was certainly Mtx that caused it. When I complaint, my rheumy said Mtx would give me back my life, she wanted me to continue. I am glad I did.
Beside hair lost, I had many other side effects too. But most of them stopped after about a year of treatment. Few months later, leflunomide was added, no added side effects in my case.
When my liver indicators were bad, my rheumy said it was Mtx problem and she decided to reduce the dosage for me. My liver was ok after that.
However, vomiting, nausea and uneasy stomach feeling continued until Mtx was reduced to 7.5 mg.
So, unless it is absolutely unacceptable, it is the decision we have to make if to continue Mtx or to stop it. I have no regret to continue with it as it gives me back my life. Yes, my daughter always reminded me of the thin hair I have now but it is ok as long as RA is under control.
Hope it helps you to make a good decision for yourself. Suggest to also talk to your rheumy.
Yes it’s definitely the methotrexate.Inwas the same and my hair is very thin anyway.Eventually my liver was effected by the drug so got changed to another one.At one time I did consider a hairpiece
Oh, I know how you feel. I've also been struggling with hair changes, although I suspect it's from Leflunomide and Prednisolone in my case, as I've only been on Baricitinib for 6 weeks. My hair is still shedding a lot and has also gone very dry and brittle which is the most upsetting part. So far I've added biotin to my daily vitamins and I am using a caffeine tonic on my scalp at night, plus using an Aveda repairing shampoo and conditioner which all seem to be helping a bit. At the moment I'm not prepared to decrease my meds (apart from Pred) because I'm seeing gradual but significant improvements in my RA symptoms for the first time in two and a half years since being diagnosed... so for now, it's just a matter of finding ways to mitigate the unpleasant side effects, as upsetting as they are 
The Mtx has caused hair loss for me, also. But I’ve had bouts of alopecia in large patches many times before the PsA diagnosis. I was always told it was my immune system attacking the hair follicles. Those patches eventually grew back, and a few times I had kenalog injected into the skin where the hair loss was. But never has my hair been it’s thickness and wave that I once had. Now with the Mtx, I am in the process of buying a hair topper. Having this pathetic thin hair on top is just getting me down, way down. I had a hair topper when I had severe alopecia about 20 years ago, so it isn’t new to me. But the choices available now are incredible, and the you tube is a great visual source of help and guidance.
Hi , yes I too found my hair thinned and that was after i started methotrexate and long before I was put on Anti TNF meds. Once I started the latter, my methotrexate was reduced to the lowest dose of 5 mg and I did find my hair condition improved. I now have Anti TNF without Methotrexate at all. My hair isnt what it was though, but I am also a lot older now at 62, which probably doesn't help! I suspect there are vitamins etc that might help too - so might be worth investigating that perhaps? Best wishes
Hi Sallygrain, so sorry, I hit the reply button before fully checking!, hydroxy can cause hair whitening, it's the methotrexate that can cause hair thinning x
Thanks all. I pretty much new it would have to be methatrex if i stop anything. I don’t do supplements at all and should so I will pursue that. I may pursue dropping methatrex to lower dose. Hair topper ? Let me
Zoom that 🙄
Hi Sally, I am on Mtx as well and recently added HCQ. I have an issue with hair loss since I started Mtx. When I complained about it, my Rheumy increased my Folic acid to 3mg / day except for Mtx day. it helped for sure. I also noticed that the hair fall is sporadic, some days more than others. I am also taking other supplements such as multi vitamin, Vit D etc. Hair and Nails supplement seemed to work too. May be talk to your Dr about adding these.Other natural remedies I tried were- Applying Castor + Coconut oil mixture every few days & The yao Rice water wash ( you can find info about it on google or youtube) , both seemed to work too, I wish I was disciplined enough to do it regularly.
I use the castor oil/coconut oil mixture as well and it does help if you can keep it up regularly. I get very thin on top/front and spots on sides. I got a little bottle and made half/half of each, put it on your fingers and massage it in well. leave it on for a few hours if you can before shampooing, or overnight. It also gives your hair a nice shine. I use it on my eyebrows which have thinned to almost invisible as well. Just because you forget to do it regularly, doesn't mean it won't help. Keep the bottle at the bathroom sink so when you look in the mirror it reminds you to do it. Good luck!
I had this with lefluminide and sulfasalazine. I now tend to use coconut oil with a drop of caster oil over night. Its helped a lot. Otherwise you can try blackseed oil. Its really good too x
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