Hair loss

[Ms-D]

Hi my lovelies hope you are all well.

I know this has been asked before but I can not find the answers wanted to this. After having severe covid earlier this year and lots of inflammation since the Covid vaccine, I am suffering from lots of hair loss. I am taking predisilone at 15mg for the next week and not sure if this is the cause. Anyone else suffered hair loss due to predisilone or the vaccine?

Sorry if its already been asked.

[Boxerlady]

A friend of mine who doesn't have any health issues and isn't on any long-term medication lost a lot of hair after a nasty bout of Covid; happily it has improved but it took quite a while.

[Ms-D in reply to Boxerlady]

Thanks for replying. Im on idacio twice a week but never noticed this much hair loss. Its scary.

[Hidden]

Poor you you never get a break. Your poor body has been under a lot of stress. I have heard of people with hair loss after having covid . Hopefully it is just a short spell of loss until your. Body fully recovers . You were extremely ill it takes time to recover and with RA your poor body is struggling xx

[Ms-D in reply to Hidden]

Its just one thing after the other. I know its not serious but waking up to clumps of hair and in shower is getting to me. I've tried hair loss shampoo but its making it worse. I had ultrasound on hands today which showed wear and tear near thumb on right hand, slight swelling thanks yo steroids and tendinopathy. Left hand i have swollen tendon sheath. I don't know whether to laugh or cry as other joints are joining in the party of pain.

Anyway hope you are well hun x

[Hidden in reply to Ms-D]

My RA ok it’s other problems. Waiting lists to see consultants or treatment beyond stupid so have to go private 🤬. Maybe chat to your Gp see they can help xx

[Ms-D in reply to Hidden]

Sometimes going private is the only way. I hope it gets sorted soon hun.

[Hidden in reply to Ms-D]

Thanks xx

[Mmrr]

It's not pleasant losing hair.I've just started taking biotin to see if it helps reduce my hair loss.I've been on prednisolone for 3 years, but also take leflunomide and toficitinib, so it is difficult to know what is causing the problem.

My hair is very dry and brittle too.

[Ms-D in reply to Mmrr]

My hair is the same so am using coconut oil once a week so help it. I don't think it is Idacio as I have been taking that since October and was not experiencing hair loss then. Oh well.

How are you doing?

[Hidden in reply to Ms-D]

I found marine collagen powder improved the condition of my hair and biotin helped with regrowth

[Ms-D in reply to Hidden]

Will look that up. Thank you. Anything that can will try.

[Mmrr in reply to Ms-D]

Up and down, kinda down at the moment with a wee flare.

[Hessie5]

Hi Miss D - hair loss is certainly a topic on this forum! You mentioned the vaccine caused your hair loss, is that right ?

Collagen in general really helps also as mentioned bioten (I take collagen powder mainly)

I sincerely hope things get better for you - its been a toughie! Take care, Hessie 🙂

[Ms-D in reply to Hessie5]

Thank you so much for the message I will see if I can get some of the powder or tablets today. I can assume its either the vaccine or steroids as I didn't have this much hair fall out before. Its worse everyday now.

[Happy5]

No to both questions.When I fisrt developed RA loads of my hair came out.

Since been on MTX my hair is thinner than before ( but post menopause & getting older can do this too) so use volume shampoo and conditioner.

Also do a flush of cold water in my last part of hair rinse no idea if it helps lol

Sorry not helpful, hope you sort soon

[Ms-D in reply to Happy5]

Your message made me laugh. Thank you. My hair dresser says the same. Tepid water in the end rinse to lock in moisture.

[MajesticMo]

Hi Mrs D, I am Anaemic and my consultant said this could be why my hair is thinning and falling out, she advised me to take iron tablets which I started this month, fingers crossed ☺

[Ms-D in reply to MajesticMo]

Hope it makes a difference. My body hates iron tablets as doesn't absorb it well. But my bloods didn't show low iron levels. Such a pain this as hate seeing so much hair fall out everyday.

[Tree57]

Hi, I started to lose my hair 3 months after increasing MTX dose.

I spoke to the rheumatology consultant and she said it "should" grow back in a few months which wasn't enough for me so I went to a trichologist who diagnosed me with acute telegenic effluvium. This is the type of hair loss you experience after a shock say a bereavement or in response to illness, changes in medication etc. She wrote to my GP and requested blood tests which the NHS said were normal. For hair health the trichologist said my B12 and iron levels were half what they should be.

So from Oct 2020 I changed my diet and added in iron and more protein. She provided diet sheets but you can of course google it. I am a pescatarian so some of this is hard to get from my diet.

I take a supplement that I bought from her - if you look on the natures best website they have a similar supplement (Nutrihair) and lots of information. You can also e mail them for free advice. I also take absolute collegen.

So I started the diet and collagen in October and the supplements in December and my hair is staying on my head and not falling out too soon. It doesn't look as thin and I am much happier. If you want the trichologists details let me know, she does clinics all over the country and can properly diagnose your issue. Good luck I know its a horrible thing.

[Ms-D in reply to Tree57]

Thank you so much for the message. Its sad I know. Im seeing my consultant next week so will ask all the questions. My recent bloods didn't show anything worrying apart from esr levels slightly raised. I never thought I would moan about hair loss but even brushing my hair is painful as so much comes out. I hope you get some better results with the meds. I am a vegetarian so will defo look into all the advise given to me.

[WillowsMother]

I've been so miserable about the amount of hair loss I've experienced over the past 6 months... that plus the hair I still have has turned brittle and frizzy beyond recognition. I suspect it's prolonged use of Prednisolone and Leflunomide but it could also be hormonal or even stress related? I've tried biotin and collagen, plus various specialist shampoos/tonics but nothing has worked so far. A friend recently recommended Viviscal which is a combination of all the vitamins/minerals needed for healthy hair plus marine protein. It's not cheap, but I'm desperate to find something that works! It's available direct (half price offer at the moment £20 per month for a 3 month supply) and also at Holland and Barrett.

I'd be interested to hear whether anyone else on here has tried it? x

[Ms-D in reply to WillowsMother]

Thank you for the reply, I see hair loss is a big issue and I am sorry for anyone suffering. Its sad to think how something so little has a huge impact on us. I will look this up and let you know how I get on.

[liveinwoods]

When I lost hit from taking Methatexate , I substitute with Leflunomide and used Rogaine twice a day until my hair began growing. Now I use Nioxin shampoo and conditioner exclusively. Also added Biotin and good vitamin tablets. I hope you find a solution that works for you!

[Ms-D in reply to liveinwoods]

Thank you. Been researching most of the day the day to see what is suitable. Lots of great advice on here from you all so I don't feel alone

[liveinwoods in reply to Ms-D]

This forum definitely makes me feel less alone. Most people live in UK but I was born and raised in Northern England so it is nice having this contact with people fro “across the pond”!

[vandweller]

I've had hair loss problems not related to covid. I've had good results using a supplement called Maxi-Hair, made by a natural vitamin company called Country Life. Also evaluate your diet to include protein and citrus... those are two things I've heard people talk about in relation to hair growth.

[Ms-D in reply to vandweller]

Morning. Thank you for the reply. The hair loss has gone and I'm grateful for that. I've been eating well but long covid had me still. I feel tired all the time and get out of breathe. The 🔥 weather as much as I love it is not helping my joints My knees and feet are so super swollen. How are you keeping ?