Hi all, I have had RA for 2 and half years now, I’ve been on Methotrexate most of this time with different side effects which I can mostly deal with but for the past 8 months my hair has been slowly falling out all over the crown of my head, it has got worse losing more hair daily over the past 3 months and is now affecting my mood to the extent I don’t want to go out anymore as I feel people are just looking at me, I have tried different products to try and stop the hair loss but nothing seems to work? My consultant isn’t very sympathetic and said would I rather have pain or hair loss? He wants to raise my dose of Methotrexate as my pain levels have risen, I can’t take a couple of the other alternatives due to high blood pressure and problems with my eyesight, my consultant said that most medication for RA can cause hair loss?? I don’t think I believe him as I think he just wants to keep me on Methotrexate. Is there Anyone else out there experiencing this problem?
Hair loss: Hi all, I have had RA for 2 and half years... - NRAS
Hair loss
Hi,Looks like most others on methotrexate have not had this problem but I have and just for the record am male.Like yourself mine didn’t begin falling out until about the 18 month mark.I have been on MTX for 3 years now.Also the texture of my hair has changed from coarse to baby fine.After mentioning it to my rheumatologist he suggested upping folic acid from once a week to 4 times and gave me licence to take on all 6 days if needed.in the last approx 8 months after increasing folic the thinning has at last settled down and the shedding is now more normal.The texture is still fine but at least I am not loosing any more.I do find that MTX has a mind of its own regarding hair as some days I need to wash it more often than normal due to becoming greasy and at other times it’s ok.I do hope yours settles down as mine has.
Hi, I have had Sero Positive Rheumatoid Arthritis (the worst type) for 25 years. Throughout that time have been on Methotrexate tablets taking 1x 5 mg Folic Acid tablet every day except the day I take Methotrexate plus many other medications. For a few years now was changed to Methotrexate injections once a week as not enough Methotrexate getting into my system with the tablets. I have not experienced hairloss in my head but have only had half my eyebrows for 25 years due to side effect of Methotrexate. Yes, like you I feel people looking at me as eyebrows define your looks but after all these years have learned to live with people staring at me (they have no idea what we suffer with a disease thrown at us through no fault of ours) and feel it is a small price to pay if it helps with the pain.
I had no eyebrows for years had them mircobladed best thing I did
Thanks, will look into that.
I was put on mtx in 2010 when first diagnosed and my hair started falling out. I was put straight onto folic acid, but needed 6 weekly. One a day apart from day taking mtx. No further problem apart from hair feeling finer. It's quite a common problem. Good luck
Thankyou x
Are you taking 5mg folic acid tablets 6 days a week, apart from day of MTX? Most patients do take! May help with hair loss, speak with your Rheumy.
yes I am taking folic acid. X
Hi, sorry to hear this. I started loosing hair which was noticed by my hairdresser and she suggested Pantene menopause hair biology shampoo, I had already been through menopause so though well hey ho I will give it a try and to my surprise it seemed to work with even my hairdresser saying after a good few months your hair has definitely improved. Give it a try it may work for you it may not but certainly worth a try. Hope this helps x
I haven’t tried Pantene but I will give it a try, thanks x
In the shops?
I experienced this while on methotrexate. I have fine hair but had a lot of it - it thinned a lot - especially on one side. I stopped taking it after 3.5 years due to other side effects but my hair remained thin. 14 months ago I started taking biotin and now have some regrowth about 4 inches long all over my head and the difference in thickness one side to the other isn’t so noticeable. For me the hair thinning really affected my confidence. I didn’t try any topical treatments at the time but did use thickening shampoo/conditioner/styling products
I tried biotin but there was no difference, I wash my hair with a thickening shampoo for thinning hair but still no difference I’m afraid 😩
I have hashimotos thyroiditis, another autoimmune disorder, as well as RA, which caused hair thinning, and hair loss and also very sparse eyebrows. Hairdresser advised me to treat my hair very gently, only shampoo it once a week, use a wide tooth comb or Denman brush and let it dry naturally. After a few months of treating it with 'kid gloves' it started to grow back. Maybe ask your hairdresser if they could cut it into a style that will make it look fuller?Sure others don't notice these things as much as we do though. 
Thankyou for your advice x
Well that rheumatologist doesn't sound very sympathetic the impact of hair loss can be great mine is thin. I have long standing bells palsy my stand in rheumatologist wrote on my notes Severe bells palsy I did laugh as I thought not here to see you about that mate.
When I first started Methotrexate tablets year ago, I took folic acid on the other six days. Although I have very fine hair I didn’t really notice hair loss. I always lost more hair in the Autumn though. However, years later after being off Methotrexate for a long time, I went back on it by injection. Then I really noticed my hair falling out. I too took Biotin tablets but didn’t notice any difference. In the end I had my longer hair cut short. Big mistake! I could then see my scalp and standing under a light my scalp shines. I’m growing it again now but it’s a real mess. I too have tried all sorts of products but nothing seems to help. I think hats might have to be the next solution. Let me know if you find anything good. Please.
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