Hair condition

[Koalajane]

I have been on prednisolone for 15 months now and went for a perm today. The hairdresser said I had some hair breakages which she thought could be due to the predand did not want to do the perm. Anyone else had this happen. Thanks

[Bethy]

I took and still take folic acid and this has improved my hair enormously.

[Rosbud]

Have been on pred since August and just started noticing my hair coming out ,hopefully I don't lose to much it's very fine as it is !

[Stella3 in reply to Rosbud]

Hi Rosbud,

Yes, I have had the same experience. My hair came out for a while (about a month or more). I was very upset. I think it has stopped but it is dry and brittle now (especially at the ends). I have had it cut and feel better that it is shorter. I heard from my doctor that this can happen about six months after an illness (PMR/GCA) and also from the Prednisone. It is called Telogen Effluvium! It resolves it self though. So don’t worry, put lots of conditioner on it.

[Rosbud in reply to Stella3]

I will

, thanks for the advice x

[GOOD_GRIEF]

Pred hair is kind of delicate for most of us. For some, it even makes us lose hair.

I suggest getting a flattering cut that can be styled without a lot of products or manipulation.

[Soraya_PMR in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

I agree. Around a year in I was losing hair like there was no tomorrow. I got my hairdresser to lop off about 10” of the length, and he cut a bob that needs minimal effort on my part. I only wash it once every 2-3 weeks and it’s much healthier now. Plus, apparently, it’s “taken 10 years off me”! How wonderful to be 11 years old again 😉

[Patience47 in reply to Soraya_PMR]

😃

[Pym1 in reply to Patience47]

Sounds like a tough journey. I’m struggling between 7/8 per day after 8 months.

I haven’t washed my hair in anything but water for two years or more. They shampoo it lightly every couple of months when I have it cut (or get my ears lowered). It’s much better and doesn’t get greasy at all.

Good luck in getting the Pred down.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pym1]

I haven't tried just water - I usually go 3 weeks between washes. Must have a go...

[Koalajane]

Thanks all, the hairdresser has given me a nice style that I am happy with

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Koalajane]

And think of the money you save by not having a perm!!! I still have a fit at the cost of a cut and blow dry here these days (I was very spoiled with my hairdressers in the past!) and colour and perm - OMG!!!!!

[HeronNS]

A friend of mine was proud of her rather nice dark hair, and upset when it got dry and brittle after she had been very ill (gut problem). She didn't know what to do because it wasn't responding to whatever her hairdresser usually did. I suggested that she have her hair cut short. Because, I pointed out, this "bad" hair was reminding her of when she had been so ill in the hospital. If she cut her hair short, which she was reluctant to do, the new hair would be coming in much more healthy, much more like she was used to, and in the meantime she'd have got rid of the hair which reminded her of the bad time.

[Purplecrow]

No breakage, but went from straight hair to curly mop! First time in my life I look like Shirley Temple...well, that might be exaggeration, but love the curly dos.

[joat in reply to Purplecrow]

My hair turned curly for the first time in my life. Had always wished for it but it did not stay for longer than a few months and is now straight as can be!

[Telian in reply to joat]

How strange it's gone from curly to straight. I've always had curly hair but it used to be really thick and I could 'dry it straight' Since the AI and cancer my hair thinned and became really fine - it's now the same as when I was very young with ringlet type curls. As it's thickened it's like a spring mattress if I don't straighten it which I'm loathed to do too regular as it dries it out...love the hairdresser to do it as she dries it so sleek....

[piglette in reply to Purplecrow]

Really like my curly hair. I always wanted curls from a child when I had boring straight hair. I am glad that the feeling like straw bit has gone and that my hair is not too bad anymore.

[PMRpixie in reply to Purplecrow]

Me too. Always envied curly hair but can be a bit unruly now that I have it😉. Problem is the new growth curly hair is shorter so now have different layers.

Have been on prednisone 3+ years but still go through lots of loss, a bit of new growth, than loss again. Ends are very dry and no body because of the thinning.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PMRpixie]

Naturally curly hair can be a bane unless you have a BRILLIANT hairdresser! Most want to cut to blow dry - and it just doesn't work. You can spend all the time you want blow-drying but on a damp or windy day by the time I have driven home it will be doing its own thing. The woman I have gone to for 6 years and who should now KNOW has made a mess the last 3 times, the third being "The End". It was fine until I had to wash it - and then...

I have found another who appears to know the problems - at least, it sounds like it from what she said!

[yogabonnie]

My stylist said, wow you've lost a lot and now it's much finer but think how quickly it dries and your hair was on the too thick side anyway! AND I hear once we are off the prednisone ..or at least lower... we get it back!

[Koalajane in reply to yogabonnie]

Mine has only happened recently and on 7mg now, so hopefully it will get better in a while. The hairdresser said it might be better in about 3 months after more cuts, but she will keep me informed. I don't know how low we have to get for it to improve

[yogabonnie in reply to Koalajane]

I'm at 9.5... so a ways to go. have a pink spot on the top.. working the comb over...!

[Mstiles]

I’ve been on prednisone since January, I’ve noticed a lot more loss and breakage in the last month. It’s so dry too. It’s pretty depressing, hope it comes back as I lower the dose. I’m on 27.5 right now.

I also have had thyroid issues before GCA/PMR, was hyper but know trending hypo, so possibly this is contributing.

It’s always been curly, and I still have that, hides some of the sparse spots!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mstiles]

You were seriously ill last December - and when you have been ill it often takes up to 6 months for the effects on your hair to become visible. It may not just be the pred, or not even the pred.

[shella]

Thought it was just me .... hair falling out ....very curly anyway now can’t do anything with it ...none of the products work ... very depressing perhaps I will give up trying to grow it and get a good cut.... might help!

[Jamie345]

My hair has really suffered since I was put on the predisinone bad condition and massive fall out, don't risk a perm if I was you much to harsh try some good hair treatments my daughter is a hairdresser and she is trying treatments on my hair to see if it helps

[Sandradsn]

I've been on pred 2 1/2 years and the past six months it's turned into a frizzy mop.My son is getting married in 2 weeks so I was growing it a bit.I didn't want short hair and moon face in photos 😂I will have it trimmed next week.It used to be soft and slightly wavey,also the heat makes it frizz🙄

[Soraya_PMR in reply to Sandradsn]

A wedding? What better excuse for a hat?

I’m sure you’ll look lovely. Bet everyone says “Ooh you do look well!” (Maybe a hat AND a brick in your handbag?)

[Sandradsn in reply to Soraya_PMR]

😂I've got one of those little fascinator things to plonk on my head,did look at hats today though!! I'm dreading the photos with my fat cheeks😳

[Hidden]

My hairdresser has always refused to perm my hair even before PMR, despite regular perms in the 1970s. Had my hair cut short as my hair dryer has suddenly become heavy for some reason! Good news that it might turn a bit curly anyway!!XXX 👸

[Pam47]

Aveeda products are good for thinning hair/hair loss. They are very expensive but I do think they make a difference.

[Singr]

Hair coming out in clumps when I wash it. It is baby fine already. Also my hair is now a short bob but has breaks and splits most way up. Grr damn you pred.

[alice1940]

Been on pred 3 years and 3 months now down to 1 mg my naturally wavy hair turned into a curly mop and got very thin ,Now it is back to it's wavy self but still thin l wash it once a week and let it dry naturally hopefully it will get thicker again not holding much hope though as l am 3 and a half years older and as we age our hair thins so l have been told oh well there is still hope Alice

[AliDeJ]

Yes.My hair has been falling out alarmingly but there is some new growth too. It's brittle and frizzy where it used to be straight and sleek. Maybe I should try the folic acid as others have here . I use Clairol Loving Care non permanent hair colour,no ammonia and no peroxide which makes it look better for a while. I'm very allergic to the conditioner which they provide with that product. ..which I suspect is Pantene as I am allergic to that and it's made by the same company.

[kathleen18]

Yes, exactly the same thing happened to me. I also noticed that my hair was getting very thin which was a worry as it grows very slowly at the best of times. I didn't go to a hairdresser for 6 months then just had the ends trimmed. It is slowly getting longer and surprisingly has become curly! I don't use any heat on my hair, like tongs which I always used before, just let it dry naturally, so a lot easier. So far the only advantage of pred!

[S4ndy]

I always had dead straight greasy hair which I have dyed for years. My long locks started to fall out. It was also increasingly hard to cover the greys with colour. I decided to get it all chopped off in Feb this year and let nature take its course. I now have salt and pepper short curly, yes curly hair. Its a bit dry nowadays too but that helps with the style I have. Weird how its changed so much but I am not complaining this is one side effect I can deal with

[sondya]

On pred for over a year. Didn't notice it until a friend pointed out that my normally thick straight hair had got curly. Everyone wanted my medicines! Nearly off pred, and it's going back to straight. Aarrrrgh!

[Beefeater]

Thanks to all who posted about bad hair. Few months ago, my mid length hair started falling out. Now it’s very short from breakage. My head is wearing a curly mop like ready to clean toilet. It’s said but from what’s been posted, it will grow back. I guess I won’t wash every week. I cover head with hat when it’s cold. Dreading winter. Beefeater