Late in my 11 months on prednisone, I experienced hair loss that was more pronounced than previous “sheds” that I had attributed to menopause. As I’ve never had very thick hair, any hair loss is distressing. But at least there are lots of new short hairs coming in, so it may get better over the next year or so.
Have others had hair loss while taking prednisone? Did it grow back?
Look up AmberAliona’s post about this a month or so ago. Search for her in ‘members’.
Or Just put ‘hair loss’ into search engine.
She has found a shampoo which helps her a lot. There have been lots of posts about hair changes, curly, waves, frizzy. The general consensus has been it goes back to more normal as dose gets lower.
Mary
Hmm. I tried searching hair loss before posting, and mainly got weight loss posts. Perhaps I needed to put “quotes “ around the two words?
I just put hair loss , no quotes.
Look up AmberAliona in members at top of page and you will see all her posts.
Found it. (Used quotes)
Sounds good that there are new hairs coming in. Some on here report different texture or curliness when it comes back. I’m sure mine will never be the same, I currently have it cut extremely short so I don’t have to deal with it.
I got Viviscal which someone recommended on this forum. They do shampoo and conditioner. I went to the hairdresser recently and she commented on how much thicker my hair had become. It is also in much better condition. I could not believe it.
Yes my hair went very thin and it has come back thicker and curly now I am down to 5 mgs. My hairdresser helped me with a clever cut and Kevin Murphy products. Expensive but effective.
I blamed pred for thinning hair then I stopped alendronic acid and within 8 weeks my hair was all back to normal thickness. Still taking pred and I have no more hair loss . are you on AA
I’m not.
Yes, I also had hair loss, about the same time as you did, nine months in to starting prednisone. I found it very upsetting and had no idea how long it would last. My doctor told me it was either from the shock of the illness or the Prednisone, but several people on this site have had the same experience with Prednisone. My hair is now back to normal....it did not take too long, but was very depressing while it lasted. Do not wash your hair too often and use a thickening shampoo when you do. This too shall pass.
Thanks, Stella and all who replied. We can put up with a lot, but our hair is so tied in to our identity that when it starts falling out, it’s panic time!
If you have a look through past posts you will find a lot of older threads - 4 of them are listed on the side bar. If you go to the Search HealthUnlocked box at the top right and type in hair loss you will get thousands of finds, then use the filter to limit it to PMRGCAuk - brings it down to a list of 400.
Often the illness it self contributes to the hair loss - and it often takes up to 9 months for it to become obvious. The natural reaction is to blame the pred as it can be that but it isn't always. My hair loss was always the PMR and once on pred it improved. Methotrexate was far worse, it fell out in lumps, and when I was on Medrol it went frizzy, stopped growing AND fell out!!! But it has always got back to somewhere near normal afterwards.
Thanks. You guys are great at reassuring us newbies.
And very patient with our (my) impatience!
I lost loads, and it grew back curly, and actually looks rather nice - so hang on in there.
So is it the prednisone or the PMR that causes hair to fall out? Opinions seem to vary.
Either, neither or both - it is purely because everyone is different. Mine fell out because of the vasculitis part of PMR affecting blood flow to the hair follicles - had to be, I wasn't on pred. For some people it doesn't start until well after being on pred - it could still possibly be due to the PMR but there is no way of ever knowing since if it stops after you get off pred you still cannot know which it was as the PMR/GCA has also gone away.
I realise it is upsetting - but there is little point in devoting a lot of energy on worrying which it is as it won't change anything. You are where you are as with so much of life with PMR/GCA.
It is what it is. But it’s nice to know more about possible outcomes anyway. Thanks, PRO.
I ordered the Viviscal therapy shampoo and conditioner online at Target. About 7.5 ounces each for about $7.50. Free shipping if you pick up at store. It’s very concentrated so a little goes a long way, on my thin locks anyway! Also, I like the way it smells.
I’ve used it 3 times so far (I shampoo every third day). I like the way my hair looks and feels, though it probably isn’t actually thicker. It just feels puffed up, like maybe it’s absorbing moisture, or maybe individual strands are father apart (as if electrically charged).
Whatever it is, it will help me survive till the regrowth that I know is beginning. Lots of short new hairs coming in, especially noticeable around the nape of my neck.
Looking forward to some curls - it’s been stick straight and baby-fine all my life.
I’ve just ordered the serum, l’ve been using the shampoo for a couple of weeks now 💁🏻♀️
It’s the crown of my head that’s still very thin but it’s improving! 🙏🏼
But the Methotrexate was stopped in August so hopefully now that’s out of my system too, it might improve!
Hair Loss - Feeling Desperate 
Rogaine and hair loss
Methotrexate Hair Loss
Hair and prednisone 
Can the inflammation of PMR cause hair loss?
