Hair and prednisone

[gtate1914]

I was losing my hair when on methotrexate and since it didn’t seem to be helping me, I stopped taking it. I cut my hair super short, 1/2 inch, and as it grew back it looked thicker and now it is also very curly. I normally have straight hair. Has anyone else experienced curly hair as a result of prednisone?

[1964-karina]

Definitely! My hair has always had a slight curl but now in the morning I look like Dougal the dog from magic roundabout, a heartfelt thanks to whoever invented straighteners!!!

[Longtimer]

Yes, I battle with it all the time, it drives me mad...going to the hairdressers Saturday, it will look tidy for about a week, when cut very short....then it will do what it wants...hate it....

[SnazzyD]

Yes. History of my since GCA/Pred March 2017

Hair became thicker and more lustrous until 5 months in most of hair (salt and pepper, straight with a kick) fell out in clumps over a week or two just before a cruise. Gave up wearing a wig in 40C in Rome on the basis that I probably wouldn’t see most of the million international tourists again.

Grew back rapidly thick and straight over 6 months. Would have cut it short were it not for the Pred moon face and ‘beard’.

Hit 7mg and it became thin, whiter, uninteresting and patchy. Looked like a mad scientist with new hair competing with old at different lengths. In despair about 10 months until it rallied again at about 3mg. V tender scalp so got it cut shorter, scalp cured. Hair how an even salt and pepper but curly. Not half bad. Who knows what’s next.

[SheffieldJane]

Yes I have. I went through a phase of having really thin fragile hair. I didn’t comb it for fear of losing more.My lovely hairdresser, Laura, took me in hand with a good cut and Kevin Murphy, strengthening, products. My hair has become thicker and naturally curly finally. It is so easy to sort out as wetting it and scrunching it with my fingers transforms it. It was almost straight before. One bright side effect for me.

[suzy1959]

Same here! Having had straight and very fine hair with no texture, once I went on Mathotrexate it all changed. A lot fell out and it grew back thick and curly. I had to learn a whole new way of styling my hair. So much easier! Now, about 4 years later, my hair is not thick any more but has settled into being wavy and I can get it to curl if I make the effort. I am happy with it.

[Hidden]

Yes it definitely affects the texture of your hair. I’ve had Chemo too & the hair that grows back that we refer to as ‘Chemo Hair’ & the Methotrexate has a very similar effect which is only to be expected as it is a Chemo Drug just in a much lower dose.

I’ve been off Methotrexate 6months now & my Chemo affected Hair is now staring to grow! Yay! 💁🏻‍♀️

[Marijo1951]

My experience is similar to others. I know some people on the forum say their hair went curly when they started on pred, but I'm pretty sure mine only changed when I started on MTX. I'm one of 5 sisters and the only one to be blessed with dead straight hair. This meant that when I was little, my mother was always putting my hair in tight curlers, which I hated. When I got to 15 in 1966, my straight hair was an asset especially as I looked good with a fringe, so Mary Quant was my heroine. Now my hair is definitely between wavy and curly (maybe 'wispy' would be a good word since it's so fine). The other day I got caught out in a storm and it went into tight curls. Another change is that it doesn't need to be washed very often. I'm certainly not complaining about that.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Loads of us - though how depends on the person and steroid. Mine had always been curly, went thinner and straighter with PMR, got a bit better with prednisolone, turned into a brillo pad that simply didn't grow with methylprednisolone, started to fall out in chunks within a week with methotrexate and is back to almost normal on the current version of prednisone!!! It is growing - well below earlobe level at last!

[gtate1914]

Sounds like a lot of us experience curly hair, goes to show how powerful a drug pred is, as if we didn't know. I'm ok with the change, don't need that curling iron anymore:), even find it easier to work with.....

[GOOD_GRIEF]

Mine was always fine but there was a lot of it, with a wave. I started taking folate 1mg tablets every day and now it's back to normal.

Nails are nice and strong, too.

[Hidden in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

Good_Grief

How long have you been taking the Folate for? And is it Folate as opposed to Folic Acid?

Thanks

MrsN 💁🏻‍♀️

[GOOD_GRIEF in reply to Hidden]

It's marked as Folate on the prescription bottle, and I've been taking it for about 14 months now. But my hair and nails responded withing a couple of months.

[Hidden in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

That’s great! Might be just what l need for that final boost, especially as I’m now off the Methotrexate! 💁🏻‍♀️

[GOOD_GRIEF in reply to Hidden]

Hmmm...Folate is usually prescribed along side MTX to counteract the side effects - nausea, mouth ulcers, hair loss etc....

[Hidden in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

Hi, yes l used to take it as Folic Acid on my non MTX days, which was stopped last August, l was just wondering if it would benefit me to try it again.

I lost all my hair after Chemo but it’s never grown back again properly. I’ll have a chat with my GP next time l see her.

Thanks 💐

MrsN

[GOOD_GRIEF in reply to Hidden]

Wishing you a return to luscious locks, no matter how you get there...

[jrsteiger9]

I've been on prednisone for three years. High dose for six months gradually down to a low dose of 2-1/2 mil. My hair has a natural wave and I really haven't noticed much difference. I will say that when I travel to a place with high humidity, it does get curlier. I have noticed I have a lot more facial hair since I started this medication and I hate it!!

[Hidden in reply to jrsteiger9]

You could consider having the hair on your face ‘Threaded’ though l’d suggest a patch test in a small area first.

After Chemo my face became covered in down, like a new baby, l had it all threaded away & it’s been pretty much OK since.

[GOOD_GRIEF in reply to jrsteiger9]

I'd be very wary of threading, waxing etc. Pred thins skin a lot. The consequences could be a problem. I remember mamici's account of what happened when she tried a chemical method. Let's just say she said it was not pretty.

[Hidden in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

That’s why l suggested a Patch Test, someone was talking about this issue yesterday.