Hair loss on pred

[Poppylop]

Hi all, Is anyone else having hair loss on pred ?, Mine was thinning anyway due to the menopause but every time I went to the hairdressers she said it wasn't looking that bad but this time she said she could notice it had thinned since last time, every time I comb it after washing it almost comes out in hand fulls and it's gone really dry and worzel gummage looking, it's really getting me down as my scalp is really starting to show, I'm hating this medication ,I seem to have every side effects going, do you think once i start reducing my dose from 40mg my hair will improve.

[SnazzyD]

Hello, this came up a day or so ago. Try this

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Maisie1958]

Morning Poppylop .

It seems to be a common problem unfortunately -either from the prednisolone or from being ill with PMR/GCA . You’ll probably see a list of related posts that have come up now you have written this, most recently from crochetlover yesterday. You’ll get more tips and hints from those.

Certainly my hair thinned a few months post diagnosis but then the hair loss seemed to just stop and it soon came back just a bit curlier. Hopefully yours will improve soon too though it’s certainly an added misery at the time. All good wishes.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Don’t blame the Pred entirely.

Most notice the condition of their hair within the first few months of treatment so automatically blame the medication, but it’s just as likely to be the fact that you were ill before diagnosis. It can take about 6 months for your hair to reflect your general state of health - and that also includes stress (something you may not necessarily associate with hair loss).

For some Pred doesn’t help, for others is okay, but as you said you already had thinning hair due to menopause so it’s a bit of a double whammy.

Give it time - it will get better, in the meanwhile treat it kindly by washing it less and talk to your hairdresser - if she’s any good, she will give you advice and a cut that makes the best of it.

Now off the medication, my hair is in better condition than it’s been for a long time - probably 15 years - long before GCA or Pred!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I went through a mad hair period when on methyl prednisolone - looked like a brillo pad and it stopped growing! But it also coincided with a major flare and other medical problems. I was switched to a form of prednisone and it all improved. Like DL, my hair now is back to normal and in good condition most of the time. But even now it reflects a flare of the PMR or another medical problem.

[piglette]

My hair really looked like a hair stack. It used to be straight and greasy. It then became curly and very dry. I had it cut very short which improved it no end and it looked quite funky.

[Daffodilia]

My hair loss reduced as I reduced pred

[PMRCanada]

I experienced thinning after starting pred, however as of now, it seems to have stopped shedding. I wash it less often, use a good conditioner, and use a wide tooth hair pic to comb it out. I also noticed a change in the consistency (wavy now whereas previously it was poker straight), and the underside is where it is the thinnest. Due to sweating around my whole neck and cleavage, its the underside of my hair that is often damp and curlier.

I started taking Biotin about 6 months ago and I have noted an improvement, however to each their own. Since on Biotin my hair is growing faster, and my fingernails are harder and grow faster too (I've been a lifelong nail biter, but now I don't simply because my nails are so hard lol).

With a reduction/cessation of pred, I believe folks report a return to their healthy head of hair, albeit maybe a bit curlier.

I understand how distressing this can be, it was for me given I grew up in a hairdressing family. Sometimes the side effects of pred can cause us great discouragement. I try to put it in perspective......I can deal with thinning hair, bruising skin, and the sweats. Easier than grappling with diabetes, hypertension, cataracts, and other more serious side effects.

[Woolyhead]

I've had just the opposite, no hair loss and it's gone quite greasy. I have really thick hair and always lost quite a lot but since on Prednisolone I've lost less. Lost my appetite too. I'm honestly feeling a bit of a freak.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Woolyhead]

I lost my appetite too! So does my older daughter. You are not alone!

[Woolyhead in reply to PMRpro]

Thank goodness for that. 😂