Has anybody noticed a lot of “peach fuzz” on their faces since being on Prednisone? I have developed quite a bit!
facial hair: Has anybody noticed a lot of “peach... - PMRGCAuk
facial hair
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Holycow2
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It seems hair moves to your face, but disappears from under your arms. It did mean I did not have to shave my armpits when I went swimming!
Yea I have not hair under my armpits and takes longer for hair leg to grow. The public hair has also gone VERY sparse! And blonde when my hair is hark
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It isn't uncommon, lots of people experience it. In some cases it can be much coarser than peach fluff - I was on methylprednisolone for about 6 months and developed quite a dramatic black beard! No idea why, My head hair has been almost totally white since I was 45. I used my Braun epilator very successfully to deal with it - no stubble left and not too bad at all after the first few times which were a bit ouchy. It hadn't happened on prednisolone and as soon as I was switched to prednisone it started to fade away so it does vary. It will improve as the pred dose falls. Some people also develop some more stubbly facial hair.
It’s very fine and fair luckily! But when Sat having say a conversation it’s noticeable S my daughters have both pointed it out over the last 3 weeks or so. I’m scared to try and remove it incase it comes back thicker!! It’s so depressing! I have read I could have Cushing’s syndrome!
Hi Holycow2,
I also have naturally fair hair and developed quite a lot of peach fuzz down the sides of my cheeks whilst on higher doses of prednisolone.
It was only really noticeable when the light caught it in certain ways but it was still 'there'!
I was tempted several times to remove it myself, but resisted as I was concerned once I began that task I would forever need to do it..... even if I ceased taking steroids.
I'm glad I did resist because as I've slowly tapered my dose down, so the peach fuzz has diminished of its own accord. Happy days!
Hi Kendrew thanks for the reply. How low did you get before it disappeared? I’m now on 5mg ? Been taking prednisone for 2 years! Had got down to 2ng a while back so had go back up. Yea I was tempted to remove but to scared it would grow back worse! You have given me hope thank you!! It’s only recently started to show I think
It probably began to diminish from around 7mgs downwards but wasn't really visibly obvious until I'd dropped to around 4 to 5mgs. That process covered at least 6 to 9mths though as I taper very slowly and steadily. It was only then that I noticed that the peach fuzz was far less noticeable.
I'm currently on 3½mgs and it's gone completely......as have my puffy cheeks!
You don't have Cushings - the facial hair is due to the dose of pred you are on. Cushings is when there is a problem with the HPA axis (hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenals) such as a tumour somewhere that is secreting cortisol. It is correct to say you may be Cushingoid, that is the word that says you have the same symptoms as patients with Cushings: weight in certain places including the face and midriff, facial hair and a few other things. But as you reduce your pred dose that will fade away. It happened to me on methyl pred but all went away once I was off it.
It is a myth that removing hair makes it grow back stronger. That is usually what people think because shaving means the soft fine tip of the hair is cut off but the root remains and when it grows the tip is no longer fine. so looks coarser. They now produce epilators specifically for the face - I found mine did a brilliant job.
Oh thank you! I’m worrying about everything at the moment, I have a few health issues so minds all over the place ☹️
I remove it with a chemical luckily it is very fair but very annoying they grow long. I use Surgi cream very gentle facial hair removal . Sadly I even lost eyebrows and eyelashes.
OMG! Eyebrows and lashes! Do you think it’s the Pred or the PMR responsible for that? Have they grown back? How much Pred do you take?
currently 1 mg. I have been on prednisone for over 2 years due to GCA. Yes I used to have thick lashes and eyebrows now gradually my lashes are very spare and short and so are my brows .
Know that problem. I noticed it, like sideburns, making putting on foundation uneven. Then I found Hollywood Browzer on the Internet. It’s especially for those pesky unwanted guests. Unlike shaving it gently scrapes away the hair also dead skin leaving a smooth surface. It doesn’t alter hair growth in that it doesn’t come back thicker. It looks like a little cut throat razor but with cerated edges. It’s brilliant. Especially for us ladies. £10 or less and I’ve had mine for ages. Hope this cheers you up 😍
Thank you! I will look it up. Are you still on Pred? How often do you need to do it?
Yep, still on pred. Hair appeared really dark (I was a brunette) when I started on 15mg . Did the gp organised tapering down to 2mg. Tried to go to 1mg but bod wasn’t having it. Fluctuating now from 2 to 4 - seven years on. Have not had to use the Browser much, just to remove peach fuz, sideburns didn’t come back. It’s so easy to do. Hoped you’ll be happy with the result 😉
I use a Finishing Touch Flawless Women's Painless Hair Remover , White/Rose Gold. It's basically an electric razor but pleasanter and simpler. The fuzz doesn't come back darker and thicker. It's always the same. The smattering of firmer dark hairs on part of my chin I will pluck or, when lazy, will shave with the device. If I shave, only the firmer, chin hairs come back as bristles at first. But then, if left, they get a tiny bit longer and don't feel rough. Plucking avoids that first bristly stage.
This little shaver really does the job well. I recently was in the hospital and shaved my mustache off my lip each morning while still in bed. It only takes a minute to do so. Every few days I take the peach fuzz off my cheeks. That takes very little time. It has never come back any different in appearance.
You will find that this is a common side effect of Pred. Could we be anymore lovely? I think it rights itself, in the meantime it’s easily dealt with.
You could use a Dermaplaner - very easy to use and removes peach fuzz. I haven’t noticed my fine fuzz growing back any stronger/thicker. If you do decide to do it please look up videos on technique - it is more of a very light touch than shaving.
WILKINSON SWORD - Intuition Eyebrow Shaper | Facial Hair Remover and Trimmer | Exfoliating Dermaplaning Tool | 3 x Disposable Razors amzn.eu/d/0MbgP5e
When I was on a high dose pred I started to notice dark hair on my face, I was horrified, I once used hair removing cream but then reacted to that. It soon went back to normal once I reduced pred. I’ve also got no hair under my arms, not sure if that started before pred though, it saves me shaving it 😀
How low did you get before rit went? Really weird I also have no hair under arms and very slow frowning on legs the other “ladybug” has also very sparse !
Not weird - It is the natural effect of higher than physiological levels of corticosteroids in the body.
not long really, I was on 60mg to begin with, then 50mg and so on, I think it was while I was on over 30mg. My legs have also lost hair, I very rarely shave them, maybe once a month. It seems once the hair has gone it never comes back. Don’t worry, I’m sure you notice it far more than others, it will calm down.
I'm not on prednisone but I've noticed a lot of peach hair on my face just lately. Wonder if it is related to the condition itself rather than to the drug?
If you mean PMR - no, no reason for it to cause peach fluff. Thyroid problems can also cause similar symptoms to PMR and facial hair.
which symptoms does j thyroid cause?
Muscle aches and stiffness. It is a rule-out in the differential diagnosis.
Yes, happened to me too. But, my head hair which had been thinning has now thickened significantly. My hairdresser is most impressed.
Also leg hair has become less obvious and thinner; hadn't realised this till I read the responses. Good and bad stuff!
I have the peach fuzz, but I also have a few demon long, coarse dark hairs that sprout around my mouth and have to be regularly plucked. However with the pred reduction, (now on 2.5mg) they are not growing quite so quickly. But my head hair continues to fall out in droves. It's gone nice and curly at the back, but the front is straighter and stays put wherever the wind blows it. There's no weight to it. I can brush it, but within 3 minutes it looks unbrushed. I've tried straighteners, conditioners etc to no avail. I saw a programme about Ken Dodd; he had hair that would stay put. Maybe I should celebrate it!
It happened to me and now off the prednisone and it seems to be disappearing some.
I now feel relief to know my peach fuzz will go away. TY all, I love this site. Has been more helpful to me than my rheumy.
For sure. 
I am finding the side effects worse than the PMR
I have facial hair but my hair on my head is just a mass of frizz no matter what I do I wash and straighten it and with in hours it’s a mass of frizz I cannot believe it I don’t want to go out anywhere
Find a hairdresser who can deal with what they now call "textured hair". There is no point trying to tame hair that has developed a natural curl, it will always revert to type. My naturally wavy hair lost the bounce with PMR, nothing to do with pred, I wasn't on it. It became drier and difficult to manage but it would blow dry and straighten unless it got blown around or wet, Then it later developed pred curls - just as I moved here and hadn't got a decent hairdresser! It must be cut by someone who understands you have to work with the curl. And then it will look reasonable. I have long pure white hair that underneath is frizzy but the top layer is long enough to have smoothed out to 1940s waves - and I get loads of compliments.
Acceptance is everything in PMR - whatever the change you have to meet. This too will pass,
Have a look at this link from the FAQs- and as PMRpro says you need accept the new you…. difficult though it may be -there is a lot that can be done to help.
..and although PMR and Pred may not be pleasant- and this may sound harsh it’s not meant to be -just be thankful you don’t have a more serious illness -
healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...
I know and having lost 3 siblings I should be grateful
Just it does have an effect on my mood I am not usually vain
Thank you for your reply
I know exactly how you feel! It’s not a case of being vain at all. I am 58 and don’t want to end up looking like a man. It’s no surprise it effects your mood and yes I lost a granddaughter of 13 years old and also lost my sister age 50 both to cancer so yes I know there are worse things we could have but it does not mean this disease and the medication and horrible side effects are just to be “acceptable “ we want to do all we can to deal with the side effects and hopefully recover from it so as we don’t have to have these awful side effects anymore and get off this medication (hopefully).
I know Pred and the illness has an effect on mood, and although it’s difficult [and more difficult for some than others] you have to tell yourself it’s only temporary… you will come through this…
Yes I totally agree with you and that’s what I keep telling myself but the disease is bad enough without the crappy side effects that come with it ☹️ It is also for a lot of people not the only physical illness they are having to cope with. I have gone from someone who never had to go to the dr to someone who has now got 3 other conditions that I’m dealing with and it totally gets you down after a while.
and it totally gets you down after a while.
Oh I know that… I’ve had my fair share believe me …..
We know. We are also patients. DL lost the sight in one eye due to GCA and I have had PMR for 18 years, undiagnosed and untreated for 5 years. Maybe that gives us a slightly different view of pred - it saved her sight and gave me a relatively pain-free life back. I haven't had any pred effects that were worse than 5 years of PMR without it - and that isn't to say I haven't had any, weight gain, Einstein hair, megabruising, and several others. And there are few effects worse than the ultimate GCA effect of loss of sight.
I have other conditions too - atrial fibrillation that is due to the PMR, not pred, that requires a pacemaker and a few medications. I needed higher doses of pred to be able to function as carer for my late husband. It was and is what it is - no point me giving way to it all.
Yes and everybody is different and something that makes life different for one person may not be the same for another. This is not a competition, everyone has different thoughts and feelings
We are all different that is why it’s good to be able to talk honestly on this site at times when we don’t want to worry our family
Appreciate all the comments and the different experiences that people share
I wasn't making it a competition - just pointing out we all have our struggles.
This is not a competition
No it’s not…and certainly not one anyone would want to win… and that was not PMRpro’s point. …. Just that we do understand. This is a very supportive forum.
Yes!! I’m same, I use Braun facial epilator, does a fabulous job. First few times a challenge but gets easier.
Personally l was growing fine hair on and under my chin before l started on pred. I’ve always thought it was just a result of getting old. I was 80 when l got PMR and am now 87. I have a small electric razor to use. My friend, now 82 , has quite a beard but doesn’t seem bothered. She doesn’t have PMR.
Yes, I use an epilator with good success. A bit "ouchy" as Pro says but worth it to get rid of the fuzz. I remember my mother saying that leg hair got much less as she got older so maybe the other bodily hair diminishing is just a feature of getting older - there HAVE to be some positives surely?
I never did develop fuzz, just all of a sudden inch long hairs on my chin. I usually discover them while sitting at the computer and rubbing my chin.. And then giving them a good yank. I may continue to get those little hairs because of my age. I do miss the prednisone face lift!💞
Happens to me when there's a full moon.
I have eczema, so have to be careful about how to remove hair. Periodically I pull out the hairs on my chin by the roots, just to tidy up a bit, then apply a soothing cream. The ones that grow at the corners of my mouth get irritating when they keep rubbing it. But yes, I do get a lot more facial hair than I should (even at my age). I'm still on 19mg prednisolone and reducing very gradually, so am likely to be excessively hairy for a long time.
oh yes! I have to pluck once a week or more often. You will need a good set of tweezers probably. 😩
Poor you! Mine is very fine peach fluff on my face. Nothing I can pluck☹️
Yes, I developed more peach fuzz on my face. More annoying was that my lady sideburns grew longer. Also, I hadn't noticed until my doctor pointed out that I had peach fuzz on my shoulders, too.
The good news is that when I reduced the amount of prednisone, the peach fuzz on both my face and shoulders went back to normal. Unfortunately, the sideburns are still long, I'm thinking of using a depilator or trying electrolosis.
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