collagen supplement

[jsk10]

Having PMR since 2021 my Hair has now given up and become a wavy mess. I am on 6.5 of Prednisolone and have had a few flares. I wanted to know has anyone tried collagen supplement it is supposed to be good for hair and nails. Will this have any effect on steroids or my PMR. I don’t want to make this worse. Thank you

[piglette]

My hair looked just like a haystack. I tried avery sort of shampoo, conditioner etc that I could find. In the end in frustration I had it cut really short so it just stuck up all over my head and people said how much younger I looked and how they liked it!

[jsk10 in reply to piglette]

Sounds like a good idea if only I didn’t look like a convict with short hair. Just wondered if collagen helps.

[piglette in reply to jsk10]

Nothing seemed to help except short, spiky hair. It was not quite as short as a convict's hair, probably an inch or two, but it used to be shoulder length.

[jsk10 in reply to piglette]

👍

[Potemkin]

Hi - have you tried Champo? I've been using it for a while and it's really changed the texture of my hair. They also have gummies but I haven't bothered with them. Also a good hair wax might help style your hair. I've just bought one that my hairdresser used.

Good luck with taming it!

[jsk10 in reply to Potemkin]

Thank you for replying am going to try collagen.

[Satya70 in reply to jsk10]

I tried collagen and it didn’t really help.

[Flipper12345yellow]

I had matted fuzzy hair for 2 years whilst on methotrexate and pred. Once I stopped methotrexate my hair went soft again.

[jsk10 in reply to Flipper12345yellow]

Glad your hair went back to normal but I don’t know how long I will be on Meds.

[LabradorH]

Hello. I tried a collagen supplement. The health clinic dietician suggested that it might be worth a try regarding skin deterioration during prednisone use. I did not notice any benefit after about 6 months of use and didn’t notice anything after discontinuing the collagen. There seemed to be no harm in trying…

[jsk10 in reply to LabradorH]

Thank you sorry it didn’t work for you.

[Paininthenck]

my hair was falling out in handfuls, flaky nails and awful skin. I started to use Absolute Collagen, it’s a syrup in sachets. It’s really worked, hair growing back, strong nails, skin thicker. It’s not the cheapest, I had tried other collagen products before but they didn’t help. Took about 6/8 weeks to start to see results. Hope that’s helpful 😊👍

[jsk10 in reply to Paininthenck]

Thank you for the recommendation. That is the one i was going to try. I’m so glad it has worked for you.

[Paininthenck in reply to jsk10]

Fingers crossed it works as well for you too 😊

[Potter100]

I noticed recently that my hair was thinning (slight bald patch on crown) & has gone very fly away & coarse looking. It is still soft & fine, but has no shine any more & has also developed waves in all the wrong places! I have given up trying 'special' treatments & just use a gentle shampoo/conditioner. I have never been able to 'manage' my hair myself & made the mistake of trying a new style that looked lovely when the hairdresser finished, but dire when I try. I'm just trying not to get too upset & hope that all goes back to normal if I ever get off pred. I have too many side effects to worry over, with moon face, fat gut, breathlessness, pre-diabetic, tiredness & now a bad hip which may or may not be part of it all. My initial pain in arms disappeared after first dose of pred & I have been slowly weaning off ever since, but it is such a long slow process. One day at a time. Friends say they don't notice changes, but I do! It does help to know that I am not alone & that it should resolve. I hope you get good results too.

[jsk10 in reply to Potter100]

Thank you. Yes like you lots of side effects from this horrible disease. It can only get better I keep telling myself.

[AngelRain]

I've been taking collagen and silica for six months. No miraculous results, but nails are stronger and long term hair loss problem exacerbated by steroids, seems to be easing with lots of new growth. I'm going to keep going and review at the end of the year.

[jsk10 in reply to AngelRain]

Thank you yes I think I am going to give collagen a go.

[Mortalflesh]

I am on Prednisolone and Methotrexate and my hair became thin in patches, curly and the texture of my hair had no strength in it I was prescribed folic acid from my rheumatologist, to be taken daily, Not to be taken on the day u take methotrexate. It has improved the condition of my hair. Please check with your GP/Rheumatologist before taking folic acid.

[jsk10 in reply to Mortalflesh]

Thank you for your reply

[Whippetygirl]

My hair was a frizzy mess I looked like Wurzel Gummage so when I had washed and dried my hair with my hair dryer I dipped my finger in coconut oil rubbed it over my hands and then gently applied it to my hair by just going over lightly. Then use hairdryer again to brush it through, you only need a little amount of coconut oil, wipe any excess off on your towel. The difference is amazing.

[jsk10 in reply to Whippetygirl]

Thank you I will give this a try.

[Mumdadlove]

Hi, it’s really horrible when your hair is affected, my hair was the best bit about me and after 6 months on pred it started falling out, luckily I had lots of it, I started using absolute collagen sachets and I definitely think it’s helped, the texture of my hair has completely changed and is now a frizzy Brillo pad mess, I am abroad at the moment and didn’t bring the collagen with me(here for 6weeks) my hair is falling out again, maybe coincidence I don’t know, but I’m on the same dose of pred as last year when this happened, I also take biotin tablets and folic acid, hair sprouting every where else, even nostrils and arms hairier, along with the moon face and two stone weight gain, plus the other side effects, just great! I will definitely get back to the collagen when home, good luck and wishing you well

[jsk10 in reply to Mumdadlove]

Thank you definitely am going to give collagen a try. A few people now have said it helps. Hope you get back to using yours. I just want to feel like me again.

[Satya70 in reply to jsk10]

Is absolute collagen available in regular drug stores in the US?

[Kendrew]

KHi jsk10,

Unfortunately, most of us taking prednisolone will at some point probably experience thinning hair and/or some hair loss.

Interestingly, I listened to a really good podcast from a series of podcasts called 'Sliced Bread', on BBC Sounds.

Each week they focus on a question from a listener regarding the accuracy of claims made for a product or lifestyle, calling on experts who've carried out research and studies to 'find out the truth about'..... whatever it is.

The one I listened to was regarding hair loss and the use of supplements to stimulate re-growth.

Sadly, the consensus of opinion was that there is no real evidence to support the claim that collagen supplements have any significant effect on improving the thickness, growth, shine or volume of hair.

Collagen in oral form has to be broken down into peptides which then have to be broken down further before it can be transformed into something useful to hair, skin or nails, so it's questionable whether any of that supplement can actually reach the hair, skin or nails.

Any improvement experienced could also be down to other factors, so for instance:-

- is the person maybe eating a healthier diet with more protein, vitamins, etc.

- have they recently given up smoking or alcohol

- are they drinking more water

- are they tapering down to lower doses of prednisolone

All of these things can and do impact on the health of our hair and are therefore factors to also consider when determining the reasons for visible improvements.

However, if a person thinks a collagen supplement is helping them, then who is anyone to argue and discount it!

We all find a degree of success in our daily challenges from different and varied sources, and what works for some, won't necessarily work for others.

What's important, is that whatever we do or take to enhance our health and well-being, (as long as it isn't harmful to us) we feel it's being of some benefit and therefore we feel better about ourselves.

[jsk10 in reply to Kendrew]

Thank you