Balding

[GivenUp24]

I’ve been on prednisone for over a year, finally down to 12.5 and my hair is falling out in chunks. I’m bald on both sides of my head. One more insult !! This one is really getting to me.

[piglette]

Are you taking methotrexate with the steroids? It does seem to have the effect of causing hair to fall out. Some people even say steroids can cause the same problem.

[GivenUp24 in reply to piglette]

No… just prednisone

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Is it relatively even hair loss or is it in discrete patches?

[GivenUp24]

seems to be the same spot on both side of my head

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GivenUp24]

How big? Is it anything like this

aad.org/public/diseases/hai...

[agingfeminist]

I have intermittently had the same problem. It does improve a little on lower doses (or was that coincidence) but returned a few weeks ago, even though on a low dose(2mg). A wig or fancy scarf? Vacuuming quantities of hair off the floor is very dispiriting. Perhaps check there isn't another cause...

[Pixix]

I have a patch on one side, it is very thin, & never grows. Hairdresser tries to style so some from nearby covers it up, but never cuts it! Sorry if it’s too much info, but the armpit hair doesn’t grow either, & I haven’t shaved my armpits for 5 years now! In a final twist my arms are so hairy I’ve started shaving them (we are talking over an inch long here)!!

[GivenUp24 in reply to Pixix]

My hair on my legs and arm pits doesn’t grow either..

[Pixix in reply to GivenUp24]

Interesting!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

It's a common effect. I have no axillary hair - great! The hair on my legs also almost went altogether on higher doses, now I am on much lower doses there is some returning, never did have much on my arms.

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

I don’t mind, I wouldn’t have mentioned it if somebody hadn’t posted about it!! I find it strange that I’m los8ng hair in some places & gaining it in others…but so be it…

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

It is an effect with pred and adrenal suppression.

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

Oh,sorry…thanks, I did realise that! Thanks, S x

[Fatsiajaponica]

It's depressing isn't it? My hair has been falling out for a few months now, I'd say it is 50% thinner than before PMR/Pred. I'm hoping that it slows down as I reduce the medication. On the positive side it takes 5 mins to dry!

Your issue seems a little different given the specific bald patches, friends have also had this and it was caused by stress and grew back. It seems that you are on the edge of your tolerance for all this so maybe that has something to do with it, I know how that feels having managed to have almost all of the side effects of pred including steroid induced glaucoma, pre-diabetes (fixed atm with low carb diet) chipmunk face and a number of others!

I may have been saved a bit by the hair loss by remaining on HRT as menopause has it's effects on hair thickness. Anyway, we will prevail in the end. Take care of yourself.

[Dahliapower]

I’m so sorry. I also lost mine in huge hunks and it is devastating. I got a topper from Lauren Ashtyn Collection. It clips in and has done wonders for me. I highly recommend you looking into it. You can look them up on the web or watch YouTube videos. Adair I am so sorry. As if you hadn’t been through enough.

Lauren Ashtyn topper.

[GivenUp24 in reply to Dahliapower]

Very cute!

[Ambatu]

it does grow back. it happened to me and mine has grown back now I am on 5mg. I did use a product called Hairfix and it did work a bit.

[Fiellma]

Have your iron levels been checked? My hair came out in clumps too but once iron supplements kicked in it did help. It will come back in some form which takes some adjustment - mine was thick and dead straight, now so curly I look like Little Orphan Annie! Just keep going - we all have these down times and it can feel like this will never end but it willxx