Hair problems

My hair looked like a haystack. I had greasy, glossy, straight hair which became unbelievably dry and stuck out all over the place. I must have tried every shampoo and conditioner there is. I must admit now I have reduced down to 5mg it has improved a lot.

Mine had all sorts of versions depending on the stage I was at. It lost its curl and bounce during the 5 years of undiagnosed PMR. It improved a bit on prednisolone and then went hay-wire (literally) when I was switched to Medrol (methylprednisolone) - it was like a brillo pad (metal wire soap pad!). Now it is back to being longer and smoother - the only current mess is due to my hairdresser for the last 6 years having done heaven knows what a few weeks ago...

You are just weeks into this aren't you - so I'd say it is the being ill and not the pred. Being ill often has a dire effect on our skin and hair. It will come back - but the nature of hair growth is that it takes months, not days or weeks.

I went through a weird stage - was it only last year? - when I found my hair coming out in handfuls, yet at the same time what stayed on my head seemed fuller and more like my old head of hair.  What I think must have happened is that the hair that I was shedding so copiously was the poor quality stuff that had grown when I was at my highest dose of pred at the beginning, but since then my hair had recovered with lower doses and was now being revealed again as the bad stuff left.  

Hello Frances

my hair started thinning at the 15mg stage and like yours was a bit lifeless. Hair is important to us for our ego so not trivial,we all still want to try and look good (even just for ourselves) 

I found a daily folic acid tablet helped tremendously. My hair and nails really benefited. It doesn't work straight away,but after a couple of months I could see the difference in new and stronger growth. I did check with my doctor first though. Hope this helps.

 

I started pred 10 months ago at 50mg but didn’t start to lose my once thick long hair until I got down to 10mg. Now it is shedding in handfuls, wiry and sticking out and horrible. I’ve lost about two thirds of it’s thickness. My hairdresser has recommended Nioxin shampoo and condition, which I have only just bought. She had the most beautiful long straight hair for a 60 y.o. I’ve ever seen, I was always so envious, but she had the same thing happen when she had anaesthetic and her hair came out and looked exactly like mine does now. It took a few months but her hair came back and is now once again absolutely beautiful. I also know another lady who’s excited hair was thinning (not sure why) who also used Nioxin and has regained her original healthy hair. I’m praying it works, I’m now on 8mg of pred and still slowly tapering so don’t want to lose it all as I have an life a long way to go yet.