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Weak hair and skin

Posted , 11 users are following.

DQ73
DQ73

Hi there, 

I was diagnosed with pmr 2 and a half years ago, since then my hair has become weak and prone to breaking.  My skin is also going very dry and sensitive.  Has anyone else experiences this andys there anything you suggest I can take or use?

many thanks

1 like, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • EileenH
    EileenH DQ73

    Posted

    Since you say your were diagnosed with PMR I assume you are on prednisolone? These are two of the over 80 documented side-effects of cortisosteroids (pred). 

    The hair thing is a bit difficult - mine almost stopped growing and became very dry and frizzy. The best thing is a good cut and a gentle shampoo - and don't wash it too often. I now never wash mine more often than once a week - but I don't live in the UK, but half way up a mountain where the air is cleaner and there is less wind! Using straighteners, hot hair dryers and colour or perms is also very bad for delicate hair.

    The skin  will benefit from using Deprobase or Doublebase - both similar emollient creams/gels which you can buy from the chemist - they are usually used for dry skin in eczema. If you are lucky your GP will prescribe one for you. Follow the instructions carefully. You can use them for showering too - but never use soap anyway (by that I mean anything that forms foam) all it does is strip all the natural oils from the skin and dry it out even more. I shower using water only - and what bit of shampoo gets on my skin. Noone complains I smell ;-) (I haven't use deodorant for about 7 years either).

    You can get plasters for delicate skin - but I don't know much about them, I never use them. 

    I was quite lucky - I have been on one form of pred that was awful for side-effects (beard and weight gain) but my skin has always survived quite well and on the current form of pred is back to normal. I'm sure others who I know have had skin problems will offer their suggestions. 

    • mary68968
      mary68968 EileenH

      Posted

      Thanks EileenH you are such a wealth of information as so many of us try to make sense of this disorder with not all that much info available.to us.  Looked up polymyalgia on Amazaon dot com & am amazed how few books there are in the first place & mostly from reviews don't seem to be all that helpful.  I have gotten so much information from you in ways to deal with this.  It's so individual & so many doctors do not seem to be all that knowledgeable & many seem impatient.  Thanks for sharing all your info with so many people.
  • Nefret
    Nefret DQ73

    Posted

    Yes, it's now much easier to get plasters for thin/damaged skin (it wasn't when I first started out) practically any brand which has a 'sensitive' range should be fine.  If they still aren't right then look for any shop which has a Melonin take-off.  They have a fine knitted adhesive which won't tear the skin as you remove it.  I've bought them from most of the major supermarkets, most have them in the range and while they are more expensive, they do solve a problem.

    Having recently had a large dose of Pred I am now back on the plasters myself - temporarily I hope!

  • Nefret
    Nefret DQ73

    Posted

    I should also have said that baby shampoo is probably the best to use, but while I had the skin problems badly, I've had no trouble with my hair! 
  • blodwyn
    blodwyn DQ73

    Posted

    Hi everyone,

    I've been on Pred since December last year and soon developed hands like an 80 year old.Now my hair is coming out and resembles a wire brush.I don't know what will help at the moment since I don't see any point in speaking to my GP since they don't seem to understand this condiion very well.

    Any advice would be appreciated.

      

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey blodwyn

      Posted

      Blodwyn, although Doublebase cream/gel can help with any steroid-thinned skin , and arnica can help with the easy bruising side effect, I found very little to help when my hair was falling out.  I stuck to natural/organic shampoos but found it just took it's course and as I reduced the steroids, the hair loss reduced.
  • escot
    escot DQ73

    Posted

    Yes, since taking Steroids. my skin is much drier than before.  not having trouble with my hair. 
  • DQ73
    DQ73

    Posted

    Thanks to everyone for your replies, yes I am on Prednisolone.  I hate to sound vain by it's my hair that is really frustrating me, I just cannot get any length to it these days. 

    My face is red most of the time, but a lot of that is due to hot flushes, again I know a side effect of the pred.  I am finding that moistursing mask treatments are helping a bit but will and get the creams you suggest Eileen, many thanks.

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey DQ73

      Posted

      DQ73, if you drink coffee you might find that cutting it down, or out, will help with the hot flushes.  Also avoid all spicy food.  Your hair will definitely improve as you reduce the steroid dose.
    • EileenH
      EileenH DQ73

      Posted

      You may have rosacea, pred can cause that and it causes redness. There are things that will help that - google it and ask the GP.

      But yes - that was my problem with my hair whilst I was on Medrol, it didn't happen with prednisolone and since I've been switched to a form of prednisone it is back to what it was. It hasn't been overnight but it was noticeable within a few months.

  • pat80502
    pat80502 DQ73

    Posted

    Please see your doctor for a blood test to diagnose Hypothyrodisum (underactive thyroid output.) in the mean time, up your intake of iodine: sea food, salt including Iodine ( not sea salt,) eggs, brown bread (vitamin B 12 helps. ) Also, buy Biotin pills from the chemist.

    Hope your hair and nails etc... Revert back to normal soon. 

    For some reason women in their 40's thru to their 60's are prone to underactive thyroid disease. 

    Younger woman may have trouble falling pregnant. 

    As I recommend - go see a good doctor. Good luck. 

    P A 

    • EileenH
      EileenH pat80502

      Posted

      DQ73 has said she has been diagnosed with PMR, that means she is also taking corticosteroids and already under the care of a doctor. One of the side effects of corticosteroids is poor hair condition. Whilst your dietary suggestions are not unreasonable and it is true that middle-aged women may have poor thyroid function - this isn't a case of looking for a cause such as hypothyroidism, a diagnosis has been made and therapy initiated. 

      Supplements should only be taken after consultation with your doctor and/or pharmacist since some supplements can interfere with prescription medications.  

    • mary68968
      mary68968 EileenH

      Posted

      I have hypothyroidism & have for many years.  Way before the PMR diagnoses. Take doctor prescribed medication & not all that much diet can do to change the problem.  My hair & nails have always been fine , but I was just very tired all the time.  It's a simple blood test if you think you might have the problem, but sadly once again a doc  decided I was depressed as opposed to having  a thyroid problem so it took awhile to find the real culprit.  sigh.
    • EileenH
      EileenH mary68968

      Posted

      Indeed Mary - SIGH!

      I've got beyond the sigh stage in the last couple of weeks what with medics who are too arrogant to listen to their patients but would rather leave them in pain by removing the pred that did actually provide some relief and at the same time saying "You don't have pain with PMR and I don't deal with pain - go to a pain clinic" plus people who DON'T have PMR thinking they know all about it. "Don't take pred", "natural remedies", "positive thinking"... Do any of them think we choose to be ill?

      Actually one of the early problems I had with PMR was soft nails - I never use varnish on my finger nails but do like pretty feet ;-)  When I removed the varnish to renew it I found my nails were white and very soft. The tiny nails on my little toes even detached altogether at one point - yuk!  After starting pred my nails became nail-hard (pun intended!) and I've had the best nails ever for the last 5 years. Even on Medrol my nails were good - but my hair almost stopped growing and the texture was more like a brillo pad.

      Since I have been able to reduce the pred dose they are not quite so good and sometimes catch and rip. I can only assume that the PMR was affecting the blood supply to the nailbed and causing dodgy nails.

    • mary68968
      mary68968 EileenH

      Posted

      I have been reading this forum for a month or so now & am surprised to see how many people are suffering some it seems to me misdiagnosed, but I am not knowledgeable enough say for certain & some just not given the proper meds.  Appears to be a real sense of apathy & impatience going on in the medical field.  I know it's true in the USA. It's difficult to have a disorder where the problem is treated with meds that than appear like the problem itself.  Even with a fairy good rheumy it has been  difficult  to get to & stay on the right dose.  I can see  how it could be patient intensive so maybe that is why docs seem to be dropping the ball.  It's great so many of you are willing to help newbies along.
    • EileenH
      EileenH mary68968

      Posted

      PMR of some sort is the most common rheumatism in over 50s. For our grandparents generation it was probably accepted as an inevitable part of aging - certainly I can identify at least 2 members of my own family who probably had PMR. 

      In some cases it is a symptom of another illness and that is where the confusion comes in - some doctors are unaware of that and fail to investigate properly to rule out cancer, other arthritises, vit D deficiency and, in particular, late onset rheumatoid arthritis which appears in a similar age group and with almost identical symptoms. LORA doesn't respond as well to pred - it will improve to some extent in response to a high dose of pred which is why a lower dose is a better place to start. Pred-responsive PMR improves dramatically to that dose - the others won't. 

      It seems to be a lot better in the UK than in the US - possibly because pred is cheap as chips and isn't a money earner for anyone so it is very acceptable in the NHS. The problem here is lack of knowledge about PMR - they've heard it mentioned, know it responds brilliantly to pred but think you can use pred as you do elsewhere, with a short term taper so when they try it and the symptoms return after tapering the dose too fast they decide it isn't PMR after all. They are also terrified of long courses of pred - because they have side effects. So does PMR - and the secret is to achieve the balance. 

      There is hope that an indicator of the underlying cause has been identified - that is the point where a cure can be looked for, or at least a better drug.

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