I know someone mentioned hair loss while taking prednisone. My hair has really thinned and s all dried out. I have been on prednisone for one year...10 mg...now down to almost just 8 mg daily. Will it grow back? Thanks.
Morning Kathy. I have the same problem. Am always applying conditioner and hair treatments to help the dryness. Had thick hair and my hairdresser says it should grow back. I'm on 7 pred. I do have fine regrowth round my hairline
Chin up Wendy😕
Kathy, my hair used to fall out so much that I became afraid to handle it too much, especially as I already had fine hair. I can reassure you that this 'fallout' does stop the lower we get on the steroids - unfortunately,I can't remember at exactly which dose I noticed a difference but there would probably be some difference in timing for each one of us anyway. Meanwhile, try and stick to organic shampoos and conditioners that don't contain the harsh chemicals.
Mine is back to its former glory - and the pred-induced curls are also back to something a bit more controllable! In fact, I think it is thicker than before.
Above all try to avoid using too much shampoo and stuff - organic or not, they are chemicals and strip the natural oils from your hair and make its condition worse. I only wash mine about once every 3 weeks now - no grease, just shiny locks after a few days of total "wheeeee" when it has just been washed. And don't colour or perm.
I know, I'm old-fashioned, fuddy-duddy and boring...
My hair is awful. I have tried argan oil and all sorts of other things. I used to have really oily hair and now it is as dry as anything and curly, old ladies' hair. It feels awful too. Swimming probably does not help I suppose, although it is an ozone pool not chlorine. A friend with PMR has the same problem and she doesn't swim!
Thank you to all who replied about the awful hair and hair loss from the prednisone.
hate to be so vain. Kathy
Yes - "old lady hair" - I had this awful photo on the other forum, old lady hair! Just managed to replace it - I'm told I look 30 years younger! And I don't swim - was too afraid I'd not get out of the pool.
Kathy - it isn't vanity at all. It is mourning what has been stolen from us. I can finally look in a mirror again without feeling sick. And now I feel overweight - I was in total denial 38lbs ago.
Luckily the pool has proper steps or I would still be in it!
Yes - that sounds familiar... ;-)
Hi Kathy, sorry to hear about your thinning hair. I was diagnosed with PMR on 12 November past and put on 20mg pred. I have very thin/fine hair, the only one in my family I may add. My hairdresser noticed the thinning more than I did and it was myself who brought this topic up way back then. I now take viviscal one tablet in morning and one at night. They are expensive I think £70 or £80 for 3 months supply. I was taking them even before PMR. (You can get them on Amazon)
I also use a Hairmax Laser comb which is expensive about £300 and I use this 3 times a week for 11minutes. I am now on 15mg pred. My hairdresser just recently passed remarks on my hair being not so thin. I can only tell you about my experience. Hope you get something sorted out for yourself. Good luck. Pat
Kathy: About a year ago, I too noticed I had thinning hair and was trying to find ways to cover areas where I could see my scalp. It was definitely making me unhappy. I started using Rogaine and made an appointment with a dermatologist. It was two months before I saw her. I was diagnosed with PMR in 2013. I started on 20 mg of Prednisone and worked my way down to 10 mg by the time I was to see the dermatologist. I had lost about 30 pounds prior to PMR diagnosis. ANYWAY, by the time of the dermatologist appointment in 2014 I was very afraid. But, the doctor said I was fine. In her opinion, Prednisone does not typically cause hair loss. Again, in her opinion, she said it was probably brought on with the onset of the disease and/or the weight loss which caused stress. She claims that stress definitely contributes to hair loss. She pulled and tugged at my hair and looked at my scalp. She said the hair would probably grow back and that I didn’t need to use the Rogaine (which had helped in the meantime). Well, she was right. I am at 8mg of Prednisone. It’s been six months since the dermatologist appointment and my hair has gained back much thickness. It’s not quite like it was before. But, I mostly contribute that to age. I believe you will experience this too. It will just take some time. I, too, recommend that you use organic, or sulfate-free, shampoo and conditioners. Only shampoo twice a week, at most. Maybe less. However, we all have different hair. Other forum responders have good ideas, too. Taking charge and making some changes will help your current concerns and create enthusiasm while your hair changes back. So, whether it was the onset of stress that caused the initial problem, or the reduction in Prednisone, my hair is hugely better. Since I have very fine hair, I have my hair foiled, apply styling mousse, and use a heating iron to curl my hair. The dermatologist said that was okay. She said that wasn’t the problem with my thinning/hair loss problem. I have to see the hair stylist more often now because it’s growing faster and thicker. I see the stylist so that I can get my hair to look as best as I want. That is a tremendous boost to my self-esteem. The stylist says she can see the thickness and gives me great compliments about my hair, which I like too.
I was diagnosed with PMR in May 2, 2016. I was on Methylprednisolone for 11 mos., and took an experimental drug ACTEMRA which cured the PMR. My last 1/2 MG of Methylprednisolone was April 5, 2017 and my last injection of Actemra was April 20, 2017. My hair became alarmingly thin espectially on my crown. My endocrinologist said that from your last dose of Methylprednisolone, it would take about 8-9 mos. for your hair to grow back to what it was before. My cortisol level and ACTH are just now barely in the normal range and it's now July 22, 2017. Virginia L.
Hello Kathy
It comes back, thicker than before.
I have the opposite effect, my hair grows like a weed on pred and is so thick
geesh!
Vitamin A and D help with hair loss, my sister in law is a chinese herbal
medicine and accupuncture doctor.
Be aware it may come back really curly!
Cheers and be well
I feel better re your comments about PREDNISOLONE and hope I shall soon be off this I started with 20mg and over weeks reduced to 2mg daily but symptons of POLYMYAGLIA flared up again.I am now on 8 mg and will cut down tomorrow! In order to prevent any more thinning or loss of hair.
If the thinning and loss of your hair has been going on since you were diagnosed it may well not be the pred - it may be the autoimmune part of the PMR. My hair thinned due to PMR - it improved after I was eventually put on pred after 5 years. Poor condition of hair is often a reflection of poor health but it also sometimes doesn't show up for a few months.
Frankly though - I'll take poor hair over being in unrelieved PMR pain. There are always wigs.
I know this post is 3 years now lol but I was wondering how long were you on prednisone?
How long were you on prednisone?
I'm still on prednisone - I have had PMR for 14 years and been on steroids of some form for heading for 9 years now. That is very unusual - about 5% of patients with PMR have it for life, looks like I may be one!! But I have a good quality of life and do pretty much everything I want to. Even the skiing was ditched because of multiple reasons, PMR was just one minor aspect. Doesn't stop me doing most other things - except the housework... 
Same here i have lost so much but if not in these steroids i would suffocate
dont know still losing mine