Polymyositis & Dermatomyositis Support Group

Polymyositis (PM) is a type of chronic inflammation of the muscles (inflammatory myopathy) related to dermatomyositis and inclusion body myositis. The inflammation is predominantly of the endomysium in polymyositis, whereas dermatomyositis is characterized by primarily perimysial inflammation.

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Cadolph 09/08/2011

I've just noticed that my hair is changing in texture and also falling out more. I already have fine hair so it's making me a little concerned. I'm not sure if its the prednisone or the Imuran causing this? I'm on 30 mg prednisone and 100 mg Imuran. I'm being tapered on the prednisone, biut not sure what the doctor has in mind for me on the Imuran.

Has anyone had this problem and how have you dealt with it? I read that it is usually just temporary? Does that mean that your hair will regrow back once your off the Imuran?

Any tips would be great.

Cheryle

deleted_user 09/08/2011

Hi Cadolph! I'm not on predisone but have been on Imuran for 18 months...I have bouts of hair loss and times of growth....I have a tendency for Vit. D deficiency and Iron deficiency....this can also trigger hair loss so I take supplements for those...My hair is also fine...My hairdresser gives me a nice short cut and I use every "fat hair" product I can find along with a blow dryer...Makes me look as if I have a head full of hair! Good luck!

Maggie

Cadolph 09/08/2011

Thanks for the advice Maggie.

deleted_user 09/08/2011

I am currently on 10mg of prednisone and 100mg of Imuran and have been for the last 6 months and have had the thinning hair. I have been told to up my calcium to help with the issue.

freelee 09/08/2011

It is Imuran that makes my hair thin ( a scary feeling) I went down in dose and it grew back thicker, so that gives me hope as now I have to go up in dose. I am not on prednisone but maybe these drugs cause different reactions in different people.

nanny1611 09/08/2011

I've never been on imuran, but I was on prednisone. Prednisone definitely caused a change to the texture of my hair. At first it made my hair feel soft and limp, so that it felt fine like a baby's hair. It then dried my hair out badly until it felt like straw. My hair dresser told me that prednisone does that, and with continued use can cause the hair to break. So she recommended using a moisturizer regularly, rather than just conditioner. She also told me not to put chemicals on my hair or use a blow dryer. I tried to comply, but occasionally used a blow dryer. She made the comment that all medication comes out in the hair, so I'm sure that imuran adds another dimension to all this.

Cadolph 09/10/2011

Thanks everyone for your tips. It is scarey when your loosing hair and don't know how far it will go. I'm still on 100 mg of Imuran & 30 mg of prednisone and don't know what my doctors plans are on this drug and I won't see her until October.

luckybee 09/10/2011

Cheryle,
My hair falls out due to inflammation when my DM flares. In retrospect, hair loss was one of my first symptoms of DM, but of course, I didn't know what was causing it at that time.

Even now, when I start noticing more hair in the shower drain or my hairbrush, I start waiting for a DM flare. The immunosuppressant meds actually stopped my hair loss because they lowered the inflammation.

This is just another example of how we're all so different in our symptoms and responses to medications. Best wishes for healthy hair!
~Lucky

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