I have not lost any hair. I am on Methotrexate, and I take 2 meg prescription folic acid (and vitamin D).

I noticed my tongue is starting to feel more sore, so I am going to talk to my Rheum about that tomorrow.I also have Rituxin infusions. I do not take prednisone - except for 2 weeks last year. I had waited to long for the infusion, needed it to hold me until the Rituxin infusion kicked in. Before, Celebrex was enough, but not that time.

The prednisone is causing the hair loss. I was on sulfasalzine but not long enough to see those symptoms...just long enough to develop kidney stones!

Plaquenil is the big one for hair loss. Lost over 50% of my al;ready thinning hair. But I found a way to bring it back.

I take 50mgs of zinc and 1000mgs of biotin every day and now have a fuller head of hair than before I got RA and the gray is almost gone. Both of these are about as low a dose as they come and yet they work without side effects or trouble with taking too much. Got this from the Dr. Oz Show. He recommended iron as well but I can't take iron...gives me horrible diarrhea.

So try and then wait. You won't see results for about 3 months and then you'll see new hair and the old hair looking better. Been doing this now for about 4 years and after not needing haircuts for 4-5 months, I now have to go every 2 months or more. Growing like a healthy head of hair.

hugs........Jen (and I've had RA since 1977)

Hi ndngirl, many of the meds for RA can cause hair loss and hair thinning. My hair was in bad shape, thinning with breakage and damage a few years ago when I was on MTX. I went to a hairdresser and she worked with my hair. I gave my hair a rest from the relaxers and heat and things did improve. I like 51% do Biotin. I notice my hair is not growing but it is thick. I keep moisture in my hair as dryness will make hair texture break off. I leave my hair natural. No relaxer, no heat. I do have some thinning in the front but I can deal with that. I continue to use creams to help with the thinning. Thank goodness at the moment my hair is still thick. I am on Arava and have been on that for years, along with Acterma. I have been on several biologics and have not really noticed a correlation between hair loss on the biologics. I find it to be more with the DMards though I may be incorrect about that. Let's see what other's say. I also for my hair texture use leave in conditioners.

Jen, my sister-in-law takes the biotin for the hair loss from chemo. She continues to use it and says it works. May have to try it. I'm losing mine slowly, not in gobs, so will keep this in mind. Thanks, Wendy

Make sure to add the zinc. It helps what male hormones we have and that makes for more hair.

Jen

I don't know your age, but remember that perimenopause and menopause can cause hair loss.
Is your hair loss mostly resembling a mans? With hair thinning at the front or all over?

My hair has thinned out. It's also very dry. Had none of these problems before. Perhaps Sjogrens is part the cause.
Just started Plaquenil so it's not my problem. Now on Prednisone so who knows.
I did have hairdresser who's husbands had RA also & his hair drastically changed. Ironically enough my new hair dressers best friend has RA & has the same complaints. She'll ask me questions every time I have my hair cut In order to better understand her BF. Perhaps both treatment & disease contribute. Wouldn't doubt it.
Enbrel believe it or not caused it to curl more. Actually had others comment on it.
I do take supplements or I think it would be worse.
It's minor compared to the battles we wage but I'll admitt it bothers me right along with giving up all my shoes.
Sammy

I had massive hair loss from prednisone. Never lost much more with mthx, when I was on it.

I did well till Actemra, when it started all over again. I hated to wash my hair, so much came out. The hair loss continued with Simponi and Xeljanz. (Not sure if it was those drugs, or leftover from the Actemra)

It finally stopped a month ago. I am on Arava which is supposed to cause hair loss but hasn't, and Orencia which is not yet working.

I thiink we all respond a bit differently to these harsh meds. But I do use B12 and Biotin and it has helped with hair loss a lot.

Speaking of hair loss, I had this Siamese/Himalyan cross whose hair fell out everywhere. I tried other foods, but she would only eat this one kind of kibble. I finally was able to change her to Royal Canin earlier this year and her hair has basically stopped falling out and it looks so much brighter and the colour prettier.

That indicated that nutrition could be a major factor. While good nutrition is not going to cure RA, it certainly helps keep the rest of the body heathy!

One of the things I did after getting my dx was to detox my life--- that included shampoo, most soaps and conditioners. I only use Kirks Coco Castille soap for the body and the hair. On the hair, I soap it once a week, and rinse it every other day. If it's really dirty, I'll use baking soda and water.... And now I have amazing hair. Most of the gray is leaving, and it's CURLY. Weird. Thick, too. I use Sofi Tucker Shea Moisture leave in products.

I can really recommend giving up shampoo. Seems hard at first, but when you think of all the sodium laureth sulfate getting on your skin (your largest organ), it makes you think.

I take 2 mg folic acid per day, mtx. plaquenil, and Orencia

Wow! Thanks everyone for your responses, I will definitely look into biotin and I will talk to my Rheumy about it. I'm 35 and only take prednisone during flairs. This year is definitely a new journey for me. Im so glad I found this site.

When I was on Arava a few months ago my hair started really falling out. I would brush it and there would be hair balls all over the place, it was gross and scary. My doc took me off the Arava and I have been using a tea tree oil shampoo to get my hair back to its former state. It has been a slow process . I am on Methotrexate injections so hopefully that won't mess my hair up again. I think a lot of the meds have hair loss as a side effect. Don't know how common it is in others but it can happen.

Okay, y'all forgive me if I upset you. I (male, 54, 6', 172lbs) have always found really short hair extremely attractive (were this a more male board attractive is not the word I'd have used). What was that ladies name that sang the song back in the 90's...Nothing Compares To You?....Sinead O'Conner maybe? I found her so enticing and exciting.

Anyway, ladies I do understand the psychology because I hear it from my wife all the time as her hair thins but the image you have of yourself IS NOT the image other people have of you.

If your hair is leaving you and you can't change meds and stop it then go with it! Many of us are unbelievably attracted to a woman's bare neck and ears to nuzzle without getting a nose/mouthful of pff pff pppfff hair in the way.

Yes, wife kept hers about 1/2 - 3/4 of an inch long for about 8 years. Then she "Just had to have her hair back" and she's been fighting and complaining about it for the last 14 years. I think I'm going to get my wish again soon.