Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain, stiffness, fatigue and a butterfly-shaped rash on the face. Some people with lupus also experience hair loss. Because lupus causes widespread inflammation, it can also cause the hair on the scalp to thin. But temporary loss of eyelash, beard, eyebrow and body hair is also possible. Not everyone with lupus experiences hair loss but many people with lupus experience gradual thinning and breakage along their hairline.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain, stiffness, fatigue and a butterfly-shaped rash on the face. Some people with lupus also experience hair loss. Because lupus causes widespread inflammation, it can also cause the hair on the scalp to thin. But temporary loss of eyelash, beard, eyebrow and body hair is also possible. Not everyone with lupus experiences hair loss but many people with lupus experience gradual thinning and breakage along their hairline.
Talk with your doctor if you experience any type of hair loss or hair thinning. Sometimes hair loss is one of the first symptoms of lupus. In most cases, hair will grow back once the lupus is treated. Some people develop round lesions on the scalp which scar the hair follicles and can cause permanent hair loss.
Here are some different reasons for lupus-related hair loss:
· Inflammation – When inflammation develops around the scalp and hair follicles, hair loss can occur. The two types of hair loss linked to lupus are scarring and non-scarring. Non-scarring hair loss is a result of inflammation. Hair loss due to inflammation may be reversible but only if the lupus goes into remission.
· Discoid sores/lesions – Sometimes lupus can cause discoid sores (lesions.) These can form anywhere on the body and cause permanent scars. When the lesions for on the scalp, they damage hair follicles, causing permanent hair loss.
· Medication – Some medications used to treat lupus may cause hair loss.
Hair loss may be reversible if you don’t have lesions but will only reverse if you’re able to control the disease. The process of getting into remission can take week or months. Here are some tips to help cope with the hair loss:
· Eat a healthy diet.
· Take your vitamins.
· Get plenty of rest.
· Avoid sun exposure.
· Avoid curlers, chemical treatments and other hot styling tools.
· Talk to your doctor about your medication and side effects.
· Use gentle hair products.
· Avoid tight buns and braids.
· Sleep on a satin pillowcase to avoid breakage.
· Keep your hair moisturized.
· Limit frequent brushing.
These changes won’t make the hair grow back but, they can help keep your hair healthy and increase your chances of extra damage. To learn more about hair loss treatments for lupus, contact Emerge Trichology. We’re experts at hair restoration and have handled many lupus-related hair loss cases.
