Prednisone hair loss

I've been off all steroids for about three weeks, and I'm still losing so much hair. I am grateful to be off but dang - I can't lose much more hair! I'm currently at about a 30-35% loss. I even have a couple of bald spots. Sexy.

So the question is this: for those of you lucky enough to have stopped taking steroids, how long after stopping prednisone did any of you notice hair growth? Or even the lessening of the falling out?

Give me some hope for my hair! :laugh:

Hi KittieG
I've had 2 courses of Prednisolone and lost about 75% of my hair both times - it started falling out 3 months after the month on a 75mg per day, which was then followed by a 3 month taper. So I thought I was in the clear, and then my hair started coming outm probably over about 2 months. It did start growing back in pretty quickly though - so I just went shorter and shorter until the new hair caught up with the old, so was all back within 2 - 3 months, and I lost the hair fairly evenly all over, so I didn't get any bald spots. It's come in as thick as it was before, both times. Fingers crossed for you and your hair!
Rach
P.S. I'm about to start azathioprine, which has guess what as a common side effect - yes, hair loss! Yay!

Hi Kittie,

maybe you are on to something. I was on Prednisone back in Nov 2011, and noticed my hair getting thinner, but at 67yrs thought it was just old age?

I have read Rachaely's comments and sincerely hope your hair grows back like hers did. Benny.

I didn't lose any hair while I was on the Pred for 6 years.

Hope yours grows back!

Thanks guys - I've heard and read that it is a common side effect. I hope that now that I'm off I can stop losing and start growing, but right now it seems to be stuck in the "lose" stage!

Interested to hear about this problem, I seemed to have the opposite,,
Amongst a multitude of sude-effects during my six months on Pred I experienced increased hair growth - including around the eyes! I was concerned for a time that I may end up looking like an owl.
If its any consolation this has all cleared up since I stopped taking it a few years ago.

Oddly, Prednisone can cause excess hair in the wrong places (upper lip, side burns, etc.) but can cause hair loss on the head. Just messes with the hormones.

oh yeah, Ive been on pred since Jan and Ive lost about 1/3 of my hair but my beard looks fabulous! :pinch: Bearded lady is not my style.
Guess its not so bad since it doesnt take near as long to dry now and here in Tx its starting to get hot outside.
Really want off the prednisone.

This is news to me. I had no idea hair loss was a side affect. I guess for a guy like me I don't really care if I loose mine, I can just wear a hat. (Which I do most of the time anyway). But for a pretty lady like you it could be devastating. I hope all goes well for you.

David.

Not everyone loses hair. I never did.

I've been on Prednisone for 3 months now and haven't noticed any hair loss. I'm a bit thin on the top as it is. But I have no more and no less than I started out with.

I'm still losing now!

I lose enough to cover the drain trap completely every time I wash my hair. And I've been off prednisone and dexamethisone for abut a month now.