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Hair loss from PMR or Steroids?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Dec 16, 2025 | Replies (59)Comment receiving replies
@ncgal
I was diagnosed with PMR 15 months ago and was prescribed prednisone. The doctor did not once mention that it could cause hair loss, and i floolishly did not read that hair loss could be a side effect. My hair really was my crowning glory, and it was admired so frequently. I started out on 15 mg and after about a month i noticed that my hair changed texture, it make like dry fuzz and wa difficult to style, then i noticed so much coming out when brushed, or if i smoothed it down with my palm, it seemed to flood out in my hand. These symptoms gradually intensified and i was distraught, my hair is so thin now, i have about a third of the hair i had. I was already weened down to 1mg when i discovered prednisone could be the cause of hair loss. I stopped taking them and 6 weeks later i am still having hair loss, but the last few days i think it has started to turn a corner, and there is less hair loss. I have already bought a wig on amazon, by Haircube, its a long bob style and was only an incredible £22, my friends love it and say i look 15 yrs younger. Doctors should make patients more aware of the hair loss risk, as i would never in a millon yrs have taken prednisone had i known how significant the hair loss could be. I am woman aged 62 and recovery will be slow and not full, so i am now considering taking minoxidil or finasteride for the rest of days.
Replies to "@ncgal I was diagnosed with PMR 15 months ago and was prescribed prednisone. The doctor did..."
@joebloggs I don't think doctors consider hair loss a significant enough side effect to mention it. Those of us dealing with know the effects on our sociability.
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@joebloggs I can relate to your story. I am older--78-but had kept my thick hair when my peers had thinning. My hair was a feature I appreciated so I was really unhappy when I started losing it. I was diagnosed and started prednisone at that time. I didn't notice thinning hair until the last couple of months and I have tapered to 3mg. I started taking Biotin recently and if that doesn't work I will check with my dermotologist. When I had dramatic hair thinning after going into septic shock it came back really curly. I wasn't warned about hair loss and other symptoms but I think that is fairly common. Doctors don't want us to worry about something that doesn't happen to everyone.
Some people talk about PCP not identifying PMR. I guess I am just fortunate. While waiting to see a rheumatologist my doctor did tests to eliminate other possibilities. Also, her nurse practitioner mentioned that there is a condition that causes pain like mine in the shoulders and hips--she was right on target. My pain was never dismissed. The office even called me to see if there was anything else I needed. They didn't start prednisone because it would mask the symptom before going to rheumatologist. The problem is only prednisone would relieve the pain. This all happened a year ago--around a busy holiday season.