Hair loss from PMR or Steroids?

I experienced an alarming amount of hair loss about the time I came down with PMR. This was a couple of months before I started taking Prednisone.

I experienced hair loss about 70% of my hair it was difficult but it came back eventually and best of all it came back curly instead of straight as it was before!

I was diagnosed with PMR last February and began taking 15 mg of prednisone daily. I am on my second challenge of reducing my prednisone dosage very slowly and currently on 8 1/2 mg. My pain is very manageable so far. 4 weeks ago I noticed a lot of hair in my bathroom sink, hair brush etc. I was traveling so thought it was the stress of that but unfortunately it has continued. My Rhuematoligist told me that neither PMR or Prednisone could be the cause however some information I’ve read about prednisone suggests it could. I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this and if so how have they treated the condition.

Hello @steph1939, Welcome to Connect. You will notice that we merged your post with an existing discussion on the same topic here - Hair loss from PMR or Steroids?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hair-loss-from-pmr-or-steroids/ so that you can meet other members like @abbeyc, @rkndvm, @kspowell, @anniekirby and others who have posted about hair loss caused by prednisone.

Since you are tapering your dosage of prednisone I thought you might find the following discussion also helpful:
-- PMR Dosages and Managing Symptoms: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pmr-dosages/

Are you having any challenges tapering off of prednisone?

Hi @steph1939, I had very thick hair. I noticed it started thinning with the onset of PMR symptoms. I also had Giant Cell Arteritis and started taking 40 mg prednisone. It really thinned my hair and changed the texture from coarse to smooth. This started over a year ago. I'm down to 1 mg of Prednisone now and my hair is coming back. My hairdresser noticed it the last time I had my hair cut. She also told me that a number of her clients on prednisone had thinning hair. So I hope that helps.

My Rheumatologist told me that tapering off the Prednisone does cause shedding. I agree with John that stress can cause this. Hard not to be stressed out when you are having pain and difficulty sleeping. I started taking Viviscal for hair almost a year ago, and I think it may have helped. Hard to say. Long walks by the Hudson River relax me. Find your happy place. This is my last week on Prednisone I hope.

I have taken a course of high dose-to taper off prednisone twice for Nephrotic Syndrome MCD. Both times my hair thinned dramatically and definitely changed texture. I also grew sideburns. Once I am off the prednisone, my hair thickens and goes back to the original texture. My sideburns disappear.
Prednisone has too many side effects to list, but I feel it saved my life. Currently I am taking CellCept for my kidney disease and I don’t believe this drug changes my hair.

Mine was shedding a lot. Very upsetting. Also noticed it with each taper. Now pretty much finished with Prednisone and lot less and more growth. Vitamins important.

I also have hair loss on prednisone, and hair growth where I don't want it. The eyebrows and mustache are not that attractive, but I just pluck daily and keep cleaning up the fallen hair. I am glad to hear that things go back to normal after being off prednisone. Thank you for your post.

Yes, I have experienced hair loss. First, 12 years ago with my fist experience of PMR and steroids, and again recently when a I had a recurrence of PMR. I was relieved to find most of the side effects, including hair loss, were reversed when I stopped taking the prednisolone.