Lupus-induced hair loss: Options for treatment, strategies for prevention, and care guidelines
Lupus, an autoimmune disease, can have a significant impact on a person's health, and this includes the hair on their scalp. Here's what you need to know about lupus-related hair loss and how to manage it.
Lupus attacks healthy cells and causes widespread inflammation, which can lead to hair loss. The follicles in a person's scalp may no longer hold or grow hair as a result. Hair loss could be a side effect of lupus medication, specifically a type of hair loss known as telogen effluvium (TE).
However, there is no recent research on specific hair products helping with lupus-related hair loss. Minoxidil, a hair loss drug, may have some evidence of effectiveness, especially for TE-related hair loss and hair loss due to lupus inflammation.
To reduce lupus-related hair loss, a person can protect the scalp from sunlight by wearing a wide-brimmed hat with UV protection, using sunscreen on the scalp, and reapplying sunscreen every 2 hours or after getting wet. Lupus can cause dry, coarse hair to develop along the hairline, leading to the sparse-looking hair known as lupus hair.
Certain nutritional deficiencies, such as iron deficiency anemia, can cause hair loss for people with or without lupus. Iron deficiency anemia is especially common among people with active lupus and a doctor may test a person's iron levels and recommend an iron supplement.
Lupus itself does not always cause hair loss directly; medications may cause it as a side effect or other reasons like anemia may be the cause. If medications could be the cause of hair loss, a doctor may suggest changing a person's dosage or trying an alternative medication.
Treatment for lupus-related hair loss can vary depending on the cause. For example, topical or oral corticosteroids are commonly used to reduce inflammation and prevent further hair loss. Topical calcineurin inhibitors, antimalarial drugs, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, rituximab, and other medications may also be used.
There are several types of lupus that can cause hair loss, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), neonatal lupus, and drug-induced lupus.
In summary, the best strategy is an integrated approach that controls lupus inflammation and immune dysfunction medically while protecting and nourishing hair through careful sun protection, nutrition, stress management, and gentle hair care. Discussing the benefits and potential risks of hair products with a dermatologist is important before trying them. People have different ways of styling their hair when they experience hair loss, and it's essential to find a style that suits them.
[1] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Lupus. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lupus/symptoms-causes/syc-20357178
[2] American Academy of Dermatology. (2021). Lupus. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/lupus
[3] National Institutes of Health. (2021). Lupus. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/lupus
[4] Lupus Foundation of America. (2021). Hair Loss. https://www.lupus.org/resources/hair-loss
[5] Cleveland Clinic. (2021). Lupus. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16717-lupus
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