Lupus Hair Loss: Its Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Prevention
Lupus is an auto-immune disease in which your body attacks organs and tissues.
Inflammation, a prime symptom of Lupus, can affect different body parts, including the scalp.
That’s why some people with Lupus may also experience hair loss symptoms. However, it is not everyone’s case.
Hair loss is prevalent roughly in 45% of people with Lupus at some time and to some degree.
A study was conducted in which four women of age 41, 39, 14, and 48 who have Lupus reported having hair loss involving 55%, 100%, 60%, and 55% of their scalp, respectively.
You may notice hair thinning, patchy hair loss, hair shedding, etc., to discover Lupus hair loss.
It can also lead to hair loss in body parts other than the scalp. It may include eyebrows, eyelashes, beards, and body hair.
Types of hair loss due to Lupus
Different types of hair loss, formally Alopecia, are prevalent in people. The types can be dependent upon the cause of hair loss.
In Lupus, there are mainly three types of hair loss that can be seen.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia Areata is a condition where your hair falls out in patches. This hair clump fallout causes bald spots that can be small or large.
It happens when your immune system attacks hair follicles. It may also lead to total hair loss.
This hair loss is so common that it affects nearly 7 million people in the United States.
Telogen effluvium
Stress is a harmful trigger for Lupus. It may sometimes worsen Lupus symptoms.
Telogen effluvium is one of the most common causes of hair loss. It can happen due to emotional or physiological stress.
It comes under the non-scarring shedding of hair because of Lupus.
Anagen effluvium
Anagen effluvium is usually related to chemotherapy-induced Alopecia. However, it is more than that.
This hair loss can also occur in people with Lupus, specifically Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).
It also falls in the category of non-scarring Alopecia.
Symptoms of hair loss in Lupus
There are some common symptoms of hair loss with Lupus that you may notice.
Hair thinning
Hair thinning can be the first sign or symptom of Lupus.
Usually, hair thins out slowly when you have Lupus.
Some people also have thinning of the beard, eyebrows, eyelashes, and other body hair.
The hair may feel brittle, break easily, and look ragged.
Hair shedding
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, shedding 50-100 hair daily is normal.
A person roughly has 1,00,000 hair. So shedding 50-100 hair doesn’t make much difference.
But if you notice more shedding, you may have telogen effluvium, a type of hair loss due to Lupus.
Bald patches
If you have Lupus, you may notice some bald patches. It can be due to hair falling out in clumps.
This symptom falls under the category of Alopecia Areata. It occurs in men and women in roughly equal numbers.
The bald patches can be the size of a quarter or smaller.
Causes of hair loss in Lupus
There can be different causes of hair loss with Lupus. It can include:
Inflammation
Inflammation occurs when your body fights invading microorganisms.
In Lupus, the body’s immune system will interpret the body’s cells and organs as foreign organisms and fight them.
When the body’s immune system considers the hair follicles as intruding elements, it attacks them.
Thus, when the inflammation develops around the scalp and hair follicles, it may result in hair loss.
Discoid sores or lesions
In Lupus, discoid sores or lesions are rashes appearing on body parts, including the scalp.
As the name suggests, ‘discoid’ means they are usually round.
The lesions or discoid sores may cause permanent scarring on the scalp. It can damage the hair follicles and may result in permanent hair loss.
Medications
Different types of medications used to treat Lupus may also result in hair loss. It includes:
- Methotrexate
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Cyclophosphamide
- Azathioprine
- Mycophenolate Mofetil
- Voclosporin
Treatment of Lupus hair loss
The treatment of Lupus hair loss depends upon the symptoms. There is no cure if you have discoid sores or lesions.
However, if you have non-scarring hair loss due to Lupus, you may reverse it with the help of medications.
The medications may help in reducing Lupus symptoms, thus, eventually resulting in reduced hair loss.
The following medications may be prescribed to reduce the symptoms of Lupus.
- Corticosteroid
- Immunosuppressant
- Antimalarial drugs
- Biologics
Prevention tips
The treatment may take several months. Meanwhile, you can follow these prevention tips to reduce the effect of Lupus.
- Avoid sunlight exposure as it may trigger discoid sores. You may wear a hat for protection.
- Have a healthy and rich diet that aids in hair growth.
- Avoid stress, especially prolonged ones, as it may trigger Lupus. You can try meditation techniques.
- Sleep at least 8 hours a day to prevent Lupus flares.
Takeaway
Lupus is an autoimmune disease. It may have skin problems like discoid sores or lesions on different body parts.
These lesions may also appear on the scalp, resulting in hair loss.
Also, inflammation, one of the prime symptoms of Lupus, may cause hair loss. It happens when inflammation develops around the hair follicles or scalp.
Certain medications used to treat Lupus may also cause hair loss symptoms.
However, the treatment used to reduce Lupus may reverse hair loss. But it may be difficult if you have discoid lesions.
Stress, sunlight exposure, and not sleeping for the required hours may be the trigger points of Lupus. So try to use preventive measures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lupus cause hair loss?
People with Lupus may also suffer from skin problems like rashes or sores on the scalp. These sores may cause hair loss. Also, certain medications used to treat Lupus may have side effects that may cause hair thinning and shedding.
How do you stop hair loss from Lupus?
Your doctor may prescribe certain medications that may effectively reduce Lupus symptoms, eventually reducing hair loss. Also, avoiding sunlight, limiting stress, eating a healthy diet, and getting proper rest or sleep may aid in reducing the symptoms.
Why does Lupus cause hair loss?
Inflammation, which is a common symptom of Lupus, may cause hair loss. Discoid sores or lesions can also be a cause of hampering hair growth. Moreover, medications used to treat Lupus may sometimes cause hair loss as a side effect.
Is hair loss from Lupus reversible?
Hair loss from Lupus may be reversible. But it might not be possible if you have discoid sores or lesions. The reason is that the lesions cause permanent scarring on the scalp, resulting in hair loss.
How do I know if I have hair loss from Lupus?
Hair loss due to Lupus has some common symptoms. You can notice if you have hair thinning, hair shedding, or bald patches on the scalp. Also, you can lose hair on other body parts like a beard, eyebrows, eyelashes, etc.
