fbpx

Hair Loss Due To Arthritis

Hair Loss Due To Arthritis

 

Contrary to popular opinion, arthritis is not simply a painful infliction for those in their later years. In fact, it is surprisingly common in younger generations due to either genetics or as a result of an injury. Another issue common among those suffering from arthritis – especially rheumatoid arthritis – is hair loss. But is it possible to fix hair loss due to arthritis?

Hair loss among arthritis sufferers can often be due to the auto-immune response which not only causes the body to attack its own joint tissue, but to also attack hair follicles. It could also be a side-effect of the prescription medicine used to treat the condition.

What is arthritis?

 

There are two types of arthritis – osteo and rheumatoid. Osteoarthritis is much more common and is often referred to as a symptom of degenerative fitness as we age. The once strong tissue, cartilage and fluids in our joints that allowed us to run and jump easily as a child is slowly worn away over time causing soreness, swelling and stiffness. While there are numerous therapies available for this condition, for many individuals it is an acceptable part of the aging process.

Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand (pardon the pun), is an auto-immune condition which results from the body’s white blood cells attacking the tissue surrounding our joints, destroying it and causing our bone joints to grind against one another when we move. Rheumatoid arthritis can also be potentially dangerous, and sufferers are often at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis, lung disease, heart conditions, neuropathy, anaemia and various other infections.

How can arthritis cause hair loss?

 

Autoimmune conditions can be deadly as the body may continue to inflame and attack other areas of the body. One of the first victims of the condition after joint pain can be hair loss, as the white blood cells begin to attack the hair cells. As the hair cells fail to produce fresh hair, the patient will find themselves thinning in certain areas. Luckily, hair loss from arthritis is rarely severe, and if treated correctly will recover without issue.

How can arthritis treatments cause hair loss?

 

As with many treatments, there can often be side-effects from taking a prescription medicine. For rheumatoid arthritis, one of the most common medications are a class of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, or. DMARDs suppress the immune system to prevent further damage to the body, but the side effects often include hair loss itself – although once the course of treatment is finished, hair should begin to grow again. The other class of medications used are biologics, which block the production of certain proteins that your immune system needs to function, and again, biologics are known to cause hair-thinning during treatment.

While arthritis can cause hair loss, it is less likely to cause hair loss than alternative possibilities such as stress, aging, or overstyling.

If you are worried that you are suffering from hair loss due to arthritis, we always advise you to contact your GP to help you with the underlying problem. However, at the Hair Growth Studio we will always be available to provide you with support as well as numerous effective hair systems to help you recover. So, please book a consultation with the Hair Growth Studio if you’d like personally-tailored advice from an expert.

View Our Womens Solution

View Our Mens Solution

Contact Us

Please feel free to contact us to speak in confidence to a friendly member of our team. You can book a no obligation consultation, email us at lisa@hairgrowthstudio.co.uk or alternatively you can call us on 01706 620 353.

Talk to us

From the Blog