How to Deal With Lupus Hair Loss

Causes of Lupus Hair Loss

Once the hair loss finally stops, new hair thankfully does attempt to grow back. But honestly, the new growth cannot keep up with loss throughout the year.

Luckily, I was blessed with a crazy amount of hair. My mop of hair was so thick as a teen that I could barely get a hair pick through it, and seeing my scalp was simply not possible.

But lupus has changed all of that drastically. I am no longer that girl with the thick long hair, and I am seeing more and more of my scalp with each passing year.

I have considered clip-in hair extensions just to make my hair appear fuller, but the last thing I want to do is to test what remains on my head with the weight and pull of the hair clips.

Besides lupus, I have recently been diagnosed with another autoimmune disease of the thyroid (Hashimoto's thyroiditis), which adds intense brittleness to my hair issues. I feel so ugly right now, in the midst of a major flare and with hair making me look like a deranged Muppet.

So, I have implemented as many tricks and tips I can gather to try to help curb the intensity of this attack and make the most of what remains.

Preventing Lupus Hair Loss

There are things you can do to prevent hair loss associated with lupus. First of all, take your medications as prescribed. Most of the time, hair loss is temporary. Treating lupus can help the hair to grow back.

However, remember how I said that there could be a variety of reasons for hair loss? If you are treating your lupus and your hair is not growing back, do not automatically assume that lupus is the ultimate cause of your hair loss. Remember, there are many of reasons for hair loss.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease, and this means that your body is attacking itself. It is also a well-known fact that if you have one autoimmune disease, you are subject to other autoimmune diseases – and some autoimmune diseases also have hair loss as a symptom, such as disease of the thyroid.

Given the fact that you already have lupus, there is not a lot you can do to prevent further autoimmune disease besides proper hand hygiene and staying well, but being diligent and seeing your physician if you suspect you have another health condition aside from lupus is important.

Here are some other great tips for preventing further hair loss:

• Stress can potentiate hair loss. Avoid stress as much as possible and if stress is unavoidable, attempt to manage.
• Avoid sun exposure. Many people with lupus are photosensitive. If you love the sun, apply sunscreen liberally, wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, and wear a wide-brimmed hat. According to Molly’s Fund, “This applies even to days that are cloudy as about 70% of ultraviolet rays still come through those clouds!”
• And, incredibly important: “Contact your physician if you notice any scaly round lesions or rashes on your face or scalp. The concern here is that discoid lupus may cause permanent hair loss due to scarring in the affected areas if not treated quickly.”

Additional Ways to Manage Lupus Hair Loss

• Wide-tooth combs or hair picks: I always use a very wide-toothed hair pick or comb to get through any tangles. I avoid ponytails or pinning hair up in any way that adds weight or tugs on the hair. No extra pulling of any kind!
• Gentle shampoos: I try to avoid additives like parabens, formaldehyde, artificial scents and any additives I cannot pronounce. I look for shampoos with shea butter and argan oil for deep conditioning. Pura d’or is a great organic shampoo for hair loss prevention and seems to slow down the hair loss. There is another great shampoo to combat hair loss called Nioxin. It can be somewhat drying to my hair, so I use a deep moisturizing conditioner with it, but it does seem to stimulate the scalp and slow the hair loss down.
• Natural remedies: Though this certainly did not stop the fallout in my experience, natural essential oils did slow it down. Rosemary essential oil, found at the natural pharmacy and health food store can be mixed with a little water and rubbed into scalp where the hair fallout is happening. It is quite smelly, so I use it at night before bed.
• Supplements: I take vitamin D supplements, which is essential to combating hair loss and many of us lupies are deficient in it. Vitamin B-12 supports your hair and skin as well. Above all adding Biotin supplements can significantly help curb the hair loss and will support your nail health too. I also take omega-3 fish oil supplements, which support healthy hair.
• Add color: Weird but true, when I finally decided to do something for me and got foil highlights (hoping it would create a look of more hair) my hair fall out slowed to a stop. No idea why except maybe it simulates something within my scalp. So, every time I get foils done, my hair may get drier (and more damaged from chemicals), but it slows or stops the fallout. I am almost blond now.

Treatment Options for Lupus Hair Loss

Treatment of lupus hair loss can be tricky. Often the best treatment is simply treating your lupus – as discussed, most often, the hair loss is reversible – once your lupus is under control and your hair will grow back. However, it can take months. 

So, what are you to do in the meantime?

Well, if there are any other underlying causes, definitely speak with your physician. For example, if you have an underlying autoimmune thyroid disorder, treating the thyroid disorder can improve the hair loss. Treating anemia can also improve the hair loss.

There are also other ways to minimize the look of hair loss. Here are some great ways that you can do that:

• Change your hairstyle. Although you may be attached to a particular look, certain hairstyles are known to minimize the appearance of hair loss. A shorter haircut doesn’t flatten the roots to the scalp, so the hair loss isn’t quite as obvious.
• Try hair extensions or wigs. Both great ways to try out different looks!
• There are a vast amount of scarves and headbands available, and most are inexpensive. Pick some up at your hair salon or drugstore.
• Purchase a silk pillowcase. A silk pillowcase is gentle on the hair while sleeping, preventing hair breakage at night.
• Consider changing your nutrition. Certain foods are supposedly helpful in promoting hair growth, such as flax seeds, walnuts, salmon, tuna, kale, Greek yogurt, eggs, chicken, oysters, sweet potatoes, spinach, lentils, and avocados. Although I wouldn’t rely on nutrition solely in treating your hair loss, I would consider adding these foods to your diet! They are rich in nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, selenium, zinc, and iron.

In Conclusion...

With lupus, it seems something disturbing or scary is always happening. Though there are tips to try to make it less damaging and dramatic, there is nothing to prevent or completely stop it. I try and remain positive and remember that my beauty lies within me, not in what people see.

It is tough though when you see lupus turn you into someone you do not recognize. For now, I am taking my supplements and both my lupus and thyroid medication like clockwork, and I may desperately schedule my next hair color appointment, looking for a result that has little to do with my hair color.