In rare cases where rheumatoid arthritis causes hair loss, your immune system attacks tissues in your skin where hair follicles are located, causing your hair to thin out and fall. Nonetheless, other associated factors such as stress, medications, and concurrent autoimmune conditions have a higher tendency to contribute to your hair loss. In this article, you will learn about the factors that can cause rheumatoid arthritis and hair loss to co-occur and how to cope with them.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Medications
As established, certain medications used in treating Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) can cause your hair to fall out. DMARDs are disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs often used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. They work by suppressing the immune system while targeting fast-growing cells. One of the commonly used DWARDs often prescribed to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis is Methotrexate.
When methotrexate is taken or injected to target fast-growing cells and reduce inflammation, it attacks the hair follicles too and causes minor hair loss for some people. Other medications likely to cause Rheumatoid arthritis include Leflunomide and Biologics.
Autoimmune Diseases
When exposed to immune system disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, the human body becomes more susceptible to developing another autoimmune disease. Thus, when you experience hair loss while dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis, you should go for a check-up as your body might have developed other autoimmune disorders. Autoimmune diseases that cause hair loss include Alopecia Areata, Lupus, and Thyroid Disease.
Stress
Chronic illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis can increase your stress levels, and cause chronic stress. Chronic stress is bad for your health as it can cause trichotillomania and telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium takes place when immense stress pushes your hair follicles until it reaches a resting phase, forcing the affected hair to fall out instantly. On the other hand, Trichotillomania causes the gnawing need to pull out your hair when dealing with uncomfortable feelings such as boredom, stress, loneliness, and tension.
Coping with Hair Loss from Rheumatoid Arthritis
Although hair loss does not negatively impact your health, it can affect your self-confidence, body image, and self-esteem if it bothers you. However, after recognizing the causes of your hair loss, treating it gets much easier.
The first thing to do is visit a doctor to pinpoint the exact cause of your hair loss and get a direct treatment. Doctors often prescribe spironolactone, finasteride, and minoxidil to treat hair loss, especially for women. Other medicines like minoxidil or rogaine are available over the counter and can be used to stimulate hair growth for both men and women.
Also, learning to manage your stress and adequately care for your hair can reduce hair loss and damage.
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