Anyone experience significant hair loss with IBD?
Replies sorted oldest to newest
It could be the IBD or it could be a medication. I was diagnosed in 2008 but noticed the hair loss this past year (I was lucky I started out with a lot.) Entocort can cause hair loss and I've been on it twice this year. This is just my experience; others may have noticed a connection with something else.
Manny,
Generally I get severe hair loss post op due to the anesthetic, after a long illness, certain meds including some antibiotics and pain meds (no scientfic proof on that one) or when I cannot eat for protracted periods of time (like when my pouch is non-functional)...
According to my dermatologist and a nutritionist all of the above cases are normal...the body uses its energy wisely and concentrates it where it is most needed...the primary organ functions...unfortunately hair, nails, skin & teeth are non-essentials and suffer the consequences of disease (I lost a molar and compromised my other teeth and gums when I was just post pouch) and have pictures of me looking like a plucked chicken after every surgery.
Good nutrition, scalp massage, not washing your hair too often etc can help but it just has to grow back on its own...
Sharon
Generally I get severe hair loss post op due to the anesthetic, after a long illness, certain meds including some antibiotics and pain meds (no scientfic proof on that one) or when I cannot eat for protracted periods of time (like when my pouch is non-functional)...
According to my dermatologist and a nutritionist all of the above cases are normal...the body uses its energy wisely and concentrates it where it is most needed...the primary organ functions...unfortunately hair, nails, skin & teeth are non-essentials and suffer the consequences of disease (I lost a molar and compromised my other teeth and gums when I was just post pouch) and have pictures of me looking like a plucked chicken after every surgery.
Good nutrition, scalp massage, not washing your hair too often etc can help but it just has to grow back on its own...
Sharon
Yes, after my emergency colectomy, I lost about 1/3 - 1/2 of the hair on my head. My hair is quite thick and the pattern of hair loss was diffuse, not in patches, so luckily it was not immediately noticeable to people who didn't know me. What was worse was when it was growing back in, as I had a fringe of shorter hair sticking straight up on the top of my head, not unlike a porcupine. LOL.
I lost my hair due to a combination of malnourishment (I had very rapid weight loss), anemia, anaesthetic, and other meds. It started falling out about 2-3 months after my surgery and grew back within 6 months of that. I also had a telltale white line across each of my fingernails, sure signs of malnourishment.
Sharon gives a great explanation, but Google "telogen effluvium" and you will find a wealth of information on what is probably happening to you.
One thing to keep in mind, if you lost your hair due to a medical illness, your hair doesn't usually start dropping until a new one pushes out the old hair, so the fact that you are losing it now may be a good sign that new, healthy hair is growing, and that your overall health is improving.
That being said - if the hair loss/thinning is not due to the above reasons, but is rather due to one particular medication you are still taking, you may wish to speak to your doctor about alternatives, or else other treatments that can augment the hair loss if there is no alternative medication.
I lost my hair due to a combination of malnourishment (I had very rapid weight loss), anemia, anaesthetic, and other meds. It started falling out about 2-3 months after my surgery and grew back within 6 months of that. I also had a telltale white line across each of my fingernails, sure signs of malnourishment.
Sharon gives a great explanation, but Google "telogen effluvium" and you will find a wealth of information on what is probably happening to you.
One thing to keep in mind, if you lost your hair due to a medical illness, your hair doesn't usually start dropping until a new one pushes out the old hair, so the fact that you are losing it now may be a good sign that new, healthy hair is growing, and that your overall health is improving.
That being said - if the hair loss/thinning is not due to the above reasons, but is rather due to one particular medication you are still taking, you may wish to speak to your doctor about alternatives, or else other treatments that can augment the hair loss if there is no alternative medication.
Thanks for the responses. I'm currently on remicade for crohns that I developed after having IPAA surgery and I was just told hair loss is a potential side effect. I was on humira first and broke out with red bumps all over my body (that I still have) and now with remicade, I've lost over half my hair. Its always something.