Lupus is a special kind of disease in which the body strikes itself, it is an autoimmune disorder. Most of the patients those diagnosed from lupus disease struggle with hair loss. There are two kinds of hair loss finds that associated with lupus.
One is caused by the disease, and the other by medication. While some hair is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to mostly prevent it.
Find out if your lupus or medication is the result of your hair loss.
Cutaneous lupus, it is also known as "lupus of the skin" can increase hair fall.
Alternatively, your medication may result in your hair loss, especially if you are on a corticosteroid (like prednisone).
Talk to your doctor to find out which of these two causes you have hair loss (also known as alopecia). Hair loss from lupus medications like corticosteroids is largely reversible, but hair loss from scarring and discoed lesions is generally permanent.
Start your lupus treatment immediately. If you have been diagnosed with isolated lupus (skin lupus), you may start losing hair quickly because the damage that lupus does to your skin may alter the normal function of your hair follicles. The sooner you start your treatment, the sooner you can reverse hair loss.
If you have not been diagnosed with lupus, but have been losing hair, talk to your doctor about the possibility of lupus. There are many other causes of hair loss (heredity, chemical hair treatments, thyroid issues, nutritional deficiencies, etc.), but if you are worried, see a doctor.
Especially if you have unexplained fever, rash, fingers and toes that turn blue in the cold, fatigue, and joint or muscle pain, you have a good chance of getting lupus.
The solution for preventing hair loss from lupus disorder is early medication. The best way of hair loss control is to control the disease.
Take your medication on time and as prescribed. There is such a wide range of lupus medications that the instructions vary greatly. You will probably have to take some at night, and some in the morning, some with food, and some without. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what to do if you miss a dose, as this will also depend on the type of medicine you are taking
Pay attention to the type of medicine prescribed to you. The most common one is a corticosteroid, which will help regulate your blood pressure, help your immune system, and reduce inflammation.
Your doctor will probably recommend prednisone or methylprednisolone tablets. Corticosteroids often make hair loss. If your hair loss medication is off, you may need to wait until your lupus is under control to address hair loss.
Talk to your doctor about changing your medication. If medication is the cause of your hair loss, your specialist may be ready to adjust your dose or prescribe another type of medicine. Keep in mind, however, that you may have to wait a while to change medications. While hair loss can be unpleasant, it is important to manage your disease.
Depending on the severity of your lupus, your doctor may not be able to remove the hair-causing medications. However, they may lower your dose of some medications and increase the dose of others at the same time. (For example, they may lower your corticosteroid dose and interfere with antimalarial, which will help regulate your symptoms without adding many new side effects.)
Immunosuppressants and NSAIDS can also be used to treat lupus to treat.
Check your face and scalp in particular. If there is anything round and scaly or anything that looks rash, you are at risk of permanent hair loss due to scarring. Your doctor may be able to prescribe medication or change your current medication to prevent this
Manage stress. Lupus tends to be stressful, and flames can stop your hair falling out. The best way to manage your stress level is to minimize your list of obligations and exercise frequently.
You can use relaxation routines like meditation. If you are a religious person, prayer can lower your stress level. Make time for hobbies and other activities that put you at ease.
Do not use drugs, alcohol or caffeine to reduce your stress. They may help in the short term, but not worse in the long run.
If you have a lot of trouble managing stress, talk to a counselor or your lupus doctor. They may be able to help you cope.
Get plenty of rest. Remember that people with lupus need up to 12 hours of sleep a night to manage their stress levels. Lupus attacks your immune system, so you will need much more sleep to build it up than the average person. Taking sufficient sleep will improve you manage your symptoms, including hair loss.
If you find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning or wake up without a refreshed feeling, you may not be getting enough sleep. Talk to your doctor about how much sleep you need, and ask them if a light sleep aid can help.