Hair loss is a troublesome symptom experienced by many patients suffering with the autoimmune disease lupus. Although it may be alarming to experience, lupus hair loss may be temporary.
First Sign
Hair loss is often one of the first symptoms of lupus that patients notice, usually in the form of finding hair on the pillow after sleeping. Many patients diagnosed with lupus first visited their doctors out of concern for their hair loss.
Prevalence
According to the Mayo Clinic, approximately 54 percent of lupus patients deal with hair loss at some point.
Pattern
Overall shedding of hair is the most common hair loss pattern in lupus patients, but patchy hair loss may also occur.
Causes
Discoid rash on the scalp associated with lupus can cause hair loss, as can lupus treatments, such as steroids and immunosuppressant drugs. Hair loss may also occur as part of a flare-up of symptoms for reasons doctors do not understand
Recovery
Hair loss associated with lupus treatments is temporary and hair will grow back. Further, hair loss will stop when the disease is controlled. Hair loss as the result of discoid rash is usually permanent as discoid rash causes scarring of the hair follicles.
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