Prednisone and Hair Loss: Understanding Telogen Effluvium

Prednisone̵2;an oral corticosteroid noted for its powerful anti-inflammatory effects̵2;treats conditions such as asthma, arthritis and severe allergic reactions.

Side Effect

• Prednisone use may cause telogen effluvium, defined by WebMD as a form of temporary hair loss.

Facts

• Hair grows in a cyclical pattern of growth and rest. During a normal cycle, hair grows for a few years, rests for three to four months and falls out.

Telogen Effluvium

• Telogen effluvium occurs when an above-average number of hairs enter the resting, or telogen phase, causing premature hair loss without immediate regrowth.

Identification

• Telogen effluvium is characterized by a diffuse, overall thinning of the scalp hair. According to WebMD, the hair loss generally begins two to four months after starting the medication.

Treatment

• Prednisone-induced hair loss typically resolves itself once the drug is stopped, reports WebMD. In some cases, however, doctors may recommend medications such as Rogaine to slow hair loss and encourage the regrowth of affected areas.