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Hair loss and sore's on head with RA

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 10/12/2014 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I'm new here but so happy I found people dealing with RA. I just had my first Remiade infusion a week ago,been on Mtx for over a month. smhair Had reaction site using auto-injection 4 times reason for infusion. Before i even saw a doctor I had swelling in almost every joint not knowing what was wrong with me and my hair was falling out at the scalp. I mean I can still feel the short hair trying to come in. I also had and still have sores on my scalp?? Now that I'm taking all these meds I'm losing more hair. I color it and the sores get worse. I have/had long hair I use WEN shampoo even that isn't working. My scalp is now as dry as my hair. I was looking to see about tanning when I found this form. I have dark skin anyway so thought I looked pale. Very scared and depressed right now over all of this and what is happening to me. Today my joints hurt and feel locked. Thanks for any help sorry about spelling had brain surgery 10 years ago for Annies and lost spelling,math and short term memory... confused
Posted 10/12/2014 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi mgabe and welcome,

Im sorry to hear about this struggle you too are having. I have RA and never had to deal with sores on my scalp or too much hair loss outside of using Methotrexate. Mine gradually slowed down and has reversed over time. I have been taking MTX for about 2 years now I think and it is a big help with my RA.

I hope you feel better soon and that the medications begin to bring you relief. I would make sure to talk with your Doctor about the sores especially relating to the hair coloring. I wonder if maybe you could be having a reaction to that? I write down all my questions for mine because I too deal with short term memory loss and mental fatigue from the RA. Sometimes its really bad and I cant even remember words when having a conversation.

It took me several months on MTX before I saw any relief. It can be a bit slow to act unfortunately like many of the RX that are used to treat RA. At any rate hang in there and know you are certainly not alone in this.
Posted 10/12/2014 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
I have problems with sores on my head. I use Denerex shampoo and it seems to help the sores.
Posted 10/13/2014 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Don and couchtater for your words. I have to say this RA scares me more then the two brain surgeries. Tomorrow I take my MTX shot and was thinking about not doing it. But will listen to you both and hang in here. I had a dream last night that I was standing in front of my sister and pulling at the ends of my hair as big handfulls were coming out. UGH!! Will try the shampoo Denerex my hair is so dry and knots up :( I also have a thyrod condition and take RX for that. What a mess I am and depressed so thank you for being here to walk with me. Like I said I'm scared...I feel like less of a women at this point.
Posted 10/13/2014 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
I also stopped dyeing my hair because it hurt the sores too much.

I forgot, try taking the vitamin biotin. It helps strengthen your hair and promotes growth. It helps my hair too.
Posted 10/15/2014 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
I'm looking into orangic hair dye or some other kind of dye. I feel bad enough and letting the gray come in will be worst.I'm taking biotin 5000 infusion nurse told me to buy the hair/nail/ skin with 5000 biotion instead because it has more then just biotin. Trying to understand how to use this form and look for answer's and other topics? like search? Again thank you...
Posted 10/15/2014 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
Duh found search.I see many putting what they have and meds they take under the post. How do you do that? I'm just at the beginning of Remicade infusions every two weeks and take .7 mil Methortrexate and week along with folic acid. Was first treated with ebrol auto-injection but had reaction at site each time and kept getting staff infection. Worried my medicare won't cover infusions and was told if they do it would cost me out of pocket $1,500 each time. No help out there for cost of this unless you are living in the streets. Anyone know of help for this? I live in Minn.
Posted 11/18/2014 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hi mgabe,

I was diagnosed about 3 months ago, and just got on methotrexate and folic acid two weeks ago.

In the past two months, my hair has been falling out daily. Not in clumps, but enough hairs to clog the hair catcher when I wash my hair. When I vacuum, I can see all the hair that gets sucked up. My brushes get full of hair. My husband was the one who first noticed I was shedding wherever I went.

I did not make the RA connection until I was filling out the forms at the rheumatologist's office. I was losing my hair before being on any medicine. I am curious to see what happens next (not really,RA is not fun at all).
Posted 11/18/2014 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Peppermint Patty,
I see derm doctor today about sores on my head and hair loss. I also had hair loss before starting any meds. The Metho only makes it worst as far as hair loss. I was taking injection of .7 mm and told my doctor no more,well my pain returned bad and let her talk me into .2 mm now. Still hairloss and with Remicade it's worst. Was even thinking about buying Rogaine for women. My husband used it for years and when he stopped all his new hair fell out. My hair is also dry,the texure has changed I just can't stand myself! Can not wait to see doctor today about the sores,thinking it has alot to do with the first hair loss. Will let you know...see him at 2:45 afternoon.
Posted 11/19/2014 4:12 AM (GMT 0)
Mgabe,

I hope your appt went well!
Posted 11/19/2014 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
For head sores am on CLOBETASOL 0.05% SOLUTION two times aday for two weeks. Asked him what can I take for hair loss said I'm taking biotin and he said "everyone runs to that" " there is nothing you can take. Also he found two more pre-cancer marks on my forehead and nose and they were frozen. Had two pre-cancer marks in March that were done also. He said because of the RA treatments I should always be checked for skin cancer,that goes for all of us!!! Hair color? Hummm said to find a product without has long name and have to look it up but short is called PPD and sometimes it's listed has PPD on the box.... Hope this helps. Oh said after two weeks if sores do not clear up he will do a have to cut one sore off and have it checked to see what it is and what could be going on...Much love to all...HappyThanksgiving...I get my infusion two days before so I'll be sick..:(
Posted 11/20/2014 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, MGabe!

about a month before getting diagnosed, all this stuff happened at once. All my joints hurt for a full 24 hours straight and then stopped. At the same time I had a double ear infection, and my scalp hurt and itched. It felt like insects biting me. I even tried lice shampoo in desperation. I didn't have lice. I wound up trying Sea Breeze on my head to ease the pain. I went through bottles of that stuff!

I went to a nurse practitioner, and she said that because my scalp just hurt on one side, I might be getting shingles. Luckily that never happened. I never made the connection that it could be from RA. Anyone know why there's hair loss and scalp sores/pain with RA?
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