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Prednisone side effect?

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Posted 9/10/2008 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
I know this will sound vain, but please bear with me, I am sick of side effects altogether, but am unsure of this one.

I have been on prednisone since January (with one week to go of taper-Yeah!) and I am noticing that my arms seem like they are more hairy/have darker hair than I previously had. Which sucks being a girl. I always loved that my arm hair was very thin and light so it wasn't noticeable. Grrr.

Have any of you noticed this with long periods of steroids and if so, will it go away? Please help!

Posted 9/10/2008 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
mj,
Yes I have noticed this myself, I have hair growth where I dont need it and the hair on my head is thinning badly - not fair.
Im not sure if it will go back to normal after you taper, Im yet to get off the pred after 5 years straight UGH.
Jo
PS - you are not being vain!
Posted 9/11/2008 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
Yup, it happened to me too, I also started getting hair on my back...not so attractive.  It does go away after your off the prednisone, but it takes like a month or so.
Posted 9/11/2008 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
Yup me too. It did go away when I went off the pred. Also if you let your arms get just a touch of a tan the hair won't seem so dark. (If you are not on meds that make it bad for you to be in the sun).
Sj
Posted 9/11/2008 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
and facial hair..................yech

Posted 9/11/2008 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
Oh ya, i forgot about the facial hair!!  I have some pretty crazy side burns right now, lemme tell you...being a 21yr old single girl....crohns and prednisone does not make it easy to find a man!
Posted 9/11/2008 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
The facial hair is definitely a nuisance...makes me feel pretty gross that I have to trim my face from time to time :( I can't wait to be off of this drug, but at the same time I'd rather have its side effects than the inflammation...
Posted 9/11/2008 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
i didnt get very hairy with the pred,my face got huge so the family strted calling me "moon face" and i got sick of ppl pointing out how fat my face was lol and also had crazy mood swings "roid rage"
Posted 9/11/2008 6:19 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for all the input! I feel so much better now! You guys are great!

I love how everyone hear can still laugh at the crazy stuff that happens to us. Thanks again!!

Posted 9/11/2008 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
Unfortunately, steroids have some nasty side effects and it seems that the longer they're taken the more you'll see. That would make sense, huh?! My daughter experienced extra hair in unwanted places, terrible acne everywhere and darkening skin in some areas. Her neck looked like it hadn't been washed.......ever. O yes and lets not forget her cheeks were like chipmunks, with plenty of food for the winter. All side effects decreased after a month. They haven't went away completely but she doesn't stay off prednisone long enough is my guess. It isn't silly to be disappointed with side effects from meds. We are all human and lets face it especially women, do care about our appearance. My heart goes out to you, as if it isn't enough to be sick and medication that is to make you better brings havic. Much love & laughter to you!
Posted 9/11/2008 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
prednisone is a horrible drug. have not had the hair problems, but the insomnia alone does it for me. :(
Posted 9/12/2008 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
my facial hair never went away.....ugh.... I spend more money waxing over the years then I want to know. I would love to get that hair
laser removing done but need to fork out the money for it. And then I wonder if I ever go back on prednisone, would it come back?
Posted 9/12/2008 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
You are NOT vain at all! I have been off and on prednisone since Feb and now I am going back on it. I have facial hair--in fact, I just joke about it and tell my son that I am "plucking my beard." When my mom or someone calls for me and asks him where I am at, he will tell them that "I am plucking my beard." Sad. Although I try to joke about it, I really hate it!!

I also get the moon face and weight gain, which sucks!

I swear, the hair increases on my arms and stuff, but honestly, I shave them. And my mustache. And my beard, when I don't feel like plucking.
Posted 9/13/2008 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
How about losing the hair on your head. Mine is sooooo thin now and I have less than 2 weeks to go til I'm off of pred all together. Will it grow back? Does anyone have any info on this.
Posted 9/13/2008 4:17 AM (GMT 0)
Ya, the hair on my head is falling out too.  I can pull out handfuls of hair, thank god I have really thick hair tho.  Yes it does grow back

Posted 9/13/2008 7:10 AM (GMT 0)
Oh yea... I hate steroids and I'm back on them AGAIN!

My facial hair grows like mad... I get a mustache (which I promptly get waxed!) and then my actual facial hair grows SUPER long - luckily, it's still fine and very very blonde, but in the light, you can tell! I plucked one out the other day and it was 3/4" long!!!!

As for the hair on the head? I blame that on biologics (Remicade). In addition to my hair being SUPER thin now (I actually use Nioxin to control the loss and start new growth - it's been working), my hair keeps turning GREEN. Not a joke! We thought it was my coloring turning green, so we grew out all my color and now we KNOW it's MY hair. Again, I blame it on Biologics and not so much Pred because most of the time I've had THOSE issues it's been when I've been OFF Pred...

GL getting off the steroids! It took me a few months, but the moon face and all went away....I can't wait until I'm off the steroids. Been on since July and get off (hopefully) in about 8 weeks!
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