question about hair and skin changes

I've lost a lot of hair since late summer.  It's stopped falling out so dramatically, but it isn't growing back, either.  The texture is different as well, but some of that may be due to the fact that I stopped coloring it several months ago.  I only colored it for a year - and when I couldn't get out of flare, decided if it was contributing to that at all, it just wasn't worth it.  The hair around my forehead along the hairline is really wacky, like the hairs have broken off and regrown so many times they are "fringe" hairs.  Oh, it's hard to explain. 

Then there is the skin on my face.  I've always had dryer skin, and the rest of my body is doing the normal thing - especially in winter.  But my face just seems so coarse (the texture is like sandpaper sometimes) and so dry it peels a bit - and even though I put a ton of lotion on it it never seems to really absorb it.  And some days it is more exaggerated than others - for no reason I can come up with.  My thyroid has been checked and double checked.  It's fine.  Does this sound familiar to anyone?  I'm 54, but this has been a very recent change - in fact, it's all started along with some nasty flaring this summer and fall.  I started Plaquenil in Dec. - not sure if that has helped slow the hair loss or not.  I'm not extremely vain, but I do't like what I'm seeing in the mirror!  Any thoughts?

Lucy

 

Thanks, Ginny.  I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens.  I'm glad yours grew back...that's encouraging.  What's funny is that in 2007 we made a household move and had a wedding for our daughter all within 6 wks of each other.  DD was living out of state, but getting married in our hometown.  That left me handling all the details including creating the escort cards, menu cards, addressing invitations w/ calligraphy, handling photographer, florist,etc. etc.  I don't know what we would have done without cell phones or email.  The new house required a great deal of work before we moved in, (We are DIYers) and selling our house and organizing and packing up 14 yrs. worth of accumulation was a real chore.....I don't know what we were thinking!  I guess the right house came up and we jumped.  Anyway....my daughter complained of her hair falling out.  We all told her it was just wedding stress....which it was....it stopped after all the hoopla.  Mine DID NOT fall out AT ALL during that stressful period!  Of course - I wasn't in flare then, (just pretty much ever since) but still......

Oh boy - just foggy and rambling.  Thanks for your response!

Lucy

Hi Nurse - it really is surprisingly disturbing, isn't it?  My rheumy said "Well, I'm losing my hair too.... when I told her about it (the old "you're making too much of it" routine) arghhh!  The labs drive me crazy.  But I thought it was common for them to change (get better) after treatment, especially with Plaquenil.  I think the Plaquenil actually helped stop some of my hair loss.....at least the slow down began after I'd been on it for a few weeks.  I'll be anxious to see what my ANA is at after 6 mos. on Plaq.  Did you ever have hair loss before now?  I hope your hands feel better.  I have that problem intermittently.  Sometimes in the morning I can't make a fist and they are all puffy and clumsy.  It gets better as the day wears on.  Can't hold the phone without getting pins and needles, though.  Good luck w/ your appt. next week - I hope you can get some help!

Lucy