Can Psoriatic Arthritis Cause Hair Loss?

From everydayhealth.com

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints, tendons, and nails. It usually occurs in people with psoriasis, an inflammatory condition causing rashes on the skin.

Symptoms can include joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and fatigue. Hair loss (alopecia) isn’t typically a sign of the disease, but it can affect some people with PsA in a roundabout way. 

“Psoriatic arthritis and hair loss are not directly linked,” explains Jennifer E. Yeh, MD, PhD, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. “However, having psoriatic arthritis may predispose one to hair loss from psoriatic arthritis inflammation, from psoriatic arthritis treatment, or from an increased likelihood of having another type of autoimmune condition.” 

Physical or Psychological Stress Can Lead to Hair Loss

Psoriatic arthritis can significantly impact your emotional well-being, leading to anxiety, depression, diminished self-esteem — and particularly, stress. Chronic stress can worsen inflammation and immune dysregulation, leading to increased disease activity and more severe symptoms. Researchers note that stress may also disrupt neuroendocrine pathways, affecting cortisol levels and further dysregulating the immune system in PsA. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, stress is linked to hair loss and thinning hair.

Dr. Yeh says that both the physical and psychological stress associated with PsA can trigger a temporary type of hair loss called telogen effluvium. 

With telogen effluvium, more hairs than normal are forced into their resting phase. When this happens, they fall out at once. Most people lose about 100 strands of hair a day. But if you have telogen effluvium, you may lose up to 300 strands a day.

“While telogen effluvium is characterized by an increase in daily hair shedding, it usually reverses, and hair regrows once the underlying stressor is removed,” Yeh says.

                                                             iStock

Medications for PsA May Cause Thinning Hair

Treatments for PsA can contribute to hair loss. Some common culprits are: 

• Methotrexate It stops cells from growing — including hair follicles. About 1 to 3 percent of people who use it experience hair loss.
• Leflunomide This medicine works like methotrexate and causes hair loss in about 10 percent of people.
• Anti-TNF Therapy Research has shown that “a sizable minority” of people on TNF inhibitors develop alopecia areata, the most common inflammatory hair loss disease, at a higher prevalence than the general population, though it’s not clear why this happens.

“Treatment-related alopecia typically improves with discontinuation of the offending medicine,” says Yeh.

Comorbid Psoriasis and Hair Loss

Most, but not all, people with PsA also have psoriasis. And, if you have psoriasis, you have a 45 to 56 percent chance of developing scalp psoriasis.

Scalp psoriasis causes a dry, itchy, and inflamed scalp. “Scalp psoriasis that is not controlled irritates the hair follicles, disrupting normal hair follicle function, and thereby causing hair shedding,” says Yeh. 

If you scratch or pick at the lesions, you can also damage hair follicles. This can result in additional hair loss.

The good news is that hair loss due to scalp psoriasis is usually temporary. “Most cases show complete hair regrowth after treatment,” says Yeh.

If you have severe psoriasis plaques, you should be aware that the oral medication acitretin, occasionally used to treat persistent psoriasis, can cause hair loss.

What to Do About Hair Loss

If you have PsA and experience hair loss, talk to your doctor. If you’re not already seeing a dermatologist to manage your condition, your rheumatologist can refer you to one who may be able to determine the underlying cause of your hair loss.

Getting your symptoms under control can also help preserve your hair. “Hair loss from uncontrolled PsA reverses once the inflammation is well-controlled,” says Yeh. “It’s critical to treat concomitant scalp psoriasis so that local inflammation surrounding hair follicles on the scalp does not contribute to increased hair shedding.”

Here are some ways you can help prevent hair loss caused by scalp psoriasis.

• Try not to touch, pick, or scratch your scalp.
• Keep your fingernails short.
• Be gentle when brushing, combing, washing, or drying your hair.
• Wear a hat when you’re outside.
• Use a medicated shampoo that contains salicylic acid and follow with a moisturizing conditioner. 
• Don’t take extremely hot showers.
• Ask your doctor about a prescription treatment that can help your symptoms.
• Avoid blow-drying your hair. If you do, use a low-heat setting.
• Try to keep stress levels low.
• Follow a healthy diet.
• Avoid heavy drinking.

While hair loss associated with PsA can be frustrating, the right treatments and lifestyle habits can help you minimize shedding — and protect the hair you have.

The Takeaway

• If you have psoriatic arthritis and you’re experiencing hair loss, consult your doctor to determine the underlying cause and effective treatment strategies.
• Medications such as methotrexate and leflunomide, commonly used to manage PsA, might contribute to hair thinning, so discuss potential side effects with your healthcare provider to explore any necessary adjustments.
• Emotional and physical stress linked to PsA can cause temporary hair loss; reducing stress levels and effectively managing the disease can lead to regrowth and a healthier scalp condition.
• If you’re dealing with scalp psoriasis, measures such as medicated shampoos and avoiding scalp irritation can prevent additional hair loss and support recovery.

https://www.everydayhealth.com/rheumatic-conditions/can-psoriatic-arthritis-cause-hair-loss/

How to Care for Your Hair and Skin With Arthritis

From healthcentral.com

Columnist Lene Andersen shares tips for making your morning routine easier on RA-affected hands 

When rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes joint changes and limited mobility in your arms and hands, you might have difficulty styling your hair, caring for your skin, and doing your makeup. One solution is to opt for a short, wash-n-go hairstyle and skip the skincare and makeup routine all together—a valid choice. But if you aren’t willing to part with your favourite foundation and perfect blowout, I have some beauty hacks that might help. This column will explore how RA has impacted my own beauty routine, discuss some of the ways I have adapted, and share tips on how you can, too.

There was a time in my life when I never left the house without makeup and my hair just so, dangling earrings catching the light, my outfit put together with thought and deliberation. It was a way to be seen in the world that often overlooked me because of my being in a powerchair. But more than that, it was about leaning into my identity as a woman, emphasizing my femininity in a body that contravened accepted beauty standards. Makeup and hair can be complicated, tangled up in social codes of behaviour. But when I, many years later, experimented with bold lipsticks, I learned that it can also be wonderfully simple: It makes us feel good about ourselves —and sometimes, that gives us the extra strength to tackle whatever challenges we face.

Once you’ve embraced these cosmetic routines, what happens when RA makes your shoulders hurt so much you can’t lift your arms to curl your hair, your fingers have trouble gripping an eyeliner, and your hands lose the flexibility for a seven-step skincare routine? When you have to consider giving up your favourite hairstyle, a smoky eye, or taking care of your skin, it can feel as if RA has won. That it has taken something so inherently part of your identity that you’re not sure who you are without it.

For me, the answer to my inability to reach the top of my head was a pixie cut, easy to maintain with help, of course, from my mother when I was younger, and now my attendants. Thankfully, it suits my face and my personality, and best of all, once towel-dried out of the shower, I don’t need deal with it the rest of the day. My makeup look has simplified to a smudged eyeliner, some mascara, brow gel, and a swipe of fun lipstick. When I choose to apply it, that is. I’ve become more comfortable leaving the house without my “face” on, a lesson taught by necessity and pain, then embraced firmly by convenience (and laziness). The answer has been low maintenance, not no maintenance. Even if I don’t wear makeup, I still moisturize my face and put on sunblock (yes, even in winter). It’s both a practical task (to reduce dryness and risk of skin cancer), and an act of self-care, taking a moment to make myself feel better in my body.

                                                                                GettyImages/Zorica Nastasic

These are some of the tools I’ve used to find a look that supports my self-esteem:

Get a haircut. The right haircut can make your life so much easier. Have a chat with your stylist about the movements that make you hurt and get their perspective on a cut that will fit you and be easy to maintain. Before you leave the salon, ask for a styling tutorial that respects your joints, as well as recommendations for products to keep your hair looking great.

Change your look and beauty routine. The next expert on your list is a makeup artist. Once again, discuss the moves that are hard for you to do, then work with them to develop a flattering look you can apply quickly (fast = easy on the hands). They’ll likely suggest products that can do more than one thing, such as this Benefit lip-and-cheek stain, NARS the Multiple for lips, cheeks, and eyes, or this OneUp face cream that covers—count ’em—six purpose, including moisturizer, toner, and serum.

Use tools to extend your reach. If RA joint damage has restricted the reach of your arms, getting the right tool can make all the difference. A stand for your hairdryer can save you from twisting yourself into a pretzel to style your hair. Combine it with this long-handled brush and comb which has helped me reach the back of my head for the first time in decades.

Switch up your makeup tools. Out-of-the-box thinking applies to the tools you use for your makeup, too. If your grip or dexterity are affected by RA, find makeup brushes with thick handles that are easier to hold. As well, arthritis-friendly pencil grips help you hold a pen, so why not use them for similar-shaped sin eyeliners and thinner brushes, or choose a design specifically designed for chronic illness. If applying your makeup or face cream hurts your hands, thick-handled brushes can be used for face cream and sunblock, as well as your foundation.

As you try new looks, techniques, and tools, keep an open mind. It may not be possible for you to continue with the look you’ve always had. For instance, my hands don’t have the ability for detailed accuracy work, such as a liner flick at the corner of my eye, but I can create a killer smudged look—much more forgiving—with the Clinique Quickliner. Being open to change can lead you to new and exciting looks that you may not have considered before, like I discovered in my lipstick experiment. My hair and makeup may be simpler and less styled than they were when I was younger, but I’ve learned that a bold lip gives me a confidence I’ve never had before. A new and easier look might do the same for you.

https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/rheumatoid-arthritis/how-to-care-for-your-hair-and-skin-with-arthritis