Can Prednisone for Allergies & Asthma Cause Hair Loss?

June 9, 2024

Prednisone is a versatile medication — but it has a few potential side effects. Does prednisone cause hair loss? It’s possible, though there’s not much evidence to confirm it.

You may have been prescribed prednisone for asthma, allergies or inflammatory conditions. For many people, prednisone is an absolute lifesaver when it comes to treating these medical issues.

But every silver lining has its cloud. And every medication has its side effects — prednisone included.

So, does prednisone make your hair fall out? And if so, why does prednisone cause hair loss?

While there are many well-documented side effects of the drug, little research examines whether prednisone hair loss is a thing. Let’s take a look at what we do know about corticosteroids and hair loss.

What Is Prednisone?

Prednisone is a type of steroid — not the kind that helps you bulk up your muscles but rather a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids are prescription medications used to treat inflammatory conditions.

Prednisone is prescribed for issues like:

Asthma
Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and psoriasis
Cancers, including certain leukemias and lymphomas
Certain types of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and gout
Certain blood disorders
Eczema and other skin conditions
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Joint pain and inflammation
Multiple sclerosis
Severe allergies

Prednisone treats these conditions because it stops the immune system from causing inflammation (or swelling). Although inflammation can be a necessary immune system function, too much inflammation can be a problem.

It would appear to be a great medication if you’re suffering from any number of conditions — but what effect does it have on your hair? Can prednisone make your hair fall out, and if so, is prednisone hair loss permanent?

We’ll answer these questions, but let’s first go over prednisone’s known side effects and look at what the research says.

What Are the Side Effects of Prednisone?

When taking prednisone, there are some side effects to be aware of.

The most common prednisone side effects include:

Appetite changes
Fluid retention
Headaches
Indigestion and nausea
Insomnia
Mood swings
Weakened immune system
Weight gain

Prednisone can also cause some serious but rare side effects, including high blood pressure. And it’s possible to be allergic to prednisone (which is ironic since it’s often used to treat allergic reactions).

But generally, adverse reactions are more common in people who take high doses of prednisone or use it for a long time.

Word to the wise: Always use prednisone exactly as prescribed, and don’t take an extra dosage. If you’re experiencing any side effects of prednisone, it’s a good idea to seek medical advice.

Can Prednisone Cause Hair Loss?

The short answer? Maybe. Here’s what we know.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) listings for certain formulations of prednisolone mention thinning scalp hair as one possible side effect. While scalp thinning isn’t a common side effect of prednisolone, it’s still a potential side effect — and one that you should be aware of.

You may have read a few blog posts or Reddit threads about prednisone and hair loss, but most of these are based on anecdotal evidence, not rigorous studies.

Hair loss isn’t listed as a side effect of prednisone by the National Library of Medicine (NLM). The only mention of the word “hair” is a suggestion that the medication may cause “increased hair growth” (or hirsutism), which the FDA doesn’t note.

Who are we to believe?

Well, the NLM website says the entry was updated in March 2020, and the FDA listing is from 2012.

So, time may have changed things — hair loss as a side effect might have been disproven.

But perhaps both are more or less right. It’s possible hair loss is a rare side effect or a sign of overdose, which would technically be in a different category from side effects.

One thing’s for sure: There aren’t any rigorous studies proving a link between hair loss and prednisone.

Do Other Steroids Cause Hair Loss?

You might have heard that anabolic steroids cause hair loss. These meds are usually prescribed to treat hormone imbalances like low testosterone. They’re sometimes used by athletes, weightlifters and people with conditions that cause reduced muscle tissue to put on muscle mass.

Anabolic steroids are basically synthetic testosterone. Androgen hormones — particularly one called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) — are associated with male pattern baldness. But there’s little evidence that steroids cause high levels of DHT.

So, if you’ve noticed increased hair fall-out or a thinning hairline after steroid use, it’s very possible another cause is at play.

Is Prednisone Hair Loss Permanent?

If you do happen to experience hair loss from a steroid like prednisone or another prescription drug you’re taking, it’s probably not permanent. Medication-related hair loss is usually telogen effluvium, a form of excess shedding that’s most often temporary.

When you stop taking the medication, it’ll most likely grow back. In the meantime, hair loss treatments might help — we’ll get into these below.

Prednisone for Treating Hair Loss

In some situations, prednisone may actually be used as a treatment for hair loss.

Studies like this one from 2009 cite intravenous (injected into a vein) prednisone use as a treatment for a type of hair loss called alopecia areata.

A 2020 study notes that corticosteroids, including prednisone, might even be effective at treating alopecia areata in children.

Why would this treatment be good for hair loss? Well, because alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease. With alopecia areata, your immune system attacks and damages your hair follicles, disrupting the hair growth cycle, often to the point of preventing hair growth.

Since corticosteroids are used to treat autoimmune conditions, it makes sense that prednisone could treat alopecia areata.

How to Treat Hair Loss

As mentioned, prednisone is actually an effective treatment for some kinds of hair loss.

But if you’re experiencing hair loss and think it may be due to prednisone, the first thing to do is contact your healthcare provider. They can investigate the cause of your hair loss and recommend whether or not to stop treatment.

If the hair loss is noticeable, you might want to talk to your provider about potential treatments to return some luster to your hair.

Effective, science-backed treatment options for hair loss include:

Minoxidil, a hair loss treatment that stimulates healthy hair regrowth
Finasteride, which regulates DHT to treat male pattern baldness
A combination of topical minoxidil and finasteride

Want to avoid thinning or dull hair? You could also try the following:

Supplements like biotin gummies
Volumizing shampoo and conditioner
Thickening shampoo with saw palmetto (saw palmetto is a natural DHT blocker)
Dandruff detox shampoo

Remember, though, that hair loss could be a symptom of another health issue. So it’s a really good idea to speak with a healthcare professional if you notice thinning hair, bald patches or increased hair fall-out.

Prednisone and Hair Loss: The Verdict

So, does prednisone cause hair loss? Probably not — at least, based on the current research.

The relationship between corticosteroids and hair loss is complicated, but here’s the TL;DR:

Prednisone hair loss isn’t a proven side effect. However, the FDA notes that some formulations of the medication may cause hair thinning.
Prednisone can actually treat some forms of hair loss. Corticosteroids may be effective for treating alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that damages hair follicles.
You’re wise to chat with a medical professional. If you have noticeable hair loss — whether you think it’s caused by prednisone or something else — it’s always best to consult a professional.

This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.