Hello Everyone,

Advice please. I was due to have a tint with foils today but cancelled and just had a trim instead. I am worried about hair loss. Just taken fourth dose of MTX 20mg weekly. Has anyone been affected with hair loss taking MTX. Anne x

Ann

I have been on Methotrexate for over a year now and have had no problems with hair loss. If any the opposite has happened, my hair has gone thicker and I have a wave in it now where as before it was always dead straight. It is costing me a fortune at the hairdressers having to have it cut every 5-6 weeks to keep up with the growth. I must admit I do not dye my hair and will never do so. My Mother-in-Law had a very bad reaction to the same hair dye she had used for years and it has completely put me off. The dermatologist said a skin test each time before you dye your hair is an absolute must as your body can build up an intolerance to it.

Jackie
xx

Hello All

I have had my hair coloured for many years now, but was just worried about all my hair falling out, as much as I love shopping I didn't want to go shopping for a new hat. Anne

I've just started taking MTX and I am worried about hair loss. When I was talking to my nurse about it she told me that MTX can be used in the treatment of alopecia. Well, I found this hard to believe but said nothing. I've just been asking Mr Googe about it after reading this post and I've found this

Methotrexate

Joly25 reported 22 patients with longstanding, severe alopecia areata who responded well to methotrexate, with or without systemic corticosteroids. Although the results from that study are surprisingly good, a more standardized study involving more patients is needed because other dermatologists have not had such good efficacy with methotrexate.

So what can we believe?

She did say that it is only a very small percentage of people who do suffer from hair loss and if it did happen and I wasn't happy about it they would just change it to another medication.

Paula x x

I'm sure I'd seen on here that someone who had problems with hair loss had been advised to take extra folic acid on the non metho days aswell and that it had worked well. I must confess that it was one of my main worries when I started taking it. I'm not particularly blessed in the looks department and the thought of my hair dropping out as well was a real concern. However, I have been lucky and haven't had any ill effects. I don't think people realise how the thought of these things affects us.

Julie

My hair started thinning last year before I started MTX. I've never been blessed with thick locks but I was beginning to look like my dear old dad. I started supplements, had my hair chopped and stopped using permanent dyes. It grew back with a vengeance.

Now I'm on MTX and I see my scalp shining brightly through my once-again thinning locks. I can't take the supplements because they have folic acid and the 'guidance' states patients on MTX shouldn't take supplements with folic acid. Yet my rheumatology nurse states she can increase my dose of folic acid if hair loss occurs.

Sometimes I wonder if the people who write these pamphlets actually know anything.