Hair Loss Can Happen
Since lupus often causes inflammation, usually targeting the skin on one’s face and an individual’s scalp, it can also cause one’s hair to thin out over time. This is arguably one of the more frightening symptoms as we of course do not usually expect clumps of our hair to fall out. Although the hair on one’s head is often the first to go, other hair such as eyebrows, eyelashes, and facial hair can also be affected. Luckily, hair growth usually resumes once the individual starts to treat their condition with medication. However, this is not always the case. In some people with lupus, lesions referred to as discoid lesions develop on the scalp which cause scarring of the hair follicle, which results in permanent hair loss.
In some cases, the hair along a person with lupus’ hairline can become fragile which causes it to breakoff. This ragged appearance is referred to as “lupus hair.” If you happen to experience any of these hair related symptoms, speak to your doctor. Often times this is the first indicator that an individual has lupus.
