Lupus Hair Loss

Like diabetes, lupus, which is an autoimmune disease, may lead to hair loss for many different reasons.

Generalized hair loss is one symptom of systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus flares can interrupt normal hair growth, leading to hair that is thin and breaks easily.

The resulting loss is generally temporary and diffuse.

People with lupus are also very susceptible to skin diseases and infections, many of which can lead to hair loss. I

n addition to skin diseases and infections that affect other segments of the population, people with lupus may experience discoid lesions and subacute or acute cutaneous lesions.

Discoid lesions, in particular, can result in scarring and discoloration and localized permanent baldness.

Hair loss occurs in 50% of patients. Typically manifested as reversible hair thinning during periods of disease activity, it is demonstrated by the ease with which hair can be plucked from the scalp and the development of "lupus hairs" (i.e. short strands at the scalp line).

Following an acute attack of SLE, usually with fever, patients may experience much generalized hair loss.

This results from a period of arrested hair growth during the acute episode.

Hair loss may also be caused by infection or by use of corticosteroids or other lupus medications. Hair loss may also be  because of discoid lesions.

A severe lupus flare could result in defective hair growth, causing the hair to be fragile and break easily.

Lupus Hair loss