jenih91371
06-18-2010, 10:34 PM
I've experienced major hair loss for the last 7 months. I've lost about 40% of my hair all over but most notably across the top of my head. It started after I quit taking birth control (Femcon Fe). In April, I finally came to terms with the fact that it wasn't stopping on its own.
I made an appointment with a dermatologist. A scalp biopsy was done and came back female pattern hair loss non-scaring. She put me on a prescription dandruff shampoo, Folic Acid and Rogaine for Women. For a long time in my life I have had joint and tendon pain with recurring tendonitis and bursitis. My Derm thought it might have been an autoimmune issue. She tested me for Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis but those came back negative. She then suggested I see a Rheumatologist.
So I made another appointment. After x-raying my most of my joints, looking at my scalp, fingernails and toenails, the Rheumatologist diagnosed me with Psoriatic Arthritis. I have a toenail that I thought had nail fungus but it is Psoriasis. I had other toenails that had white spots on them and extremely dry and cracked nail cuticles, too. I also had what I thought was run of the mill dandruff all my life. Well, it was Psoriasis also. I would get big patches of lose scalp that kind of looked like cradle cap that babies get. I've also had a very sore hip for years (at least since 2000). The gentlest touch in certain spots would cause pain. That is chronic bursitis caused by the Psoriasis. She gave me an anti-malarial, a muscle relaxer, and an anti-inflammatory.
After a month and a half of taking the anti-malarial, my hair loss has stopped. I lose a few hairs in the shower and when I comb it afterwards; before it was handfuls each time. I wanted to share this information in case any other women on this forum have unexplained joint/tendon pain and hair loss. I hope it might help someone else with this heartbreaking issue. It might not be the cure for all, but it is worth looking into when you can't find answers anywhere else.
I made an appointment with a dermatologist. A scalp biopsy was done and came back female pattern hair loss non-scaring. She put me on a prescription dandruff shampoo, Folic Acid and Rogaine for Women. For a long time in my life I have had joint and tendon pain with recurring tendonitis and bursitis. My Derm thought it might have been an autoimmune issue. She tested me for Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis but those came back negative. She then suggested I see a Rheumatologist.
So I made another appointment. After x-raying my most of my joints, looking at my scalp, fingernails and toenails, the Rheumatologist diagnosed me with Psoriatic Arthritis. I have a toenail that I thought had nail fungus but it is Psoriasis. I had other toenails that had white spots on them and extremely dry and cracked nail cuticles, too. I also had what I thought was run of the mill dandruff all my life. Well, it was Psoriasis also. I would get big patches of lose scalp that kind of looked like cradle cap that babies get. I've also had a very sore hip for years (at least since 2000). The gentlest touch in certain spots would cause pain. That is chronic bursitis caused by the Psoriasis. She gave me an anti-malarial, a muscle relaxer, and an anti-inflammatory.
After a month and a half of taking the anti-malarial, my hair loss has stopped. I lose a few hairs in the shower and when I comb it afterwards; before it was handfuls each time. I wanted to share this information in case any other women on this forum have unexplained joint/tendon pain and hair loss. I hope it might help someone else with this heartbreaking issue. It might not be the cure for all, but it is worth looking into when you can't find answers anywhere else.