Hair loss - Hair Loss / Alopecia Message Board

Lizzette10 · 06-17-2008, 08:58 PM

Hello, this is my first time here. I was diagnosed one year ago with relapsing remitting ms. I have been taking rebif for a year. Six weeks ago, my hair started coming out at the root in the top of my scalp. Has this ever happened to anyone else? I have several bald areas. Is this a special condition? Will it stop? Could this be a reaction from the rebif? I would appreciate your help? I've been reading these posts for awhile and I feel so connected to you.

anxiousme · 06-17-2008, 10:12 PM

I was dx in Aug 06. I lost significant amounts of hair from Sept.-Dec. 06'. I never got an answer as to why. It slowed down to normal amounts during Jan. 07, only to begin again in Aug. 07. Again, it lasted about 4 months. This time my dermatologist did a scalp biopsy and determined that I had genetic alopecia (female pattern baldness) and stress was also a contributing factor. I can't believe it is genetic because everyone in my family has extremely thick hair.

So I think that it is related to stress. My body went through a major relapse right before I was dx and I switched to the S**** Diet. Those two factors put my body through a lot of stress. The second bout was probably also stress, this time job and motherhood.

I don't really like those answers, but have been told by the dermatologist that these shed phases will come and go. I just hope I have enough hair to sustain them.

kimpossible67 · 06-18-2008, 06:14 AM

I also had problems with hair coming out and breakage, about an inch out of my head. I solved it by screwing up cutting off my ponytail (hair was about waist length) and I shaved my head. Now, a year later, it's grown back nicely, it's already touching my collarbone but I noticed that I again have some breakage. Not much help, I know but just letting you know, I understand. Oh, and I was on Copaxone at that time but only for a couple months. I was taking other meds, too. For the most part now, I'm med free and still see breakage.

Lizzette10 · 06-18-2008, 07:40 AM

Thank you for your response.

Canadian gal · 06-18-2008, 08:10 AM

Over the years, I have heard of quite a number of people who've experienced hair loss while on the interferons. I do not recall whether it was only Rebif that seemed to cause this, or if people on any one of the interferons could experience this.

Cherie