Lupus: How does it cause hair loss?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly shortened to lupus is a long-term condition that causes inflammation to the joints, skin and other organs. Lupus is genetic in origin and it mainly affects females and can affect any part of the body.

Lupus can produce many different symptoms such as muscle pain, extreme tiredness, rashes, anaemia and more, however, often, they can be missed by yourself and your GP and overtime organs can become damaged in an irreversible way.

One sign of lupus is hair loss, lupus causes widespread inflammation that for most, affects their skin – particularly on the face and scalp. The inflammation can cause the hair on the scalp to gradually thin out and some will notice hair loss in clumps as well as eyelashes, beard and body hair.

For most, hair will grow back when the lupus is treated but some people can develop round (discoid) lesions on the scalp, these discoid lesions can scar your scalp and the hair follicles which can cause permanent hair loss on the affected area.

The hair along your hairline can become fragile and break off easily due to lupus, this can cause the hairline to become ragged. At current there is no cure for lupus, but symptoms can improve if treatment is started early.

At the Harley Street Hair Clinic, we’re experts in hair restoration procedures and our doctors will work with each individual client and look into their hair loss and any issues they’re having and work towards finding a solution to restore the appearance of a fuller hair of hair.
Each client is different and for some, we can use some of our treatments such as FUE hair transplants and advanced tricho pigmentation to add fullness to areas where hair may be thinning, however, a consultation will be needed to assess your hair loss. If you would like to book in for a consultation, please contact us today.

(Image source)