TLDR Hair loss is common in IBD patients, and some medications may lower the risk.
In a 2015 retrospective study of 150 patients from an adult IBD clinic, researchers found that 33% of patients reported hair loss. The study revealed no association between hair loss and patient age, gender, IBD type, or disease duration. However, the use of mesalamine and anti-TNF medications was associated with a lower frequency of hair loss, with adjusted odds ratios of 0.43 and 0.28, respectively. Despite limitations such as a small sample size and potential recall bias, the study suggests that hair loss is a common issue for IBD patients and that certain medications may reduce the risk. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind hair loss in this population and to establish effective management strategies.
54 citations,
September 2012 in “Dermatologic Clinics” Some medications can cause hair loss, but stopping the drug usually leads to recovery within 3 months.
72 citations,
February 2011 in “The American Journal of Dermatopathology” Anti-TNF therapy can cause a unique type of hair loss that may get better with topical treatments without stopping the therapy.
15 citations,
November 2009 in “Journal of diabetes and its complications” Patients with Type 1 diabetes should be screened for pernicious anemia.
28 citations,
October 2007 in “PubMed” Low iron levels are linked to more hair loss in non-menopausal women.
11 citations,
March 2007 in “Digestive Diseases and Sciences” The conditions alopecia areata, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and ulcerative colitis may be linked by shared autoimmune and cell death mechanisms.
12 citations,
June 2006 in “Pediatric blood & cancer” A 16-year-old boy had pernicious anemia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and later developed alopecia areata.
163 citations,
November 2003 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Low iron levels may be linked to some types of hair loss in women.
8 citations,
April 2015 in “Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology” Effective symptom management in IBD improves quality of life and prevents complications.
1 citations,
October 2013 in “The American Journal of Gastroenterology” Infliximab can trigger lupus-like symptoms in Crohn's disease patients.
156 citations,
August 2014 in “Cochrane library” Budesonide is not effective for maintaining remission in Crohn's disease beyond three months.
1 citations,
January 2014 in “PubMed” Hair loss in a child was an early sign of Crohn's disease.
53 citations,
August 2014 in “Cochrane library” Methotrexate is not proven effective for inducing remission in ulcerative colitis.
