Hair Loss in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

April 2013 in “ Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ”

Kamal Patel, Paul Farrant, Jeremy Sanderson, Peter Irving

hair loss Inflammatory Bowel Disease telogen effluvium alopecia areata IBD flares drug side effects nutritional deficiencies genetic link dermatological treatment TE AA

TLDR People with Inflammatory Bowel Disease often lose hair due to stress, medication side effects, or lack of nutrients, and treatment depends on the specific cause.

The 2013 review article examined the issue of hair loss in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), noting that while it is a common complaint, the prevalence and specific causes are not well documented. The paper identified telogen effluvium (TE) as the likely most common cause related to IBD flares, with other causes including drug side effects and nutritional deficiencies. It also mentioned a genetic link between alopecia areata (AA) and IBD. The review provided guidance for assessing and managing hair loss in IBD patients but highlighted the difficulty in characterizing hair loss due to various potential causes. The paper concluded that TE usually resolves on its own, while AA may require dermatological treatment, and both conditions could benefit from addressing nutritional deficiencies and medication-related issues.

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