How Long After Stopping Prednisone Will Hair Growth Return to Normal?

Prednisone is a corticosteroid used to treat a variety of conditions such as eczema, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, certain cancers and to help transplant recipients avoid rejecting organs.

Features

While prednisone is an important drug that helps with many diseases and conditions, there are many side effects including increased hair growth. This is typically seen on the face, arms, legs and back.

Time Frame

Prednisone taken in doses over 40 mg. a day, or taken for extended periods of time such as a month or longer, will require a longer time off the drug before side effects go away completely. It takes some time for the adrenal gland function to gradually return to normal. In the case of large doses or long term treatment, it may be up to one year before the adrenal gland is back to normal levels.

Prevention/Solution

If side effects from prednisone such as excessive hair growth are particularly troublesome it may be possible to decrease the dosage and reduce or eliminate symptoms. Until the side effects are gone, you may bleach or use hair removal creams.

References

• Engineered for Health: Wonderful Terrible Prednisone
• Cleveland Clinic: Prednisone