Does Stelara cause hair loss?

No, Stelara (ustekinumab) has not been shown to commonly cause hair loss in clinical studies.

What Is Stelara Used For?

Stelara is prescribed for the treatment of:

• Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis (adults and children 6 years and older).
• Moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (adults).

Stelara and Hair Loss

Hair loss was not commonly reported during clinical trials. In phase 3 clinical studies of Stelara in adults with CD and UC, about 1% of patients reported hair loss (alopecia) as a side effect compared to 2.6% of patients taking a placebo.

A 2017 case study in the Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology showed that hair loss caused by the autoimmune disorder alopecia areata, which can be a concurrent condition to patients with psoriasis, responded well to Stelara. Researchers noted an increase in hair density, though larger studies are are needed to confirm this effect.

Common Side Effects of Stelara

Common side effects of Stelara include:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Abdominal pain, back pain
• Headache
• Upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Itching (pruritus)
• Depression, fatigue
• Weight loss
• Rectal bleeding

Conclusion

Stelara has not been linked to hair loss, and some reports suggest it may even benefit patients with alopecia areata. If you experience hair loss while taking Stelara, consult your healthcare provider to explore potential causes and treatment options.