What Causes Hair Loss During Dieting
If youre just starting your weight loss journey, perhaps you have questions about unintentional side effects, such as hair loss. If youre already well into this journey, maybe youve already noticed some thinning of your hair. Either way, its important to learn the facts about the connection between weight loss and hair loss and rule out other potential causes.
Hair Loss Versus Losing Hairs
Fact: On any given day, you typically lose about 100 hairs from your head. This doesnt actually impact the thickness of your locks because, while some hairs shed, others are simultaneously growing in their place.
The real issue hair loss occurs when this regrowth and replacement cycle is disrupted or when hair follicles are destroyed.
We wanted to clarify this because theres a difference between noticing a few extra hairs on your pillow one morning and seeing less hair on the top of your head. If youre in the latter group, keep reading to learn more about the causes of thinning hair .
The Truth About Weight Loss And Hair Loss
As the old saying goes, You are what you eat. Hair is made up of protein, so its important to eat plenty of fish, chicken and other forms of protein for strong, healthy hair. Unfortunately, when dieting, many people dont eat enough protein to sustain healthy hair growth. The body does not consider hair a must-have, so it reroutes your protein intake to your vital organs first. The result? You may see more hair thinning with your weight loss.
This temporary form of hair loss is known as telogen effluvium. Luckily, hair loss from weight loss is usually temporary and usually will regrow once you resume eating an adequate amount of protein.
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Unhealthy Diets Can Result In Sudden Hair Loss
When you don’t get the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that your body needs from your diet, it can cause a loss of hair. For instance, too little protein in your diet can damage healthy hair, and inhibit your body’s ability to build new hair follicles. This can cause noticeable hair loss after about two to three months of a protein-deficient diet. Very strict weight loss diets can also cause noticeable hair loss, which commonly occurs about three months after losing 15 pounds or more of body weight.
Ways Food Can Contribute To Hair Loss
Hair loss is often caused by genetic factors. Androgenic alopecia, also called male or female pattern baldness, is a very common condition that is largely hereditary. But diet and nutrition can also contribute to increased hair loss. Below are foods, supplements, and eating habits that may contribute to hair loss in some people.
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Supplements And Hair Loss
Also, as exercise like weightlifting produces fluctuating testosterone levels, it is unlikely to have long-term effects on hair loss. There is, however, another possible connection between weightlifting and hair loss as many weightlifters take anabolic steroids or supplements to increase testosterone levels.
For those individuals that carry the male pattern baldness gene, there is the possibility of an increase in hair loss as they are already predisposed. Some common supplements contain high levels of Vitamin A, which can also be a contributing factor to hair loss.
So according to Rawnsley, it is unlikely that weightlifting programs will contribute to hair loss.
What is more likely is that individuals who are predisposed to hair loss genetically have been experiencing gradual hair thinning over time, and once they reach that level where it is noticeable, many people look to other causes such as testosterone levels and weightlifting to explain it.
What Questions Might Your Healthcare Provider Ask To Diagnose And Categorize Your Hair Loss
Your healthcare provider might ask about your habits:
- What kinds of hair products do you use?
- What kinds of hair styles do you wear?
- What types of food do you eat ?
- Do you have a habit of pulling your hair out ?
They might ask about your history:
- Has anyone in your immediate family experienced hair loss?
- Is there anything stressful going on in your life?
- What medications and supplements do you take every day?
- Has hair loss ever happened to you before?
- What foods are in your diet?
And, they might ask about your observations:
- How long have you been losing hair?
- Have you been shedding more?
- Have you noticed hair loss in places other than your scalp, like your eyebrows? Leg and arm hair?
- Does anything worsen your hair loss?
- Does anything improve your hair loss?
- Have you noticed hair loss occasionally or has it been going on continuously?
- Have you noticed if your hair growth has changed?
- Has your hair been breaking more often?
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Can Weight Loss Diets Cause Hair Loss
- For a lot of people, their hair is an extension of their personality. Your hairstyle is a mark of your individual style, and the idea of losing your hair can be terrifying. If you believe you are the only one with thinning hair, you are not. This problem is not as uncommon as you would think. An average person has about 1,00,000 hair strands on their scalp. About 80% to 90% of these are in the growth phase, also known as the anagen phase. The remaining hair is in the resting phase or the telogen phase. The hair are then shed after the telogen phase. Typically, most people shed 100-150 hairs per day.
- What can cause hair loss? Different conditions such as stressful and traumatic situations, hormone imbalance, tight hairstyles and excessive styling with products, or poor nutrition or abrupt weight loss can cause hair loss.
- One of the commonly seen reasons for hair loss is a rigorous weight loss program. Cutting calories to the extent that your body develops deficiency of certain nutrients, or depriving yourself of food containing various vitamins and nutrients, proteins and good fats, such as in crash diets, makes your hair weak and leads to hair loss.
Fortunately, this type of hair loss can be reversed.
The most important nutrients for your hair are as follows:
Protein
Iron
Copper
Zinc
Vitamin A
Vitamin B group
Vitamin C
Should I Wash My Hair After Applying Apple Cider Vinegar
Apply to your scalp and strands using your fingers and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Wash your hair with water generously and you are done. You dont need to shampoo your hair after applying this mask. In short, this apple cider vinegar hair mask not only conditions your hair but also saves your hair from chemicals.
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Thinning Hair Following Pregnancy
Other hormonal imbalances can also lead to hair loss, especially the wildly fluctuating hormones that occur following pregnancy and childbirth. It takes time after pregnancy for hormone levels to return to normal, so it’s not at all uncommon for post-partum moms to notice thinning hair or even patches of baldness. This often occurs about three months after babys arrival. Don’t worry as the rest of your body recovers, so will your hair follicles. The hair loss is only temporary your hair will grow back.
Dont Overdo Your Vitamin A
While you want to increase your protein and iron consumption, too much vitamin A can stifle hair growth. Typically, excessive vitamin A intake is the result of taking medicines or too many vitamin supplements. Its all about moderation when it comes to getting the right nutrients your body requires.
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Causes Of Hair Loss And Baldness
A variety of factors from illness to poor nutrition to hormonal imbalances to major stress can contribute to hair loss. If you’re experiencing thinning hair or baldness, you need to get to the root of the problem to determine the best treatment.
Hair loss whether baldness or noticeably thinning hair can occur for a number of different reasons. Sometimes hair loss is a side effect of a health problem that needs to be addressed and will remedy itself when the health problem is properly treated. When hair loss is due to a condition involving the hair itself, as in the case of alopecia, the hair loss can be permanent.
/8what Leads To Hair Loss After Losing Weight
Hair loss while losing weight is commonly caused by nutrient deficiencies caused by rapid and sudden weight loss.
Restrictive diets have been linked with acute telogen effluvium , which is the cause of widespread hair loss on the scalp.
This can happen three months after rapid weight loss and can last up to 6 months.
Causes of hair loss after weight loss
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Why Are Diets Bad For Hair
On a diet, the body does not receive a number of vitamins, trace elements, and sometimes proteins, fats, carbohydrates. With diets, nutrients are supplied primarily to the vital organs. Naturally, hair does not belong to them. Due to lack of nutrition, the cycle of hair growth and formation is disrupted: they freeze in the follicles, their structure is damaged, and they become weak, thin, and dull. The longer the diet lasts, the more serious the defects in the follicle and the worse the condition of the hair. Diets are especially dangerous in the spring when the body is deprived of useful elements that are vital to it after the winter. Therefore, if you want to have healthy hair, then do not try to lose weight with diets and discuss the problem of your disease with your doctor.
What Are Some Tips For Dealing With Hair Loss In Women
There are some things you can do on your own. You might check with your stylist or try some of these:
- Coloring your hair adds volume to the strands, making your hair seem fuller.
- Massaging your head, like when you are washing your hair, can stimulate blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles.
- Getting your hair cut shorter, and having layers added, can make your hair seem fuller.
- Using the right kind of shampoo can also help. Look for a shampoo that adds volume without using sulfate detergents.
- Using the right kind of product at the right time can also help. There are products that add volume that you add while your hair is still wet. However, using too much product can add weight.
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Causes Of Hair Loss And Weight Gain In Women
- Thyroid Disorders
The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating multiple metabolic functions in the body. Imbalance in thyroid hormones is linked to alopecia areata. The hair follicles have receptors that bind to the thyroid-stimulating hormone or TSH.
Studies found that lack of thyroid hormones and hypothyroidism, especially T3 and T4 hormones, could cause hair fall, lack of hair pigments, and other issues. Thyroid disorders are also associated with dry skin, fatigue, and irregular periods , , , .
- Reproductive Hormonal Imbalance
The hair cycle in women changes during pregnancy, and diffuse hair loss is common in postpartum women. Although the exact mechanism is not clear, the shifts in the reproductive hormone levels can be one possible reason. It is common to experience hair loss and weight gain during these situations . However, the hair cycle normalizes once the hormone levels stabilize.
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Women with PCOS experience abnormalities in androgen and estrogen metabolism.
Excess estrogen is often linked to both weight gain and hair loss. On the other hand, excess androgen levels or hyperandrogenism also cause female pattern hair loss.
However, the relationship between excess androgen and hair loss in women is not clear , . It is widely speculated that the androgen derivatives block the hair follicles, causing hair loss.
- Menopause
- Stress
- Adrenal Fatigue
- Prescription Medications
- Poor Nutrition
- Prediabetes
Final Thoughts
Milk And Dairy Products
Dairy products are high in protein, vitamin D, and calcium. Use low-fat or fat-free milk and cheese to restrict calories.
You can have a delicious breakfast or healthy dessert when eating Greek yogurt with honey, berries, and nuts. Besides, milk made from almonds, soy, or rice is also a good choice.
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/8how To Prevent Hair Loss When Losing Weight
As mentioned earlier, hair loss can be caused by severe nutritional deficiencies caused due to rapid weight loss. Thus, it’s important for you to follow a healthy and sustainable diet, instead of crash and restrictive diet to lose weight.
Not just this, crash diets are also harmful to mental health and are associated with weight regain.
Choose a balanced diet over fad diets to avoid any nutritional deficiencies and hair loss.
If you are undergoing weight loss surgery, make sure to maintain the level of vitamin B12, iron and zinc as recommended by the doctor afterwards. This can help in preventing post-surgery hair loss.
What Can You Do To Prevent Or Minimize Hair Loss
Hair loss as a result of weight loss is only temporary. It will stop when you stop losing weight if sustained weight loss is your goal, then does this mean you will simply have to live with continued hair loss, as well?
Excessive hair loss is common among individuals who lose a lot of weight, such as those who were previously overweight or obese. In fact, the greater the weight loss, the greater the hair loss. Hair can fall out by the handful, especially during washing, and it also becomes finer. As the weight eventually balances out, hair loss also gradually improves. And there are steps you can take to minimize the fallout, pun intended, and help normalize hair growth.
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/8can Weight Loss Lead To Hair Loss
Losing weight is not an easy task. From healthy eating to working out regularly, one has to be consistent with some habits to lose weight. While it might feel like an accomplishment when you reach your desired weight, it can lead to some common side effects. One of them is hair loss.
In some cases, weight loss can lead to hair loss. This is because rapid weight loss can lead to nutrient deficiencies, stress and hormonal changes, causing hair loss. But not all people suffer from hair loss, post weight loss, here’s why.
An Effective Shampoo And Conditioner To Your Rescue
There are few brilliant options available in the market that can help you restore your lost hair and boost the growth of your thick and luscious mane.
The excellent apple cider vinegar is one such powerful component that needs no validation. This power-packed combination formulated by WOW Skin Science combines the goodness of apple cider vinegar with other soothing ingredients such as argan oil and coconut oil. If regularly applied, this shampoo can thoroughly cleanse your scalp, nourish the hair follicles and help restore the normal growth of your thinning hair.
The enriching coconut oil conditioner combined with this shampoo is an exotic formula that deeply hydrates your hair, keeping it well-nourished and smooth. This hair care product penetrates deep into the hair shaft, providing it strength and shine.
Red Onion Black Seed Oil has been known to significantly contribute towards protection against hair fall and also tackle other hair woes. This ingredient rejuvenates the natural health of your hair follicles and promotes the growth of thick and strong locks.
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