Hair Loss After Weight Loss

• What Causes Hair Loss? 

• What is the link between Hair Loss and Weight Loss?

• Why do people experience hair loss after weight loss?

• How Long Does Your Hair Fall Out After Weight Loss?

• Take Away

• Frequently Asked Question

• References

Suppose you’ve been working hard and dieting diligently to reduce your calorie and fat intake and burn fuel to achieve your goal of weight loss. But suddenly, you might start noticing weakened and dead hair and too much hair shedding on your pillows and hairbrush. Sadly, weight loss and hair loss are quite linked with each other and affect many men and women. Keeping reading to learn more!

What Causes Hair Loss? 

When it comes to the interconnection between weight loss and hair loss, there is a key distinction that is to be made - the difference between hair shedding and the hair loss process. 

The American Academy of Dermatology has suggested that it is normal to lose 50 to 100 hairs each day. If you’re losing more hair than that, or if you are noticing diffuse thinning or patches of hair loss, it might be something else that you should take care of. Hair loss is also commonly known as Alopecia areata and there are several different types. 

There are numerous potential causes of Hair Loss. Some of the most common causes of Hair Loss: 

1. Heredity

Hereditary hair loss is also commonly called androgenic alopecia or male-pattern baldness. Androgenic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss amongst men that affects up to 70 per cent of all men at some point in their lives. It is usually caused by a combination of genetics and the presence of androgenic (male) hormones such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). 

2. Change in Hormonal Level

Hormonal changes are also one of the causes of hair loss, especially androgenic hormones. Constant fluctuations in androgen levels can cause overall hair thinning in men and women. Chronic stress can have an impact on hormone levels as well and might contribute to a specific form of hair loss known as telogen effluvium. 

3. Having Nutritional Deficiencies

Nutrient deficiencies that include deficiencies induced by significant weight loss, can contribute to hair loss as well. 

Other causes of hair loss are Weight loss and Immune system changes

What is the link between Hair Loss and Weight Loss?

• Stress as a cause

While people are striving for the ideal weight and staying fit they feel immense pressure to lose weight might cause stress. The situation is further worsened when it is accompanied by unfavourable consequences of weight loss like hair loss, dull skin, and fatigue.

• Drugs And Hormones

Several weight loss medications and hormone supplements might also trigger your hair loss.

If your hair loss is caused because of these underlying conditions and medications, you must talk to your doctor. However, if it is triggered by the weight loss process, it is just a temporary phase.

• Nutritional deficiencies

The sudden changes in your diet and calorie restriction can cause stress and nutritional deficiencies which leads to hair loss. The physiological and emotional stress and hormone imbalance that happens because of dieting might cause Telogen Effluvium (TE), a form of temporary hair loss.

1. Protein -

Adequate protein intake is very essential for hair growth because your hair is primarily made up of protein. Low protein intake might lead to hair changes including hair thinning and hair loss.

2. Iron -

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency observed in people and a well-known cause of hair loss. Though it is still unclear what degree of iron deficiency leads to hair loss problems, numerous risk factors have been identified. Malabsorption disorders such as celiac disease, the use of H2 blockers, and vegan/vegetarian diets might increase your risk for iron deficiency and related hair loss conditions. 

3. Zinc -

Zinc is an essential nutrient involved in hundreds of biological processes, zinc might play a role in hair loss. In one of the researches, patients who suffered from male pattern hair loss showed statistically lower zinc concentrations than healthy participants. Fortunately, research has suggested hair loss due to zinc deficiency can be reversed in many cases. 

4. Essential Fatty Acids -

The deficiency of polyunsaturated important fatty acids such as linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid might play a role in hair loss, especially in the cases of malabsorption disorders. These deficiencies might contribute to the loss of scalp hair as well as the lightening of your hair. 

Why do people experience hair loss after weight loss?

Hair loss during your journey of weight loss is commonly caused by nutrient deficiencies as well as other sudden and rapid weight loss that can have on your body.

Weight loss and nutrient deficiencies linked to restrictive diets are also associated with other kinds of hair loss. These include chronic TE, which lasts longer than 6 months, and androgenic alopecia also called male or female pattern baldness.

Here are some causes of hair loss related to weight loss and diet:

• Crash dieting
• Very low protein diets
• Weight loss surgeries
• Restrictive diets

How Long Does Your Hair Fall Out After Weight Loss?

You might experience hair loss for 3-6 months after you lose weight. This is just a temporary phase and once you resume a healthy and balanced diet, your hair will start growing back again.

Tips To Prevent Hair Loss When Losing Weight

If you are facing hair loss during your weight loss journey, here is how you can prevent hair fall.

• You should avoid crash diets.
• Also, avoid diets that demand severe calorie
• Get adequate sleep for about 7 to 8 hours.
• You should consult a doctor and take high-quality multivitamins (100% RDV).
• Get a regular scalp massage to improve blood circulation.

Treatment Options for Hair Loss

Whether you’re facing diffuse thinning of hair or wide-scale hair loss, you will be glad to know that there are several treatment options available. Though there might not be a cure for hair loss, there are several products and supplements that you can use to start regrowing your hair. 

Dietary Supplements

If you are experiencing hair loss as a side effect of sudden or extreme weight loss, nutritional deficiencies might be to blame. You must talk to your healthcare provider about having your blood tested to find out which nutrients you are deficient in so you can customize your treatment plan accordingly. 

Take Away

Yes, there is a connection between hair loss and weight loss and you must take care of the points that we have mentioned above while losing weight. This type of hair loss is temporary and you should not worry much about it. 

If you are suffering from severe hair fall and want to purchase dermatologist-recommended products then you can visit our Mars by GHC website where you can get products like Mino-xidil, Fin. and many more.

Frequently Asked Question

1. Is hair loss from weight loss temporary?

Hair loss that is caused due to weight loss is a temporary condition that happens when a person loses weight via restrictive dieting or weight loss surgery. Stress or nutrient deficiencies may be the cause. This kind of hair loss is generally termed telogen effluvium, and it is a common cause of hair loss.

2. How are stress & hair loss related?

Yes, stress and hair loss can be related to each other.

Three kinds of hair loss can be linked to high-stress levels:

• Telogen effluvium. In telogen effluvium, significant stress pushes huge numbers of hair follicles into a resting phase. Within a few months, impacted hairs might fall out suddenly when simply washing or combing your hair.
• Trichotillomania. Trichotillomania is an urge to pull out hair from the scalp, eyebrows or other areas of the body. Hair pulling can be a way of dealing with negative or uncomfortable feelings, like tension, loneliness, boredom or frustration.
• Alopecia areata. Several factors are thought to cause alopecia areata, possibly including severe stress. With alopecia areata, the body's immune system attacks your hair follicles — causing hair loss.

3. How are stress and weight-related?

References

1. Diet and hair loss: effects of nutrient deficiency and supplement use