Is your hair falling out during weight loss? Find out the connection and learn the best ways to protect your hair while you are trying to ...
Is your hair falling out during weight loss? Find out the connection and learn the best ways to protect your hair while you are trying to lose weight
When Weight Loss Comes With Unexpected Side Effects
Many people feel happy and healthy when they lose weight. However, it is a great surprise when not only are they losing weight and exercising, but they are also losing hair. This is what a few people will experience when they undergo weight loss. Losing hair is generally one of the most common involuntary reactions your body may exhibit despite hair loss being the undesirable condition.
Despite weight loss enabling various health benefits in the body, it may also lead to unpredictable conditions such as hair loss. At the present time, we will examine why hair loss and weight loss always go hand in hand, list some of the usual causes, and seek the advice of pros who can help save your hair and maintain your body look gorgeous.
Can Weight Loss Cause Hair Loss? Yes—And Here's Why
In fact, the connection between hair loss and weight loss is not a fantasy, it's a scientific fact. Losing weight quickly or following crash diets, or having a lack of key nutrients can bring about your body's irregular lower average weight, thus making your hair undergo the growth phase again. Health-related quality of life can also cause regrowth.
The Hair Growth Cycle in Brief
- The anagen phase, which is the growth phase
- The catagen phase, which is the transitional stage
- The telogen phase, which is the resting or shedding phase
Ironically, the body reaction to stress can result in more telogen hairs that are shed. The condition is known as telogen effluvium and it mostly shows on the scalp by light thinning hair.
How Weight Loss Triggers Telogen Effluvium
These are some of the many possible connections between weight loss and hair shedding:
Reduced calorie intake: A drastic cut in calories means that the body is lacking essential nutrients needed for hair growth.
Protein scarcity: Hair is made up of keratin, also a type of protein. The lack of intake may cause a weakening in the structure.
Stress and hormonal changes: Emotional and physical stress may cause dieting and alter hormone levels and the hair cycle.
Low levels of iron and other micronutrients are known to be contributing factors to increased hair shedding. Both zinc, iron, biotin as well as vitamin D are associated with an increase in hair loss.
Early Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
Hair loss observed after weight loss doesn't usually occur immediately. It usually takes a period of about 2 to 3 months for the first signs to be manifested after the beginning of a diet or a significant change in a person's weight.
Common Signs Include:
- Excessive hair fall when brushing or showering
- Hair thinning near the temples or crown
- Patches on the scalp are visible
- A slower rate of hair regrowth
Additionally, brittle nails and dry skin might happen during hair loss scenarios if there are nutritional deficiencies.
Who’s Most at Risk?
Notwithstanding that individuals can cope with hair loss during weight reduction, some specific groups are even more susceptible to it.
At-Risk Groups:
- Those who are following very low-calorie diets (VLCDs)
- Vegans or vegetarians without proper supplementation
- Post-bariatric surgery patients
Shopping is usually a female task, and it is the women who are also more likely to recognize hair loss caused by hormonal treatment and economic cooperation.
How to Prevent Hair Loss During Weight Loss
The good news is that most people will experience hair loss due to dieting, and that is only temporary. If someone understands how to handle the situation, they will be able to reduce it and even avoid it completely.
Practical Tips to Protect Your Hair
1. Don’t Rush the Process
The target should be to lose 1 to 2 pounds on a weekly basis. Rapid weight loss distresses the human body. Keep it steady.
2. Focus on Nutrient-Dense Foods
Foods that are rich in zinc, vitamin D, biotin, and omega-3 fatty acids such as leafy greens, eggs, fish, nuts, and seeds, whole grains, are good to include.
3. Eat Enough Protein
Hair as a substantial part of your body requires 0.8 to 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight on a daily basis, which translates to healthy and strong hair. The most common sources of protein are: chicken, tofu, Greek yogurt, lentils.
4. Take a Hair-Healthy Supplement
If you are on a restrictive diet, then consider using a multivitamin with biotin and iron. However, before including supplements, seek advice from your doctor.
5. Manage Stress
Hair loss can be much worse in situations of constant stress. Meditative practice includes:
- Meditating regularly,
- Deep breathing exercises,
- Doing yoga,
- Sleep hygiene persistently,
Besides the internal factors that YOU can manage, you have to keep your hair at bay from the harsh weather, making sure that it doesn't get easily damaged.
Can the Hair Grow Back?
Most people will definitely see a full regrowth of their hair within 6 to 12 months if their health status is brought back to normal. However, one has to recognize and treat the underlying trigger(s) in the early stage.
What to Expect During Recovery
Even after you start eating a balanced diet and managing your stress levels really well, your hair may continue to fall out for some more weeks.
In some cases, the hair can give you a finer touch or another new texture after recovery. So, you would have to keep consistent in both eating and managing stress situations.
In addition, if the hair fall does not stop after 6 months, you should go for a walk with a trichologist or dermatologist to check if the cause is something else like a thyroid disorder or alopecia.
Before and After: Real Stories
I will bring an example to illustrate.
One of the case studies presents the story of Sarah who started losing weight on a keto diet and lost 25 pounds in 3 months at the age of 32. After two months, Sarah experienced excessive hair loss. Her blood test results showed that Sarah's iron and vitamin D levels were below normal. Consequently, her situation has come to an end since the beginning of targeted supplementation and a necessary diet after 4 months, Sarah's hair now started growing again.
Although it's difficult, recognizing the symptoms and opting for immediate action towards eliminating the problem can change everything and prevent further damage.
What to Do If You're Already Experiencing Hair Loss
Action Steps:
Undergo a blood test: This is to check for time being deficiencies (iron, B12, vitamin D, etc.)
Have an appointment with a nutritionist: This is more important if probably you are on a very low-calorie diet
Restore balance in your daily meals: All macronutrients must be present in your diet
Apply hair-friendly products only: These products have keratin, and argan oil in them and they do not contain sulfates.
Monitor and record the progress in a journal by taking monthly photos.
FAQs – Hair Loss and Weight Loss
1: How long does hair loss last after weight loss?
The loss of hair can be from 3 to 6 months, which is dependent on the rate of recovery and the extent of the replenishment of nutrients to the body.
2: Will hair grow back after telogen effluvium?
Certainly, once the real reason behind the hair shedding is resolved, the hair growth cycle will evolve from one phase to another. The full restoration of the hair will take several months, however.
3: What vitamins help with hair loss during dieting?
Supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet, though the four nutrients biotin, iron, zinc, and vitamin D are essential for the strengthening of the hair follicles.
4: Is hair loss from weight loss permanent?
Typically, it is transient. However, a continuing drop of hair may mean bigger health risks and that should be a reason for seeing a specialist.
Conclusion – Your Health Shouldn’t Cost You Your Hair
Quite often, people regard themselves as being greatly strong after weight loss while in fact, they may be harming their health. Deadly concoctions, a lack of nutrients, and months of stress contribute to hair loss as a result.
This is however, not all grim, there are some various tips to offset the effect of hair loss once they start losing weight. Moreover, through adopting a proper diet, slow but steady progress, and maintaining one's psychological health, the protection of one's hair is assured against attaining too ambitious goals. Never turn a blind eye to the signs of your own body's suffering, but respond instead with kindness and understanding.
Call to Action:
When you notice that your hair is falling out during your weight loss journey, act immediately.
- Get tested
- Re-evaluate your diet
- Seek professional help if needed
Feel free to share this article and subscribe to our newsletter to join those who care about their well-being and keep their bodies, as well as their spirits, in good condition.
.jpg)
No comments