Keto, warrior, juice cleanse, intermittent fasting are just some of the choices for anyone who wants to start their fitness journey. Not only are people spoilt for choices with multiple diet options but also in the information available. Gone are the days where people would get information from expert curated blogs. Today people get advice on health and well-being everywhere they look - social media, ads, a well-wisher, a self-proclaimed expert. While experts have also taken to these mediums to advocate the importance of taking an expert supervised approach when trying to lose weight or get fit.
There have been numerous cases wherein people have experienced adverse effects of fad diets. While some side effects can be extreme in nature and have serious consequences for you long term. One lesser known side effect of crash dieting that causes sudden weight loss can trigger hair loss conditions such as Telogen Effluvium or aggravate existing hair loss conditions such as Androgenic Alopecia.
Can Dieting Cause Hair Loss In Men & Women?
Dieting not only deprives you of certain essential nutrient groups that are important for your overall health and especially hair and skin health such as protein, vitamins, healthy fats, etc. but also because your body thinks that it is starving which can create a shock-like experience for your body. At that point it will push most of your hair that are in the anagen or growth phase to telogen or resting phase. Telogen phase hair tends to stay on your scalp for three months and then fall. For a normal person 9-11% percent of their hair is in the telogen phase but for those experiencing telogen effluvium up to 30% of their hair can be in the telogen phase at once. So you can experience shedding of up to 200-300 hair strands in a day for over 3 to 6 months. Because you're shedding at a faster rate than the growth of new hair it will result in increased scalp visibility and heavy volume loss.
Hair Loss After Weight Loss: Why it happens?
When you follow diets such as Keto, warrior, juice cleanses, intermittent fasting or any other, you are essentially depriving yourself of nutrients & vitamins that your body needs to sustain while compromising on your hair health at the same time. Hence, crash dieting or rigorous dieting without understanding the essential nutrients your body needs the most, may result in weight loss. But soon after, you may begin experiencing Hair Loss problems & Bald Patches as well. It becomes important to understand, while dieting is required, we need to do the same with proper knowledge and under proper guidance. Following a diet may deprive the body of certain nutrients & elements, which always have side effects.
Nutritional Deficiency
When you lose weight rapidly, especially through restrictive diets or crash diets, you may not consume enough essential vitamins and minerals that promote healthy hair growth. Deficiencies in nutrients like iron, zinc, biotin, and Vitamins can contribute to hair loss.
Calorie Deficiency
Severely reducing calorie intake can put your body into a state of energy conservation. In such cases, the body prioritizes vital functions over hair growth, resulting in temporary hair loss. This type of hair loss is usually reversible once you reach a healthy calorie intake.
Protein Deficiency
Protein is crucial for hair structure and growth. Inadequate protein intake during weight loss can lead to hair loss. Protein-rich foods such as lean meats, eggs, dairy products, legumes, and nuts are essential for maintaining healthy hair.
Hormonal Changes
Rapid weight loss can cause hormonal imbalances, which can contribute to hair loss. Hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, and thyroid hormones play a significant role in hair growth. Sudden changes in these hormone levels due to weight loss can lead to hair loss.
Stress And Anxiety
Losing weight can be a stressful experience, and stress is a known cause of hair loss. Stress can lead to changes in hormone levels, nutrient deficiencies, and inflammation, all of which can affect hair growth.
Lack of Hydration
Dehydration can affect the health of your hair and scalp. During weight loss, it's essential to stay hydrated to maintain healthy hair growth.
Excessive Exercise
Over-exercising can lead to physical stress on the body, leading to hair loss. Excessive exercise can also lead to nutrient deficiencies, particularly if you're not consuming enough calories to support your activity level.
Weight Loss Surgery
Surgeries, such as gastric bypass or gastric sleeve, can cause hair loss as a side effect. This occurs due to the decreased absorption of nutrients and rapid weight loss experienced after the surgery.
Can You Regrow Lost Hair Due To Sudden Weight Loss?
Hair loss due to sudden weight loss is often temporary and reversible. With time and proper care, hair can be regrown. Adopting a balanced or well-guided diet that includes essential nutrients for hair health, such as protein, iron, zinc, biotin, and vitamins, can support the regrowth process. Additionally, practising hair care techniques, managing stress levels, and ensuring a gradual and healthy weight loss approach can further aid in regaining lost hair. It is of utmost importance to be patient for the results to be visible, be it Weight Loss or Hair Growth. Rushing behind results & being hasty might do more foul than good. It's important to be patient as the regrowth process may take some time, but with the correct approach and care, hair may grow back.
How To Prevent Hair Loss When Dieting Or Undergoing Weight Loss Treatments?
To prevent hair loss while dieting or undergoing weight loss treatments, it is crucial to prioritize a nutrient-rich diet. You need to ensure that your meals include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Pay attention to consuming sufficient protein, iron, zinc, biotin, and vitamin D. Gradual weight loss is preferable over rapid weight loss, as it allows your body to adjust without putting excessive stress on your hair. It's also important to avoid crash diets and opt for a well-rounded eating plan. Gentle hair care practices, stress management, and considering supplements under professional guidance can further help prevent hair loss during weight loss.
When To See A Doctor?
If you're experiencing significant or prolonged hair loss during or after weight loss, it is advisable to seek medical advice from a healthcare professional or a dermatologist. They can evaluate your specific situation, identify any underlying causes contributing to the hair loss, and provide appropriate guidance and treatment options. The most common identification methods include conducting tests to check for nutritional deficiencies or hormonal imbalances that could be affecting hair health. Seeking medical attention is particularly important if the hair loss is causing distress or if there are other concerning symptoms accompanying it.
Traya's Solution To Dieting Hair Loss
Alongside consultation & remedies, Traya’s Solutions also focuses on a Nutritious Diet Plan. Our nutritional experts can help you curate a diet, just for you according to your needs and requirements. Our Nutritionists help you form a diet plan that is not only rich in vital nutrients but also compatible with your body goals such as Weight Loss. This helps you follow a trusted, guided diet, which will not cause any issues that may arise due to Crash Dieting. Our products will help you maintain healthy hair. With Traya’s Heavy Hair Loss Combo, you can embark on your journey of restoring your lost hair. It contains patented hair regrowth formula, ayurvedic herb mixes and vitamins that help in hair fall control and boost hair growth along with herbal hair oil and chemical-free shampoo which will help improve the texture of your hair. Apart from these, you can also use Traya’s Hair Ras & Hair Vitamin as a part of your diet to ensure the nourishment of your hair through safe and scientific supplementation.
Takeaway
While maintaining a healthy diet is a very good thing, following a diet with incorrect knowledge and improper guidance does more harm than good. While you should follow a healthy nutritious diet that is also compatible with your body goals, you must ensure to gain proper information from trusted sources and seek guidance from experts whenever possible. Crash Dieting can cause various issues and one of them is hair fall. It is a common problem people face but with the right nutrition, medication and lifestyle changes, such hair loss can be managed and you may also see hair regrowth.
FAQs
Q1 - Can losing weight make your hair fall out?
Ans - Yes, if you lose weight abruptly or rapidly with crash dieting and or surgeries, you may notice hair loss due to a lack of proper nutrition. However, it is rarely or never seen in people who follow a trusted, well-informed & nutritious diet, fulfilling their basic nutritional needs.
Q2 - How long does hair loss last after weight loss?
Ans - Hair Loss can last up to a few weeks once you start losing Hair. Although, this Hair Loss is temporary and the lost hair can be regrown by taking measurable steps such as a healthy diet, stress management and care towards the hair.
Q3 - What are the important nutrients that help with hair growth?
Ans - Listed below are some of the important nutrients that help with hair growth :Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C Vitamin D, Biotin, Keratin, Proteins, Zinc, Selenium, Iron
