Sunday 20 January 2013

Connection Between Weight Loss & Hair Loss

There are several reasons behind hair thinning or there is an issue regarding the connectivity if there is 1 , between weight reduction or hair thinning . Understanding weight loss especially extreme weight loss or crash dieting is important when attempting to answer this question .
Weight Reduction
Most people have at some point in their lives wanted to or needed to lose weight . A healthy diet and exercise are the best ways to achieve weight loss though it may take longer than you want it to . In order to effectively lose weight , your body must burn more calories ( units of energy ) than it consumes .
Extreme weight loss through illness , eating disorders , or crash dieting is not a good way to go . Illness cannot be helped and when recovered the weight you lost may come back . With eating disorders or crash diets extreme amounts of weight is dropped in a short period of time .
This extreme weight loss is usually achieved through severely limiting food intake often at the expense of your health . In such cases there may be a loss of essential vitamins and minerals needed for good health including weight . These deficiencies are likely to be B vitamins especially B6 , Biotin , and Niacin , as well as minerals including magnesium and sulfur . These can all be found in foods especially in fruits and in vegetables . Low iron in the blood may also be linked to hair loss . Iron rich foods include red meats , beans , dried fruits , and many cereals . A multi-vitamin with iron may be needed to replenish what the body has lost .
A physical exam and knowledge of the ideal weight for your height will let you and your doctor know whether you are too thin to be healthy . Once illnesses go away or eating disorders are stabilized hair quality may return or at least improve .

Hair Loss

Hair loss can be caused by heredity , illness , stress , or trauma . Medications may also play a part in hair loss . Typically once recovered hair may return to normal or improve . When medications such as chemo treatments are stopped you will experience new growth over time . The quality and color may change as it comes back .

Treatments can include something as simple as hairstyle changes , eating healthier , and exercising . Topical treatments are applied directly to the scalp . Finasteride and minoxidil are the two FDA approved treatments that achieve results . Oral medications including anti-inflammatories and anti-depressants might also be used to relieve conditions that are causing hair loss including scalp irritations and reduce the effects of stress .

The Link

Extreme weight loss such as that which results from eating disorders and crash dieting will likely rob the body of the vitamins and minerals necessary for over-all good health and specifically healthy hair . Once these things are
replaced your hair's condition will likely improve .

Conclusion

Weight problems especially extreme weight loss may rob the body of what it needs to maintain healthy hair . While there are other causes for hair loss weight loss is a potentially dangerous cause . Without proper nutrients your body will not function as it should . Once restored to normal levels your over-all health and the condition of your hair will likely improve . If you have lost extreme amounts of weight a physical will help to rule out other causes . There are treatments available for weight loss and hair loss . Your doctor can be your best asset in getting back into good health.

0 comments:

Post a Comment