Why Am I Losing My Hair? Top Causes and Treatments to Help You Regrow Healthier Hair
I usually have a LOT of hair. But every few years, I go through a period of extreme hair loss – each time it happens, it’s a real anxiety-provoking experience. I recently went through one of these massive shedding events after some high stress and changes in my diet. It is completely understandable that people would buy EVERY product available claiming to stop the hair loss. However, it’s best to take the time to understand the why and pick some very targeted treatments to get sustainable, real results.
Many of my patients show up with a complaint of significant hair loss. Hair loss, otherwise known as “alopecia”, can feel overwhelming and causes a tremendous amount of anxiety. The good news is that alopecia is rarely a random event - it’s often connected to a few common factors, including hormones, stress, and nutrient intake. Figuring out why the hair loss started can help us decide on the appropriate treatments – there’s no need to spend tons of money on fancy formulas and serums when just a few nutritional tweaks or targeted therapies will do.
Here’s a quick guide to understanding why hair loss happens, what nutrients can help, and how we can help you get back your best hair health.
Common Causes of Hair Loss
Hormonal Changes: Hormonal changes can drastically impact hair growth. Shifting levels of estrogen and testosterone can lead to hair shedding, and the way we metabolize those hormones can also influence the way our hair grows. Thyroid imbalances can also disrupt hair growth cycles, leading to more loss when the thyroid is functioning either too quickly or too slowly.
Stress: Ever notice more shedding during stressful times? Stress can push hair follicles into the “resting” phase prematurely, causing more to fall out at once in a condition called telogen effluvium. Chronic stress raises cortisol, which can impact hair health further by disrupting other hormones involved in hair growth.
Many patients notice significant hair shedding about three months after a stressful event – even the stress of a significant illness or surgery can be enough to cause hair loss several months later.
Nutritional Deficiencies: Restrictive diets and rapid weight loss can sometimes leave us short on the nutrients we need for hair health. Hair especially needs protein, iron, B12, vitamin D, and zinc. Low intake of any of these can lead to weak hair, breakage, hair pattern changes and more noticeable shedding.
Lab Testing and Dietary Support:
Addressing nutrient deficiencies can have a big impact on hair quality. Here are the key nutrients we focus on:
Vitamins and Nutrients: Low iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and folate can all cause hair thinning, as they’re essential for healthy hair follicles and the keratin that makes up the strand of hair itself. Several of these vitamins need to be kept in a relatively tight range to be therapeutic and safe – we don’t want to have too much or too little of these, so getting accurate levels is important.
Protein: Depending upon activity levels and dietary choices, many people are not getting enough protein in their diets. While our bodies are capable of building protein, insufficient amounts in the diet can contribute to a protein deficiency. There are multiple ways to get healthy forms of protein into the diet. Protein rich foods, collagen supplementation, and the right vitamins give our bodies the best building blocks to make and maintain healthy hair.
Hormones: Sometimes, hair loss can be the first sign of an underlying problem with our hormones. Testing for these hormone disruptions can not only help us stop hair loss but can identify systemic issues that may contribute to even bigger problems down the line if they are not treated.
Some Steps to Help Restore Your Hair:
1. Eat Nutrient-Rich Foods: A diet rich in lean proteins, iron, B12, zinc, and vitamin D supports hair from the inside out. Lean meats, eggs, dairy, nuts, seeds, and leafy greens are excellent choices.
2. Manage Stress: Whatever helps you manage stress, do it! Lowering stress levels can significantly impact the health of our hair.
3. Consider Topical Treatments: Topical treatments like laser treatments, red light therapy, and medications can significantly improve hair density. Depending upon the underlying cause of the hair loss, multiple treatment types can be used together.
4. Supplements (but only what you need): Careful selection of vitamins and herbs can be helpful for hair growth. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to treatment, so hold off purchasing supplements until you know what you need!
The Takeaway
Hair loss is common, but almost always manageable. Identifying the underlying cause of the hair loss is crucial. By providing key nutrients, managing stress, and choosing the appropriate treatments, we can stop hair loss and help your body regrow strong, healthy hair.