hair loss side effect of weight loss

JenBrown0210

First off. Do not judge me, this is how I feel.
Second. I am not a grammar teacher, you will find mistakes.
I'm not starving myself. I net at least 1200 calories to 1400. I pretty much healthy and drink tons of water. I am not look for a diagnosis. Just wondering if others have had a similar issue. I will be going to see my dr next week.

So this will probably sound really vain. I love my hair, always have. I have thick, long hair. Some of my best memories are with my mom brushing her beautiful long hair. I've always wanted that with my children. Now my hair is falling out really bad. In huge clumps of hair. I don't have any bald spots but when I comb my hair I have a lot of hair in my hand and on the comb when I'm done My husband says its just because of the weight I'm losing. Now totalling over 30 pounds down in 5 months..


Has anyone else had problems like this? Please share. I've been feeling really bad about it lately.

Edit! I'm not starving myself. I net at least 1200 calories a day. Lately I have been aiming for 1400 I eat healthy, I do have a treat every now and then. I drink a ton of water too! I am currently taking gummy vitamins.

After reading some of the comments, I am going to talk to my doctor and get some sort of a vitamin and hopefully that will help!

Fat2FitChick

It maybe because your body isn't getting all of the necessary nutrients it needs. Make sure you are taking a multivitamin daily and that you are eating at least 1200 calories. A lot of times it is hard to get all of the nutrients your body needs if you eat under 1200 calories.

goddessofmath

Any chance you're wearing your hair in a ponytail more because you're working out? I've noticed I shed a lot when I wear ponytails a lot. Sometimes the warmer weather makes me shed more than usual too.

kristarablue

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hair-loss/DS00278/DSECTION=causes

kkauz42

My hairdresser told me that is normal when you lose a lot of weight. Her sister had lap band so she lots a lot of weight very rapidly. When i started losing weight she recommended that I take folic acid. That should help ya!

leahsevilla

that happened to me when i was under eating. like WAY under eating. i've heard that prenatal vitamins help

jpeebs88

Hey there,
I also have a full head of really thick hair, but I loose a ton of it all the time, while eating plenty ~1600 cals and taking a multivitamin. It's been that way as long as I can remember. I'd say no big deal and try not to fret about it. If it starts coming out in clumps, that's when I'd consider seeing a doc.

Silky815

I am not so sure the hair loss is from the weight loss. Have you been check by a physician? I have been losing hair for a while, but it started way before my weight loss. I hope you find out why this is happening. Take care of yourself. I personally would not judge you on anything. Nor, should anyone else. We are not perfect. Good luck to you.

Flyntiggr

Couple of thoughts. 1) there are some studies that say humans shed in the spring just like other mammals. Could it be coincidence? 2) are you getting all your nutrients? Hair loss is usually associated with a RAPID weight loss, not slow and steady. They a multi vitamin...

loseatonlady

I've lost 100+ and had this problem - but partially to do with pre-menopause too ... My Dr. told me to take Prenatal vitamins and it has helped somewhat!

Aetarac

could be because of the dieting in restricting Kcals, limiting fats, or generally not getting complete nutrition. I had that problem when I crash diet. fatigue, alopecia, dizzy... If you are limit might want to look into that if your getting good nutrition consult your doctor because don't think that is normal.

kjb0976

You tend to lose hair by the hand fulls when you lose weight fast and not getting enough nutrients. Take a multi-vitamin and vitamin for your hair and nail growth. Additionally, you can use Nioxin which is a shampoo/conditioner that stimulates hair growth. I lost a ton of hair when I lost a ton of weight. It was about 6 months it fell out religiously. I went from thick to normal and my hair is mid back length. And once your body stabilizes with weight loss, it does thicken back up.

Good luck!!

cmriverside

Get your thyroid levels checked. And obviously, eat your exercise cals. Watch your nutrients, take a multivitamin/multimineral supplement. That's not a good symnptom. Get checked out by a doc. Preferably an Internist.

ksdamac99

Definitely take a close look at your diet. Its not simply losing weight that causes hair loss. Often its the restriction of fats that can cause hair loss, weakness of nails and a few other "complications".

FoamyRiver

I have and I've read where hair loss is a common side effect to weight loss.

I've lost 44 pounds so far and I noticed significant hair loss at around 20lbs lost. I have short hair but it is very thick--I haven't noticed my hair thinning but I do have a lot of hair come out when I wash my hair. It doesn't come out in clumps but when I wash my hair my hands have a lot of hair in them. I also have to clean the hair out of the shower floor daily. I'm wondering if I have a vitamin deficiency so when I go to the Dr next month I'm going to ask if there is something I can take or specific foods I can add to my diet to combat the hair loss. I'm planning on getting my hair cut soon as well and thought I would ask my hairdresser if she can recommend something.

hroush

I don't think this is you, but I'll tell the story anyway.

My wife's best friend was going through a divorce and she turned to working out. I'm talking hard cardio (probably 2 hours) 5+ days a week. She also wasn't eating like she should (I think a low protein vegetarian diet). The result, she lost a lot of weight and her hair started falling out. When she slowed down on the exercising and started eating more, I think she really upped her protein, her hair grew back and she put on some healthy weight.

TOYGRRRL

I experienced hair loss when I was severely anemic. You should check with your doctor. There are many medical reasons for hair loss. If you aren't already, take some multi vitamins that include iron to start. Good luck.

cjwolfjen

have you had a baby recently? with both my kids my hair started falling out and thinning around the time they were 3 months old. i took a prenatal vitamin too, still do, but that didn't matter, it still got really thin.

TatysTurn

Are you taking vitamins? if not look for wal mart -Hair,skin and nails vit. with biotin as much as 5000units.stress will do it to you.your weight loss will not .

Rowann

Nobody should be judging you for having a genuine concern. I, like you, love my hair - I feel it's my best asset, and if it were to start falling out I would also be worried.

There are so many reasons for why it might be happening, but I've never heard of weight loss being one of them (unless it's in those who seriously restrict their diet). It could be that you have inadvertently restricted a particular nutrient that helps keep your hair healthy, it could be you've changed your shampoo, it could be that you've been putting it up in too tight a ponytail, it could be stress... it could even be the hair fairies coming in at night and pulling it out...

If you are overweight then I wouldn't stop trying to lose more... you need to be generally healthy. However, what I would do is speak to a doctor and see what they have to say. They may decide to refer you to a dietician or even a trichologist to get to the root (no pun intended) of the problem.

It doesn't matter what other people may think, if this is bringing you down then it's an issue. Just because you may feel it's not as serious as the issues other people are dealing with it doesn't make it all right.

kcthatsme

I haven't lost as much as you have (Congrats!) but when I started losing weight, I had the same problem. And I had the problem before, when I lost weight many moons ago. I also have long hair that I don't want to lose. What has made the difference for me is drinking the water. I didn't before and I didn't when I first started. I haven't built up to drinking as much as others (yet) but now that I consistently drink 4 -5 cups a day I have normal to less hair loss. Some of the other comments here have been very helpful also! But, DEFINITELY, if you want to save your hair, drink the water.

tryinghard2012

If you starve yourself or deprive your body of its nutrients - it will result in hair loss and brittle nails plus dry skin.

Since my weight loss journey my hair has gotten thicker and my once short brittle nails are long and strong. I have to clip them every so often.

Eating healthy helps tremendously....:happy:

JenBrown0210

My hairdresser told me that is normal when you lose a lot of weight. Her sister had lap band so she lots a lot of weight very rapidly. When i started losing weight she recommended that I take folic acid. That should help ya!

. Ill have to look into that. Thanks!

amberlineilene

I was prescribed a multi-vitamin and iron pills when I went to the Dr. with the same problem. Seemed to do the trick..It also helped with bruising, which I was also having trouble with.

Elzecat

Get your thyroid levels checked.

this happened to a close friend of mine right around the time...she had lost 115+ pounds so we thought it had something to do with that. Turned out it was thyroid related--she went on thyroid meds and doesn't have the problem anymore. I definitely would talk to your doctor.

CMillikan08

I am a hairstylist and the most common causes of sudden rapid hair loss in the clients i have had with it are fairly rapid weight loss or an extreme change in diet, as others have said it is because your body isnt getting all of the nutrients it needs. Another common reason is if you are under a significant amount of stress you can start to loose your hair quickly as well. As far as the first reason take a look at your food diary and think about uping your calorie intake a little bit or just adding foods with more protein and more fruits and veggies so u are getting all the proper nutrients and not just the calories. And take a look at whats going on in your life as well if u are under a great deal of stress take a step back and BREATHE!!! Really stress takes such a toll on your body and your health. Think about what it is ur stressing about and see if its worth taking that toll. Also others have suggested the prenatal vitamins, i would agree with this to a point, a regular mulitvitamin would probably help as well but talk to your doctor before adding any vitamin regimens to your diet and first and foremost what will make the biggest difference is making sure you are getting proper nutrition with your fruits veggies and proteins and not just making sure your calories are on track. I hope this helps you! GOOD LUCK!

anubis609

No one here is qualified enough to diagnose the exact reason for your hair loss, but it's not uncommon. If it's a severe concern, obviously go see a doctor.

If you're just curious in regards to weight loss this may provide some sort of insight, but not to be used a diagnostic tool to specify your follicular condition.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/281217-alopecia-weight-loss/

JenBrown0210

I have and I've read where hair loss is a common side effect to weight loss.

I've lost 44 pounds so far and I noticed significant hair loss at around 20lbs lost. I have short hair but it is very thick--I haven't noticed my hair thinning but I do have a lot of hair come out when I wash my hair. It doesn't come out in clumps but when I wash my hair my hands have a lot of hair in them. I also have to clean the hair out of the shower floor daily. I'm wondering if I have a vitamin deficiency so when I go to the Dr next month I'm going to ask if there is something I can take or specific foods I can add to my diet to combat the hair loss. I'm planning on getting my hair cut soon as well and thought I would ask my hairdresser if she can recommend something.

that sounds like what is happening to me. I wash my hair and I have a ton of hair in my hand or on my brush.

Aesop101

You haven't just had a baby have you?

See a doctor is my advice. Sorry so lame, this is all I know.

ShellyMacchi

having low iron levels can/will cause hair loss... i myself had this issue...
i started taking Biotin in january. specifically for hair loss, and i have definitely seen an improvement! (it's a bonus it is also a metabolism booster),,, and i finally found an iron supplement i can tolerate (plant based iron) so between the two items i can absolutely say i am seeing my hair return to the thicker, fuller hair i too used to be proud of.

JenBrown0210

You haven't just had a baby have you?

See a doctor is my advice. Sorry so lame, this is all I know.

its ok. My baby is 2 now. This just started happening a month or so ago and it is getting worse.