Have you lost hair from improper caloric intake? How long did it take to grow in?

velocifaptor17
velocifaptor17 Posts: 3 Member
edited November 20 in Health and Weight Loss
Currently 186 lb 6"2' Male, 10-12% body fat
28 years old

About 8 months ago I got a single circular spot of Alopecia areata (patchy hair loss) and was not counting calories, nor was I limiting my caloric intake.

I started working out about 5 months ago doing a moderate/heavy lifting routine, counting calories using this app about 3 months ago. After finding a total of 8 circular spots i freaked out and read everything i could get my hands on, coming to a possible conclusion of caloric deficit being responsible (i was eating 2k cal per day for a while, going for cut). About 3 weeks ago I started eating 3k cal per day. I think I should probably do 3.5k, but it's already difficult getting my proper 35/30/35 macro ratio of protein/fat/carb

Just looking to find people who've maybe experienced the same issue and resolved it. Let's chat huh? Are there any other symptoms you experienced?

I also have gout, which is a new diagnosis.

Thanks

Also, I didn't realize my account name would be public. Yes, I am immature when left to my own devices :)

Replies

  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Alopecia areata isn't caused by malnutrition, it's an autoimmune disease.

    Your macro split IS difficult to hit. Why have you set it to that?
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,342 Member
    Hair loss from calorie restriction doesn't exhibit as Alopecia areata, it's just general thinning. What you have is something different. Have you sought some medical advice?
  • noirelb
    noirelb Posts: 216 Member
    I have lost hair due to anorexia. (very low calorie and womem) many years ago. But, as others have said, it's hair thining and what you have is not related. I was watching "embarassing bodies" on netflix and a girl had what you have amd quite severe. And it grew back 6 months after losing her hair and it went in cycles for her. Anyway, they prescribed her a cream that helps hair follicule to grow hair again. The hair that grows back is thinner but still fills it and it really worked on her.
  • noirelb
    noirelb Posts: 216 Member
    I tried to find thw name of thw cream but there seems to be quite a few and mostyl coticosteroid to make the immine system stop from attacking hair follicules. Nyway i STRONGLY suggest that you go see your doctor. It isn't life threatening of course but a referal to specialist will do you good compared to asking us.
  • Firstcomeslove
    Firstcomeslove Posts: 21 Member
    Years ago I lost weight with diet only but no hairloss. However, had a very stressful period and wasn't eating much and my hair fell out - had a bald patch on the back. Took 4 months to kinda be covered and a year for it to look normal.

    My mom also had the same thing happen to her once during a stressful period. She was overweight but not restricting/watching calories at the time .
  • choppie70
    choppie70 Posts: 544 Member
    Like others have said, Alopecia is an autoimmune disease and different from hair thinning that come from inadequate nutrition. Alopecia is a medical diagnosis - what did your Dr. say about treatments?

    It cannot be cured, but there are ways to treat it, like steroid injections.

    Alopecia shares the genetic risk factors of rheumatoid arthritis, celiacs, type 1 diabetes. It also can be a symptom of lupus.

    My niece was diagnosed with Alopecia when she was about 19. She had steroid injections (into her head) when she could not hide it with her pony tail anymore. They were very painful. She was then diagnosed with Lupus at 22.
  • Rogstar
    Rogstar Posts: 216 Member
    edited July 2017
    My husband (36) has recently been diagnosed with alopecia areata, and its definitely not from malnutrition. His hair follicles are being attacked by his immune system.

    I don't know what he's planning on doing at this point. He was told about a topical cream and other drugs and injections he can use to help it, but that the condition only gets better and it doesn't go away completely.

    It has only shown up in his beard (alopecia barbe? Something like that), but since he always stays clean shaven, that hasn't really affected him much. He just has to shave every day, rather than letting it stubble out. If it gets worse he may follow up to get treatment, but right now it's only cosmetic. He's starting to go bald anyway (not related, just normal male pattern baldness) so I think he may just embrace it if it starts showing up on his scalp.

    Good luck, and definitely talk to your doc. Treatment may be beneficial to you if you want to pursue it, or just talk with him/her about what to expect.
  • ezekielsherrard205735
    ezekielsherrard205735 Posts: 42 Member
    :ot67ed72y2gd23.jpg
    :o
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    All of the above, and you can change your username under settings, if you want. But you can only do it once, so choose wisely.
  • karahm78
    karahm78 Posts: 505 Member
    Are you sure about the alopecia diagnosis? Any possibility it is roundworm? Roundworm is not a worm, it is small patches of fungal growth that leads to hair loss in circular patches. Just a thought
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited July 2017
    As others have said, consult your doctor about your hair.

    Re your macros - no need to be so strict. Macros are more important for satiety than anything else. I'd focus on eating around your gout. Has your doctor already given you advice about this?

    http://www.medicinenet.com/ask_foods_that_cause_gout_to_flare_up/views.htm
  • velocifaptor17
    velocifaptor17 Posts: 3 Member
    Thanks all for the responses everyone. I've been following a low purine diet and my doc suggested to wait 6 weeks and follow up with steroid injections if no change has occurred. My hair isn't thinning, so I can assume I'm ok on the nutritional front. Auto immune diseases are a pain to treat huh?

    I'll have to do more labs and pray that it is a roundworm issue. Till then I can thank my genetics for my fluffy curly hair.

    Again, thanks all - its a relief to eliminate this possibility
  • noirelb
    noirelb Posts: 216 Member
    Goodluck!
  • shylady76
    shylady76 Posts: 134 Member
    Alopecia can be caused by stress. I lost all my hair back in 2014. Within 2 months I had no hair left at all. It took 4 months for there to be any sign of new growth. Within a year I had short hair again but a lot thinner than before. I didn't get any injections. I just worked on eliminating the stress.
  • pavingnewpaths
    pavingnewpaths Posts: 367 Member
    I've been having this same issue!

    Hair line thinning (don't think it's alopecia though bc it's not bald patches but rather just hair thinning around my hair line and other areas on my scalp), fatigue/very low energy levels, etc.

    I just started working out which is helping with my energy and I plan on taking biotin and vitamins to help with the hair loss but I made an appointment with my dermatologist and I suggest you do the same bc the causes of hair loss vary.
  • PaulaWallaDingDong
    PaulaWallaDingDong Posts: 4,647 Member
    edited July 2017
    Just wanted to say it's a great username. Usually when you start an account, it uses your e-mail as your username and you can change it once from that (at least that's how it was when I did it). If you already changed it, you can't again on your own, but there might be a way to request an exception.

    I'm trying, and failing, to find the forum post titled something like "I did not read the fine print" and the person's username was some variation of "My Butt."

    Eta Here it is... http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10097157/i-failed-to-read-the-writing

    Eta and what to do about it... https://myfitnesspal.desk.com/customer/en/portal/articles/242119-how-do-i-change-my-username-
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