Weight Loss = Hair Loss
TheMerryMermaid
Posts: 69 Member
Hi All,
Ay caramba! Here we go again!
I reduced my cals, banned sugar and grains, exercising and loosing weight and of course, this happens too- hair loss. This happens every time I go through a major weight loss- it grows back eventually, but I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong. Is this preventable?
I've managed to loose 21+ over the last 3 months, but I'm worried about my hair. Protein and hair health seem to have a strong correlation. I'm loosing more hair than usual- I have lots of thick long hair, so it's REALLY noticeable on my clothes, pillowcase, floor and shower! Seriously, some days it looks like I'm showering with a baby fox (redhead). I know this is a tricky subject, because what's considered hair loss is open to broad interpretation.
What are your thoughts on too much protein? Have any of you personally experienced hair loss with eating low carb/ low cal?
I'm eating low calorie, low carb and high fat & protein- low cal because I'm in menopause and both my naturopath and MD agree that lower calories are in line with weight loss during this transition. I'm taking lots of supplements: Biotin, Vit D, B-Complex, Sulfur crystals (MSM), Calcium, Magnesium & Potassium.
Hey @Sunny_Bunny_ , you out there???? You're consistently mentioning protein; you seem to be a proponent of lots of protein. I'd appreciate your input.
Thanks,
M.
Ay caramba! Here we go again!
I reduced my cals, banned sugar and grains, exercising and loosing weight and of course, this happens too- hair loss. This happens every time I go through a major weight loss- it grows back eventually, but I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong. Is this preventable?
I've managed to loose 21+ over the last 3 months, but I'm worried about my hair. Protein and hair health seem to have a strong correlation. I'm loosing more hair than usual- I have lots of thick long hair, so it's REALLY noticeable on my clothes, pillowcase, floor and shower! Seriously, some days it looks like I'm showering with a baby fox (redhead). I know this is a tricky subject, because what's considered hair loss is open to broad interpretation.
What are your thoughts on too much protein? Have any of you personally experienced hair loss with eating low carb/ low cal?
I'm eating low calorie, low carb and high fat & protein- low cal because I'm in menopause and both my naturopath and MD agree that lower calories are in line with weight loss during this transition. I'm taking lots of supplements: Biotin, Vit D, B-Complex, Sulfur crystals (MSM), Calcium, Magnesium & Potassium.
Hey @Sunny_Bunny_ , you out there???? You're consistently mentioning protein; you seem to be a proponent of lots of protein. I'd appreciate your input.
Thanks,
M.
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Replies
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I’ve only ever read about hair loss associated with losing weight on a low fat diet as the fat is necessary for vitamin absorption so this seems different as you’re having plenty of fat and vitamins. I honestly don’t know. Can you get a blood test at your doctors? Thyroid issues?0
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@fknlardarse Thank you for responding!!! I was starting to think I was talking to myself! Lol.
I did low cal & low fat a few years ago and experienced hair loss- so I attributed it to that. Maybe I'll up my fat and see if I have less shedding.
Thanks! 1 -
I use The Curly Girl Method as a base for how I treat my hair. I have noticed less shedding ever since. I would definitely see if there is a medical cause for your shedding but until then- baby your hair and try professional grade hair products meant to strengthen the hair. Hope that helps! 1
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I have lost 50 pounds since January 1, low calorie, low carb/moderate protein/high fat. About 6 months in I started struggling with hair loss also. My hair is long, so I agree- it makes it far more noticeable. I am taking pretty much the same supplements, but not sure they are helping. Hoping now that i am transitioning to maintenance and raising my calories the hair loss will stop. Very troubling for sure!1
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Maybe it’s just a calorie deficit issue then, like the body knows it’s not getting quite enough so shuts down the none essential bits? (Not based on any scientific reading I’ve done just posing a thought).
If it was me I’d definitely get my blood checked though.1 -
Calorie deficits can definitely cause hair loss...which sucks.
I also agree with sunny bunny that you really can't eat too much protein when doing keto for weight loss...unless you have some other health issue that impacts how you metabolize protein, there's no reason to limit protein.
I notice a lot of hair loss if I don't keep up with my menopause vitamins. Other than that, I don't usually have hair loss as a side effect of losing weight.
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@tcunbeliever - as a 50-something year old woman, I would be interested in knowing what type of “menopause vitamins” you take!2
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I lost a boat load of hair when I lost weight. It was worrisome. But though it thinned my hair out, I still had even coverage. It eventually stopped. After a while I grew a little back, but it's still not as thick as it was. It's fine though, and I'd rather have less hairs if that's what my body is like at a healthy weight.
There's a difference between hair loss from weight loss (telogen effluvium), which is common as weight loss is a stress and also changes hormones levels in the body, and losing a lot of hair to the point of getting bald spots.
I usually post this part of an article from Diet Doctor on this topic as I found it a good explanation:Can low-carb diets result in hair loss?
Hair Loss on Low Carb
Is it possible to lose hair when starting a low-carb diet? Yes, and there are many misunderstandings and myths about it.
Here’s what you may need to know.
Temporary hair loss can occur for many different reasons, including any big dietary change. This is especially common when severely restricting calories (e.g. starvation diets, meal replacements) but it can also occasionally happen on low-carb diets.
If so, it usually starts 3-6 months after starting a new diet, at which point you’ll notice an increasing amount of hairs falling out when brushing your hair.
The good news is that even if you should be so unfortunate this is only a temporary phenomenon. And only a percentage of the hair will fall out (the thinning will rarely be very noticeable to others).
After a few months all the hair follicles will start to grow new hair, and when they have regrown your hair will be as thick as before again. Of course, if you have long hair this could take a year or even more.
Background
To understand exactly what is happening it’s necessary to know the basics of how hair grows.
Every single hair on your head usually grows for about 2-3 years at a time. After that it stops growing for up to 3 months. Then a new hair starts growing in the same hair follicle, pushing the old hair out.
Thus you’re losing hairs every day, but as the hairs are unsynchronized it’s not so noticeable. You lose one hair and another starts growing, i.e. you always have about the same number of hairs on your head.
Stress and synchronized hair loss
If your body experiences significant stress more hairs than usual can enter the resting phase at the same time. This can happen for many reasons, like these:- Starvation, including calorie-restricted diets and meal replacements
- Diseases
- Unusually demanding exercise
- Pregnancy
- Breast feeding
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Psychological stress
- Any big diet change
Then as the new hairs start growing a few months later all these formerly resting hairs will fall out at almost the same time. This is called “telogen effluvium” in fancy medical terms..., and it’s relatively common.
https://www.dietdoctor.com/can-low-carb-diets-result-in-hair-loss5 -
I take Natural Changes by Nature's Sunshine...it's a vitamin pack and I take it once a day...I think the recommended dosage is twice a day...for a couple years I was able to take it 3x/week and it controlled my symptoms, but about 2 months ago I had to increase to every day or I had hot flashes and my hair was falling out in huge amounts...it took about a 3 days to control the hot flashes and about a week to stop the hair loss.2
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Eat. More. Protein.
Or even more all together.
Too little protein or even total intake will cause hair loss.2 -
Thank you so much to all of you who responded. This is excellent information. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who experiences this. Gonna research all suggestions. Adding more fat for sure! And, I'm not going to worry about protein amounts being too high. Again, thanks so much; I really appreciate the community input!3
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Sunny_Bunny_ wrote: »Eat. More. Protein.
Or even more all together.
Too little protein or even total intake will cause hair loss.
Yes! My sister had to switch over to flexitarian from vegan on orders of her doctor due to symptoms which included hair loss since she wasn't getting enough protein. She eats some white meat now.2 -
Once, though not while on keto I was as loosing my hair so much so that I would certainly be bald. Turned out, I was extremely iron deficient. As soon as I was in iron supplements the loss stopped and my hair grew back.
You can’t guess though. Because thyroid issues can also be the issu. You need to get blood work. You can take a vitamin with the RDA of iron, and see if you nitice a change. Though I definetly recommend a nutritionist or doctor3 -
I think new hair growth can look like increased hair loss in the early stage of new growth.2
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For those who have dealt with this... how long does it take once diet is corrected.... to see less hai fall?1
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Omg y’all are scaring me. I had to shave part of my head for my surgery in July (like an undercut lol). What’s left is very thin, losing even a little would be super noticeable. I am praying this doesn’t happen to me...and increasing protein ASAP!1
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I claim my hair loss was due to the genetic hand I was dealt. The diet has not made it thin or grow back.1
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Yes, I have dealt with this in the past, on other WOE's. I am still kind of new to Keto (started on August 5) so I have not experienced any hair loss yet. I find that it just takes a little time for the body to get adjusted and then it stops falling out and grows back. I am 47 years old. I take fish oil supplements daily as well as a Hair Skin and Nails multi vitamin and I find they both help me.0
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