healthy hair growth Archives - Miami Hair Institute

Does Crash Dieting Lead to Hair Loss?

Hair loss is a lesser known side effect of crash dieting that can affect just about anyone, regardless of age. Inadequate nutrition and hitting the gym too hard can initiate unexpected or unexplained hair loss. Crash dieting can also exacerbate hair loss for patients currently coping with androgenic alopecia – a hereditary hair loss condition commonly known as male pattern baldness and female pattern hair loss (FPHL).

In today’s society, quick fixes to lose weight are all too common. With the summer season quickly approaching, consider how undereating and overexercising in an effort to lose weight hinders hair growth:

Follicles Need Nutrition

Unless you suffer from a genetic or hormonal hair loss condition, a balanced diet is the secret to full and shiny locks. Proteins, irons, vitamins and minerals have a direct impact on your hair’s strength, appearance and feel. Just like your fingernails and toenails, hair strands are made up of protein fibers. If you lack the proper protein intake to build new hairs, more follicles enter the resting phase. That’s when hair loss surpasses normal shedding of 50 to 100 per day and becomes noticeable to the naked eye.

In addition to protein, iron and vitamin E drive healthy hair growth. Meats like pork, beef and fish are go-to’s, but vegetarians can opt for white beans, lentils, spinach and soybeans to up their iron consumption. If you think your diet restrictions or allergies may contribute to hair loss, get an iron test to determine where your levels currently fall and consider food alternatives to round out your diet.

Research shows that vitamin D may also play a role in hair growth, but that doesn’t mean you should lay out in the sun for hours and increase your risk of melanoma. Milk, orange juice and some cereals contain enough vitamin D to maintain everyday functions like hair growth.

Restricting calories through crash dieting may help you shed pounds fast, but going too far can negatively alter your hair’s texture and volume. Once you cut calories from your diet, you run the risk of neglecting said macro and micronutrients. The best diet is one discussed and approved by your doctor to ensure you’re burning more calories than you consume without abandoning sensible nourishment. With today’s technology, you can download calorie-tracking apps to keep tabs on calories and fundamental nutrients.

Heavy Exercise, Stress and Fuel

Many people underestimate the strong relationship between physical and emotional well-being. While moderate exercise alleviates stress, excessive physical activity makes it worse. Stress-induced hair loss is also called telogen effluvium (TE) and commonly occurs after serious emotional trauma, such as a death in the family or job loss. Chronic, ongoing stress is another leading origin for TE. With TE, hair follicles prematurely enter the resting phase and shed when they are supposed to grow.

Athletes are also at a higher risk for anemia, a condition associated with iron deficiency. Since iron supports hair growth, any undersupply can trigger unexpected or additional loss. Your body uses nutrients when you exercise, which is why athletes require more calories, vitamins and minerals compared to the average person. Most crash diets pair heavy workouts with an inadequate food regimen. This malnourishment cycle motivates hair loss – whether intentional or not.

The Hair Transplant Institute of Miami invites all hair loss patients to find out if they are a candidate for hair loss treatment. In addition to hair replacement surgery, we offer at-home laser caps, stem cell hair growth, topical solutions, prescription medications, mesotherapy and more. Call us directly at 305-925-0222 to learn more about our top-rated physicians and hair loss treatments in Miami.

Can You Prevent Male Pattern Baldness?

Many individuals are concerned about going bald later in life. To some degree, male pattern baldness (MPB) affects two-thirds of men by the time they reach age 35. By age 50, around 85 percent suffer noticeable thinning or balding. The odds of developing hair loss at an older age are high – so what can you do to prevent male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia?

Androgenic alopecia is an often devastating and emotionally grim condition to cope with, despite how prevalent it is among men today. Although certain medications, immune problems, cancer treatments and traumas can cause hair loss, male-pattern baldness is hereditary. Those who experience MPB have follicles that are inherently sensitive to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a byproduct of testosterone that causes hair follicles to miniaturize. Once these follicles shrink to a severe extent, regrowth is challenging. But, early intervention can slow or stop the miniaturization process altogether.

Consider the following treatments which can help prevent male pattern baldness progression.

Minimize Your Stress

Although you can’t change your genetics, you can adapt your lifestyle to avoid circumstances that exacerbate hair loss. Serious stress or emotional trauma can render hair follicles inactive. Unlike normal hair growth, more hairs enter the resting phase (catagen) at once and fall out (exogen) in larger numbers about three months following a tense event. If you’re already predisposed to male pattern baldness, high stress interferes with whatever partial hair growth remains. Managing anxiety through meditation and a healthy work-life balance lessens your odds of abrupt shedding. Trying to prevent male pattern baldness from escalating is a stressful situation alone. If you already suffer from noticeable hair loss, seeking treatment early on reduces negative emotions by restoring self-confidence.

Improve Your Physical Health

Changing your diet and starting an exercise regimen has a profound impact on your internal health, which can help prevent male pattern baldness severity. Studies show that older men with a higher cardiorespiratory fitness level release almost half as much cortisol as men who aren’t in healthy form.¹ Cortisol is the stress hormone believed to be linked with sudden hair shedding. When it comes to non-hereditary hair loss – which can strike alongside male pattern baldness and make matters worse – maintaining healthy hormone levels with exercise and good nutrition can enable healthy growth.

Create a Better Environment for Hair Growth

Low-level laser therapy, or LLLT, is a non-invasive technique used to stimulate underactive hair follicles. Through phototherapy, laser diodes interact with the scalp to promote better blood flow, helping follicles function properly. In some instances, LLLT helps prevent male pattern baldness from advancing. At-home laser caps can be used alongside other hair loss treatments, including prescriptions and topical foams. LLLT can also be used in conjunction with hair transplant surgery to reduce inflammation and nourish follicles for better results. Hair is stronger, thicker and more resilient to everyday damage.

Despite your genetics, hair loss does not have to become your destiny. To learn more about how to prevent male pattern baldness from worsening, or to discuss treatment options, call the Hair Transplant Institute of Miami at 305-925-0222. Through understanding, education and highly-effective treatment methods, we are determined to help patients attain a fuller head of hair and positive outlook on life.

¹ http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0141970