Hair loss after weight loss: Causes, risks, and prevention

Table Of Content

• Doctor issues weight-loss warning to people over unexpected skin and hair problems
• Do Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro & Zepbound cause hair loss?
• Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter
• Conditions
• Plus, get a FREE copy of the Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness.
• Open discussions between providers and patients are needed
• How Stress Can Affect Hair Loss And What To Do About It

In addition to reducing stomach capacity, some types of weight loss surgery allow food to bypass part of the intestines, leading to malabsorption of nutrients and increasing the risk for deficiencies. In a 2020 study of 112 women who had undergone sleeve gastrectomy, 72% of participants experienced hair loss after surgery. In 79% of those who reported hair loss, the loss started 3–4 months after surgery and lasted an average of 5.5 months. This article explains why some people have hair loss after weight loss and how to treat and prevent it. To treat telogen effluvium, a doctor may recommend adjusting the diet to add iron, zinc, and other essential nutrients if a person has a clinical deficiency.

Doctor issues weight-loss warning to people over unexpected skin and hair problems

Maintaining a balanced diet while avoiding crash diets and quick fixes is important to long-term weight loss success as well as avoiding telogen effluvium. It can lead to acute telogen effluvium, which, according to research, is a common cause of hair loss. It usually occurs after three months of rapid weight loss and can last up to six months. Work with a qualified healthcare provider such as a doctor or registered dietitian to identify the cause of your hair loss and to come up with a treatment plan to facilitate hair regrowth. Being gentle with your hair while it’s experiencing change is important so as not to exacerbate any thinning. It goes without saying that excessive heat and chemical treatments aren’t a good idea, but try and opt for protective hairstyles too.

Do Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro & Zepbound cause hair loss?

As a result, you have excess hairs which are about to be shed without having new hairs growing to replace them. Subreddit forums have multiple posts from users asking if hair loss is normal when taking the drugs. TikTok is also full of videos with questions, stories, and explanations. Finally, keep in mind that the same healthy habits recommended for maintaining your physical health will also help your hair. Try to find ways to manage stress, and strive for a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter

A. Hair loss due to weight loss is caused due to Telogen Effluvium. It usually occurs three months after a triggering event (like rapid weight loss) and lasts for six months. Hair loss during or after weight loss can be caused by nutrient deficiencies, rapid weight loss, and stress.

Finding the Best Shampoo for Hair Loss - Health Essentials

Finding the Best Shampoo for Hair Loss.

Posted: Wed, 13 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

However, your best bet if you’re suffering from hair loss is to see a board-certified dermatologist who can determine what’s causing your alopecia and then recommend a treatment plan. Male-pattern hair loss is what causes a receding hairline and baldness in men. In women, female-pattern hair loss typically affects the crown or top of the head first, Mirmirani says. Women may notice that their part is becoming wider or that their scalp is more visible. While you want to increase your protein and iron consumption, too much vitamin A can stifle hair growth. Typically, excessive vitamin A intake is the result of taking medicines or too many vitamin supplements.

It’s usually genetic, but it can also be triggered by diseases or disorders that attack the hair follicles. All offered reassurances for people experiencing hair loss along with weight loss. During a hair transplant procedure, a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon removes hair from a part of the head that has hair and transplants it to a bald spot. Each patch of hair has one to several hairs (micrografts and minigrafts).

Plus, get a FREE copy of the Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness.

Other oft-used drugs include finasteride (Propecia) and spironolactone. If you have scarring alopecia or alopecia areata, your doctor may recommend an anti-inflammatory medication such as the JAK inhibitor Olumiant (baricitinib) to help tamp down your immune system. If you often wear a hairstyle like braids or a tight bun that puts prolonged strain or stress on the hair follicle, that can cause a type of permanent hair loss called traction alopecia. The most common cause of alopecia is an inherited condition called male- or female-pattern hair loss.

Most essential micronutrients for hair are B vitamins, vitamin C and E, zinc, omega-3 and iron. Unfortunately, as per research, poorly planned calorie deficient crash diets deprive your body of essential nutrients. A study on 180 women has shown that 1 out of every 22 women experiences hair loss due to crash diets. In addition, research shows that crash diets can lead to deficiencies in fatty acids, zinc, and protein. A. Yes, hair loss from weight loss is a temporary condition in most cases.

Dr Babak Ashrafi, a GP at Superdrug Online Doctor, advises those looking to lose weight to seek guidance from professional clinical services. These experts can help navigate through the various treatments, address concerns, and help mitigate any adverse effects. Dr Ashrafi highlights the importance of understanding how drastic weight changes can affect your hair and skin, and what steps to take to manage these issues. A doctor has issued a stark warning for those embarking on weight loss journeys - warning that rapid shedding of pounds could lead to hair and skin issues. If you’ve noticed an excessive amount of hair shedding, a receding hairline, or that the hair on the crown of your head becoming increasingly sparse, you’re probably experiencing a form of hair loss. Losing your hair can be a distressing experience, but you’re not alone.

Though we often think of stressors as emotional, such as grief related to losing a loved one or divorce, Massick said that weight loss is a physical stressor to the body. Ali said there’s a reason for that, because the hair loss people are experiencing likely isn’t a side effect of the drug itself. You may have heard about the dramatic weight loss people are experiencing from taking GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide), and Mounjaro (tirzepatide). Minimize the use of high-heat styling tools, hair extensions and harsh treatments like perms. Avoid hairstyles like tight buns and braids that pull on your scalp, potentially causing traction alopecia. A variety of treatments have been developed to help regrow hair and thicken existing hair on patients with alopecia, dermatologists say.

See your doctor if you are distressed by persistent hair loss in you or your child and want to pursue treatment. For women who are experiencing a receding hairline (frontal fibrosing alopecia), talk with your doctor about early treatment to avoid significant permanent baldness. While hair loss can be a normal part of getting older, rapid hair loss could be a sign that something’s up. If you’ve also been losing weight, it’s important to understand whether your weight loss and hair loss could be related. While you do need to restrict calories for weight loss, restricting too much can cause hair loss because the body does not have enough energy to support hair growth, according to Hairfinder.com.