Hair

Last week, I wrote a post about causes for hair loss in women.  I originally intended to write about female hair loss treatment as well, but I got a little carried away, so I decided to write a second post about hair loss treatment options. While there are plenty of things you can do to help with your hair loss, if you’re not sure what the cause of your hair loss is, I highly recommend heading to the doctor. Some doctors will shrug off hair-loss issues, but you need to advocate for yourself and ask for blood tests to help shed some light on what’s going on and possible causes.

Female Hair Loss Treatment Options

Diet and Exercise

If you’re losing your hair due to nutritional deficiencies, diet and exercise can help. The reason diet is so important is that you can lose your hair if you’re not getting the right micronutrients. Exercise is important because it helps with circulation and blood flow.

Scalp Massage

A scalp massage can be super beneficial to anyone suffering from thinning hair or hair loss.  Massaging your head will bring more blood to the area which will cause the follicles to grow more hair.  You could DIY your scalp massage with one of these or you could go to a professional who knows what they’re doing.

Vitamins and Supplements

If you’re suffering from any type of nutritional deficiency, supplementation can help. This is especially true if you’re suffering from an iron deficiency or a B vitamin deficiency. Here are some vitamins and supplements that have gotten rave reviews from people I know.

• CBD Oil
• Hair, Skin & Nail Soft Chews
• Iron
• Vitamin B
• Vitamin C

Use the Right Hair Products

It’s super important to pay attention to which products you use.  Use a shampoo system that is specifically for thinning hair.  Nioxin is great for thinning hair and has products that work with specific hair types as well.

Laser Light Treatments

Some people have seen some results from specialized laser light treatments at their dermatologist. Most people think of this type of light as taking hair away, but there are treatments that help you grow hair too.  You can even get a laser treatment at home.

Topical Treatments

You can get over-the-counter topical treatments like Rogaine.  Rogaine is the #1 doctor recommended treatment for hair regrowth.  It’s really inexpensive and is FDA approved.  You can find Rogaine as well as the generic in grocery stores and drug stores.

Do you have a female hair loss treatment that’s worked for you? Leave me a comment!

For more ideas, check out these Best Hair Regrowth Products.

 

 

 

While I am thrilled with all of the weight I’ve lost this year, one thing I’m not so thrilled about is the hair loss that has accompanied it.  While not everyone will experience hair loss with weight loss, it’s more common than you’d think.  I’ve been researching weight loss and causes for hair loss in women and I figured if I’m struggling with this, someone else might be struggling as well!

I have read hundreds of articles about weight loss and hair loss.  I’ve also talked to multiple doctors, nutritionists, trainers and people who have lost a lot of weight.

Here’s the general consensus:

Hair loss after losing a large amount of weight is normal…and it’s temporary!

With that being said, it may be normal…and it may be temporary, but it’s still annoying and it can be embarrassing.  And while weight loss and hair loss can go hand-in-hand, there are other causes for hair loss in women.

Causes for Hair Loss in Women

There are a lot of things that can cause women can experience thinning hair or bald patches.  Changes in hormones can do it.  Extreme stress can do it.  Nutrient deficiency can do it.  Thyroid issues can do it. There are multiple reasons women can experience hair loss.

Hormone Changes

When you lose weight, your hormones often experience major fluctuations. Part of the reason is that fat cells contain trapped hormones and as those cells dissolve, those hormones can flood your body.  The good news is, once your weight stabilizes, your hormones should return to normal and your hair loss should stop.

Extreme Stress

While it may seem like losing weight is a dream come true, rather than a stressful event for your body, the reality is that changes in caloric consumption, changes in the types of food you eat and changes in how much exercise you get can be stressful for your body.  The good news is that when your weight stabilizes, your hair will go back to normal.

Nutritional Deficiency

Most people who have lost a great deal of weight have changed the amount of calories they consume and often the types of calories as well.  Many times people who cut calories end up being deficient in protein.  Aim to get plenty of protein in your diet. Also try to avoid empty calories and processed foods as this can be taxing on your body.

Thyroid Issues 

Being hypothyroid or hyperthyroid can cause hair loss issues.  If you have thyroid issues and you’re on medication, your dosage may need to be adjusted when you lose weight.  If not, this can cause your thyroid to get out of whack again which can cause hair loss.  Make sure to check with your doctor and have your thyroid levels tested to make sure no medication adjustments need to be made.

An Overdose of Vitamin A

While many people think the more the merrier when it comes to vitamins, the reality is that an overdose of vitamin A can cause hair loss and other problems.  It’s important to make sure you’re only taking vitamins that you really need, not what someone else mentioned they’re currently taking.  If you’re not sure what you need, your doctor can run blood tests which will tell you what you need to be taking.

Autoimmune Conditions

There are a whole host of autoimmune conditions that can cause hair thinning or hair loss.  I have lupus and that can cause hair thinning and hair loss.  (Lucky me!)  There are other autoimmune conditions that cause hair loss and thinning as well.

There is also an autoimmune illness called alopecia areata that causes straight-up hair loss because a a misguided immune system attacks the hair follicles. There are scarring and non-scarring versions of alopecia areata.

PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome is an imbalance in your hormones that can cause both weight gain, cysts, diabetes, period problems, infertility, and hair thinning.   If you’re experience hair loss or thinning, but your diet hasn’t changed  much and your life has been pretty much the same, it may be worth asking your doctor about PCOS.

Drugs

If you’ve ever watched a commercial for a prescription drug, you know that they can have a long list of side effects.  One of those side effects can be hair loss. If you’ve started a new prescription recently and notice you’re losing your hair, be sure to report it to your doctor.

Chemotherapy

This may seem obvious since hair loss is a well-known side effect for anyone undergoing chemotherapy, but I thought if I was going to be thorough, it would be best to include it.

Overstyling

Regular ponytails, tight braids, weaves, chemical treatments, the chemicals in perms and hair color and even hot-oil treatments can damage the roots of your hair and cause it to fall out.  Sometimes your hair will fall out in patches where the hair was weaker. The trick is to avoid over-styling and try to use fewer chemicals on your hair. In addition, don’t use your heat styling equipment every single day.

These are all possible reasons why you’re losing your hair. No matter the reason, there are usually things you can do to lessen the problems associated with hair loss.