Diet and Hair Loss

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Author:

Kimberly Tessmer, RD, LD

Private Practice, Parma, OH

Medically Reviewed On: March 31, 2006


Introduction
Nutrition and Dietary Recommendations
Vitamin A
B Vitamins
Biotin
Vitamin C
Copper
Iron
Zinc
Protein
Water
Other Reasons for Hair Loss
Summary



Introduction

Alopecia is the medical or technical name for hair loss. The loss of hair can occur on the scalp or on any part of the body that normally has hair, such as eyebrows or eyelashes. A certain amount of hair loss is normal. The average person normally sheds 50 to 100 hairs every day. The hair shed daily is not necessarily permanent hair loss. Most of the hair we shed grows back. All hairs have a life expectancy of three to six years. At any given time, some of our hair is growing, some is done growing and in the resting stage, and some is in the falling-out stage. Everyone sheds hair at about the same rate, but there are some people, through genetics, who have fewer new hairs that grow to replace those that shed. Pattern baldness or permanent hair loss is simply the result of genetic programming. Increased hair shedding, or temporary hair loss can be caused by a host of different reasons. Some of these reasons include poor nutrition and diet, genes, hormones, age, medications such as chemotherapy, radiation treatment, infections, stress, chemicals used for certain hairstyles, and rapid weight loss. Certain illnesses and diseases can also cause hair loss or hair shedding. Examples include anemia, low thyroid hormone levels, lupus, and sometimes cancer. In most of these cases, hair loss is not permanent.


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Thanks mate for this wonderful post. Before this day I don't know that our lost hair also grow back. I thought those hairs I am loosing I am loosing for forever. I also heard that adequate intake of vitamin A is vital in helping to promote the growth and health of cells and tissues throughout the body, including the hair and scalp. any thought?

I have read that these vitamins are most important with maintaining the hair that you do have. They may strengthen the bond between the scalp and hair follicle. I thought for hair rejuvenation, hair products and procedures are necessary, not vitamins and minerals.

Hi everybody, I’m 15 years old female, I'm currently 5’3”and around 130lbs. I take just diet coke/water/green tea in the morning. Russian Gymnast Diet: One glass of fruit juice, unlimited water, one apple, one small fresh fruit salad. Liquid Diet: Water/diet fizzy unlimited. Then any two of the following per day: Cup of tea with splash of milk and 1tsp of sugar/Glass of milk/Glass of fruit juice/Low cal soup/Low cal yogurt. Is my diet ok? Please answers only who have tried this diet.

Nutritional deficiencies can contribute to increased hair shedding by weakening hair shafts that cause breakage to the hair and slow regrowth. Hair problems that are caused by nutritional deficiencies can be corrected by a proper diet. Principal nutrients that are involved include vitamin A, certain B vitamins, the vitamin biotin, vitamin C, copper, iron, zinc, protein, and water.