One of the prevalent eating disorders is anorexia nervosa, which produces adverse effects on the human body. The patient goes through strict dieting in fear of gaining weight. It also causes psychological disturbance because the patient has an issue of distorted body image.
Anorexia and hair loss is among the physical side effects of this disorder. As might be guessed, a severe limitation of food intake can cause alopecia. What we’d like to explore in this article is good nutrition, counseling and contemporary hair treatment for receding hairline due to an unhealthy obsession with thinness.
How Does Anorexia Cause Hair Loss?
When the body of a human being does not receive the appropriate nutrients, the body begins to operate in a manner whereby the body takes steps to protect itself. That is, our body gives precedence to some of its activities over others.
For instance, the body will focus on keeping the organs functioning rather than processes like growing hair. Shall we move on with the blog by discussing the anorexia and hair loss causes below:
- Nutritional Deficiency: The hair follicles lose their strength and start to break as a result of the eating disorder. The issues arise when some of the nutrients like zinc, iron, folic acid, biotin, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B3, proteins, selenium, fatty acids are not being consumed as a result of the eating disorder.
- Hormonal Imbalances: The disease is marked by a quick loss of weight, which leads to physical and emotional distress. The distress can lead to hormonal imbalances in the patient’s body. As stated above, hormonal balance is disregarded by the body in an effort to sustain vital organs. Therefore, estrogen levels start to decline and cortisol levels start to increase. The disease also results in low thyroid levels.
- Severe Psychological Stress: This psychological state of mind is capable of inducing baldness through high levels of cortisol and stress hormones.
As you can gather from these facts, anorexia hair loss is the body’s response (due to different reasons) to weight loss.
Symptoms of Hair Loss Caused by Anorexia
Anorexia and hair loss would typically be rendered as:
- Thinning hair: Hair is thinner and weaker, especially on the vertex. Hair loses its diameter, and the scalp becomes more visible. It is most often associated with malnutrition and low-calorie diet.
- Excessive Hair Loss: More hair than usual is lost while washing or combing hair. The hair follicles prematurely enter the telogen (shedding) stage from the anagen (growth) stage.
- Lanugo Formation: The body will be covered in fine and soft hairs; in an attempt for the body to remain warm. If your body runs low on fat stores because of poor nutrition, it may respond by growing fine body hair called lanugo to help keep warm.
- Brittle and Dry Hair: Hair turns brittle and limp when it lacks protein and iron in it. Hair requires nutrients for it to be healthy. Deficiencies result in compromise of hair structure and hair breakage and baldness.
All of the above eating habits only reflect how this illness affects the hair by resulting in anorexia hair loss symptoms. In the following of our article, we are going to talk about the treatment for the subject of anorexia and hair loss.
How to Treat Hair Loss due to Anorexia?
In this case, not just the receding hairline but also the eating problems have to be treated. You might consider taking the following measures:
- Nutritional Support: A balanced diet with an abundance of minerals and vitamins, as advised by a professional dietician.
- Psychological Support: Cognitive behavior therapy is one of the therapies that focus on the psychological origins of nutritional disorder.
- Medical Treatment: Psychopharmacologic medication or hormone-controlling medication is given as required.
This condition, which is an unhealthy obsession with thinness, can be treated with holistic perspective methods.
Aesthetic Solutions for Anorexia and Hair Loss
Excessive hair loss on recovery in anorexia can be cosmetically upsetting. Some possible treatment options include the following:
- Mesotherapy: This treatment delivers nutrients straight to the hair follicles to support stronger and healthier growth.
- PRP and Minoxidil: Platelet-rich plasma injections and topical application promote hair growth.
- Red Light Therapy: Low-level laser lights are utilized to stimulate blood circulation towards the scalp and initiate hair growth.
- Hair Transplant: Hair replacement is the most appropriate option for those who are looking for a permanent solution, particularly for the regions that cannot be regrown ever again.
Hair Plantation Following Anorexia at Dr. Resul Yaman Hair Clinic
Anorexia baldness can be treated by hair surgery, particularly if one wants to transplant hair to bald areas. Patients at Dr. Resul Yaman’s clinic benefit from DHI hair transplants that are known for dense, realistic outcomes. The clinic also wins the trust of international patients with easy planning and tailor-made solutions.
Conclusion: Anorexia and Hair Loss
Anorexia hair loss is a severe disorder with both physical and psychological factors. It can, however, be treated with proper care and new techniques. You can regain your hair with the help of nutritional supplements, therapy sessions, and hair growth therapy.
For others who want a long-term but cosmetic solution, the DHI technique offered by Dr. Resul Yaman Hair Clinic offers a chance at hair restoration with a natural appearance.
To know more about anorexia and hair loss and how it can be treated, you may go to our clinic website and observe before and after hair transplant photographs.
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