Does Diabetes Cause Hair Loss?
According to the ADA (American Diabetes Association), an estimated 30 million Americans have diabetes.
In general, diabetes is a disease in which the body cannot regulate or manage blood sugar levels because of a lack of or low insulin synthesis. The pancreas secretes insulin, a hormone that helps control blood sugar levels. In people with diabetes, either the pancreas or the system fails to recognize the insulin and stop it from being released.
Sitting around and eating poorly are one of the primary causes. Significant health consequences, such as heart disease, stroke, and renal damage, are possible due to this. One of diabetes' less severe and less well-publicized side effects is hair thinning. Type-1 and type-2 diabetes are both capable of causing it to arise.
People with type 1 diabetes (DKA) have beta cells inside the pancreas that stop producing insulin or have a reduced number of beta cells. However, Type-2 is more common in later life. Type-2 diabetes is characterized by an inability of the body to react to pancreatic insulin. Diabetes is a disease with no preference for any particular group of people, and both genders are susceptible to it and its side effects.
Link Between Hair Loss And Diabetes
Indirectly, diabetes-related problems may damage follicles on your scalp, resulting in hair loss. Hair loss may be caused by various factors, including anemia, stress from dealing with a chronic condition, and even certain medications.
Hair loss is a well-known side effect of insulin resistance, a common complication of diabetes. Diabetes may delay hair development in addition to causing more significant hair loss than usual. Affected individuals' hair grows more slowly than expected.
Due to a lack of blood supply to the follicles on the scalp, eyelashes, and eyebrows, people with diabetes may experience hair loss. Telogen Effluvium, a disorder characterized by rapid and inexplicable hair loss or thinning, may be triggered in certain people by insulin resistance.
Alopecia Areata, a disorder whereby the immune system destroys hair follicles on the head or in other body regions and causes hair loss, has been linked to Type 1 diabetes. Some people with diabetes are also diagnosed with thyroid disease, which may lead to hair thinning and baldness.
Since physicians stress that diabetes-related hair loss is only "limited" and treatable, do not be alarmed.
Causes of Diabetes Related Hair Loss
Diabetes-related hair loss may be inherited and linked to other body immune system conditions, such as thyroid issues or alopecia areata. Poor circulation, drug side effects, low blood sugar, and vitamin deficiency are all possible reasons for hair loss in diabetics. A diagnosis is necessary to get the best healthcare options.
Below are some ways diabetes could cause hair loss:
- Immune System Deterioration
Other immune system problems may occur more often in diabetics than in general. It is not uncommon for people with diabetes to suffer from thyroid problems. As a result of a problem with one's thyroid hormone, hair loss or thinning might occur.
If you have diabetes and are experiencing weight loss, weight gain, exhaustion, or anxiety, your doctor should do a thyroid exam to rule out any underlying medical conditions.
Alopecia areata is another form of autoimmune illness linked to diabetes. Some hair loss may be seen on the scalp and other body parts when immune cells assault hair follicles. An accumulation of invading immune cells often characterizes it.
The more hair follicles are damaged, the more hair will fall out. The condition seldom destroys hair follicles, so it is possible to regrow them even if you have lost a lot of hair.
Some individuals may be prone to hair loss because of their genes. Other autoimmune disorders, like type 1 diabetes, autoimmune diseases, asthma, hay fever, eczema, vitiligo, and Down syndrome, seem to be more frequent in people with this condition.
- Abnormal Blood Flow
Chronically high blood sugar, often known as hyperglycemia, may cause insulin resistance, vascular damage, and impaired circulation. Chronic hyperglycemia may compromise vascular function by decreasing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients.
Hair loss, fragility, sparseness, or a slowdown in hair development are possible side effects. Androgenic alopecia may be exacerbated by insulin resistance, leading to microvascular dysfunction.
According to a study's findings, black women with type 2 diabetes had an increased likelihood of experiencing significant central scalp hair loss. The study showed that type 2 diabetics should be continuously monitored for scalp hair loss so that appropriate therapy may be provided.
- Drug Side Effects
Some drugs may disrupt the hair cycle, leading to hair loss. It might be challenging to determine which one is causing the problem when taking any medications.
Hair loss may occur as a side effect of several cancer treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation. In some cases, drugs that cause hair loss usually allow the hair to regrow when the prescription is stopped.
- High Blood Sugar Level
When blood sugar levels are extreme, the body's cells cannot use the sugar as an energy source. Insufficient insulin or insulin resistance may lead to this condition. The micro-and macrovascular vessels may be damaged over time as a result.
Blood veins in the lower leg may be injured, affecting the passage of oxygen and nutrients to hair follicles underneath the knee, causing hair loss. As a consequence, the hair development cycle may be affected.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) might be the cause of this. Patients with peripheral artery disease may have intermittent claudication and wounds that heal exceptionally slowly.
Hair growth and thinning might be slowed or halted entirely if blood sugar levels are elevated due to hormonal abnormalities. For example, cortisol (stress hormone) may cause cells to grow intolerant to insulin. In contrast to popular belief, sugar does not leave the body; instead, it is stored in the blood.
Hair growth problems such as alopecia, Alopecia areata, and telogen effluvium may be caused by chronically high cortisol levels in the body.
Symptoms
Hair loss may take on a variety of forms. The way it comes out will determine why it is falling off. It's possible to get alopecia areata if you have type 1 of the two types of diabetes and your hair falls out in areas on the scalp or other parts of the body. Recurrence and remission are both possible outcomes of this condition.
Other body regions may also suffer from hair loss, such as the scalp. To get a correct diagnosis, you need to be able to tell your doctor where and how rapidly your hair is coming out.
Dry skin, skin irritation, and other skin issues are more common among people with diabetes, making them more susceptible to the disease's side effects. Infections in diabetics are more likely to occur when blood sugar levels are raised. Folliculitis is a condition that refers to inflammation of the hair follicles, usually caused by bacteria.
Treatment
If you've noticed disturbing hair loss in any region of your body, the first thing you should do is see a doctor. If your baldness or thinning has been linked to diabetes, you may take steps to prevent further hair loss and encourage new hair growth in the afflicted regions.
- Keep an eye on your blood glucose levels
Keeping a close eye on your sugar levels and being ready is one of the best strategies to avoid developing any diabetes-related issues, including hair loss.
By obtaining a continuous glucose monitor, you might achieve this. The A1C test, usually used to establish average sugar levels for only the previous two to three months, is another option you may want to investigate. The A1C test aids in developing a diabetic treatment strategy and may also detect signs of prediabetes.
Percentages are often reported as test results. A1C values between 5.5 percent and 6.5 percent are classified as prediabetes by the American Diabetes Association, while A1C levels of 6.5 percent or higher are classified as diabetic.
- Reduction of Anxiety and Depression
Diabetes may be the underlying cause of many life's symptoms and consequences. It may cause a great deal of worry for people who have been diagnosed with the ailment. As a result, your mental and emotional health may suffer.
However, did you also know that high-stress levels might compromise your body's ability to regulate blood glucose?
The blood sugar levels of people who have type 2 diabetes often tend to rise when under stress. Stress exacerbates the difficulty of managing blood sugar levels in people with type 1 diabetes.
As a result, take a deep breath. Taking charge of your well-being life is as easy as following a few simple steps. For example, studies show that meditation reduces stress and promotes mental relaxation. If you can, locate a quiet spot and do some breathing exercises early in the day.
- Drugs Prescriptions
Diabetic problems, such as hair thinning and hair loss, may be alleviated using over-the-counter medications and therapies that a doctor has prescribed.
If you want to learn how to stop hair loss and encourage hair growth, you should consult with your doctor. Before you can even begin treating your hair loss, you must first discover what is causing it. As a result, you must seek the advice of a recognized expert.
- The Use of Aromatherapy Oils
For hair regeneration, essential oils such as peppermint, chamomile, rosemary, and cedarwood oils should be combined with the essential oils of your choice. Hair growth may be boosted with peppermint oil and lavender oil, which have antibacterial qualities.
- Consume a Balanced Diet
Your body, as well as your hair, will thank you if you eat a nutritious diet. Your hair might get brittle or fall out if you don't get enough protein and iron.
Vitamins that the body needs may be found in food. Almonds, sweet potatoes, onions, and oats all contain biotin, a vitamin that has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
Maintaining a healthy hormone balance in your body may have direct and indirect effects on your hair. Therefore, a healthy diet is a great way to do this.
One way to make sure your hair is getting all the nutrients it needs to thrive is to take a multi-vitamin specifically formulated to target healthy hair growth, like HAIRFINITY Healthy Hair Vitamins and HAIRFINITY Candilocks Chewable Hair Vitamins.
Alternative Treatment Methods
1. Hair loss may be treated using a variety of methods. Those who have had considerable hair loss can sometimes take many months or more before their hair starts growing back. This is a situation where your dermatologist could propose that you buy an interim wig.
If hair loss has negatively impacted your everyday life and your sense of self-worth, you may want to look into getting a wig or other hair replacement. A dermatologist could suggest a custom-made hair prosthesis, essentially a wig. There is a wide range of alternatives available.
2. A board-certified dermatologist can help you design a treatment plan if you're suffering from hair loss in other areas of your body. So that you can get the most acceptable treatment, they need to visit you.
An antibiotic ointment, for example, may be prescribed if your doctor notices that you are losing hair on your nose since this will help keep dust, bacteria, and other airborne particles out of your nose.
3. If you suspect stress as the cause of your hair loss, you'll want to take steps to alleviate your anxiety. See if you can get in touch with someone who can help you with your mental health.
Deep breathing, yoga, and meditation are examples of mindfulness exercises you may engage in. Journaling, putting down your thoughts, going for a walk, listening to music, and exercising are all ways to relieve stress.
4. Another vital strategy to increase your self-esteem and avoid loneliness is to contact individuals who are going through similar issues to what you are passing through.
Is Diabetes-Induced Hair Loss Reversible?
Doctor Harish adds that "the hair loss from diabetes is extremely minimal and reversible." Diabetes-related hair loss might linger for a long time in specific individuals.
The good news is that diabetes-related hair loss may usually be managed and cured if the proper strategy is adopted in these situations. Consider seeing a trichologist, an expert in hair and scalp care, and your primary care physician.
Final Thoughts
Managing diabetes may be exhausting. Even though dealing with hair loss may seem daunting, be assured that there are treatments available to help decrease the rate of hair loss, stop it, and even encourage new hair growth.
Consult a qualified dietitian or a certified diabetes care service and education expert if you have problems controlling your diabetes and maintaining your blood sugars in the normal range. These professionals can educate you and help you overcome obstacles.
Dermatologists that specialize in hair loss can also help you if you are experiencing abrupt or significant hair loss and don't know why. They may create a treatment program for your specific requirements after determining the cause of your hair loss.
There are usually workarounds. It's possible that figuring it out will take some time. Remember that you're not alone.
