Dramatically restricting your calorie intake means that you likely are not ingesting enough essential nutrients, like protein, fatty acids, and zinc. These deficiencies, especially if maintained over a period of time, can lead to a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium.
Nutritional deficiency may impact both hair structure and hair growth. Effects on hair growth include acute telogen effluvium (TE), a well-known effect of sudden weight loss or decreased protein intake [1], as well as the diffuse alopecia seen in niacin deficiency [2].
Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are most often linked to hair loss, thinning, and shedding. This is mainly due to the eating-related behaviors practiced by individuals with these conditions, including starvation, self-induced vomiting, reduced food intake, and over-exercising.
Within as little as 8 to 10 months into recovery, you should see significant changes in your hair. It can take time, but hair regrowth is usually possible if you re-nourish your body and reverse malnutrition.
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss.
Zinc and iron deficiency are the most common nutritional links to hair loss.
Physical or emotional stress may cause one half to three quarters of scalp hair to shed. This kind of hair loss is called telogen effluvium. Hair tends to come out in handfuls when you shampoo, comb, or run your hands through your hair. You may not notice this for weeks to months after the episode of stress.
You might be able to reverse hair loss, or at least slow it. With some conditions, such as patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), hair may regrow without treatment within a year. Treatments for hair loss include medications and surgery.
Biotin. Biotin (vitamin B7) is important for cells inside your body. Low levels of it can cause hair loss, skin rashes, and brittle nails.
Lifestyle factors could include using certain hair products, wearing your hair up too tightly, experiencing high stress levels, or not getting enough of certain vitamins and minerals in your diet. People who have immune system deficiencies could also have thinning hair.
In most people, new hair eventually grows back in the affected areas, although this process can take months. Approximately 50 percent of people with mild alopecia areata recover within a year; however, most people will experience more than one episode during their lifetime.
It's normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day. When the body sheds significantly more hairs every day, a person has excessive hair shedding.
If you notice sudden or patchy hair loss or more than usual hair loss when combing or washing your hair, talk to your doctor. Sudden hair loss can signal an underlying medical condition that requires treatment. If needed, your doctor might also suggest treatment options for your hair loss.
Stress and Hair Loss: Potential Ways to Cope
Get regular exercise, which helps manage stress and its effects. Spend time with positive people — isolating yourself can make stress worse. Seek professional help from a therapist. Eat a healthy diet and take a multivitamin if your doctor recommends it.
Telogen effluvium hair loss — the type of hair loss linked to stress — typically affects your scalp and may appear as patchy hair loss. However, it can also cause you to shed more body hair or notice less hair on your body than you normally would.
Is stress-related hair loss permanent? If your hair loss is caused by stress, it's possible for your hair to grow back in time. The rate of regrowth will be different for everyone.
Severe stress.
Prolonged periods of stress can result in telogen effluvium. Hair loss typically occurs about 3 months after the stressful event.