Inflammation, Thinning Hair and Your Diet

Having a lush and full head of hair is a treasure we all want to enjoy. Having thick hair is seen as a sign of being youthful and having vitality — even being sexy. We all know that bald can absolutely be beautiful, but if the bald part isn’t by choice, resentment can set in. If you find yourself with thinning hair, know that you’re not alone. Millions of people find that they’re suffering from thinning hair or hair loss, called “alopecia” in medical terms. It’s a common problem that affects both men and women. For many people, medical hair restoration is the only way back from thinning hair. For a select number though, their thinning hair is due to inflammation.

What Causes Us To Lose Hair?

Thinning hair can be caused by a variety of causes. Hair loss can be from heredity, hormonal changes and even from wearing certain hairstyles. A specific type of hair loss called traction alopecia happens when the hair is pulled too tightly over a long period of time, such as when a person wears a hair weave or tight braids. When the hair is pulled tightly for some time, it can pull the hair follicle out of the head — which leads to losing hair in that area.

Now there’s a new cause of thinning hair to add to the list. There’s strong evidence that inflammation contributes to thinning hair. Recent medical research from Harvard Medical School and the American Academy of Dermatology indicates that having chronic inflammation can lead to symptoms like:

• Shrinking of the hair follicle

• Reduced hair volume

• Thinning hair

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

The good news? You can help your body to control the amount of inflammation you’re experiencing by making simple changes in your diet and controlling your stress levels. You can take a proactive approach to your own hair restoration by eating a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods. Try drinking anti-inflammatory beverages like coffee, chai and turmeric hot chocolate. While hair restoration is not an overnight process, making these small changes in your diet can support your body’s efforts to heal itself. Reducing your inflammation can give your hair a chance to regrow. Be sure to reduce your intake of foods that promote inflammation, like:

• Refined carbs, like white bread and white pasta

• Red meat

• French fries and fried foods

• Margarine and lard

• Soda and sugar-sweetened beverages

Instead, you want to incorporate healthy, anti-inflammatory foods into your diet. Your body will thank you. Hopefully, it will thank you with a fuller head of hair and overall improved health. Be sure to consume plenty of:

• Green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale

• Olive oil

• Nuts like walnuts and almonds

• Tomatoes

• Fruit, especially berries like strawberries and blueberries

• Fish including salmon, tuna and mackerel

Taking Control of Your Hair Restoration

When you take the step of adopting an anti-inflammatory diet, you’re taking a significant step toward achieving better health. You’ll be on your way to having healthier and more vibrant skin, having more energy and having fuller, healthier hair. As you begin to see the positive effects of your new diet, you’ll be glad you made the change. If you decide medical intervention is for you, these positive steps will only help your procedure give you the best results. Are you wondering if medical hair restoration is for you? Give us a call or book your free consultation now. We’d love to show you what is possible.