Ask The Expert: Can Digestive Disorders Cause Thinning of Hair or Hair Loss?

Hair thinning because of poor digestion.

Doesn’t sound too related or logical when you hear it like that,right? Who would think these two things are connected? But they are…

Poor digestive system and related disorders are a problem in most, especially in these supposedly ‘modern times’, with irregular eating habits, trending diets, lifestyle irregularities etc. Most people further resign to their gut’s reaction as ‘this is how my body behaves’, while a few sort it out with a physician’s advice if it bothers much. However in all of this, there is really no correlation made between chronic digestive disorders and hair health. It’s just not something that would naturally occur to one.

However chronic problems with your digestive system can also affect your hair growth cycle or lead to hair loss. We have had to explain this to many surprised faces at our clinics in the past. And off lately, on our online consultations.

So, today on our Ask the Hair Expert series, we figured we will address this topic, and answer some pertinent questions that have come our way in recent times. We will also attempt to highlight relevant information, facts, prevention tips and solutions for the same.

You asked: “Can stomach problems affect hair growth? Is a poor digestive system the cause of hair loss? What are IBD and IBS? Do they have a connection with hair?”

Here’s the answer from the Hair Experts.

Yes. There is very much a connection between your digestive system and your hair.

Your digestive system is much more than a system that handles nutritional assimilation. It is a complex, diverse ecosystem inside your body by itself – the gut microbiome! The digestive system is intricately connected with various parts of your body. It is also an interface between your body’s internal systems and the external environment. Just as your hair is. For the well being of your body, and your hair, it is imperative that the integrity of the gut microbiome is intact and your digestive system is working fine!

Science very clearly shows that hair growth and its retention have much to with your internal health, as it does with your genetic predisposition and lifestyle. While basic hygiene is maintained with an oil-wash-conditioning routine or getting those regular trims, what really gives your hair that bounce and shine, comes from within. Your immune system, nutrition levels, genes, stress levels, lifestyle habits, AND your gut microbiome play a significant role in your hair’s health!

Let’s deep dive to understand more about your gut, the digestive system and how it’s dysfunctioning can impact your hair.

Role of Digestive & Systemic Enzymes

Almost every process in the human body undergoes chemical reactions to attain certain results. There are the catalysts that help in keeping the human body healthy, nourished and functional. Digestive and systemic enzymes are such catalysts that stimulate hair growth besides improving overall circulation in the body.

Enzymes play a key role in the maintenance, repair & building functions, ensure nutritional absorption, help with tissue repair, ensure immune system functioning and much more. Depletion of these enzymes can have a detrimental impact on your well being, and your hair.

While on one hand, digestive enzymes help you avoid discomforts such as bloating, indigestion and gas, systemic enzymes, on the other hand, take care of the overall health and wellness. They break down various substances like allergens, fibrin, mucus, clotting factors and toxins that move through the body and regulate blood circulation. Thus, inadequate levels of these enzymes can lead to health problems.

When it comes to impact on hair, your systemic enzymes are key for hair growth. They clear impurities from the bloodstream and help improve blood flow. And as you know, this is a must for a proper hair growth cycle, i.e. stimulating hair growth.

When your blood circulation is on point, it means that your scalp will get the blood (nutrition) it needs, and as will your hair follicles. And as follows, if there is a disruption or slow down of blood circulation, your hair follicles (and thereby hair growth) suffer…leading to hair loss.

As we all know, a well-maintained diet is key to good health, that includes having a robust digestive system. If your bodily functions, as with the digestive system, are not carried out correctly, the circulation is disturbed thereby leading to poor health. And, bad health = bad hair!

Before we move on to understanding the hair disorders that can arise from digestive disorders, let us briefly look at the most common digestive disorders.

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) – This is when your stomach acid rises up/ backs up in your esophagus and you have a burning sensation and/or pain in your chest. This is also commonly called acid reflux.
• Celiac Disease – This is when you have a serious sensitivity to gluten, wherein your immunity system attacks when you consume this protein. The condition hampers the absorption of nutrients in your small intestine.
• Gallstones – These are deposits that get formed in your gallbladder, which is the organ that secretes bile for digestion. These ‘stones’ block the path from the gallbladder to your intestines.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – This is a structural disease that results in chronic inflammation and affects the gut. It is further categorized into 2 types namely, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease. While both these involve severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss, the possible cause of Inflammatory Bowel Disease is immune system malfunctioning. Although hair loss is not strongly believed to be prevalent in individuals suffering from IBD, it is seen as an uncommon side effect of the disease or medication intake for the treatment, nutritional deficiency, stress, etc.
  It could be possible that people with IBD may experience alopecia, i.e. hair is lost from some or all parts of the body or telogen effluvium, a common type of hair loss involving widespread thinning of the hair.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a functional disease, causing unusual belly pain and bowel movements. While there are certain symptoms and signs that determine whether one has this syndrome or not, the actual cause is yet unclear. Studies have indicated that as much as 10 to 15 percent people worldwide suffer from this syndrome. However, it is believed that IBS and the immune system are linked to each other and changing your diet plan with your doctor’s recommendation can help treat the condition.

Of these when you have chronic IBS or IBD concern, you may end up with hair concern. It should be noted that not everyone with an IBS or IBD will suffer from a serious hair concern. Such conditions merely push up the possibilities of hair concerns further…

Basically, studies have shown that your gut microbiome not only supports the production of some of the nutrients needed for hair growth but it also supports the hormones that control the hair growth cycle – transition between the anagen, catagen, and telogen phases. The microbiome also maintains the conditions in your body that will boost or favour healthy hair growth. Further, when everything is in order, your gut microbiome can also help to beat the inhospitable bacteria that can cause hair loss or thinning.

Digestive Disorders causing Hair Disorders
Hair reflects an individual’s inner health status. While thick and shiny hair reflects good health, thin and brittle hair point underlying health issues, stomach disorders being one of them perhaps.

Even after chewing the food well and enzymes doing their work, there are some types of fibers that the stomach acid doesn’t break down. Further, if your body lacks vital gut flora that helps to extract the maximum amount of nutrients from the food, you could experience health problems.

Your gut helps procure vital micronutrients, which your body will otherwise struggle to obtain, such as biotin, vitamin K, B12, niacin, and folic acid. Further, in connection to your hair, a healthy hair fiber composition relies on amino acid metabolism which requires macronutrients to be properly broken down in your digestive tract, by the innate digestive proteolytic enzymes, with the assistance of gut microbiota.

While your diet may be rich and well-balanced, any disturbance in the digestion process affects your hair. A poor gut flora leads to thinning hair and ultimately causes hair loss. Your body loses the ability to procure the nutrients mentioned above; each of it having a significant relation with your scalp and hair health.

• Biotin helps to boost the health of your hair, skin, and nails. Insufficient biotin levels in the body may lead to hair loss.
• Deficiency of Vitamin B12 in the body can link its connection to greying hair. Do read our blog on premature greying.
• Spinach, green beans, broccoli, and kale are rich sources of Vit K and including them in your diet helps maintain healthy hair and stimulate its strength.
• Niacin, also known as Vit B3, one of the 8 B Vitamins has the ability to improve the health of your scalp and hair.
• Folic acid is primarily known to keep cells and tissues healthy, and a hair-growth treatment measure.

These vitamins help in improving the overall thickness of the hair. This apart, they also help in hydrating the hair shaft and thereby preventing split-ends.Your gut microbiome in fact synthesizes some key ingredients needed for healthy hair growth.

One of the most important ones to discuss here is Biotin (Vitamin B7 or Vitamin H). Your body uses this to metabolize the amino acids needed to produce keratin (the proteins that make up your hair). As you are aware, you can get the biotin you need from your diet and supplements, but it is important to understand that some strains of beneficial gut bacteria produce it as well.

Another fine example is Vitamin K2 that regulates the calcium in your body. It decides where the calcium is needed and in what quantity. Excessive calcium in the blood vessels on your scalp, for instance, may cause interference in the blood flow to hair follicles. Vitamin K2 is produced by your gut bacteria.

Gut flora also impacts the hormonal balance in your body. The gut bacteria help regulate the various hormonal levels in your body. This includes those hormones fairly directly related to your hair growth, like testosterone, estrogen, and cortisol. Do read our blog on how hormones influence your hair.

When the gut microbiome is in balance, it helps decrease the bad bacteria that leads to hair loss and/or thinning. When your gut flora goes out of balance, the production of many hair-essentials go down, as discussed above.

When your gut is in order, it ensures that your hair is getting the nutrition it needs, your body’s reaction to stress is moderated and your immune function is optimised. More often than not digestive disorders can be corrected via diet regulations and stress controls.

Do read our blog on the importance of a balanced diet, with all these essential nutrients including hair growth vitamins, for your hair. When your digestive system is malfunctioning, you need to ensure that you supplement your nutritional intake right, to bring it back on track, to ensure that your body and hair’s needs are taken care of.

Hair Loss caused by stomach disorders, a poor gut

Whatever the reason, thinning of hair or losing hair is not an experience anyone would wish for. It’s distressing and difficult. While on one side you may be battling a digestive disorder, on the other side you see your hair falling.

It is key to understand that as high as 70% of your immunity level is gut health. When you take care of it, it can have an enormous effect not just your immunity, your energy levels and your hair. If you notice certain signs such as bloating, excessive gas and/or lethargy, along with hair fall, it could be a signal that there is something in your digestive system that is calling for help! Do re-evaluate your diet and your lifestyle. Here below are some basic tips to correct your course. However, do seek medical attention to detect the underlying cause right, if small changes do not seem to be making an impact!

1. Lifestyle changes
   What you eat, when you eat what, how many hours you sleep, whether you are active or work out every day, are there any occupational hazards you are exposed to…these are some of the things that will need to be evaluated. ‘Cos all of this has an impact on your gut, which in turn impacts your overall health. Any course correction as needed here will help in coping up with digestive disorders , managing other internal bodily functions and help ensure your well being.
2. Maintaining Your Diet
   A healthy diet is essential for reducing the risk of IBS or IBD. It is advised to consume a diet that focuses more on complex carbohydrates, vegetables, lots of water, fermented foods, and probiotics to promote a better balance of gut bacteria. Do consume healthy proteins, fiber and whole, raw food as much as possible. This will ensure a healthy gut. Also, if you can recall from our earlier blogs, hair cells are amongst the fastest-growing cells in your body. They need adequate nutrients and energy to sustain their hectic activity!
   Having said that, yes, sometimes even when you feel your diet is ‘just right’, your digestion may be impaired and thereby the nutrient absorption. Treating the bacteria affecting it all may need to be treated. Always watch out for signs of concerns, and seek medical advice. Perhaps some part of the diet may need a course correction though not evident to you!
3. Stress Management
   Stress is a recognised gut health disruptor. And needless to repeat, stress and hair loss go hand-in-hand. Where there’s stress, there is loss of hair! Stress can cause issues with the digestive system, both directly and indirectly. Stress induces microbial shifts. While in a normal healthy person the microbiome behaviour is predictable, in an individual undergoing high stress, its behaviour and responses are very varied.
   Regular exercise or following stress management techniques may or may not show an immediate result on regrowth of hair but will certainly prove beneficial for a healthy life and healthy hair in the long run. Your trichologist is always available to explore options for regaining lost hair and to control hair loss meantime!

The growth of healthy gut flora has multiple benefits! As they say, the way to a healthy heart is through a healthy gut, the way to healthy hair too is through a healthy gut! It not only keeps you energized but also balances your mood improves, your ability to absorb nutrients and digest them, helps you get away from the annoying bloating and inflammation. In the long run, all measures that you take to ensure gut health, assure you better hair and better health life long.

In addition, seeking out a trichologist at timely intervals can help you understand your hair’s quality, texture, growth cycle or any underlying health concerns. It’s the perfect solution to be assured of a healthy body, healthy hair and an awesome look!

Trust we have addressed those questions we started with! If you wish to garner more information on any specific concern within this or beyond, don’t forget, we are just a call away! You can also write to us by commenting below, on the blog.

Do check out our blogs on Hair Treatment, Hair Loss, Hair Trivia, Haircare, and also Laser Hair Reduction … Like, Follow, Subscribe to our social media pages to get bits and pieces of everyday dose on all things hair!

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Summer, Lockdown, Hair Care and You!

Summer & lockdown – this season, this year, is turning out to be quite an experience. We are about midway & more through April, experiencing an unprecedented lockdown and the sun meantime is beating down hard! Temperatures are soaring and you can feel the heat waves. And the COVID situation has made it all a tad harder, ain’t it?

Summer is usually about vacations, pools, beaches, shopping, ice creams, cool fizzy drinks and golas! But not this time around. This time it is about staying safe at home! Long story that… Let’s chat about your hair for today!

Now, while you are not stepping out and exposing your hair to the hot sun as much as past summers, the weather condition still does affect your hair! Your hair that is otherwise shiny and soft, may feel frizzy, dry and unmanageable now! The hot weather zaps your hair of moisture. The drier your hair, the frizzier it gets. If you are someone with coloured hair, you may notice that it is looking faded and bleached…

As with all down-sides, there is always a silver lining to look to! You are at least not directly exposed to the harsh sun and UV rays since you are locked up indoors. So, you have to tackle with one less concern! And…thanks to the quarantine, you can indulge in some self-care & hair love this summer! And when the lockdown lifts, be ready to step out with great hair! Here is a quick summer hair care guide, with some handy tips and solid hair advice.

But before we get on with the advice, let’s understand what exactly happens to your hair & scalp in hot, humid weather.

Summer-time hair concerns
To understand what happens to your hair when surrounded by heat and humidity, it is important to understand hair’s anatomy and its composition. Do read our blog on this topic while at it!

Heat & humidity on hair bonds
Hair is far more complex than it appears on the surface. It is composed of multiple layers, chemical bonds and proteins. Hydrogen bonds give flexibility, tenacity or elasticity to your hair. Salt bonds are responsible for the strength and elasticity of hair. The cysteine bond is also known as the disulphide bond or the sulphur bond and is perhaps the most important of all. The disulphide bonds are very strong and hold the hair fibre together. The sugar bonds are responsible for maintaining the moisture content of hair.

Now, come summer, the heat & humidity affects these bonds in your hair – predominantly the hydrogen bonds and your salt bonds, to a certain extent. The higher the humidity, the more these bonds are prone to breakage. The hot weather tends to strip moisture from your hair shaft, making it dry as well.

Sweat threat!
The other concern is excessive sweating. Sweating is a natural process, as you know and is even essential. However, when it is not cleaned out, your scalp can become prone to infection, and your hair – greasy…and smelly!

If your hair has become really sweaty (perhaps after a workout, or just thanks to the weather), and you aren’t going to be washing it just yet, be sure that you air-dry it properly before tying it up. Else, your hair & scalp are going to be really smelly. Not to mention, your scalp can become a hotbed for microbes to flourish and breed!

If you are someone who normally sweats a lot, you better routinely wash your hair – more frequent than others. If you don’t wash as much as needed in this case, the sweat can clog the pores on your scalp leading to scalp infections and dandruff.

Excessive sweating in this weather can also make your hair super greasy and oily. Which basically means that you need to keep up with that hair wash routine.

Why does sweat create so much of a concern? ‘Cos it contains lactic acid. If you don’t wash and maintain scalp hygiene, you are putting your hair in danger. Sweat can dehydrate your strands, as strange as that may sound, and block the pores, as mentioned above. This means that your hair follicles can’t breathe easy and there is a hindrance to hair growth. In a severe case, this can even lead to hair loss.

UV rays
Though not applicable right now with the lockdown, it may be noted that, when you are exposed to the harsh UV rays of the sun, without protection, it can cause hair damage. It can also cause scalp irritation. When your head is unprotected, these rays can weaken the hair roots, and thereby affect your hair’s growth cycle. UV rays are known to lead to hair shaft’s structural impairment. Hair proteins, especially keratin as well as pigments are degraded and lose their ability to function rightly. Further, UV rays are known to have a bleaching effect on your hair. So, if you have freshly coloured your hair, you will notice the colour fading sooner than usual.

Now, having spoken of all this, your summer, AND your lockdown time, needn’t necessarily be the season of bad hair days! All your hair needs is some extra TLC. Your hair can look and feel great every day now, and you can flaunt it all you want when you step out afterwards!

Haircare tips for you, this summer!
Oil, Wash & Condition

The most basic hair care mantra – oiling-shampooing-conditioning – you should be doing it more frequently than in any other season, to ensure good hair health this season. Oiling is much needed to nourish and moisturise your hair. Shampooing is a must to ensure hair hygiene, to wash away the grime from sweat & product build-up. Conditioning is a must to smoothen those cuticles and seal the moisture in the hair shaft.

Argan oil, Jaborandi oil and coconut oil can really rescue you during this time. Argan oil is not as greasy as some other natural oils, which means you can use it regularly. A warm argan or coconut oil massage is the best therapy to regain the strength and shine of your hair besides keeping it moist, manageable & hydrated! Do read our blog on oiling benefits to understand this better.

And here’s another tip to feel super refreshed when you wash your hair – add about two-three drops of peppermint oil, if you have it, into your shampoo and wash as usual. This will add that zing to your wash and leave your scalp feeling cool and refreshed! Not to mention, peppermint also helps curb any itchiness you may be feeling on your scalp! And do finish your wash with a nice cold rinse.

Do use a conditioner after every wash. This weather tends to play hard with your cuticles, and the frequent hair wash can hamper them much. Cuticles are meant to be down smooth and pointing down in the same direction like roof tiles. When they are lifted up at random, as you wash your hair and tussle with them, it will lead to tangling, breakage and overall hair damage. Conditioning after every wash helps smoothen these cuticles down, leaving you hair manageable and healthy.

Washing your hair the right way can make such a huge difference to its well being!

Avoid styling
Stay away from styling as much as possible this season. Once you are done with washing and conditioning, comb your hair with a wide-toothed wooden comb, gently. Do NOT comb hair when wet. Avoid blow dryers. We would recommend air drying. Go with natural hairstyles. With this lockdown, this shouldn’t be too difficult to handle! No big parties to go to, right? So yes. This is something you can easily achieve this summer!

While this lockdown is meant to keep everyone safe and away from the CoViD-19 threat, it has also given your hair a golden opportunity to say no to styling tools and thus, yes to great hair! Quarantine has let you pick easy and relaxing hairstyles at home, hasn’t it? You can simply tie a loose pony or keep your hair braided all day to avoid damage or breakage. No need for any tools!

But do remember this for the coming summers too! Your hair goes through enough with the change in weather. Styling with heat equipment and chemicals only strains it further. The additional heat can wreck your hair. Also, use fewer hair products such as hairsprays and gels because they contain tons of chemicals that can cause damage by clogging the follicles mixed with sweat.

Time for a mask!
Summer by itself warrants for deep conditioning. Now with the additional time at home, thanks to the lockdown, you can very well pamper your hair with that hair mask!

Hair masks made of ingredients like Multani mitti, Amla, Brahmi and Shikakai can give your hair the much needed cooling effect! Hair masks, packs, and repair serums are essential for those with severely damaged hair any given day. And even more so during summers. They are deep conditioning treatments that help heal damaged hair and form a protective shield around the shaft.

Here’s a quick summer+lockdown hair mask tip. Whip up a quick mix of lemon juice (2-3 tablespoons) with a couple of spoons of coconut water – Massage it onto your scalp gently. Leave it on for about 15-30 minutes, and rinse your hair off with cold water. This will remove the excess oil, secretions, grime and sweat super efficiently, while gently cleansing your scalp.

One more DIY mask you can try at home now! All you need – one ripened banana, a tablespoon of fenugreek paste, mixed with a tablespoon of honey. Apply as a hair mask and rinse well after 30 minutes!

Do read our blog on the topic to understand how best to use a hair pack or mask, to experience the best results.

Give yourself that snip
You could try this yourself, or get your lockdown-mate to help you out!
Take small sections of hair and carefully twist them in a gentle downward motion. Any split ends will automatically stick out for you to notice. Carefully snip into the twist with sharp scissors. Don’t cut right through; just cut into the thickness to remove the damaged cuticles and give a natural layered effect. Be careful to cut roughly the same amount from each twist.

How can this make a difference? Split ends (or trichoptilosis) is a common condition that proves to be everyone’s devil, when it comes to summer-time hair! Getting timely trims can be a great way to maintain good hair, more than you’d ever imagine! So don’t worry about being in lockdown, try out our tip to handle those jagged ends.

Maintain a well-balanced diet
In simple words, it is strongly believed that your hair is what you eat. So, the type of food you intake directly or indirectly affects the quality of hair. Balanced meals packed with the right mix of nutrients, vitamins and minerals, fruits and vegetables rich in water content, is much needed to retain the health of hair in summers. If you can procure, do include paneer, spinach and other greens, along with beetroot, carrots and cucumbers during this season. Seasonal fruits & veggies items can be a great addition to your hair healthy foods as well!

With the present lockdown, be frugal yet wise with your food intake. Basic Indian meals by themselves are packed with the goodness of all those nutrients your body and hair needs! Fancy recipes and diets aren’t exactly needed!! Dal, roti, rice, fresh vegetables cooked with the right amount of oil, ghee, consumed along with curd – is as wholesome as it gets! If you have stock of almonds, dates, walnuts and raisins – a handful of these can be ideal in-between snacks.

Dairy, yoghurt, beans, soybeans, palak, paneer, Chinese cabbage, mushrooms, Kabuli chana and almonds are great sources of proteins. Dairy, yeast, nuts, tofu and beans are good sources of calcium. Dark green leafy vegetables, dates, figs and jaggery are good sources of iron. Legumes like chickpeas, lentils and beans, nuts, whole grains, seeds and dairy – all contain substantial amounts of zinc. Most of these can be found around you easily and you can whip up recipes around them as easily too.

Water for hair!
You must have heard ‘summer dehydration stories’ from your family, friends, peers, or colleagues. This is nothing but the effects of lack of adequate water intake, especially in a season when the sun’s high on our heads! While you think dehydration only affects the body, let us clarify that it equally affects your hair.

During summers, you tend to lose too many minerals through sweat and this causes dehydration, which in general affects your whole body, making your skin & hair dry and lifeless. A minimum of 3-4 litres of water is a must, for your body and hair to remain hydrated and full of moisture. Also include lemon water, buttermilk and coconut water in your diet to regain the lost minerals. Eat fruits with high water content such as muskmelon, watermelon, cucumbers and tomatoes to supply the needed nutrients to your system.

Cover UP if you step out!
Now, given the present scenario, it is best to NOT step out unless it is an emergency or for an essential purpose. But if you do step out, ensure that your head is covered with a scarf or a cap. It could be a simple head wrap. A cotton fabric tied loosely lets the air pass through the scalp and not make your hair dry due to the hot breeze. You can also use a hair sunscreen if you foresee being out in the sun for long.

While you may be feeling ‘stuck’ at home, we urge you to see the positives! You are ‘safe at home’! Use this time well. Use it on yourself. While you may be missing your routine hustle, this could very well be your time of healing – your mind’s, your body’s and your hair’s! Get working on these tips we have shared today. Give your hair the care it needs, especially when you are now in a position to focus and give it! It’s time to fall in love with your hair again!

Eat healthy. Stay healthy. Maintain hygiene. Immunity will be addressed.

Don’t forget though! Hygiene = Health = Hair = Happiness! And, our expert trichologists are just a call or click away to help you achieve these 4Hs!

With that, we sign off! Stay home and stay safe! This too shall pass and you can look forward to flaunting awesome hair when you step out next, on the other side of COVID lockdown!
Catch up on our blogs on hair care, hair trivia, hair loss, and solutions! You can also check our social media pages to collect bits & pieces of knowledge about hair on a daily basis!
Till then, #StayInStaySafe!

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Ask the Hair Expert: Is my immune system the cause of my hair problems?

‘I fall sick quite often….am told my immunity is low. Is this also the reason why I seem to be having perpetual hair fall?
‘What is the connection between Alopecia and immunity?’
‘Can my body be attacking my hair from within? How is that possible?!’

Answers to some of these questions may be difficult to wrap your head or hair, around!

Immunity is a loosely used word. Every other person uses it and many times, this is with very little understanding of this remarkable system in our body.

We get asked questions around immunity, autoimmune concerns and hair loss all the time during our clinic consultations. And we take time to explain these in great detail to our patients because there is a deep relationship between the two.

With the ongoing health scare of COVID19, there is a lot of discussion around immunity. We have been getting a fair number of calls and queries coming in on these topics, on its relation to hair. Low immunity and hair loss. Autoimmune hair disorders.

We figured we will try and put some of these discussions on to this page today in the interest of our readers. So we are back, after a brief pause, with our ‘Ask the Hair Expert’ series, to give you some answers and clarity on hair disorders that are linked to your immune system.

You asked: ‘Is my immune system the cause of my hair problems? How will I know if my immunity level is affecting my hair?’

Here’s the answer from the Hair Experts.

Yes. Any imbalance in your immune system can trigger or aggravate hair disorders. 

Alopecia is an auto-immune disorder that is an example of this. And at a milder level, when you have low immunity you can fall sick often. And every such health concern gets reflected in your hair.Fevers and illnesses can cause hair loss.

Trichology offers many solutions and treatments to handle the varied disorders that are caused due to changes in your immunity level and especially for people suffering from autoimmune disorders like Alopecia. A detailed diagnosis is carried out and treated effectively on a case-to-case basis. You can get to the root of the problem and find your solution with the help of a Trichologist!

Let’s first have a quick overview of what the word ‘immunity’ means and how your hair reflects the health of your immune system in its own way!

Let’s first have a quick overview of what the word ‘immunity’ means and how your hair reflects the health of your immune system in its own way!

What is immunity?

If you look up a biology textbook you will find these definitions and explanations.

Immunity is the ability of an organism to resist a particular infection or toxin thanks to the action of specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells (WBCs). It refers to a balanced state, having adequate biological defences to fight disease or any unwanted biological invasion. It also refers to having adequate tolerance to fight allergies and autoimmune diseases.

Simply put, your immune system, which comprises certain organs and processes, attacks germs, foreign bodies, toxins and keeps you healthy. It is your defence system that looks out for you!

Understand your immune system.

Your immune system is perhaps one of the most complex systems in your body. It is made up of tissues, cells, organs such as your bone marrow, lymph nodes, thymus, spleen, your digestive system and even your skin!

White blood cells (leukocytes) produced in your bone marrow play a significant role in this system. It can kill the invading foreign bodies/germs (phagocytes) and also help the body remember this invasion… destroy them (lymphocytes)! The WBCs basically is your intelligent army that can sense foreign invaders (antigens) and get rid of them.

Antibodies, specialised proteins, are made inside you by lymphocytes and these lock on to the invading antigens. This way, when the antigen attacks again, the antibodies are ready. This is how immunisations/vaccines work. The vaccine introduces your body to a possible antigen, while not making you sick. Now when the actual antigen attacks your body at a later stage, your antibodies are ready to destroy them.

Does the immunity level change over time? How can you maintain it right?

Yes. It does. With age, there is a dip in immunity. It is why seniors are more susceptible to infections and disorders. As you age, your immune responses become reduced and this leads to susceptibility to infections. Though life expectancy has increased over time, the incidence of age-related disorders has also increased.

While some may age healthily, the likelihood of contracting infectious diseases and the body’s strong reaction to such is relatively more in aged people. Respiratory infections, pneumonia and the COVID19, which we are witnessing now, are a leading cause of death in senior citizens aged above 65.

With age, there is a decrease in immune cells, possibly due to the atrophying of thymus and producing fewer T cells to fight off infection.

Having said that, it is also important to understand that your immune system is something that can be worked upon consciously, strengthening it by consuming a balanced diet and staying active. A healthy immune system needs balanced, regular nourishment. Nutritional deficiencies are known to alter the immune system functioning.

Regular exercise can contribute to general good health and thereby a healthy immune system. In fact, exercise can contribute even more directly as it promotes good circulation. This helps the cells and various components of the immune system to move throughout the body effectively and do their job efficiently.

The immune system can remain strong/balanced with your due attention and can get weakened when you do not tend to it.

When your immunity is ‘good’ it means you remain healthy and your body is not easily susceptible to being attacked. When your immunity is ‘low’ you are more likely to fall sick. You become prone to fevers and illnesses when you have a weak immune system.

What can weaken your immune system?

Autoimmune disorders, cancer & chemotherapy, usage of steroids, congenital disorders, are some that dampen your immunity, apart from imbalanced diet/lifestyle, viral & severe infections that can consume up the WBCs faster than they are produced and certain medications that can destroy the WBCs.

Specific concerns that lower the WBC count in your body includes malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies, anaemia, HIV/AIDS, Leukemia, Lupus, Hypersplenism, Rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune disorders, Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.

With this brief on the topic, let’s move on to understand how your immune system can help with your hair’s well-being or cause hair loss.

Immune cells and your hair

Yes. Your immune system can impact hair growth, positively or negatively. There is a correlation. Healthy and active immune cells ensure hair regeneration, while defective immune cells can impair growth and trigger hair loss.

Studies in recent times have shown that the immune system has a role to play in the regeneration of hair follicles.

As you know from our previous blogs on hair anatomy and hair growth cycle, every hair in our body goes through a specific pattern, cycling between the growth phase (anagen) and rest phase (telogen).

Now among the various players in your immune system, there is a class of cells called the regulatory T cells (a.k.a Tregs). These maintain tolerance to self & foreign antigens, help prevent autoimmune diseases and limit chronic inflammatory diseases.

Tregs are mostly found in the lymph nodes, in muscle or tissues. They perform unique roles specific to the body part they are in. Studies have shown that Tregs reside much in the skin, and around hair follicles. They are a direct trigger and play an important role in the hair growth life cycle. The rate at which they cluster around the follicles influences the hair growth cycle. Studies showed that during the telogen phase, Tregs gather around the follicles, three times more than the normal rate, when it is around the telogen phase.

Tregs also promote hair growth by triggering stem cells in the skin. You cannot regenerate hair in anagen phase without these immune cells working right for you. Thus, your hair growth cycle can’t quite happen without these Tregs! In other words, if these immune cells aren’t there, then your hair simply won’t grow! Prior to these studies, it was always thought that it was the stem cells that had a hand in the hair growth cycle. It has now been established that both stem cells and immune cells have to work together, to make hair regeneration possible. So you see, there is a definite correlation between hair and immune cells.

Another interesting note… The hair follicle is an Immune Privileged site (during the anagen phase). This means that they are able to tolerate the introduction of antigens without fighting it with an inflammatory immune response. Tissue grafts and hair transplants are thus possible on the scalp, for instance, without the body rejecting it.

It may be noted here that when this privilege collapses it contributes to the pathogenesis of autoimmune hair loss disorders, including alopecia areata and lichen planopilaris.

Defective immune cells leading to hair loss

Simply put, when the immune cells don’t behave the way they are meant to, your hair will fall. Research and practise has shown that defects in regulatory T cells could be a cause of alopecia areata and may also be the contributing factor for other forms of baldness as well.

Firstly, let’s state an autoimmune disorder is. It is a condition in which your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body. Normally, your immune system clearly differentiates between the good healthy cells and harmful foreign bodies (antigens). However, if you are someone who suffers from this condition, your immune system loses its ability to differentiate and attacks the healthy cells. While some autoimmune disorders attack a particular organ or part, some affect the whole body. Now, why the immune system would misfire like this in a particular person has been and continues to be a subject of research!

The most common autoimmune hair disorder – Alopecia

The term Alopecia refers to hair loss. It is an indication of your susceptibility towards autoimmune disorders. In this case, the Hair Immunity privilege collapses and your immune cells attack the hair follicles. It also occurs when one is suffering from other autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, thyroid disorders and eczema-like skin conditions which are of similar nature.

Alopecia can be of various types. The intensity or nature of hair loss changes with each type. It can be hair loss in patches on the scalp or even complete hair loss on the scalp. There are cases when one experiences complete body hair loss. Whatever the kind, it needs medical, professional help.

Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis, Alopecia Universalis, Scarring Alopecia are some of the types of the disorder, each having specific indications, where the hair follicles are attacked and there is tremendous unpredictable hair loss.

If you have noticed hair falling off in clumps or small odd bald patches on your scalp, you are likely to be suffering from Alopecia Areata, perhaps the most common form of Alopecia observed. It is also referred to as spot baldness. It is characterised by hair loss creating distinctive bald patches.

Alopecia Areata should be distinguished from androgenetic alopecia or what is commonly known as male pattern baldness. Do read our pages on the topic for more clarity on MPT and FPT.

While it may start with small patches, the hair loss can stay patchy or lead to complete loss of scalp hair, depending on the type of Alopecia one is suffering from. While it is not a condition that makes people ‘sick’, it does cause a lot of trauma – the emotional aspect of losing hair. And the societal pressure that comes with it.

For more on this, do read our earlier blog on the topic.

The various types of alopecia are caused by varied inflammation that encompasses a group of disorders, classified based on the presence of inflammatory cells such as the lymphocytes and neutrophils. Symptoms range from pain in hair roots, burning sensation on the scalp, the formation of crusts, red blisters, smooth bald patches on scalp and pigmentation.

This apart, there are various types of autoimmune disorders like thyroid disorders (Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism) that trigger hair loss. Hypothyroidism that is not associated with autoimmunity is also known to cause hair loss! Lupus, Graves disease, psoriasis and Crohn’s disease are some of the other autoimmune conditions that affect your hair.

How can you cope with hair loss triggered by immune system concerns? How can a Trichologist help?

Most hair & scalp concerns require a careful dermatologic examination of the scalp and thorough hair analysis. All the clinical, histological and pathological observations together give a conclusive diagnosis. In some cases, as Lichen Planopilaris discussed above, a biopsy is very crucial in the diagnosis. Clearly this is something that needs the attention of a medical professional. And who knows your hair & scalp better than a Trichologist?

Once a clear diagnosis is drawn, he/she will guide you on the right line of treatment, and also help with possible solutions such as a hair transplant surgery or non-surgical hair systems or hair fertility treatment or hair thinning treatment, or a primary hair fall treatment – as your situation warrants.

This apart, here are some things you can do to help strengthen your immunity and thereby your hair! While these are general tips to better immunity and hair, your trichologist may guide you with very specific tips for your hair condition.

Basic tips to boost your immunity and thereby your hair’s health

• Eat a balanced diet high in fruits and vegetables. Get those Hair Foods in.
• Exercise regularly and stay active.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Do not crash-diet.
• Ensure you get adequate sleep.
• Follow guidelines to avoid infection, such as washing your hands frequently and cooking your meals thoroughly.
• Minimize stress.
• Avoid smoking.

These tips won’t just boost your immunity system, it will ensure great hair! When your immunity system is tipped wrong, your hair is one of the first ones to react and signal out to you. You just need to pay attention.

Thus thanks to trichology and trichologists, there is help around the corner and the solutions are many. What you need to do is to stay aware, and make that timely call when you suspect a problem.

Remember, your immune system bears a great responsibility of defending you against various factors including disease-causing microorganisms and as you have learnt today, plays a great role in your hair growth cycle! But it needs your help.

Trust we have addressed your questions on this topic well! If you wish for any further details or clarifications, you know where to reach us! Our experts are just a call away.

For more on hair & scalp concerns, and for all things ‘Hair’, do follow our blogs on hair loss, hair care, treatments and solutions and interesting hair trivia!

Connect with us on social media on the links below. Do leave your questions & comments and we will address them all, just as we have done today!

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Understand how hormones influence our hair through our lifetime

If you are a teenager and notice your hair falling, do not panic. If you are a new mom and wake up to hair on your pillow, take it easy. You are not going bald. Your hair is simply reacting to hormonal changes in your body.

A Trichologist can never stress enough on how tied up your hair is to the general state of your health. The first question any patient will be asked when he or she visits a Trichologist is pertaining to the general state of his or her health. How your body is functioning inside, every organ and gland is closely linked to your hair. Trichology and general medicine are very closely linked.

Today, let us discuss your hormones and your hair. One of the internal imbalances that often result in hair loss is a hormonal imbalance.

You may have read our blog last month on DHT – the debilitating hormone that attacks your hair. Today, we will elaborate and understand further, on how hormones at large affects hair, throughout your lifetime.

As we always recommend – understand the root cause to some of your seemingly mundane hair concerns first. Sometimes it may be a natural bodily function that you will tide over. Sometimes, it could be something that requires your intervention. When you understand your inner mechanics, you are that much more prepared to handle it right.

Hormones are an integral part of our system. And impacts multiple functions that you take for granted. Every part of your body, be it your brain, heart, kidneys or skin – each has a well-defined part to play. All of them take their direction from your endocrine system. And all of this happens through hormones. Did you know that?

Let’s delve deeper…

What are Hormones?

Hormones originate from the endocrine system. Endocrine system refers to the collection of glands that produce and control your hormones. These hormones regulate your metabolism, your growth & development, your tissue function to sexual function, the reproduction function, your sleep, and your mood, among other things!

It is often referred to as the chemical messenger system that comprises feedback loops of the hormones released by your internal glands (your thyroid gland and the adrenal glands being the most prominent), directly into the circulatory system, thereby regulating target organs across your body. Thus, hormones are your body’s chemical messengers that travel through your bloodstream and get your organs to do their work. It is thus very clear that hormones are vital for your well being!

Understand hormonal imbalance

A commonly used term which we are sure you have come across. Sometimes, these essential hormones go out of balance. And when they do, there are implications across the organs. You may gain or lose weight, get diabetes, bones may become weak and yes, you may lose hair!

And as with most situations concerning your body’s inner functioning, your hair will signal out the concern first. Hair is our body’s barometer that indicates your good health or the lack of it. Thus, if your hormones go out of balance, your hair will be the first indicator of trouble.

How do hormones affect your hair?

There are two factors that affect your hair growth cycle through your lifetime – Age & Hormones.

If you haven’t already, do read up on hair growth cycle and hair anatomy, to understand this better. As you may recall from our pages, every hair has its own growth cycle that it follows – through three phases of growth (Anagen), transition (catagen) and fall (telogen).

This hair growth cycle is greatly influenced by the hormones. Just as how the hormones travel through the bloodstream to various parts of the body, they travel to the roots of your hair, which then captures your hormone’s signal and reacts on it.

Further, there are 2 types of hormones on the basis of your gender: male or androgenic hormones, including testosterone, and female or estrogen hormones such as progesterone. These hormones play a different role in your body and particularly in the hair cycle.

During puberty when large amounts of these hormones arrive in the bloodstream, the hair strands begin to change in terms of their cycle. And these hormones change their behaviour over one’s lifetime – every time affecting your hair in a particular way.

The female hormones – estrogen – participate in the hair growth journey by slowing down growth and prolonging the anagen phase. Inversely, male or androgenic hormones accelerate the hair cycle. However when discussing hair loss and androgens, it is the result of DHT that accelerates the hair growth cycle to such an extent that the hair follicles become saturated and begin producing shorter and shorter hairs until they are worn out. You can read up on this in detail in our blog on the topic!

So now both men and women secrete hormones, but each in different quantities. Women too produce androgens but almost 20-30 times lesser than a male. This is the reason why in general women don’t go ‘bald’, except in cases of extreme hormonal disorders. In the case of women, the drop in female hormones and a spike in androgens, like during menopause, hair loss and textures changes are observed.

As one ages, there is change in the hair growth cycle, as one passes through each milestone – from being a baby, to puberty, to adulthood and old age.

In the case of women, there are a few more milestones through which hormonal changes happen – puberty, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause. There are hormonal fluctuations that happen along each of these markers – some positive, but largely negative.

For instance, during pregnancy, the woman’s body produces more female hormones and almost 90% of the hair is in the anagen phase. However postpartum, there is a significant hair loss, when the hormone levels drop back to normal levels. Hormonal changes thus have a great say on your hair.

How hormonal shifts can impact your hair

Every change in the endocrine system impacts your hair one way or another. Hormones thereby are one of those internal factors which dictate the well being of your hair.

Symptoms of hormonal changes or imbalance vary from simple fatigue to weight changes and excessive hair too. One of the primary indicators of hormonal imbalance is changes in the texture of your hair and in the worst cases, hair loss.

Let’s look at the major glands and the associated hormonal issues that can affect hair.

• Thyroid GlandThe thyroid gland is located in the neck and its main hormones are Thyroxine(T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3). Both hormones contain iodine and are produced from the amino acid tyrosine. They influence the way in which the body utilizes the food we eat. This, in turn, can influence the way we feel- lively or lazy. Under-activity of the thyroid gland or Hypothyroidism can lead to diffuse hair loss over the scalp, brittle hair and nails, a dry skin, lethargy, slowness of speech and a gain in weight.
  Diffuse hair loss, oily skin, weight loss, increased appetite, hyperactivity, excessive sweating, rapid heart action and constantly feeling too warm characterize an overproduction of thyroid hormones or Hyperthyroidism. Muscle weakness, fatigue and ‘Beady’ eyes are other symptoms.
  Hair loss is, in fact, the first tangible sign of a thyroid disorder.
• Adrenal GlandsThere are two adrenal glands, one on top of each kidney. The adrenal glands produce the hormone androgen, which is responsible for the growth of hair. In women, an increase in the production of the androgen gives rise to masculinising effects such as thinning of hair in the front/top area of the scalp, excessive facial hair and excessive oiliness and acne.
• PancreasThe hormone insulin is produced in the pancreas. This hormone is responsible for the adaptation of glucose in the blood and the control of its level. Under-production of insulin leads to a high level of sugar in the blood or Hyper-Glycemia. An overproduction of insulin would cause a decrease in blood sugar level known as Hypo-Glycemia.
  Both conditions cause diffuse hair loss. The hair becomes dull and lifeless and falls off the slightest touch. The scalp also becomes sore and sensitive to touch.

These are medical conditions that interfere with the hormone levels and lead to changes in your hair. The good thing in all this is that your hair is your helper – it being nourished by your bloodstream, will reflect any of such untoward changes. You need to keep an eye out for signs and take necessary action accordingly.

Now, let us look at the stages in life, as you age, that typically bring about hormonal shift or changes.

• PubertyThe teen years are when the hormones naturally surge – an increase in the reproductive hormones. In a male, there is an increase in testosterone and in a female, there is more production of estrogen. This is hence the phase when possible hormone-related conditions surface as well. It could be PCOS, thyroid, androgen imbalance in males and so on. Hormonal changes also lead to fluctuating emotions, diet habits and hair growth cycle. The hormone that dictates hair growth/fall, dihydrotestosterone or DHT, when not balanced, quite literally shrinks the hair follicles causing hair to fall out.
  For the boys in particular, an overabundance of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), is a common occurrence during puberty.
  The increase of hormones, in both, can also stimulate the production of oil from the sebaceous glands. This may lead to oily hair. The increase in these hormone levels also increases body hair.
  As such, hair loss in teenagers is attributed to other factors such as high stress, trichotillomania, unhealthy diet, over-styling, self-medications and infections.
• PregnancyPregnancy is a period during which there is a drastic change in one’s hormonal profile. This returns to normalcy following delivery. A similar change also occurs post-abortion, post miscarriages and also in cases where oral contraceptive pills are consumed for a very long time.
  Pregnancy leads to increases in progesterone and estrogen, that affect the hair growth cycle. These hormonal shifts prolong the growth phase of the hair growth cycle. This means lesser daily hair shedding.
  It is generally observed that one has really good thick hair during pregnancy or during the time period when they are taking oral contraceptive pills. As mentioned, this is due to the effects of the oestrogen which are really dominant during this phase. However, this acceleration of the growth cycle means that the woman will lose this hair once her hormone levels return to normal.
  In the case of hair loss during pregnancy, it is perhaps reflective of a temporary hormonal imbalance, and once this imbalance is corrected (which happens on its own), your hair growth pattern will return to normal. However, hair loss may also be reflective of more disturbing hormonal imbalances that if ignored, may affect your health.
• Post-partumThis is the period after delivery. The effect of the heightened estrogen drops post-delivery or post stopping hormonal supplements. Hair then gets into the transitional phase and moves further into the falling phase (telogen) which is the reason why one faces tremendous hair fall problems after three months post-delivery. Thus, more hair strands are in the anagen phase during pregnancy, whereas post-delivery the number of hair strands in the telogen phase is more!
  Now during postpartum not only does one lose more hair, but there is also a change in texture that is noticed in many women. Blame it on the hormones! The good news is that the problem is generally temporary and your tresses will right themselves in about 6-8 months.
  Let us also clarify that it is however not possible to set standards on how much hair a woman will lose and when like every new mom is going to react differently after delivery. This is because of various factors such as differences in nutrition, stress levels, the growth rate of hair before delivery, trigger effect by other conditions like iron levels and thyroid, PCOS, length, quality and volume of hair during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and post-pregnancy time.
  Do read our blog on the topic for more information.
• MenopauseAs you know, Menopause refers to the natural decline in reproductive hormones in a woman as she ages. Hormonal changes here again means changes to the hair ‘cos the hair growth cycle is once again affected. Menopause causes estrogen levels in the body to decrease and leads to significantly higher levels of testosterone. The higher levels of testosterone negatively affect the hair follicles. Hair thinning and breakage is very common in this phase.
  Menopausal hair loss needs to be understood clinically, studied alongside other symptoms and signs. In fact, hair fall is one of the early markers indicating this phase! Do read our blog on the effects of menopause on hair to understand this further.

Other things that throw your hormones into imbalance

• Stress
  Stress, whether mental, physical or emotional, alters the hormonal balance in your body. When you are stressed, there is an increase in the adrenaline and cortisol levels. This disrupts the hair’s growth cycle, leading to prolonged periods of the falling phase. Stress hormones are also known to suppress the estrogen levels, and on the other hand aggravates the DHT, which leads to hair thinning or hair loss. Studies have also shown that stress affects the absorption of B vitamins needed for pigmentation – leading to greying of hair.
• PCOD
  Polycystic Ovarian Disorder is a hormonal disorder, caused by the same hormones that drive you to a condition called Androgenetic Alopecia; in simple terms, female pattern hair loss.
  Among the many medical concerns it triggers, it also leads to overproduction of male hormones (alias) androgens and excess sebum production on your scalp. Testosterone, the male hormone (androgen), is high in volume in a woman with PCOS – High levels of testosterone get replicated as Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This basically results in FPHL (Female Pattern Hair Loss) – includes hair fall, receding line, bald patches, etc. Do read our blog on the topic for further details.
• Blood Sugar Levels
  Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that helps your body use the sugars/glucose from the food that you eat, as energy. Its imbalance can lead to a variety of problems, including hair loss. Insulin basically regulates the blood sugar levels, which in turn affects the fat storage and hormonal balance. This is something that impacts your hair because the fat stores secret estrogen in the body and can desensitise hormone signals.
  When you are diabetic, the pancreas does not produce insulin or produces very little, or your body is not using insulin as effectively as it should be. This causes an increase in blood glucose levels. Over a period of time, such high blood glucose level leads to problems concerning your heart, blood vessels, kidneys, nerves, etc. The condition tends to weaken the body’s immune system on the whole too. And in all this, your hair’s growth cycle obviously goes for a toss. Telogen Effluvium is very commonly seen in diabetics. This is triggered by the irregularity of the hair growth cycle.

Hair and hormones are very closely linked. You would have got a fair understanding of this by now. Hormone-related hair loss is also a genetic syndrome and affects a good deal of the population. Androgenetic Alopecia is often discussed in this light.

What are the common symptoms noticeable in hair?
The symptoms may overlap with other hair concerns – hence needs clinical correlation and proper diagnosis by a trichologist. We will list some absolutely basic symptoms that you should not take lightly.

• Dry, brittle hair
• Hair thinning
• Oily scalp
• Premature greying
• Diffuse hair loss
• Decreased hair volume
• Stunted hair growth
• Change of texture and discolouration of scalp

Hormone-related hair problems are treatable and reversible in most cases unless there are other underlying health issues. In many instances, other things being constant, the issue self-corrects itself as the hormone levels go back to normalcy – as with pregnancy/postpartum hair loss. In certain cases, you will need to address the underlying medical condition – like addressing your thyroid disorder.

When the hormonal balance is restored – your hair can be restored too. If you, however, feel that there is a serious concern on hand, especially in light of what we have discussed today, you might want to consult a Trichologist, who will scientifically identify what is wrong, diagnose and treat it right. There are also advanced tests that study your overall health condition using your hair’s health as an indicator. Do seek professional advice.

A periodical check-up with a Trichologist once every 6 months can help you ensure healthy hair always and to identify any possible signs of trouble on the horizon!

For more hair care tips, advice on natural ways to gain healthy thick hair and DIY tricks to tackle issues such as split ends, and other such common concerns, do follow our Hair Care blogs.

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