Some people experience hair loss from a ketogenic diet. Learn why this can happen and how to avoid hair loss when adopting a new diet.
A ketogenic or “keto” diet is all the rage with multitudes of celebrities and actors hopping on the low carb bandwagon.
But, is it possible that this diet that amplifies fat intake while reducing carbohydrate consumption can lead to hair loss for some?
Below, we will cover why it may be possible that your keto diet is causing your hair loss, how to help structure your keto diet to avoid hair concerns, and how to help treat any losses that have already happened.
There are a few reasons why a ketogenic diet may cause hair loss for some people. And, to figure out what might be going on with you, you will need to critically analyze a few variables of your regimen including protein intake, calorie consumption, vitamin levels, and just how fast you are losing weight.
Even if before trying keto you were getting plenty of protein in, this may have changed when your diet adjusted. A ketogenic diet relies on high levels of fat while nixing the carbs, and keeping moderate amounts of protein. Since you may not be used to eating this level of fat, you may feel fuller faster and not end up getting that protein in after all.
And, since the hair is built of mostly proteins, having a deficiency of these means that your hair growth may slow or you will have shedding.
The reliance on high-fat foods is great for making sure that you feel full. But, as you are adjusting to the keto diet, you may feel so full with all these new additions of (hopefully healthy) fats, that you are actually not eating enough calories for your body to run.
When your body is faced with a caloric deficiency, it may start making cuts to non-vital activities like putting energy (calories) into hair growth and production, cause hair changes including more losses or slowed growth.
You may be sticking to only ketogenic foods, but if you are not getting all of your recommended vitamins and minerals daily, your hair (and skin and nails) may suffer.
Be sure to still eat healthy while following a keto diet by including the vegetables that you can eat on a daily basis. Just because you are following keto does not mean that you get to skip your greens!
If you are struggling with getting a variety of vegetables into your ketogenic diet, at least make sure to be diligent about taking a high-quality multivitamin each day to make sure your body is getting what it needs to function (and produce healthy hair).
You want to take it easy when you are on a ketogenic diet as far as your weight loss rates go.
Try to stick to 2 pounds or less lost per week, as any faster than that can be harsh on your body and make it feel like it needs to make cuts to non-essential processes like hair growth.
The best way to help prevent hair loss when you are on a ketogenic diet is to avoid all of the pitfalls listed above.
Use a calorie, macro, and nutrient tracking app to make sure you are getting enough protein, calories, and vital nutrients daily to keep your body and hair healthy.
Also, don’t go too hard on the diet and try to keep your weight loss to less than 2 pounds a week.
If you are suspicious that your hair loss is stemming from your ketogenic diet, take the time to examine the components of your diet critically -- is there enough protein, calories, and nutrients?
If not, revamp your diet to make sure your body stays healthy and gets everything it needs while you are losing weight.
Aside from adjusting your diet to be more balanced, you may want to add in a hair, skin, and nail vitamin, try over-the-counter Minoxidil (Rogaine) or speak with a doctor about utilizing prescription hair loss medications to get your hair back on track.
Sudden hair loss can stem from an unbalanced or deficient diet, but it may also be a sign that something else is going on in your body.
You should speak with your doctor about sudden changes in your hair, even if you think it may be diet-related. It is also a good idea to run any drastic changes in diet by your primary doctor to see if they have any insight or reasons why it may not be a good idea for you.
If you do have concerns about your hair, you can have a free online questionnaire and image-based consultation with our U.S. licensed doctors today.
At Strut Health, we carry a range of prescription hair loss medications for men and women including Finasteride, Dutasteride, Spironolactone, and Minoxidil combinations. If you prefer a topical medication or a capsule medication, we carry both options.
If you are a good candidate for treatment, your prescription medication can be shipped to your front door with our free shipping.
We offer free unlimited follow-ups so that we can help you get your hair back on track.
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