Following bariatric surgery, you’re losing weight and can’t get enough of the way your new body looks. You’re recovering well and your doctor says everything looks normal. In short, your experience has been nothing short of amazing.
One day, you take a shower and notice a few more strands of hair on the shower floor – a little abnormal – nothing worrisome. A few days later you go to brush your hair and notice a large clump lodged in the bristles and think, “maybe something is a little bit off.”
It may be alarming, but losing your hair post bariatric surgery is absolutely normal and there are steps you can take to ensure a healthy head of hair going forward.
So why do you lose hair after weight loss surgery?
Hair is not an essential priority for your body’s survival. According to the Obesity Action Coalition, your body will choose to provide nutrients to vital organs like your brain and heart, neglecting your hair. As you’re maybe aware, surgery can be rather hard and shocking to your body. This shock can lead your body, as mentioned, to provide less nutrients to less essential parts and your hair could be a part of that process.
According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, telogen effluvium is the most common reason for hair loss post surgery. Telogen is part of your body’s natural process where at any point 10 percent of the hair follicles are in a dormant or resting phase. Following a surgery that throws your body into a state of shock, telogen effluvium can occur where about 70 percent of your hair follicles go into this dormant state. Following the telogen stage, the hair falls out.
While losing hair post surgery is mostly unavoidable, it’s not permanent as your hair follicles are not damaged during the telogen state. Your natural hair will regrow following this stage.
So what can “I” do?
Optimal nutritional intake is one of the best ways to ensure you grow back a healthy head of hair. Optimal levels of Iron, Zinc and Protein are essential in the process of growing and maintaining hair and can be absorbed through supplements and proper food choices.
According to Healthline, levels of iron in the body are a direct contributor to hair growth and loss. A lack of iron in the system can cause your body to not produce enough hemoglobin in your blood. Hemoglobin supplies oxygen for the growth and repair of hair cells in the body that stimulate growth.
Zinc is important in the processes of hair tissue growth and repair and is essential in keeping the oil glands around hair follicles working correctly. According to a Dr. Axe article, Zinc “is an essential co-factor for multiple enzymes and is involved with important functional activities in the hair follicle.” The article says Zinc oral zinc compounds have been used for years for treating disorders like telogen effluvium.
According to Healthline, hair is made up almost entirely of protein. Keratin is the protein responsible for making up hair, nails and human skin. Ensuring you eat enough protein is an essential factor in proper hair health and a lack of protein in the diet has been shown to promote hair loss.
Biotin is a powerful supplement to assist in hair restoration as well. Vita4Life Vitamins, particularly the Hair, Skin and Nail Supplement containing biotin, provide the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs to help regrow a healthy head of hair following hair loss from bariatric surgery. Make Vita4Life Vitamins and the Hair, Skin and Nail Supplement a part of your daily vitamin regimen today and get back to enjoying that full head of hair you love!