Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow? Let’s Talk Hair Loss in Autoimmune Diseases 🌿

Welcome back to Simple Health! 👋

Ever feel like you’re leaving a little too much hair behind on every pillow, comb, and shower drain? You’re not alone!

Today, we’re teasing out the mystery of hair loss with autoimmune diseases. Why does it feel like our hair’s trying to ghost us? 👻 And is there a way to convince it to stay?

Let’s get to the root of why autoimmune diseases make our hair fall like October leaves! 🍂

1. Hair Loss 101: Types of Hair Loss
Before we dive into autoimmune causes, let’s look at the most common types of hair loss in the general population—each has its own unique way of affecting the hair.

• Telogen Effluvium (TE) 💁‍♀️: Meet the drama queen 👑 of hair loss. This type loves to cause diffuse shedding. It can occur when the body’s stressed (through surgery, illness, or, you know, life). Telogen Effluvium makes hair follicles say, “You know what, we’re going on break!” This results in noticeable shedding that can often show up a few months after the stressful incident.

• Alopecia Areata (AA) 🎭: Alopecia Areata likes to keep you guessing by causing round patches of hair loss, often suddenly. This one’s autoimmune (your immune system’s having an identity crisis and attacking your own follicles). AA can come and go or sometimes stick around like an uninvited guest. 🏠

• Androgenetic Alopecia 👴👵: Also known as male or female pattern baldness, androgenetic alopecia follows a predictable thinning pattern, usually around the temples or crown. Androgenetic alopecia often runs in the family.

Interestingly, different hair loss patterns can co-exist. For example, androgenetic alopecia can overlap with telogen effluvium or alopecia areata, especially in individuals with autoimmune diseases, leading to a combination of diffuse thinning and patchy hair loss. This overlapping of patterns makes diagnosing and treating hair loss more complex. 🧬

• 2. Types of Hair Loss Common with Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma bring their own unique set of hair struggles. Here are the main players:

• Alopecia Areata (AA) 🎭: Back for a sequel! 🎬 Alopecia Areata is one of the most common types of hair loss seen in autoimmune diseases. Your immune system targets hair follicles, causing little bald patches that seem to have their own minds. Sometimes, AA decides to go bigger and affects eyelashes, brows, and even body hair. A true overachiever. 🤦‍♀️

• Telogen Effluvium (TE) 💁‍♀️: The “stress shedder” is here too! TE often joins autoimmune conditions because of the body’s physical stress. Chronic illness keeps your system on high alert 🚨, making hair follicles call it quits faster. This often results in thinning all over the scalp, like your hair’s just had enough of everything. 😓

• Scarring Alopecia (Cicatricial Alopecia) 🛑: The tough one 💪. Often linked to certain types of lupus, scarring alopecia means inflammation damages the follicles permanently, replacing them with scar tissue.

• Lupus-Specific Hair Loss 🦸‍♀️: Lupus can bring its own unique brand of hair loss: overall thinning and fragile hair that snaps, especially along the front hairline (often called “lupus hair”). It’s like a constant “bad hair day” thanks to inflammation. 😬

• Diffuse Hair Loss from Medications 💊: Some autoimmune meds, like methotrexate, can lead to diffuse hair loss. This often looks like Telogen Effluvium, but don’t worry—it usually improves once the medication is adjusted. Whew! 🙌

3. Nutritional Deficiencies: A Hairy Situation 🍽️

Living with an autoimmune disease can sometimes mean your body is picking its battles, hoarding nutrients where it thinks they’re needed most and leaving your hair out in the cold. 🥶 Here’s a breakdown of the nutrients that hair loves and why they’re especially important for folks with autoimmune conditions:

• Iron: The Oxygen Superstar 💨
  Iron is like the VIP transport service for oxygen 🚌, delivering it all over your body—including to your hair follicles. When iron’s low, follicles struggle to grow, and next thing you know, hair’s hitting the road. 🛣️ This is especially true with autoimmune diseases, as chronic inflammation loves to burn through iron stores.

  • Why It’s Depleted: Autoimmune diseases often lead to “anemia of chronic disease”. Your body starts hoarding iron to keep it away from bacteria and viruses, leaving hair a little short-changed. 😕

  • How to Replenish: Boost iron with red meat, leafy greens, beans, and lentils. Iron supplements also help, but chat with your doc first—too much iron can lead to more problems. ⚖️

• Vitamin D: The Hair Cycle Helper 🌞
  Vitamin D is your hair’s personal trainer, helping it stay in the growth phase 💪. When vitamin D is low, hair follicles can shift into “shed mode” faster. Studies show low vitamin D is common in people with autoimmune diseases, so your hair may need an extra boost!

  • Why It’s Depleted: Often people with autoimmune diseases are extra sensitive to the sun, thus being unable to get enough sunlight. Low vitamin D levels might even contribute to those frustrating disease flare-ups. 🌀

  • How to Replenish: Try vitamin D-rich foods like salmon, eggs, and fortified cereals. Supplements help too, but don’t go wild—too much vitamin D can cause toxicity. ☠️

• Zinc: The Growth Enabler 🔧
  Zinc is like the construction worker of hair growth, essential for building and maintaining healthy hair follicles. When levels are low, hair gets weak and ready to break. 😩

  • Why It’s Depleted: Autoimmune diseases and inflammation mess with how the body absorbs zinc, leaving hair feeling a bit neglected.

  • How to Replenish: Foods like shellfish, beef, pumpkin seeds, and chickpeas are high in zinc. You can also supplement, but watch out—too much zinc can throw other nutrients out of whack. It’s a balancing act! 🎪

• Essential Fatty Acids: Omega-3 and Omega-6 🐟
  Essential fatty acids are the bodyguards of hair health. They help fight inflammation and keep hair thick and shiny. Without enough, hair can get dry, dull, and brittle—no thanks!

  • Why They’re Depleted: If you’re not eating enough fatty fish, nuts, or seeds, your levels might be low. Autoimmune diseases can also ramp up inflammation, using up those omega-3s faster than you can say “fish oil.” 🐠

  • How to Replenish: Go for fatty fish (like salmon and sardines), walnuts, flaxseeds, and chia seeds. Omega-3 supplements, like fish oil, can also help if your diet falls short. ✌️

Bonus Recommendation: Looking for an extra boost to support hair health? I recommend Nutrafol, a supplement designed to support hair growth. Specifically, I suggest their vegan formulation, as the original formula contains excess biotin, which can sometimes interfere with lab results.

Link to the product ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/Nutrafol-Supplement-Plant-Based-Lifestyles-Dermatologist-Recommended/dp/B0B61TZ676

Please note, this isn’t a sponsored recommendation—I genuinely think it’s a solid option for healthy hair support! 🌿

Now that we’ve cracked the mystery of why hair loss happens with autoimmune diseases, it’s time for action! 💥 In our next edition, we’ll dive into ways to tackle hair loss, from laser therapy (yes, lasers! 🔫) to scalp care tricks that’ll help keep your hair right where it belongs. Don’t miss Part 2—The Return of the Locks!

Next: Your Action Step

Here’s the thing—I can provide the knowledge, but you’re the one in control. Think of me as your coach, but you’re the one running the laps! 🏃‍♀️💨

So, what’s one change you’ll make this week to support your health? Shoot me an email and let me know—I’d love to hear from you!

 Until next week, keep those spirits high and that inflammation low!

Cheers,

Iqra Aftab, MD

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