The Truth About Alcohol and Hair Loss
When it comes to having a good time or simply coping with the stress of everyday life, few things have dominated world cultures quite as much as alcohol. For some, a large glass of wine can be relaxing, a mug of beer can help to shift social anxiety, as a cold cider brings refreshing relief from an intense sun. Lately, however, one of the most prominent topics in the news, on social media, and in health literature is the purported connection between drinking alcohol and hair loss. For some, the connection is a clear and self-proving statement as they watch hair thin further still after a drunken evening. But is it really true? So many human beings include the use of alcoholic beverages in their “me” time, their celebration time, even their worrying-anxiety time that in certain circumstances the thought of quitting is beyond possibility. Unraveling the truth behind alcohol consumption and hair loss is, therefore, a thorny issue full of human bias and immediate assumptions. And, despite dramatic public fear about the feared relationship between hair loss and brandy, there is no definitive evidence showing that alcoholic drinks with moderate to normal use do lead to hair loss on their own.
On the contrary, what is well understood and established is that alcohol leads to the lack of essential nutrients. Drinking excessive beer, when mostly malt, would prevent the body from waiting for as soon as minerals and vitamins are required. The flaking hair that is popular in autoimmune illnesses such as alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, and alopecia universal is a vital ingredient from food-like protein to build new cells in the body. A few instances of missing nutrient-related hair loss to alcoholic beverages, however, not drinking moderation.
The Impact of Excessive Alcohol Consumption on Key Nutrients
This is a topic that is close to many people’s hearts, or rather their hair! However, it’s vital to approach it with scientific scrutiny. Mentioning alcohol in the context of “beer goggles” is usually the remit of comedy panels and sitcoms, but we hope we can set the record straight here. Now, alcohol can be pretty damaging but, on a micro level, it doesn’t have the capacity to do enough damage to directly affect hair growth.
If you are inquiring about the association between excessive alcohol consumption and hair loss, it may be more productive to focus on key nutrients and trace elements that are greatly important for overall good health. The status of these nutrients can sometimes be affected as a result of more extreme alcohol consumption and can sometimes indicate an unbalanced and unhealthy diet that could make the body respond with marked diffuse alopecia (trust me, we see loads of it!). Irrespective of the cause, though, upping your intake of these elements is imperative for supporting thick, healthy hair. I can’t talk about the impact of excessive alcohol consumption without discussing the effect it has on vitamin and mineral status. Our bodies need good nourishment in terms of key macronutrients and vitamins to grow well and, while small amounts of alcohol can be a part of most normal diets, excessive consumption of alcohol can damage our chances of getting all the vitamins and minerals needed to help maintain hair growth and normal good health. Vitamins and minerals are essential for the processes in the body that help nourish hair, and while these important nutrients are found in many foods, such as a wide variety of meats, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains, alcohol can sometimes take the place of where these foods should be, leading to nutritional deficiencies.
How Alcohol Impacts Hair Growth
Alcohol consumption affects many of the body systems, and it can take a toll on things like your liver and kidney when they are chronically exposed to high levels of alcohol. Another body part and bodily system that doesn’t like alcohol intake are the hair follicles. With the follicles being critical in the process of hair growth, it is no surprise that alcohol and hair loss have a connection. In this article, we will discuss how alcohol can affect the hair growth process amongst other bodily systems.
There are three main things that can be affected by alcohol and hair loss as a result. First, alcohol can affect the process that the hair follows as it grows through life. Each individual hair grows through four stages: growing, transitioning, resting, and shedding. Alcohol is capable of getting a majority of your hair into the shedding stage, so it falls out. Second, alcohol affects blood sugar. Inhibiting insulin production results from a lack of blood sugar. The third phase, excessive alcohol intake will dehydrate the body, which includes the scalp and hair—dehydration is a factor in hair loss. In extreme cases, too much alcohol could also cause nutritional deficiencies which could trigger hair loss. If you are concerned about hair loss, it’s best to seek a doctor’s advice.
The Connection Between Alcohol and Hair Loss
Does drinking alcohol cause hair loss? Here’s the truth. Hair loss can occur due to numerous factors, from genetics and aging to illness and certain medications. Is alcohol included in that list? The short answer is yes.
In extreme cases, consuming alcohol has been shown to cause hair loss. Alopecia, also known as hair loss, is a side effect of numerous health and wellness problems. A number of studies have linked alcohol to a variety of forms of hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia, also known as male and female pattern hair loss, is the most prevalent form of hair loss. Alcohol-related alopecia is essentially just androgenetic alopecia with an alcohol twist since it has at least a partial root cause.
A Swedish study published in 2002 linked heavy alcohol use with male pattern hair loss. Several other forms of alopecia are also related to alcohol intake. Alopecia areata is characterized by distinct bald patches on the scalp, body hair, or both. Chronic telogen effluvium and diffuse alopecia are two other types of hair loss caused by alcohol overconsumption.
Based on studies, researchers believe that an alcohol-related vitamin B and protein deficiency is to blame. In Scotland, heavy drinking is linked to telogen effluvium, a form of hair loss characterized by powerful waves of shedding six to 12 weeks after experiencing physical or mental stress that lasts for at least half a year continuously. Additionally, one 1968 study connected hair loss with long-term alcohol consumption due to alcohol’s overproduction of aldehyde and the body’s need for the vitamin that it utilizes to metabolize.
Hair Growth Recovery after Quitting Alcohol
Recovering hair growth after quitting drinking alcohol is one common concern of people inquiring about alcohol and hair loss association. While there is actually no guaranteed answer to whether hair growth may be restored after quitting alcohol, the human body has an exceptional power for recovery. The body has the innate ability to repair and recuperate itself, which has been proven more than once. There are many examples of how cells and organs can rejuvenate, and regeneration of liver and skin tissues is quite common. These exemplify the body’s remarkable capacities of self-repair and renewal. The importance of the daily diet during the recovery process should not be overlooked. The body requires time and energy to repair, rejuvenate, and heal, which is why a comprehensive diet might be quite beneficial during the renovation of hair growth after quitting alcohol.
There is a chance that the body might begin to recover hair follicles once alcohol has been cast aside. In fact, hair regrowth after stopping drinking alcohol is possible. One typical renewal phase of hair growth is said to last around two months on average. In this time, new follicles may grow, initially little and as straight and light-colored hair. These hairs then thicken and darken over time. The new hair may start to combine in thicker groups and cover with present hair over numerous more months. By the end of the first year, hair will then take on a more authentic feel and look, and by the end of the second year, it is quite difficult to recognize which hair was new. It is important to note that the process may be unique to every person.
Additional Remedies for Hair Restoration
Additional Remedies
As we already reported in our previous articles, giving up alcohol is not the only answer to getting healthy hair. In addition to quitting alcohol, doctors advise adding other lifestyle changes that ensure the restoration of hair loss.
The following is some advice from nutritionists and physicians for restoring hair after giving up alcohol:
– A diet low in sugar and starch, to minimize cravings.
– Eating plenty of protein and healthy fat, to keep cravings suppressed, energy levels up, and your muscles strong.
– Apple cider vinegar diluted in water to help the body push out toxins.
– Amino acids, antioxidants, and omega-3, to promote hair growth and maintain texture. The best sources for this are protein (found in meat, fish, poultry, eggs, beans, and nuts), vitamins C and E (found in red and green vegetables), antioxidants (found in blueberries, nuts, and red onions), and omega-3 fatty acids (found in red meat, walnuts, olives, and olive oil).
While drinking alcohol every day and in high amounts can lead to many hair-related problems, including thinning and hair loss, sudden and severe hair loss can also be a sign of an alcohol problem. It’s important to talk to a professional and seek treatment in addition to making the lifestyle changes listed above to allow the hair to come back as it should.
FAQs About Hair Loss
- “Is it common for hair loss to be associated with alcoholism or heavy drinking?”
The relationship is complicated. A broad range of medical, biochemical, and nutritional changes can occur in the body of a heavy drinker, and there may be multiple causes of hair loss in such a person. For instance, the substantial hormonal changes in both genders can generate hair shedding.
- “I read that zinc deficiency is associated with hair loss, and now I understand that malnutrition or excessive polyphenols could contribute to nutritional deficiencies. Can you discuss this further, along with how these deficiencies could cause hair loss?”
There are many different malnutrition-related types of hair shedding, as well as balding. “Nutritional deficiencies from under-eating (anorexia) or not eating properly affect the supply of energy for hair production (e.g., eating too little food, zinc deficiency), the building blocks used to make new hairs (amino acid L-lysine), the micronutrients needed to metabolize energy and amino acids (iron), supporting the immune self-defense system, as well as giving rise to other biological defense system-lowering effects, by reducing the build-up of cells (folate and vitamin B-12), slowing the growth of skin, and contributing to inflammation (Z scores for erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hemoglobin)”. In one year, normal hair loss rates of shedding while washing the hair can range from a low of 20% all the way up to over 60% of the hairs if the scalp energy stress is massive. It may be worthwhile to have your doctor or dermatologist exclude repeat episodes of sudden malnutrition-related hair shedding and balding occurring more than once or twice per year. I am certainly eager to talk more about this if it is of concern.
“It can lead to anemia, which can cause diffuse shedding,” according to the Mayo Clinic. The American Academy of Dermatology has a gift for hair loss totally unrelated to hormonal patterned balding or shedding from hormonal excesses or insensitivity. This can lead to overall thinning if severe. The symptoms generally take six months after changes in diet to occur. Flowy hair, loosely styled, can make hair look even thinner.
Conclusion
Although it is a widely believed theory that alcohol leads to hair loss, it is clear after dissecting the facts of the matter that there is no rock-solid evidence to solidify that. Although it does contribute to other health problems and deficiencies, stopping a regular drinking habit is unlikely to reignite hair growth. It’s safe to say that discussing hair loss is almost as painful as experiencing it yourself. The good news is that if you are worried about alcohol-related hair loss, the problem could actually lie in your lifestyle, and the effects are reversible. Water down your drinks, choose low-calorie mixers and cut back on the hangover food to keep your tresses in check.
We’ve looked at the root causes (pun intended) of hair follicle damage and what we can do to improve the look, quality and quantity of hair in our book, including a thorough look at how alcohol affects our physical appearance including hair. Even though hair loss is not directly related to drinking alcohol, it is likely that either low quality fuel or low quality maintenance results will have the most impact on damage. Taking the time to look after yourself is the best way to keep yourself feeling at your best inside and out, whatever the future of your hair holds.