What Causes Hair Loss & How Dietitians Can Help

Reframing Hair as Health Data

You notice more hair in the shower, your edges feel thinner & your scalp is flaking more than usual.

Its common to think that hair styling, products or genetics is the underlying cause. But what if your hair is actually reflecting what’s happening inside your body?

At the first sight of hair thinning, you might consider taking a hair supplement. However, the root cause of your hair loss, could go beyond the need for a well marketed, expensive hair supplement.

Hair and scalp changes can be early signs of nutrition deficiencies, inflammation, and metabolic shifts. 

These underlying causes are exactly the type of patterns health professionals are trained to identify. As Registered Dietitians, we not only take an in depth assessment of your food and lifestyle patterns, we also perform a physical exam. This consists of evaluating changes in:

• Skin

• Hair

• Nails

• Fat/muscle stores

We use these evaluations, paired with nutrition and lifestyle patterns to help identify potential triggers; along with a interdisciplinary medical team.

Common Hair & Scalp Changes (What to Look For)

Hair Shedding or Thinning

Possible contributors:

• Low protein intake

• Iron deficiency

• Rapid weight loss or chronic undereating

Sudden changes in nourishment to the hair follicle, can cause the hair to fall out in significants amounts during the next hair cycle.

Dry, Brittle, or Breaking Hair

Possible contributors:

• Protein insufficiency

• Essential fatty acid imbalance

• Certain vitamin deficiencies (B vitamins)

Access to consistent & adequate nutrients throughout the hair growing cycle (which occurs over months) is necessary for strong hair strands.

Flaky, Itchy, or Inflamed Scalp

Possible contributors:

• Inflammation

• Gut-skin connection

• Micronutrient imbalances (zinc, B vitamins)

The scalp layer is a carefully balanced ecosystem of fatty acids, water, nutrients, beneficial bacteria, and more; all working in harmony to protect the scalp environment and support healthy hair growth.

Oily Scalp, Acne or Hair Growth Changes

This is where metabolism and hormones come into play. Diabetes, menopause and PCOS can all have metabolic impacts that cause changes in insulin sensitivity and nutrient delivery to cells.

What is Insulin Resistance?

Insulin resistance is essentially when the body has to work harder to manage blood sugar.

When there is excess insulin in the blood, there tends to be a higher amount of androgens, like testosterone - which can be harmful to the hair follicle overtime.

Visible effects:

• Hair thinning (especially crown/temples)

• Excess facial/body hair

• Acne, oily scalp

These physical manifestations are often present in people living with PCOS, pre-diabetes and diabetes.

How a Registered Dietitian Help

When you bring these changes up in your sessions, here’s what a RDN might pay attention to:

• Hair density and distribution

• Texture changes

• Scalp condition

• Signs of nutrient deficiencies elsewhere (skin, nails, fatigue)

We do not diagnose dermatologic conditions, but we can notice patterns and make nutrition recommendations, while providing referrals to other clinicians in the treatment team like dermatologists and endocrinologists.

How to Advocate for Yourself

Talking about hair loss can be hard. Preparing ahead of time for the conversations with your providers can help calm your nerves and help you clearly articulate symptoms.

What to Track:

• When did the change start?

• Any diet changes?

• Stress levels

• Weight changes

• Menstrual cycle changes

What to Say:

• “I’ve noticed changes in my hair and scalp and I’m wondering if nutrition or hormones could be playing a role."

• “Can we look at labs related to iron, blood sugar, or nutrient status?”

When Not to Ignore It

I think its safe to say, never ignore hair loss. Many types of hair loss are progressive, meaning that they only get worse over time. It is recommended to see a dermatologist or doctor as soon as possible after noticing symptoms of hair & scalp changes.

Reclaiming Hair as a Health Signal

Your hair is not merely cosmetic. When we pay attention to the signals, we can gather useful clues as to what is happening in our bodies.

So, before your reach for those hair, skin and nail supplements - consider other underlying causes and reach out to a healthcare provider.

At Feeding the Root Nutrition, our team of Registered Dietitians provided personalized, evidence-based nutrition support with a focus on diabetes. We honor cultural food traditions while offering practical strategies to manage blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, so you can enjoy food that nourishes both body and soul. 

Connect with us to learn more about our insurance-based services and how we can support your health journey.