Hair Care during Diabetes by Dr. Apoorva Shah, founder of Richfeel- PR INFO

                   Diabetes is the curse of the modern society. The bitter truth of living in the jet age is that stress, sedentary lifestyle and fast food has led to a boom in the occurrence of diabetes. According to the recently published findings of the International Diabetes Federation in 2007, the country with the largest number of people with diabetes is India (40.9 million). The WHO has cautioned that India is all set to become the diabetes capital of the world by 2050. Thus with our mega-size life styles with underused gym memberships and high-calorie/high-fat diets, diabetes is on the rise, striking people at younger and younger ages

                   Diabetes has many ill effects on the sufferer’s body. People with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes are at a much higher risk than the rest of the general population for damage to the eyes, kidney, nerves, heart and blood vessels. Another less known consequence of diabetes is hair loss.

                  There are many reasons that explain the inter-relation of diabetes and hair loss.

1. Diabetes negatively affects the body’s circulatory system. This means that less amount of nutrients and oxygen reach the upper and the lower extremities of the body i.e. the feet and the scalp areas. If diabetes is causing poor blood circulation to the scalp, the hair follicles will die resulting in hair loss. Furthermore, this poor circulation may result in the prevention of further hair growth. So not only is diabetes causing the loss of your current hair, it is also preventing the growth of new hair.

2. Diabetes brings about hormonal imbalance in a patient’s body. These hormonal changes may be manifested through hair loss. This also explains the reasons behind hair loss in pregnancy and menopause.

3. Diabetes is associated with high levels of stress. And stress has long been reputed to be the main culprit behind hair loss. So if modern day hurry and worry plague you, hair fall is certain.

4. Drugs that are used treat diabetes may also lead to hair loss. If you feel that particular regimens are causing distressful hair loss, then consult your doctor to get your prescription modified.

5. Diabetes may weaken the immune system, making it susceptible to other diseases. This weakened immunity may lead to scalp conditions like ringworm or other fungal diseases which in turn may cause hair fall.

6. Autoimmune diseases such as skin rashes and thyroid dysfunctions can be part and parcel of suffering from diabetes and these diseases are known to cause massive hair loss.


7. Diabetes may lead to high levels of oxidative stress. The unstable free radicals generated in the body due to diabetes may also lead to considerable hair loss.


                   Another important factor is that the healing and rejuvenation time in diabetics is comparatively slower than in normal individuals. This leads to significant hair reduction, as diabetics cannot maintain the average cycle of re-growth.


                    Hair loss during diabetes is sometimes attributed to Telogen effluvium. All hair has a growth phase, termed anagen, and a resting phase, namely telogen. In normal people, 5-15% of the hair on the scalp is in telogen at any given time. Telogen effluvium is a condition triggered when a physiologic stress or hormonal change like diabetes causes a large number of hairs to enter telogen at one time leading to diffuse hair shedding.


                    So, hold it right there. Step away from the food and drop the remote control. As hard as it may be in moments of weakness to police yourself, you must try because a warm seat on the couch and too many empty calories could lead to uncontrolled diabetes and consequently hair loss.

                    So resist the urge to just curl up on your couch in front of the television with a bag of chips and get set on the goal of diabetes control if you want to preserve your lustrous locks.

                    If you notice unwarranted hair loss, it is very important that you seek immediate medical assistance. Since hair loss can cause untold trauma, lack of self esteem, and social anxiety, it is also advisable to visit a Trichologist and take expert advice.

Written by Dr. Apoorva Shah, Founder, Richfeel Trichology.