Many people are familiar with the classic symptoms of diabetes: excessive thirst, frequent trips to the bathroom and fatigue. However, fewer people are familiar with diabetic hair loss and thinning, another common symptom of diabetes. For diabetics, dealing with hair loss can be embarrassing and frustrating; however, hair loss may be reduced or prevented by addressing its causes.
Often, the culprit behind diabetic hair loss is poor blood circulation, an effect of diabetes. Hair growth follows a natural cycle; new strands of hair form in the follicle, pushing out the old strands when they die. Poor blood circulation can prevent new hair from forming in the follicle, leaving nothing to replace the old hair when it falls out and leading to thinning of the hair.
Diabetics also have a harder time recovering from bruises and skin conditions. When small cuts or infections occur on the scalp, they can disrupt normal hair growth, causing thinner than normal hair or hair loss.
Other causes of hair loss in diabetics may be the medication the patient is taking to manage the disease itself, or the stress caused by the disease. Coping with diabetes can be difficult, and anxiety is a key factor in hair loss for anyone, not just diabetics.
Medical Approaches to Preventing Hair Loss
Patients who notice their hair is falling out or thinning should talk to their doctors. Often the first step to preventing hair loss is to control the diabetes itself. Managing one’s blood glucose levels can eliminate many of the effects of diabetes, including hair loss. If the prescribed medication is causing the problem, then the patient’s doctor may advise switching the medicine or changing the dosage. And, frequently, the problem ceases on its own as the body adjusts to the medication. Doctors may advise patients to wait several months after starting a new medication to allow the body to get used to the treatment. In the interim, patients may wish to alter their hairstyles or wear a wig to cover up areas of thinning hair.
Other Options for Remedying Diabetic Hair Loss
Other methods of addressing diabetic hair loss include getting more exercise and eating properly. Exercise improves blood circulation, a potential cause of hair loss. In addition, exercise and proper nutrition can help to bring a patient’s blood glucose level within a healthy range, which may help to alleviate hair loss in people with diabetes. Diabetics suffering from hair loss also may wish to engage in activities that reduce stress, such as meditation or yoga. People with diabetes should talk to their doctors about ways to reduce anxiety, so that they have the best possible chance of restoring normal, healthy hair growth.
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