On Hair Basics

Before looking into the possible links between hair loss and diabetes, let us first examine and understand both their basics. Human head hair may seem to have no function other than for appearance. Still, the human hair is still a part of the human body, and thus, still stand to benefit or suffer from anything that is going on in the other parts of your body.

Hair grows from a root and follicle located underneath the human scalp. The hair grows and is nourished by through the bloodstream which transports nutrients from the body to the hair roots and follicles. If there your body does not have sufficient nutrients or does not have proper blood circulation, hair growth and health is also affected.

Basics of Hair Loss

Not all cases of hair loss in diabetic persons may be attributed to diabetes alone. It is only a possibility. It is therefore important to seek out the real cause of hair loss in your condition through the process of eliminating other possible causes before tagging diabetes as its cause.

Another factor of hair loss is through heredity and genetics. An estimated 95% of people suffering from hair loss have androgenetic alopecia, a hair loss condition brought about by hormonal activities in the body as well as by the individual’s genetic make-up. Since both androgenetic alopecia and diabetes are hereditary, it may be harder to pinpoint which is causing your hair loss. A look at balding relatives who are also diabetic may point to the direction that it is the diabetic condition that is causing the hair loss and not the androgenetic alopecia condition.

Diabetes with Hair Loss

The connection between diabetes and hair loss can be established best by looking at the nature of diabetes and what it does to the body. Diabetes is a condition in which people either cannot produce insulin or cannot respond properly to it. When this happens, glucose cannot always enter the body cells to provide energy. Since glucose has nowhere else to go, it will start collecting in the bloodstream. With high blood sugar levels, fat deposits may also begin to attach on blood vessel walls, effectively clogging blood passageways. This results in improper blood flow and poor circulation.

As mentioned, the hair’s key for growth and nutrition lies in the bloodstream. Having poor blood circulation could mean poor hair health. In addition to this, poor blood flow can also result to skin irritations and infections among diabetics. And since scalp is still part of our skin, it is also stands to suffer from poor blood flow, resulting to hair loss.

Diet Conditions

People with both diabetes and hair loss may have a tougher time dealing with hair loss. Usual cases of hair loss are treated with nutritional supplementation and proper diet. Those with diabetes and hair loss however have to take into consideration the graver condition of diabetes. Eating an unregulated amount of even the most nutritious foods may result in drastic glucose spikes. Consult your doctor first before dealing with your hair loss.

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