If you are experiencing hair loss, it’s easy to go down the Google rabbit hole and try to determine the cause of your hair loss. While some might say it’s genetics, and others might blame it on your hormones, you are also sure to find an article or two linking hair loss to your glass of wine.
Now, your margaritas with the girls or beer at the BBQ will not cause hair loss, but there are some links between alcohol and hair loss– based on the amount of alcohol you consume. If you want to learn more about alcohol’s impact on your hairline and holistic ways to regrow your hair, keep reading.
Here’s the deal, alcohol and hair loss are not directly related, but drinking does cause other health issues that trigger hair thinning or loss. When you drink an excessive amount of alcohol, it can cause nutrient deficiencies that will cause hair loss. Your body needs adequate nutrition to function properly and keep your hair healthy, but alcohol inhibits nutrient breakdowns and impairs your body’s ability to absorb the nutrients it needs.
Some of the most common nutrient deficiencies linked to heavy alcohol use are b12, folic acid, and iron. Long-term use can also cause malnutrition for vitamin A, C, D, E, and K. Your body uses these nutrients to grow your hair, nails, help you sleep better, and even support healthy brain function. Once you begin to experience malnutrition, your health and your hair will decline.
As mentioned above, alcohol does not directly cause hair loss, but it does cause other issues that lead to hair loss. In the case of binge drinking, you can experience extreme dehydration, which will dry out your hair follicles and, over time, cause hair thinning. This can also cause high levels of acid in your body that deplete protein stores, further causing hair loss and other health issues.
Drinking a significant amount in a short period can also lead to alcohol poisoning which will dramatically alter the vitamins in your system, can lead to seizures or permanent brain damage, and more. Remember also, that alcohol can stay in the system for up to 48 hours, with traces in the blood lasting about 12 hours. This intense stress on your system can at a minimum prevent healthy hair growth if not actual hair loss.
Alcohol and hair do not get along. Over time, alcohol use can cause dry, brittle, breaking hair, and cause excessive hair loss. The combination of dehydration and malnutrition makes it hard for your body to rebuild your hair and function at its best. Once your hair is dried out and thinning, you will most likely have to turn to other remedies to regrow your hair.
There are many long-term effects linked to alcoholism, and thinning hair is, unfortunately, one of them. Alcoholism causes hair loss in three ways; it elevates your stress, impairs nutrient absorption, and wreaks havoc on your hormones.
1.) Elevated stress levels
Long-term stress is linked to hair loss and causes a condition called telogen effluvium.
Telogen effluvium is a condition that causes your hair to stay in the resting phase of growth. When this happens, your hair can no longer grow and will begin to fall out in large amounts. Typically your hair moves through three phases of hair growth, so having your hair growth cycle stuck in one phase is detrimental to your hair’s health.
2.) Nutrient absorption
As mentioned in the beginning, alcohol impacts your body’s ability to breakdown and absorb nutrients. Since your hair requires a healthy scalp, proper circulation, and a steady amount of nutrients to grow, you will experience thinning hair if you are battling alcoholism.
3.) Hormones
Alcoholism is linked to disruptions in your hormones, specifically for your thyroid. Your thyroid regulates hormones in your body, and when this process is interrupted by either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, hair loss can occur.
The good news is, all is not lost, and you can work to regrow your hair naturally. Before diving into the top holistic remedies for hair loss, we recommend that you address your alcohol consumption. If you need support to quit drinking, there are many resources available to help you. It’s important to address your drinking first, so your body can begin to absorb nutrients properly, regulate your hormones, and improve your overall health.
With your recovery journey underway, there are a few natural ways you can get your hair growing again, like using LLLT. LLLT, also known as low-level laser therapy, uses light to restore your scalp, regrow your hair, and regenerate old cells. This technology is clinically tested, and some laser cap brands have FDA clearance for safety and reliability.
If you are unsure about your hair loss or whether LLLT might be right for you, check out this free quiz.
Hair loss supplements can also help restore and address any nutrient deficiencies you might have from excessive drinking. These vitamins have the right nutrients your body needs to start improving your skin, nails, and hair. While taking a supplement is great, don’t forget to eat healthy foods too. Your body loves nuts, seeds, eggs, and avocados for healthy hair. At the end of the day, hair loss is hard to handle but it doesn’t have to be forever.
Take care of your body and in return, it will take care of you.
While finding treatment for alcoholism can feel daunting, there are numerous ways to approach treatment.
To start, something as simple as Googling “alcohol rehab arizona” can lead you in the right direction. You can replace that search with nearly any city or state and get a map of results near you.
For quality treatment you can trust, The Hope House offers significant individualized program for alcohol addiction and focuses on complementary therapies like nutritional rebalancing, massage, and acupuncture. All of which can help you prepare your body for renewed hair growth. Call our staff today for a personalized assessment.
Tiffany Fuller is a creator for illumiflow, a revolutionary brand helping its customers regrow their hair, and Premium Web LLC.
