Tuesday, March 31, 2009

How Hair Loss is Affected by Diabetes

When a person begins to lose their hair in larger than normal amounts and it doesn't seem like it is the nromal pattern of hair loss then a trip to the doctor should be taken. It may be nothing at all or it may be the cause of something more - such as diabetes. Diabetes is a hormonal related disease, and one of the first side effects is loss of hair. There are several links between the two and they are :

1. Blood circulation is poor. Poor blood circulation can affect the hair follicles ability to work normally. Normally hair grows for approximately 2-6 years and then goes dormant, eventually dies and drops out as a new hair is created in the follicle and pushes the dead hair out. So when your blood circulation is not at it's best the follicle does not produce new strands as normal so when the old hair dies and falls out - there is no new hair to replace it.This is where hair becomes thinnner and more will begin to drop out.

2. Skin conditions. Diabetics are more prone to skin conditions on the scalp which can cause hair loss. Infections such as bacterial and fungal on the head or scalp disturb the normal process of hair regrowing.

3. Medication. The medicines usually prescribed for diabetes can also disrupt the normal hair growth cylce. Once the medication has set in and the body has adjusted this is more often than not reversed.

4. Physiological and psychological stress and anxiety. Diabetes causes both Stress and anxiety - both direct factors in hair loss. Dehydration is also a major factor and when mixed with stress and anxiety can really do your hair damage.

If you do have diabetes and find you are losing your hair, here are a few helpful tips. Wait it out and see if the condition will fix itself once your body has adjusted to the medication, keep yourself hydrated by drinking up to 8 glasses of water daily, keep up with regular exercise because exercise increases blood circulation and this is good for your follicles, and try some sort of yoga or relaxation technique to relieve stress.

Diabetes is a major diagnosis and a life-changing event. Always follow your doctors instructions carefully and continue doing the things you know are good for your overall health. Hair health is affected by all that you do and consume.


Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hair-loss-articles/how-hair-loss-is-affected-by-diabetes-838186.html