Hair thinning after anorexia? (Photo)

Question

A few years ago I had anorexia. It was then where I lost 3/4 of my hair. I gained my natural weight back about a year and a half ago, and my hair still hasn't grown back. I've tried a number of natural supplements and increased my fats over the last few months. I eat around 1500-2,000 calories a day which includes smoothies, rice bowls, natural pastas. I have recently tried eating a vegetarian diet/dairy free, which I'm not sure will harm my hair growth because of the lack of protein or not.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

This would need to be reviewed in more detail so please see your dermatologist. In some cases, prolonged hair cycle changes in individuals with anorexia leads to maintenance of these cycle changes (and failure to regrow) or in some there is progressive follicular miniaturization leading to diffuse female pattern hair loss. Blood tests are essential and in this case a more extensive panel. Some of the tests I frequently order in such cases would  include the basic panel plus zinc, serum albumin, selenium, ferritin, copper and a few others. Evaluation of the endocrine axis is also important and hormonal tests would be needed - especially estrogen, progesterone,  cortisol, thyroid.  Please see your physician for a compressive evaluation of these issues.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

It is not an unusual story you are telling. People with possible genetic hair loss who precipitate the hair loss with anorexia, might not gain back their hair volume when eating becomes normal. See a dermatologist who specializes in hair

Hair thinning after anorexia? (Photo)

Answers (2)