Alopecia / Hair Loss

Adequate protein (hair is protein—0.8-1g/kg minimum, some need more), iron-rich foods (red meat, liver, spinach, lentils—if deficient, pair with vitamin C for absorption), zinc foods (oysters, beef, pumpkin seeds), biotin foods (eggs, nuts, seeds, sweet potato), omega-3 foods (fatty fish, walnuts, flax), colorful vegetables (antioxidants, vitamins), avoid crash diets (telogen effluvium—hair loss from rapid weight loss, inadequate nutrition), avoid excessive vitamin A (can cause hair loss), anti-inflammatory diet (if autoimmune), adequate calories (chronic calorie restriction causes hair loss), bone broth (collagen, amino acids), avoid excessive sugar and processed foods.

Treat underlying condition (thyroid, PCOS, autoimmune—addressing root cause regrows hair in many), Stress management (telogen effluvium often follows major stress—illness, surgery, childbirth, emotional trauma—hair regrows but takes 6-12 months after stressor resolves), Gentle hair care (avoid tight hairstyles, chemical treatments, excessive heat, harsh brushing—traction alopecia preventable), Scalp massage (improves circulation—5-10 min daily, some studies show benefit), Minoxidil (Rogaine) 5% (proven effective for androgenetic alopecia—stimulates growth, need to continue indefinitely, works better in women than men, FDA-approved), Finasteride (Propecia) 1mg (DHT blocker—proven effective for male pattern baldness, prescription, side effects: sexual dysfunction 1-2%, post-finasteride syndrome rare but severe, not for women of childbearing age—teratogenic), PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injections (proven effective—own blood spun, platelets injected into scalp, stimulates growth factors, 3-4 sessions then maintenance), Microneedling (stimulates growth factors, enhances topical absorption—combine with minoxidil), Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) (FDA-cleared for hair loss—LaserCap, iGrow, stimulates follicles, modest benefit), Address nutritional deficiencies (iron, zinc, biotin, protein—correcting regrows hair if deficiency was cause), Hair transplant (if androgenetic alopecia severe—surgical, expensive, permanent), For alopecia areata: Corticosteroid injections (into bald patches—stimulates regrowth), Topical immunotherapy (DPCP, SADBE—triggers allergic reaction, confuses immune system, regrowth in 40-60%), JAK inhibitors (tofacitinib, ruxolitinib—new, expensive, promising for severe alopecia areata), Be patient (hair grows slowly—1/2 inch per month, takes 3-6 months minimum to see results from treatment, telogen effluvium recovers 6-12 months after trigger resolves).