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Fasting / 5:2 diet

5.2 and hair loss

16 replies

prettyanddainty · 08/08/2013 14:38

I was doing the 5.2 a month ago, can being on this diet cause hair loss? it's been about a month since I stopped.

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Medal · 08/08/2013 20:07

Not sure about 5.2 specifically, but a low carb diet triggered my hair loss and it is still ongoing a year later. I think my case is unusual though!

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prettyanddainty · 08/08/2013 21:53

medal wow a year later, are there any new ones growing? I did ask the Dr, and she said she wasn't sure, and that it might have been the 5.2 as the diet does put pressure on your body.

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Medal · 09/08/2013 08:56

Yes, your doctor is right, a change in diet/weight loss can cause stress to your body which leads to hair shedding (its called telogen effluvium). Usually it only lasts a short time. Unfortunately for me, it has turned into female pattern hair loss. I do have some new hairs but I am still losing loads and my hair is much thinner than it was especially on top.

What is happening with your hair? Did you lose lots of weight?

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prettyanddainty · 09/08/2013 13:29

medal no that's the thing, I didn't lose a lot of weight, just 2 flippin pounds but then I did make up for it for the rest of the 5 days. I had my blood test results and they all came back normal, so nothing hormonal, so did your diet cause your hair loss, it must be very distressing for you.
Are you hair coming out in patches or all over?

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Medal · 09/08/2013 15:03

My tests were all normal too. The hair is coming out all over but looks worse on top along and around my parting (this is why its called female pattern). I lost a bit more weight on the diet I was on but have definitely more than put it back on now!

Sorry to hear you've been going through it too. Is yours thinning all over or in patches? How long has it been going on for?

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prettyanddainty · 09/08/2013 15:12

Mine is all over not patches, it's been a month now, it wasn't that much first, but more seems to be falling out. The dr said its the hair phase and it is supposed to be that way, apparantely it gets worse before getting better. I really hope it stops soon, because it's stressing me out.
I am thinking of buying the Hairmax laser comb.

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Medal · 09/08/2013 15:17

I am sure it will improve, try not to worry. Is it noticeable yet? I completely understand the worry, stress and anxiety of it, I am not quite sure how I am still sane(-ish) after a year of this!

Vitamins are definitely worth trying too, especially the Bs. Let me know if you try the laser comb. PM me if you'd like x

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prettyanddainty · 09/08/2013 16:14

Thanks medal I have ordered some b vitamins, I will let you know if I buy the laser comb, probably give it another month and see how I get on. I have noticed that my hair is thinner, but my husband said it still looks the same, think he is trying to make feel better, because my daughter said it looks thinner, and we know kids tell the truth.

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Talkinpeace · 11/08/2013 20:06

Hmmm,
how old are your kids?
when did you stop breast feeding?

just that I lost 1/3 of my hair during the year after stopping feeding DS
(it had been down below my elbows before - had to be cut to above shoulder length)
which was many many years before I even had my weight under control

MASSIVE calcium deficiency identified and waited till it sorted itself

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prettyanddainty · 11/08/2013 22:07

talkin My dd is 9. I have no idea why I am losing hair, I have had tests done, and they have come back normal apparently.

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Talkinpeace · 11/08/2013 22:10

Hmmm,
suspect the 5:2 is a coincidence
other causes of alopecia are stress and randomness
and its so horrble filling the brush every day that you get stressed and it gets worse ...

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BlueStones · 16/08/2013 12:17

I haven't done 5:2. but I find mine sheds in phases (sometimes the front, sometimes the temples). It does come back (touch wood; it always has so far). I wonder if it is connected to anaemia, which runs in my family.

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prettyanddainty · 18/08/2013 21:09

bluestones it could be anaemia, my haemoglobin levels are fine, but my ferritin level is 16. I have had other blood tests which have all come normal.

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juliedent43 · 23/08/2013 21:48

Medal - its not unusual - there are lots of websites linking low carb diets to hair loss - it def aggravated my hair!

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juliedent43 · 23/08/2013 21:53

Take iron supplements - even if your blood results come back as normal "normal" iron levels can be anything over 20 - but think the levels need to be nearer 80 to promote hair growth!

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GatoradeMeBitch · 24/09/2013 18:54

Ferritin range is between 10-200, mine came back at 20 so my doctor advised supplements.

Did your doctor test your TSH too? Underactive thyroid can lead to hairloss, and what some GPs consider to be normal TSH level is often too low. Below 1 is optimum, but some GPs think that a reading of 5 is fine. I was unwell with a TSH of 2.2.

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