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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, February 10, 2012
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, February 10, 2012
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Diet and Nutrition |
Eating Disorders and Hair Loss Etc...01/02/2003 |
I am a 19 yr old female Cincinnati resident and OSU student, and I have, since the beginning od this past summer(2002) noticed that my hair is thinning. Within the past 2 months or so I have been experiencing a chronic itchy scalp. The hair loss has not ceased, but my question concerns possible causes. From the summer 2001 to this past summer 2002 I suffered from on again off again bulimia. I never received treatment for my illness, but I have managed to halt the purging behavior since August, for the most part. The other behaviors (exercise, binging from time to time, worry over my weight) are less extreme, and I feel I will get them under control. My question is, could these past behvior be the reason for my hair loss, and if so, is there something I might do to reverse it? I know that stress is a factor, and I have participated in OSU campus studies, studies in which i qualified as a possible sufferer from an anxiety disorder. This has lead me to believe that anxiety/stress may also be a part of the problem. If you have any suggestions of other information sources, treatments, area physicians, or any other relevant information I would greatly apreciate it. Thank you very much.
One of the clinical signs of malnutrition, especially protein malnutrition, is easily pluckible, sparse hair. Malnutrition can be caused by inadequate intake (such as during anorexia nervosa or emotional stress), inadequate absorption (such as in malabsorption diseases like Crohn`s disease), increased losses, or increased requirements (such as during an infection, fever, surgery, or pregnancy). Hair loss can also occur for reasons unrelated to malnutrition. To determine the specific cause of your hair loss, you need to consult with a physician. Congratulations on your success in controlling your eating disorder; however, you may want to consult with an eating disorder program or registered dietitian for assistance in your continuing struggle against eating disorders. A dietitian can also help in assessing your nutritional status and planning a healthy diet. For a list of local eating disorder programs and a list of private practice dietitians, you can contact the Cincinnati Nutrition Council at 513-621-3262. For more information on referrals and eating disorders, visit the web sites listed below.
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Bonnie J Brehm, PhD, RD Professor of Nursing College of Nursing University of Cincinnati |
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