It’s no secret that IBS can cause a wide variety of uncomfortable symptoms.
Did you know that irritable bowel syndrome IBS might also be causing your hair to fall out?
Recent studies have shown a link between the two conditions, so if you’re experiencing both hair loss and IBS symptoms, it’s worth looking into whether or not they might be related.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss the possible causes of hair loss in IBS sufferers and what you can do about it.
Can IBS Cause Your Hair To Fall Out?
There is some evidence that suggests a link between IBS and thinning hair.
One study, published in the Journal of Digestive Diseases and Sciences, found that almost half of all IBS patients also reported hair thinning.
So what’s going on here? Why does IBS seem to cause hair loss for some people?
There are several possible explanations for this linkage.
Here are a few of the most likely culprits:
- Stress: Two of the main symptoms of IBS are stress and anxiety. It’s possible that the stress caused by this irritable bowel syndrome is leading to poor hair health.
- Hormones: IBS can affect hormone levels, which can contribute to reported hair loss.
- Diet: Certain foods can trigger IBS symptoms. It’s possible that these foods are also causing hair loss nutritional deficiencies.
Does Gut Health Affect Hair Growth?
Yes, it does! One of the main functions of your gut is to help your digestive tract, immune system, and nutrient absorption.
If you have IBS, this function might be impaired, leading to poor gut flora and hair loss stress.
Gut health also affects hormone levels in your body through what’s called “gut-brain axis.”
This is a connection between the brain and gut that allows them to communicate with each other.
If there’s something wrong in your digestive system, it can affect your body’s hormone balance and vice versa.
That explains why IBS might lead to poor hair growth since IBS affects both the digestion system and hormone levels!
Can A Leaky Gut Cause Hair Loss?
A leaky gut is a condition that occurs when the barrier in your intestine becomes weak and allows toxins and bacteria to escape from your digestive tract and into your bloodstream.
This can cause a wide variety of health problems, including poor hair growth and gut flora imbalances.
Researchers believe that a leaky gut might be responsible for the link between IBS and lost hair.
Can Digestive Problems Cause Hair Loss?
Yes, they can!
There are a number of different digestive problems that can lead to hair loss.
These include irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
All of these conditions can cause inflammation in the gut, which might lead to hair loss.
If you’re experiencing both IBS symptoms and slow hair growth, it’s worth talking to your doctor to treat hair loss.
Hair Loss And Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term that refers to two conditions: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Both of these diseases are characterized by inflammation in the gut.
In some cases, inflammatory bowel disease might cause hair loss and severely affect life quality.
This happens because the inflammation can damage the hair follicles and slow down hair growth.
If you’re experiencing hair loss and you think it might be related to IBD, talk to your doctor.
There are a number of different treatments available for IBD that can help improve your hair and scalp health.
How To Prevent IBS Related Hair Loss
If you have poor hair health and you think it might be related to IBS, there are a few things you can do to try to stimulate hair growth.
Here are some tips to improve your hair and scalp health:
- Stress management such as mindfulness meditation, regular exercise, or breathing exercise.
- Certain foods can trigger IBS symptoms, including diarrhea, hair loss, and abdominal pain. If you’re experiencing these types of symptoms, it’s worth talking to your doctor about an elimination diet to see if there are any foods that might be causing them.
- Natural medicine solutions such as probiotics, omega-fatty acids, and zinc can help improve gut health and reduce inflammation.
What Probiotic Is Good For Hair Loss?
The bacteria in your gut can have a big impact on your skin and hair health.
While some bad bacteria can cause problems like IBS or digestive system inflammation, friendly bacteria are good for you and can help with hair loss.
Probiotics are supplements that contain live microorganisms (bacteria).
Many people improve their overall health and gut bacteria by taking a probiotic supplement or eating probiotic-rich foods like yogurt or sauerkraut.
Best Probiotic for Hair Loss
There are a number of different probiotics on the market, and not all of them are right for IBS-related hair loss.
The best probiotic for hair growth is one that contains Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium lactis, and Lactobacillus acidophilus.
These strains of bacteria have been shown to be effective at treating IBS and improving healthy hair growth.
For this purpose, we recommend GOL Nutrition’s IBPro Probiotic.
Summary
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and hair loss are two conditions that can be quite debilitating.
While there is no cure for IBS, there are treatments available to help manage the symptoms.
If you are experiencing hair loss as a result of your IBS, there are steps you can take to prevent further hair loss and promote healthy hair growth.
We suggest looking into stress management techniques like meditation, healthy diet changes, addressing unhealthy sleeping habits, exercise, supplements, and probiotics to combat your IBS-related hair loss.
