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Alcohol and hair loss, is it possible?

A glass of red wine in the evening, a beer after work or a glass of champagne for a feast on a birthday ? Some people consider alcohol a pleasure. However, when consumed regularly and in large quantities, the health of the human body suffers. What is the link between alcohol and hair loss? What are the treatments ?

Why is alcohol consumption harmful?

There are many links between alcohol and hair loss, as it affect the whole body. The cardiovascular system but also the immune system are usually the most concerned.

In addition it dehydrates the body, which has the effect of disturbing the balance of fluids. As a matter of facts a sufficient water balance is essential for the scalp’s blood circulation.

Also be aware that alcoholic drinks usually contain a lot of sugar as the body reacts with glycation and saccharification. Regular consumption of beer, wine and similar products can therefore cause hair loss and slow their growth in general.

Alcohol and hair loss due to increased oestrogen levels

Indeed, these beverages significantly increase the oestrogen level, which is usually the reason for the relationship between alcohol and hair loss.

Too high oestrogen levels cause an imbalance in the nutrient intake. However the hair roots need enough nutrients, otherwise they die. Alcohol can therefore cause death of the hair follicles, due to the negative repercussions of those nutritional deficiencies.

Zinc, an important mineral for hair health, is also lowered. Likewise, the intake of iron and vitamins A, C and E is disturbed by the increase in oestrogen levels.

Negative impacts on protein synthesis

Drinking alcohol can also cause hair loss as it has a negative effect on protein synthesis. Hair is mainly made up of proteins, called keratins. Proper functioning of protein metabolism is crucial for strong, healthy hair.

Body acidification

When the blood contains too much acid, the ph value drops. The body responds by removing all the basic minerals that are not essential for survival.

In this way, it tries to act against acidification. This also affects the scalp, as for the organism hair is not considered essential for survival. This process thus removes important nutrients from the scalp.

Alcohol and hair loss, what can be done?

Obviously, only a sharp reduction in the consumption of beer, wine and similar products can stop the resulting alopecia. But also a change in the diet is essential, especially in terms of de acidification and re-mineralisation of your body.

Against a zinc deficiency, it is essential to prefer foods with a high zinc content. For example liver, lentils, crustaceans, poultry and fish. If the zinc requirement cannot be met by food, dietary supplements can also help.

The roots of my hair are already dead, are there any solutions?

In the event that your hair follicles are already irreversibly damaged by excessive alcohol consumption, bald areas may become permanent. This represents a huge psychological burden for those involved. Especially since baldness often leads to a loss of self-confidence and depression.

Even if your roots are already completely dead, it is possible that healthy hair will grow back in the affected areas. For this to happen, the only effective and truly permanent option is hair surgery.

How to treat baldness related to alcohol consumption?

At Elithairtransplant, Dr. Balwi and his team perform the surgery using the FUE hair transplant. The advantage of this technique is that your head does not need to be shaved in advance. In addition, it is very painless and leaves only micro scars that heal quickly.

At the start of hair implantation, the follicular units are removed from the donor area of ​​your head. The grafts thus recovered are treated in a special nutritive solution. They are then re-implanted in the bald areas of your scalp.

The implantation in the scalp can be performed with great precision with the FUE method. What allows to obtain later an esthetic and natural result.

Once all the hair follicles have been transplanted, it takes several months before your hair begins to grow again. The final result is visible about a year after treatment.

Takeaway : alcohol and hair loss are intrinsically linked

Alcoholic beverages have many negative effects on the human body. Hair health is affected because this consumption dehydrates the body. The disturbance of the water balance has a negative influence on the blood circulation of the scalp.

In addition, excessive drinking increase oestrogen levels, which leads to zinc deficiency. This mineral is essential for maintaining hair health. If your hair roots are not yet irreversibly damaged, dietary supplements can help stop baldness.

However, if the hair roots are already completely dead, the hair cycle stops and can never develop again. In this case, the hair implant is the only way to regain dense hair.

Do you have more questions ? Then don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team that will answer all your queries. Furthermore they can also propose a free and non binding hair analysis. So don’t hesitate if you want to benefit from Dr. Balwi and Elithairtransplant’s expertise for a successful and affordable hair transplant in Turkey !

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