Alopecia Areata Diet: Which foods to include, avoid and why?

Hair is an integral part of our appearance and is a crown of confidence for us all. We tend to take a lot of effort into hair care and styling. But Alopecia Areata is a condition that can completely destroy your efforts and your appearance by causing drastic hair loss. It is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the hair follicles of the body as it is unable to differentiate between the body’s hair follicles and external bodies.

In Alopecia Areata, the hair follicles in the scalp are affected and the attached hair falls out. It’s important to know that while this attack causes hair loss, the attack rarely destroys the hair follicles. This means that your hair can regrow. The less hair loss you have, the more likely it is that your hair will regrow on its own.
To help this hair regrowth, it is essential to take treatment to address the underlying hair loss and also make lifestyle and nutrition changes. In this article we look at the changes you’ll have to start making to help your scalp heal from Alopecia Areata.

Table Of Contents

What is the ideal diet for Alopecia Areata?

Essential Vitamins for Alopecia diet

Alopecia Areata diet must also contain

Best Foods for Alopecia Areata

Things to Avoid in Alopecia Areata Diet Plan

Things to Avoid When You Have Alopecia Areata

Things to Avoid When You Have Alopecia 

Home Remedies for Alopecia Areata

Choose HairMD for Alopecia Areata Treatment

What is the ideal diet for Alopecia Areata?

As we learned that it is an auto-immune disease, there’s a high chance that if you take care of your immunity over the long term you can prevent this condition. However, if you do contract the condition, there are ways to manage hair loss and promote regrowth.
Consult an expert and get a proper autoimmune hair loss diet recommendation along with the medications and topical solutions for a faster recovery. Both, the treatment along with diet, plays a really critical part in either activating or lessening inflammation in the body.

Here is the recommended alopecia food diet curated by expert dermatologists at HairMD.

Essential Vitamins for Alopecia diet

Hair is one such body part where the nutrition reaches the last. Therefore it is important to ensure that your diet consists of all the essential nutrients needed by the hair. The most vital nutrients and vitamins required to prevent Alopecia Areata are:

Biotin

– Biotin is responsible for hair growth and increasing the volume of hair.

Zinc

– Zinc plays an important role in hair tissue growth and repair. It also helps keep the oil glands around the follicles working properly.

Thiamine

– Thiamine prevents nerve damage, so the hair follicles can grow without a hurdle.

Vitamin C

– Vitamin C strengthens the capillaries that supply blood to the hair shaft.

Alopecia Areata diet must also contain

Healthy Fats

– Healthy fats lessen the inflammatory reaction in the body. So, it is advisable to use canola and olive oil for cooking purposes. In addition, increase your intake of omega-3 unsaturated fats found in greasy fish. Such as salmon, trout, fish, mackerel, sardines, and herring. Some vegetarian options to incorporate into your autoimmune hair loss diet are walnuts, flax seeds, and hemp seeds. However, all nuts and seeds contain helpful fats.

Antioxidants

– Antioxidants help to improve hair growth in alopecia. It boosts blood circulation and nutrient supply to the scalp cells which encourages hair growth. These supplements come in numerous types including vitamins, minerals, and bioflavonoids.

Biotin

– Biotin, one of the B vitamins, plays an imperative role in the strengthening of the hair and nails. Normally, you get the suggested sums in your eating regimen and for rich sources, you should incorporate nuts, romaine lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, and chard.

Best Foods for Alopecia Areata

Some medical experts contradict the fact that diet can help in the case of Alopecia but in most cases, people with good diets and healthy lifestyles have seen significant results in hair regrowth. Some of the best foods to include in the Androgenic Alopecia diet are –

1. Fruits and Vegetables

– Include more bright-colored fruits and vegetables in your diet. Apples, Strawberries, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Spinach, Pineapple, Green Cabbage, and Apricot among others contain antioxidants. These fruits and veggies contain antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation.

2. Good oils

– In Alopecia, the scalp becomes dry and a dry scalp can not grow new hairs. Healthy fats also help in reducing the inflammatory response in the body. Increase the intake of omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish. All the good oils are good for your health. So, include canola oil, olive oil, and/or avocado oil in your diet. You can also use organic cold-pressed coconut oil which is tasty, nutritious, and great for your hair. These oils contain oleic acid which is an omega-9 fatty acid that decreases inflammation.

3. Nuts

– Nuts like almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids which is a key ingredients to reduce inflammation and alopecia symptoms. Have these munchies between meals or at any time of the day.

4. Onions

– Onions are a very good source of antioxidants. It helps in reducing cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease along with inflammation, which is what you need. Add more raw onions to your food, sandwiches, and salads. Onion is a great option for treating Alopecia.
Bonus Tip – It can also be used as a natural homemade topical solution for hair. Fresh garlic and fresh onion juice are great natural ingredients to rub on your scalp and boost circulation!

5. Fish

– Another food for alopecia areata, which is packed with omega-3 fatty acids is fish. Consuming wild fish can help in improving alopecia symptoms. They are very nutritious and are rich in protein and contain omega-3 fatty acids.

6. Protein

– Hairs is primarily made of protein. Include more protein-rich foods like eggs, meat, seafood, liver, milk, sprouts and beans in your diet.

7. Bone Broth

– Bone broth in soups and stews can just do wonders in the Alopecia Areata elimination diet. They are loaded with nutrients and are very easy to digest. It contains Gelatin, Collagen, Glycine, Magnesium, Phosphorous, and Calcium, all of which help in boosting immunity, nourish your skin, hair, nails, etc. and reduce inflammation. Make this wonder food your best friend.

Food to Avoid in Alopecia Areata Diet Plan

Dairy Products

– Sometimes dairy products like Milk can trigger immune system responses, which can worsen Alopecia Symptoms.

Excessive Caffeine

– Caffeine is actually a great hair growth stimulant when applied topically, but it isn’t so good for people with hormone problems; specifically, those of us with low or heightened levels of cortisol.

No Nightshades

– Exclude peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, and potatoes from your alopecia areata diet as they cause inflammation.

Polyunsaturated fats

– Corn oil, sunflower oil, etc. contains polyunsaturated fats which is an unhealthy fat. So, it is advisable to take steamed food rather than fried ones. Bake your food or lightly saute only.

Sugar

– Avoid sugar in your diet as it causes inflammation. Use a small amount of honey instead.

Things to Avoid When You Have Alopecia Areata

It is advisable to include antioxidants, probiotics, biotin, zinc, and healthy oils in your diet if you have alopecia areata. Avoiding anti-inflammatory foods is highly recommended, as inflammatory foods can lead to hair loss and worsen alopecia areata. Proper oiling of the hair and scalp, a good hair care routine, and a healthy lifestyle are also essential in order to reduce the symptoms of alopecia and promote hair growth. The things to avoid when you have alopecia areata include the following:

• Foods to avoid for alopecia areata include gluten, as consuming gluten-rich foods have been found to cause hair loss.
• Avoid inflammatory foods as they can lead to hair loss and worsen alopecia areata. 
• It is not advisable to consume alcohol if you have AA. 
• Food additives are among the other foods to avoid with alopecia areata.
• The consumption of polyunsaturated fats should be avoided with AA. 
• Foods with a high glycaemic index are not recommended for consumption if you have alopecia areata. 
• Fish with high mercury content can lead to hair loss. So fish should not be consumed if you have alopecia areata. 
• A frontal fibrosing alopecia diet should include foods rich in vitamin D. If you have alopecia areata, it is good to have foods rich in antioxidants, which include apples, apricots, berries, other bright-colored foods and green vegetables. Foods high in biotin should be included to promote hair growth. Increasing the intake of soy and protein-rich foods can help reverse the symptoms of alopecia areata. 
• Stress is among the other important things to avoid with alopecia areata since high-stress levels lead to hair loss.
• The other things to avoid when you have alopecia areata include harsh chemicals and hairstyles that may trigger hair fall.
• Exposing the scalp and hair to the sun should be avoided by patients with alopecia areata. It is recommended to use sunscreen and protective gear when stepping outdoors. 

Thus you can see that with a proper diet, good hair care, and stress management, the symptoms of alopecia areata can be reduced, and by increasing the intake of certain foods while avoiding certain things, as mentioned above, one can prevent the worsening of hair loss and achieve healthy hair.

Things to Avoid When You Have Alopecia

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the hair follicles, leading to hair loss causing bald patches, further causing total baldness. Several genetic and environmental factors play a role in causing alopecia. The hair starts falling out in clumps and this often occurs suddenly. These balding patches join each other leading to complete baldness. The loss of hair may be experienced not just on the scalp but also on other parts of the body. While there are various treatments for alopecia areata, there are certain things that can prevent aggravating the condition, help reduce hair loss and boost hair regrowth. Here are the things to avoid when you have alopecia areata.

• Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption as these factors can worsen hair loss.
• Avoid the intake of foods high in sugar, and foods with a high glycemic index.
• Oils and other foods high in polyunsaturated fats are among the things to avoid when you have alopecia areata.
• Artificial sweeteners like aspartame have been found to damage hair follicles. So avoid foods like diet soda which contain this artificial sweetener.
• Saturated and monounsaturated fats cause hair loss. So fast foods high in these fats should be avoided when you have alopecia areata.
• Raw egg whites can cause biotin deficiency. Since biotin plays a role in the generation of keratin, its deficiency can lead to hair loss. So the consumption of raw egg whites should be avoided if you have alopecia areata.
• Avoid wearing hairstyles that pull or strain the hair as they can lead to hair fall.
• Avoid exposing the hair to harsh chemicals, as they are damaging on the hair follicles.
• Hair treatments that expose the hair to chemicals or heat should be avoided if you have alopecia. Frequent curling or ironing of the hair causes hair fall.
• One of the important factors causing hair loss is stress. So, avoiding stress is important for individuals who have alopecia.

These were some of the things to avoid when you have alopecia, as they can worsen hair loss and hamper scalp health. Foods that support healthy hair growth should be included in the diet. A good workout routine that is important to maintain overall health is also crucial for hair growth and scalp health. A proper hair care routine is essential in keeping the hair and the scalp healthy. Although these factors are not a cure for alopecia, they definitely support the treatment of alopecia areata. Since this hair condition has a number of causes, its treatment can be decided only after identifying its cause. 

Alopecia areata treatments include PRP, nano-fat, and hair transplant, among others. For the most reliable advice on alopecia areata treatments, you must consult an expert in the field. One of the best places to approach for advice on alopecia or any other hair condition is HairMD, a reputed hair transplant centre in Pune. They have a team of experienced dermatologists who specialize in treating hair conditions. Their guidance can surely help you in attaining healthy and luxurious hair.

Home Remedies for Alopecia Areata

Home remedies may have a good effect on alopecia areata like onion juice, Aloe vera, coconut milk, coconut oil, peppermint, and lavender oil as these act as an irritant on the scalp which may result in hair growth up to a certain extent. Some other home remedies are Lavender and other essential oils, Milk thistle, Ginkgo, Kelp, Potatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Green tea, Onions, Rosemary, Henna, Aloe vera, Fenugreek, Licorice root, and Chinese hibiscus.

You may need to attempt more than one treatment to see a difference. The viability of every diet plan or home remedy will vary from individual to individual. Apart from the diet plan, for persistent hair loss, you need to consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis and a detailed treatment plan.

Choose HairMD for Alopecia Areata Treatment

At HairMD, we take pride in the work we do and our patients feel safe, comfortable, and confident when treating their hair-fall-related conditions with us. The collective experience of our specialists brings decades of experience when it comes to treating and managing the symptoms of this condition.

We have been successful in helping patients of Alopecia areata counting more than 15053+ at our hair loss clinics in Pune & Karad under the guidance and leadership of Dr. Dhananjay Chavan, MBBS, DDV- one of the top skin & hair specialists in Pune.

Our expert cosmetologists, dermatologists and skilled surgeons will ensure that you get the best medical care required to manage your hair loss condition. We take the time to understand you, your daily routines, your lifestyle and then draft a treatment process that causes minimum stress that will produce the best results for you.