Hair Loss


Is scanty menstruation a cause of hair loss?
There are many causes of hair loss, such as genetic factors. If parents experience hair loss, their children are relatively more likely to experience it as well, especially as they age. Additionally, factors related to the immune system, excessive mental stress or psychological stress, taking certain medications, and autoimmune diseases, among others, can lead to hair loss. Another cause can be hormonal imbalances; for example, if a woman has a light menstrual flow due to hormonal imbalance, this could be one of the reasons for hair loss. It is advisable to systematically go to a hospital for an examination to follow the medical advice and proper diagnosis of a doctor. If you have further questions, please consult a doctor at the hospital for more information.


Is the hair loss due to connective tissue disease?
Patients with connective tissue disease may experience hair loss, especially in diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, where some patients may suffer from severe hair loss. Hair loss is also one of the symptoms of active connective tissue disease. Apart from hair loss, patients with connective tissue disease may also experience fever, oral ulcers, facial erythema, dry mouth, and dry eyes. Some patients may also exhibit clinical signs such as white or purple hands when exposed to cold. The fundamental treatment for connective tissue disease involves corticosteroids, and depending on the severity of the disease, treatment may also include immunosuppressants. (Medication should be administered under the guidance of a professional doctor.)


What should one eat if they have severe hair loss after childbirth?
Postpartum hair loss is also related to nutritional factors in women. In daily life, it is recommended to eat more nutritious foods, such as those rich in iron, including soybeans, black beans, eggs, lean meat, milk, chicken, fish, and fresh vegetables and fruits like pineapple and carrots, which can supplement iron. Additionally, it is important to supplement protein with foods like black sesame and corn, which contain some methionine, potentially slowing down hair loss. It is also necessary to ensure adequate iodine intake, found in seafood like seaweed, oysters, and kelp. Furthermore, consuming vitamin E-rich foods such as black sesame, leafy greens, and lettuce can help prevent hair loss and combat hair aging.


What department should I go to for kidney deficiency hair loss?
Kidney deficiency type hair loss, its manifestation is hair loss, and its cause is kidney deficiency. Kidney deficiency is a concept from traditional Chinese medicine. If treatment is required, you should go to the hospital and consult a doctor from the traditional Chinese medicine department. If the department of Chinese medicine is subdivided in detail, we recommend consulting a doctor from the department of internal Chinese medicine. Diagnosis is conducted through four methods: inspection, listening and smelling, inquiry, and pulse-taking. Based on your constitution and symptoms, an appropriate selection of Chinese herbs will be made for treatment and improvement. For kidney deficiency type hair loss, in daily life, you can also pay attention to your diet, eat more kidney-nourishing foods, which can help enhance the treatment effect. (The use of medicines should be under the guidance of a professional physician.)


How to prevent postpartum hair loss
Postpartum, many women experience hair loss, which is primarily due to hormonal changes in the body after childbirth and the influence of mental factors during the postpartum period. These can disrupt the body's metabolism and lead to a lack of nutrients in the scalp, making hair loss more likely. Therefore, it is crucial to rest adequately after childbirth, avoid overexertion, maintain a relaxed and happy mood, and develop healthy living habits. It is important to improve nutrition by eating foods rich in protein and vitamins, and to avoid perming or dyeing hair, especially during breastfeeding. When using shampoo, choose safe products and do not scrub too hard, and also avoid prolonged exposure of the hair to the sun.


What are the reasons for postpartum hair loss?
There are several reasons for postpartum hair loss. The most common one is due to women experiencing weakness in their vital energy and blood after childbirth, which fails to nourish the scalp resulting in hair loss. Another reason is the significant hormonal changes in a woman's body after giving birth, which leads to the scalp losing these hormone nourishments, causing the hair to gradually fall out. Additionally, some women experience depression postpartum. Poor mood can also affect the body's metabolism, and hair loss is more likely to occur if nutritional supply is inadequate. Furthermore, if a woman does not promptly nourish and regulate her body after childbirth and instead starts dieting or attempting to lose weight without adequate nutrition, this can lead to insufficient scalp nutrition and affect metabolism, resulting in hair loss.


Can kidney deficiency hair loss be cured?
In the case of hair loss due to kidney deficiency, it is treatable. As long as timely regulation and treatment are administered, a cure can be achieved. For mild cases, it generally takes about 15 to 30 days to see effective relief. However, severe kidney deficiency might require about three months of treatment. Therefore, it is essential to treat the condition promptly to avoid aggravating the situation, which could make it more difficult to cure. Initially, treatment with medications for kidney deficiency can provide timely and effective improvement. During the treatment period, one can also incorporate more leeks, goji berries, and Chinese yam into their diet. These foods can help treat kidney deficiency and achieve the purpose of alleviation.


How many years can hair loss due to deficiency of Qi, blood, and kidney be recovered?
When conditions of qi and blood deficiency or kidney deficiency occur, no matter how long the hair loss has lasted, the main issue is the lack of timely treatment and care, which leads to the continuous development of symptoms. Generally, helping to supplement qi and blood and address kidney deficiency can significantly improve hair loss. Firstly, in terms of diet, it is beneficial to eat foods like red beans, Chinese yam, goji berries, and donkey-hide gelatin, as they help replenish qi and blood and nourish the kidneys. It is also necessary to get timely treatment through medication. This can indeed help with a better and faster recovery. Importantly, one should avoid staying up late.


Can Poria cure hair loss?
Poria cocos (Fu Ling) is actually not very effective in treating hair loss because it primarily helps to expel dampness from the body, though it can provide some improvement and regulation. Therefore, if hair loss occurs, it is still necessary to promptly identify the underlying cause to better address the issue. Poria cocos is mainly used for its dampness-expelling properties, and the causes of hair loss can vary greatly, such as calcium deficiency, kidney deficiency, and bodily coldness, among others. If the hair loss is caused by bodily coldness, consuming Poria cocos can indeed have a beneficial effect. Additionally, eating foods like black sesame seeds or walnuts can also have a preventative effect against hair loss.


What should I do about hair loss from systemic lupus erythematosus?
First, systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease characterized by multi-organ and multi-systemic damage, a systemic autoimmune disorder. It cannot be completely cured, but its symptoms can be managed and the progression of the disease can be controlled through medication. The main clinical manifestations include facial rashes, photosensitivity, Raynaud's phenomenon, fever, hair loss, etc. Therefore, in the treatment process of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, if there is an increase in hair loss, or if other symptoms such as photosensitivity and hair loss occur, it may be considered that the disease is active or recurring. At this time, it is necessary to go to the hospital for comprehensive tests such as blood routine, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), complement levels, and autoimmune antibodies to assess the condition. If the disease is active or recurring, an adjustment in the dosage of the treatment medications may be necessary.