Will A High Protein Diet Help Thinning Hair?

A full head of hair symbolizes youth and confidence, so it's no wonder people with thinning hair are looking for answers. Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence that a single dietary element can stimulate new growth or stop your existing strands from falling out. But there are specific ways protein can affect your hair.

Causes of Thinning Hair

It's important to isolate the cause of your thinning hair before attempting to treat it. Causes range from health to diet to genetics. While genetic hair loss can only be treated with pharmaceuticals such as minoxidil, you may be able to treat other causes preventively. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, hormonal problems, scalp infections or a past illness can cause hair loss. Sometimes hair loss can be traced to a systemic condition such as diabetes or lupus, in which case it's imperative you report any unusual hair loss to your doctor to rule out these possibilities.

Diet and Hair Loss

Your diet may influence your hair's rate of growth. In "Hair Care: An Illustrated Dermatologic Handbook," Dr. Zoe Diana Draelos says that gaining or losing weight quickly can disrupt your hair's normal growth patterns. Thinning hair often occurs in yo-yo dieters. Their bodies, deprived of necessary nutrients, go into starvation mode and divert the body's resources from unnecessary functions such as hair growth. Your body requires a three-month period of stability before your hair will re-enter a growth phase.

Protein and Hair Loss

Draelos also cites high-protein diets as a potential cause of hair loss. When dieters emphasize protein at the expense of carbohydrates, they run the risk of developing ketosis, which can eventually result in hair loss. When you don't ingest enough carbohydrates, your body lacks enough fuel to burn for energy, so it turns to fat. Burning fat, however, produces chemicals called ketones that become poisonous when present in high levels. According to Britain's National Health Service, ketosis occurs most often in people with diabetes, alcoholics and people who experience starvation.

Protein and Hair Strength

Although too much dietary protein can adversely affect your hair, topical protein may strengthen it. Draelos says that protein-infused conditioners can seep into the microscopic holes in your hair, strengthening it by up to 10 percent. That small percentage can make the difference between a hair that snaps during brushing or combing and a hair that remains intact. For best effect, Draelos advises leaving these conditioners on for at least 30 minutes to allow the proteins to sink into the hair shaft.

Recommendation

On its own, a high-protein diet is highly unlikely to stop thinning hair. Your best bet is to eat a diet rich in vitamins and minerals -- this means lots of healthy fruits and veggies -- and avoid fad or starvation diets. If a healthy diet and frequent protein conditioning don't halt your hair loss, see a doctor to ask about medical causes and hair re-growth pharmaceutical treatments.