The HCG diet is a weight loss protocol that consists of administering daily injections of the fertility drug human chorionic gonadotropin with a very low calorie diet of just 500 to 800 calories a day, according to MayoClinic.com. Both the HCG treatment and extremely low caloric intake can produce numerous side effects, including hair loss. HCG is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for weight loss. Please talk to your physician if you are using this method to lose weight or experiencing abnormal amounts of hair loss.
Malnutrition and Hair Loss
MayoClinic.com and the Arizona State College of Nursing and Health Innovation report that the HCG diet can cause extreme protein and nutritional deficiencies. According to the CEBU Cardiovascular Center, malnutrition and dietary deficiencies can cause hair loss. If your hair loss or shedding is from malnutrition, it is likely to be temporary. According to MayoClinic.com, permanent hair loss occurs when the hair follicle is either shrunk or damaged. Dr. Victor Hasson and Dr. Jerry Wong, hair restoration physicians and senior members of the acclaimed "International Society of Restoration Surgeons," note that genetic pattern hair loss or androgenic alopecia accounts for 99 percent of all cases of permanent hair loss. Other conditions, including nutritional deficiencies, only make up about 1 percent of hair loss cases.
Extreme Dieting Can Accelerate Pattern Baldness
Hair loss on the HCG diet can be permanent if you are genetically prone to androgenic alopecia. Dr. William Rassman, hair restoration physician and member of the "International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery," states that extreme dieting can cause hair loss. Dr. Rassman states that "diets that tend to reduce a good, balanced nutritional intake of foods are known to cause acceleration of the genetic balding process." Dr. Rassman continues to explain that malnutrition and the added stress on your body may accelerate androgenic alopecia or pattern baldness.
HCG Increases Testosterone Levels
San Diego State University states that HCG increases your testosterone levels and is considered to be equivalent to the exogenous administration of testosterone. Medical News Today explains that testosterone naturally converts to the more androgenic hormone, dihydrotestosterone or DHT, which attacks and progressively shrinks hair follicles that are genetically predisposed to androgenic alopecia. You want to avoid any compounds that can increase your testosterone and DHT levels if you are prone to androgenic alopecia. According to Medical News Today, DHT tends to prevent proteins and vitamins and minerals from reaching the hair follicle. If you are predisposed to androgenic alopecia, increasing your DHT levels coupled with malnutrition from the HCG diet may result in significant hair loss.
Thyroid Problems
The HCG diet can cause thyroid imbalances that can cause hair loss. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center the HCG diet can cause hyperthyroidism. The chemical structure of HCG closely resembles your natural thyroid stimulating hormone. Ironically, significantly restricting your calories by following a diet such as the HCG diet can cause your thyroid to slow down or a condition known as "hypothyroidism." Like hyperthyroidism, Dr. William Rassman explains that hypothyroidism can also cause hair loss.
References
- Mayo Clinic: HCG Diet Is It Safe and Effective?
- Arizona State University: The Newest Diet Fad is.... A Hormone?
- CEBU Cardiovascular Center: Baldness
- Balding Blog; Dr. William Rassman: Hair Loss Started After Extreme Dieting, But Doctor Says It is MPB
- Mayo Clinic: Hair Loss: Causes
- Hasson and Wong: Top 5 Hair Loss FAQs
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