Heavy menstrual bleeding (outlined by the Mayo Clinic as soaking by means of a number of pads or tampons each hour for a number of consecutive hours) could cause iron-deficiency anemia. And iron is required to make hemoglobin, which is what oxygen sticks to so it may be transported all through the physique. And hair follicles want oxygen to thrive.
“The whole lot in your physique requires oxygen, so when you’ve got a deficiency in hemoglobin to hold oxygen, your physique is wise and it’ll ship oxygen to probably the most crucial components,” says Jessica Shepherd, MD, a board-certified OB-GYN in Dallas, Texas. “Your main organs want oxygen extra, so you are going to have an absence of oxygen going to your hair follicles, and that is if you may see a lower in hair development or enhance in hair loss.”
Heavy menstrual bleeding could be the results of fibroids, hormone imbalances like PCOS, endometriosis, and extra. An important factor you are able to do is get to the foundation of the issue. “If it is an iron deficiency concern, some folks may want a blood transfusion, some folks can take iron dietary supplements,” says Dr. Shepherd, who can be chief medical officer at Verywell Well being. As you replenish the iron, you’ll be able to work along with your physician to determine find out how to cease the heavy bleeding—exploring all the pieces from hormonal contraception to surgical procedure.
Within the meantime, Dina Strachan, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York Metropolis, says there are issues you are able to do to advertise hair development, like attempting hair-wellness dietary supplements.
“I take into account these extra like altering the soil,” says Dr. Strachan. For instance, when you’ve got a plant with a fungal an infection, you’ll be able to deal with the an infection but additionally give it some new nutrient-rich soil. “You deal with the fungal an infection, however giving it good vitamin additionally helps as nicely,” she provides. The identical goes on your hair—you need to deal with the foundation trigger, however including in some additional vitamins might help issues alongside.”
Jessica Cho, MD, an integrative medication physician and hair restoration specialist, provides that whereas these dietary supplements might help revive the strands you do have—they will not make new hair develop. “Hair nutritional vitamins are going to handle the hair shaft issues just like the hair texture, brittleness, and dryness—they will truly make the hair enriched and shinier,” says Dr. Cho. “When persons are utilizing collagen, peptides, Nutrafol ($88), hair nutritional vitamins and all that conditioning, it’s extra on your hair shaft of current hairs.” For development, you’ll be able to attempt medical choices, like an over-the-counter minoxidil answer ($47), or prescriptions like Finasteride or oral minoxidil.
You can even discover at-home scalp-stimulating strategies like microneedling and LED remedy that enhance scalp circulation and thus the circulation of oxygen and vitamins. Moreover, there are in-office therapies like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, however as a result of PRP makes use of your blood, it may possibly solely be efficient when you’ve got wholesome, oxygen-and-nutrient-rich blood. “PRP could be inconsistent as a result of it’s depending on the standard of the platelets of the person, or the expansion elements of their platelets,” says Dr. Strachan. “I see a variety of sufferers who’ve already had PRP, and it wasn’t profitable.”
An important factor you are able to do is figure along with your physician to find out and deal with the foundation reason behind your bleeding. That manner, you’ll be able to hold your blood depend at a stage the place your physique would not must determine between sending oxygen to your organs or your scalp—there shall be sufficient blood to go round.
“That is one thing that positively could be restored,” says Dr. Shepherd. “It does take time as a result of hair development occurs in levels. However first, it is about discovering an answer and ensuring we’re working in direction of lowering the bleeding, after which ensuring that we’re serving to restore the hair in the easiest way attainable, that is wholesome. Nevertheless it does take time.”
