Are Hair Loss and IBS Connected?

By Tiziana Boaro

2 min read

After my IBS diagnosis, what happened to me was an unexplainable issue: hair loss and hair thinning.
I'm not talking about losing patches of hair as it happens to those who suffer from alopecia areata, but my hair was much more sparse and less dense, especially on the sides of the head.

I honestly started to freak out. My hair has always been my statement. Having thick, long, and healthy hair has always been part of my persona. I got compliments all the time. This happened on top of a harsh time in my life, and everything was changing quickly, making me even more stressed.

I started thinking about what could be the cause of my hair loss, and stress was the thing that first came to my mind. Ok, then what? I meditate, but I cannot "stop" being stressed. I thus wondered, might IBS have something to do with my hair loss?

Talking to doctors about hair loss

I immediately called my gastroenterologist and asked her if there might be any connection between the 2, apparently unrelated things. She replied that there was a good chance that IBS might be involved in my hair loss, but I needed to see a dermatologist or a trichologist.

I then looked online and found numerous articles about the topic. Thank God I wasn't alone. I decided to book an appointment with my dermatologist; she looked at my hair and scalp and encouraged me, explaining that not having bald patches is a good sign. It means that my hair has the power to regrow and improve. She even confirmed what my gastroenterologist told me.

Hair loss and IBS

Of course, our hair health comprises various factors, such as genetics, lifestyle, and care, but mostly, our inner health. As we all know by now, the digestive system is intricately connected with every other part of our body, and it's in charge, among many more things, of absorbing the nutrients to stay healthy and balanced.

This is where the trick happens. All the minerals, vitamins, and nutrients might not be absorbed properly by having IBS. Hence, one symptom might be hair loss. Not everyone with IBS will suffer from a hair issue, but it might happen.

My hair loss issue resolved

Soon after, I took some hair supplements my dermatologist prescribed. She also suggested adding 3 drops of rosemary oil to my palm and mixing it with shampoo while washing my hair regularly, and after 4 months, I can finally see an improvement.

I'm just so relieved, it's going to take time to get my long thick hair back, and I might look a little wild with all these flying baby hair on my head, but I feel so lucky I found a solution to this issue.

I'm aware that hair loss is mostly an aesthetic symptom, but it made me feel sad and uncomfortable, just as much as being super bloated all the time.

I've learned that this is another face of IBS. I got so blessed to find serious professionals who gave me a solution that works for me. If you struggle with the same problem, call your doctor, it might be a very solvable concern.

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lwvinson Member
Do you mind me asking what supplement she prescribed? I went to a dermatologist, who only prescribed me a very strong multivitamin, which I was unable to take.
1. Tiziana Boaro Contributor
 <inline-mention username="lwvinson" user-id="2313259"/> my dermatologist told me that it needs to have L-cystine, the one that I use is called Cystiphane but bear in mind that I’m in Europe. Of course ask your doctor first!
Pooppy Member
I can totally relate to this symptom! I had long, thick hair to my knees! I was my "beaty mark" I never dyed it, permed it nor messed with it with chemicals, and used a tiny bead of hair gel to keep it tidy for work. Otherwise, I let it loose or wore it in braids. I think that's why it grew so long! Then my dormant Crohn's showed its ugly self. My hair was falling out in amounts that my hubby was wondering if something deadly was going on with me! I mean, after washing my hair in the shower, a huge ball of hair had accumulated at the drain, which has a screen mesh, and one time I forgot to clean it out; and he just about freaked out and was very concerned. Yep, he looked up Crohn's and IBS conditions, and it was the lack of nutrients in my now miserable diet that are affecting my hair and skin. So, after adjusting the diet, my hair is still long, but no longer that thick 'anaconda' of a braid. I keep it at waist length and treated with much more care than before! I can SO relate to this! I'll look into the rosemary oil which sounds up my alley! Thanks for sharing! 
1. Karina Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="Pooppy" user-id="6709294"/> It makes a lot of sense that the lack of nutrients can cause hair loss. Have you tried working with a nutritionist to solve this issue? I really hope that the rosemary oil will work for you and you'll get your thick hair back! Wishing you all the best, Karina (team member)
2. Tiziana Boaro Contributor
 <inline-mention username="Pooppy" user-id="6709294"/> oh wow! Yeah, the lack of nutrients can affect different areas, so it’s a kind of never ending circle! I hope you will find what works for you ❤️
joey Member
Yes, was it B vitamins that helped? 
1. Tiziana Boaro Contributor
 <inline-mention username="joey" user-id="2298780"/> it has Vitamin B too! It’s apparently important to have L-cystine as first ingredient
explodingguts Member
Some happy news! Thanks for sharing.
CommunityMember1372 Member
I am also experiencing quite a bit of hair loss during and after the long illness and death of my father, and being a caregiver for my mother who has Alzheimer's which has also caused a huge flare in my IBS symptoms almost to the point I'm unable to eat much of anything. I have an appointment with my dermatologist coming up. I'm going to talk to her about my hair loss and I need to make an appointment with a gastroenterologist. Thanks for relating your experience.
1. Karina Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMember1372" user-id="4840501"/> I'm so sorry. All of this must be so hard, I can totally understand why your IBS is so bad at the moment. Hopefully you'll be able to get some relief with the help of your dermatologist and gastroenterologist. Wishing you all the best, Karina (team member)
2. Tiziana Boaro Contributor
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMember1372" user-id="4840501"/> oh, what a difficult time it must have been for you. I can’t stress enough how important is to talk to health professionals. I’m even aware that being an Italian citizen is a big privilege when it comes to health.. I wish you all the best!
Graham Cox Member
Have short or very short hair for a year or two. Papaya.
1. Karina Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="Graham Cox" user-id="6722630"/> That could certainly be an option while the hair grows back! Karina (team member)
hateibs Member
This is so interesting, and thank you for writing about it! For the past couple of years I was always finding loose hairs everywhere. Hairs come out when I wash my hair, and every night when getting ready for bed in the bathroom. To some extent that always happened and I didn't think anything of it, until particularly this past year, I have noticed my hair is thinner and wispier. Mainly on top at the front, and just at each side of my head. The right side is worse than the left. Some of the hair in those areas has got shorter too, so I'm ending up with a slightly layered look around my face. I always had thick hair all my life. I thought it was just the process of aging (I am nearly 70) My hair is long, but not extra long: between shoulder length and waist length. I usually wear it in a loose plait to one side. It still looks fairly nice, but I can definitely see there is a difference now. While my diet is a bit restricted owing to what foods I can tolerate, I do get the basic nutrients, and appear to have no deficiencies. But of course my diet is not what it was 4 or 5 years ago. I also get plenty of exercise outdoors, and good sleep generally. I eat enough protein I think. I couldn't understand why my hair is thinning quite noticeably (to me anyway, though no one else notices any change) Using Rosemary oil is a great idea. I remember my mother used to give me that to rinse my hair with when I was about 12. Since those days I had forgotten about it! I love the smell of Rosemary too. I remember when I was younger though, that I would always lose more hair whenever I had not been well (with anything) even though I always upped my nutrition during those times. So I wonder if it is related to nutrition, or to something else, such as hair is lost when the body is working hard against some un-well-ness of any kind? 
1. hateibs Member
 <inline-mention username="Tiziana Boaro" user-id="4506959"/> That makes me wonder because I also had Covid early in 2020. Maybe it's an "after the virus" thing? I wouldn't be surprised if that had a big part to play. It made me smile that you always crave baked potatoes after a shower! 😀 Oh my gosh I LOVE baked potatoes. If you can eat them, go for it. I could eat them, but sadly not the lovely crispy skins any more 🙁 Only the middles. But that with a nice bit of butter on them...wow.
2. Karina Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="hateibs" user-id="4146293"/> That could be true. I had problems with losing a lot of hair during my university years and it was due to iron deficiency. I guess anything that causes stress to the body could potentially have an effect like this? Karina (team member)