Working out is good for your body, but it can be bad for your hair. How is that possible?
All doctors tell you to exercise, but sometimes too much of a good thing turns bad. It seems like a double-edged sword, right? You want to exercise for optimal health and wellness, but if it leads to baldness, there goes your self-esteem.
Now what?
There are rumors, thoughts, and conclusions floating all over the internet, and it all boils down to the same thing. Too much exercise can cause stress on the body, which leads to hair loss. Excessive exercise may also increase the body’s testosterone level, leading to hair loss.
What should you do? Learn more about how it works below.
Exercise, Nutrition, and Hair Loss
Exercise itself doesn’t cause hair loss, but certain factors surround hair loss may. If you obsessively exercise, starve yourself, or restrict your diet in any way, hair loss may occur. When your body doesn’t get the nutrient it needs, it stops working right, starting at the top of your head.
Your hair follicles need nutrients to properly cycle through the phases of growth, transition, and resting. Without proper nutrition, hair follicles often skip the growth and transition phase, moving straight to resting (aka falling out).
Exercising is great for your body, but overdoing it and not replenishing your body with the nutrients it needs can have the unexpected side effect of hair loss.
Weightlifting and Hair Loss
There isn’t a direct connection to weightlifting and hair loss, meaning every man (or woman) that lifts weights won’t automatically lose their hair, but it is a possibility, here’s why.
Weightlifting increases testosterone and high levels of testosterone may lead to hair loss. In many men, testosterone converts to DHT, which is responsible for shrinking hair follicles which leads to thinner hair, aka hair loss.
This doesn’t mean if you start working out you’ll immediately have thinner hair. The effects of long-term weightlifting, though, may result in more hair loss if you don’t prevent it by using DHT blocking shampoos and conditioners, such as those offered by Hair Restoration Laboratories.
Supplements and Hair Loss
Weightlifters and those trying to gain weight or muscle often take supplements to aid in their efforts. The most common are DHEA and creatine – both of which increase the body’s testosterone level. If you’re predisposed to male pattern baldness because of your genes, the testosterone may convert to DHT and cause hair thinning or baldness.
Take Care of your Body and your Hair
The bottom line is your body and hair need proper care. Feed your body the right nutrients, take the right vitamins, and exercise moderately. This gives your body and hair what it needs. But, if you’re predisposed to male pattern baldness or already have thinning hair, consider using products that strengthen your hair follicles and fight the risk of hair loss while you do what’s right and exercise for good physical and mental health.
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