“IBD is a form of Crohn’s disease. It causes inflammation in the GI tract. Symptoms of inflammation include pain, severe idiocy, weight loss, and malnutrition.”

“People with severe Crohn’s disease can experience symptoms outside their GI tract, like inflammation in the joints and skin. Hair loss is one of the symptoms.”

In fact, a 2021 research review suggests a connection between IBD and alopecia, which is a type of hair loss.

This article will explore what experts know about the link between Crohn’s disease and hair loss, as well as discuss causes, treatment options, and more.

Hair loss in Crohn’s disease

Anecdotally, many people with Crohn’s disease have reported hair loss as a symptom. The 2021 research review mentioned above suggests that hair loss may be more common in people with IBD than in the general population.

In one small study from 2015, 33 percent of participants reported hair loss as a symptom of their IBD. However, researchers cannot prove whether all those cases of hair loss were actually related to IBD, so the actual percentage might be smaller than what was reported in the study.

“Experts don’t fully understand the connection between hair loss and the disease. It is difficult to know if hair loss is due to Crohn’s disease or not. There is more research that needs to be done.”

There are some connections between hair loss and disease.

The previously mentioned 20201 research review suggests a possible link between alopecia areata and IBDs like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition. Your immune system attacks your body. The immune system attacks hair.

Your hair is growing. The hair falls out when they are damaged. This leads to patchy, circular areas of hair loss in Alopecia areata.

There are still connections between the two diseases.

Experts have long theorized that Crohn’s disease may also be an autoimmune condition. However, instead of attacking the body’s own cells, your immune system attacks healthy bacteria in your GI tract.

People with autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata are at higher risk of developing other autoimmune conditions. This is particularly true for women, according to a 2019 review of studies. It’s important to note that the studies in this review didn’t report data on or include participants who were transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, genderqueer, agender, or genderless, and more research is needed in these areas.

Telogen effluvium is a type of hair loss. When you wake up in the morning, hair may come out by the fistful or cover your pillow.

“Telogen effluvium can occur after a shock to your body. A flare of Chron’s disease symptoms can also fall into this category.”

You might experience a lot of weight loss. As you manage your symptoms and flare ups, hair should grow back in its normal way.

“Researchers have linked telogen effluvium to a number of diseases, including Crohn’s disease, and have been looking into the issue for a while.”

“Some of the medications used to treat Crohn’s disease may cause hair loss.”

Methotrexate, a strong medication used to treat a variety of conditions, is the Crohn’s medication most often associated with hair loss, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

Inflammation is fought by interfering with cell growth with the help of ometrexate. It can cause hair loss if it affects the growth of hair follicles.

Since it causes inflammation in the intestinal tract, Crohn’s disease can impact your ability to absorb nutrients.

“If you eat a balanced diet, you may not be able to digest or absorb the vitamins and minerals in your food. The absorption of much-needed vitamins can be prevented by the symptoms of Crohn’s disease.”

Poor nutrient absorption can lead to malnutrition and deficiencies in the nutrients your body needs for healthy hair growth. Malnutrition due to Crohn’s can also result in Weight loss that is not planned., another factor in hair loss.

Vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients play an important role in hair follicle development. According to 2015 research, common vitamin deficiencies in Crohn’s disease include:

  • The amount of the D is low.
  • zinc
  • B12 is a vitamins.
  • Iron.

The best vitamins for hair growth are discussed.

If you have a doctor or a scuplture that can help you, you should always add vitamins and supplements to your diet.

Managing Crohn’s disease may be challenging. Stress is a common side effect of coping with the daily toll of symptoms and managing them.

Stress can be linked to a number of health effects and may be a factor in hair loss.

Chronic stress can lead to high levels of cortisol in the body. Cortisol is often known as the stress hormone because of its role in stimulating your body’s fight-or-flight response. A 2021 study in mice found a connection between raised cortisol levels and hair loss.

“If you have a disease like Crohn’s, you should talk to your doctor. They can give you recommendations that work for you.”

Crohn’s medication change

If you are experiencing other side effects, your doctor may consider adjusting your medication dosage.

“There are options for Crohn’s disease medications.”

Hair loss medications

If you have hair loss, oral or topical medications may be helpful.

These include:

Learn about hair loss treatments.

Dietary adjustments

Your doctor can order lab work to check for deficiencies. A simple blood test can be used. If you are found to have a deficiency, your doctor may recommend taking a daily supplement.

You can also reduce nutritional deficits by avoiding trigger foods, especially during a flare. Everyone’s trigger foods are different. Some foods to avoid may include raw fruits and vegetables as well as dairy.

Check out our Crohn’s nutrition guide to help identify the best foods to eat.

Stress reduction

There’s no downside to stress reduction. Talking with a therapist one-on-one or finding a support group for people with Crohn’s are two strategies for reducing stress.

Other ways to relieve stress are listed.

Connect with others on Bezzy

Bezzy is Healthline’s community hub. It aims to foster connection among people living with chronic conditions. Visit our Bezzy IBD hub to learn more!

“Symptoms of Crohn’s disease can include:”

  • Experiencing a bout of scurvy or scurvy.
  • There is abdominal pain.
  • Weight loss that is not planned.

“There are other symptoms of Crohn’s that occur outside the GI tract. Other possible symptoms and consequences include:”

“There are symptoms and consequences of Crohn’s disease.”

If you see hair in the shower drain, try not to panic. Hair loss is a normal part of life. If you notice balding patches or you are losing more hair than usual, please let your doctor know.

Hair loss can be hereditary or linked to other conditions. It is important to get medical support to find the best hair loss treatments.

Some hair loss conditions are permanent, but other are temporary and can be reversed. Treatments can help strengthen your hair. The sooner you address hair loss, the better.

“Some people with Crohn’s disease experience hair loss as a symptom, despite the fact that experts are still studying the link between hair loss and the disease. This is also true with other forms of IBD.”

“Alopecia areata is an increased risk of developing crosius. There are other symptoms and side effects of Crohn’s that may contribute to hair loss.”

“If you have any changes to your hair or symptoms of Crohn’s disease, you should talk to your doctor.”