I’m a GP and here’s how your morning cuppa could trigger hair loss

HAIR loss can be distressing and can impact your self esteem.

But one doctor has revealed how your morning routine could actually be making the issue worse.

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Most people will reach for a cup of coffee or tea first thing, and while it might give you a boost of energy, it could be damaging your hair.

Ingredients in black tea and coffee can put a strain on your iron levels which could trigger hair loss.

Dr Sara Kayat explained that losing around 100 to 150 strands of hair a day is normal but that some people can lose more down to stress.

Most of the time the hair loss will stop once your stress levels ease, but that can be easier said than done.

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With that in mind, Dr Kayat, who is working with said the tannins in black tea can block the absorption of iron, which may increase the risk of iron deficiency and in turn result in hair loss.

"Conversely, foods high in vitamin C help with the absorption of iron", she added.

Coffee contains around 4.6 per cent tannin, while tea has around 11.2 per cent tannin.

Tannins are molecules that stick to proteins and are found in tree wood and bark, unripe fruits and the leaves of plants.

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Dr Kayat said that it's not just an iron deficiency that can be damaging to your hair, but that people with lactose intolerances can also suffer.

While most people with lactose intolerance aren't downing pints of milk, Dr Kayat said dairy can exacerbate skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and dandruff, which may affect the health of the scalp and therefore affect hair health.

"A healthy scalp is so important as follicles that are affected by infection, dandruff, oil and debris may affect the growth of hair.

"Signs that your scalp may not be healthy include itchiness, flakiness or dandruff, redness, oiliness and spots or bumps.

"Often simple changes to your usual hair care regime can be enough to remedy this but, if not, you should be reviewed by a doctor", she said.

READ THE LABEL

Dr Kayat said that you should avoid hair styling products that contain alcohol.

"Some kinds of hairspray can damage your hair and dry out the scalp.  Always read the ingredient list before choosing a hairspray. 

"Repeated use of hairspray between washing your hair may cause a build-up and create layers of dandruff-like particles that flake off. 2

If you are styling your hair with hairspray, try to wash hair regularly to avoid build-up of styling products and scalp irritations."

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How you handle your stress levels can also impact hair loss and said if you don't seek help them it could mean you experience further hair loss down the line.

"I also recommend stress management techniques you can do at home including yoga, meditation, deep  breathing, journaling and spending time outdoors", Dr Kayat added.