Eating Disorders & Your Hair

Lillu

Just wondering if any other curlies here have had hair issues as a result of an eating disorder, and how did it affect your hair?


Lillu xxx

xtxscarletxtx

I have been in recovery from an eating disorder for almost five years and my hair has been back to normal for years. At the time of the disorder my hair was thin and believe me my hair has never been thin in my entire life. I used to comb out large clumps of hair(more than the average person...and more than the average curly) It was extremely dry and frizzy too. But usually a little while after you start eating normally for a consistant period of time your hair should be back to the way it was before....I do know a girl with straight hair who said that she had beautiful hair before her eating disorder and after she barely had any left, but she was EXTREMELY sick...hope that helps

Lillu

Hi there xtxscarletxtx!

I have had a similar experience, my hair turned dry and brittle (well even more than usual) and thinned considerably... but the weird thing was that it only thinned on one side of head! It was only on the right side, which is usually where my hair is the thickest and is the side that grows faster (I'm right-handed), so i really noticed the difference when i was going through anorexia and bulimia. I think i noticed a greater change during my bulimic phase, which was horrendous to say the least.

It is scary when u realise just how much what u do/dont put into your body can affect your hair.

Thanks for sharing your experience, I am glad to hear you are recovering and are well. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

multicultcurly

I experienced similar things too when I was anorexic, though my family intervened when it became noticable that something was wrong. My hair became extremely dry and started breaking off in the middle of the hair shaft. I also had a hard time holding food down when I tried to eat normally for the first two months. After that, my hair slowly returned to normal.

Lillu

Hi multicurly, thanks also for sharing. Did your hair return completely to normal? I havent noticed any lasting change to my hair, although I do wonder why it suddenly broke off last summer... i have no idea why that happened. I was at a low weight but not my lowest weight and was still having periods at the time, so i dont know what caused it. These days i do try to eat more protein these days. I think my hair liked it best when I was (obsessively) on Atkins!

How long ago were you ill? I hope you are well and happy now honey xxx

CurlyEyes

I stopped myself before my half bulimia half anorexia got too bad - meaning I didn't go to the hospital, but my metabolism is totally screwy. My hair was a lot thinner last year, so I think that it did affect my hair, but not too badly.

xtxscarletxtx

I had a similar problem when i was really sick, my hair started to split in the middle and to this day it's still not the same length as all my other hair and that was like 4 years ago. But i can tell you that i'm healthy now after like 5 years of trying to get my metabolism back to normal. You just have to keep going with it. As for the hair part, when i started to eat normally my hair quickly became normal again...i'll try and get a pic to show the difference but i can tell you that my hair was in better shape than ever when i ate normally again

multicultcurly

Lillu wrote: »

Hi multicurly, thanks also for sharing. Did your hair return completely to normal? I havent noticed any lasting change to my hair, although I do wonder why it suddenly broke off last summer... i have no idea why that happened. I was at a low weight but not my lowest weight and was still having periods at the time, so i dont know what caused it. These days i do try to eat more protein these days. I think my hair liked it best when I was (obsessively) on Atkins!

How long ago were you ill? I hope you are well and happy now honey xxx

Thanks. My hair and I are fine. :-) It was about eight years ago. I now eat a balanced diet and try to do everything in moderation. I no longer keep track of what I eat, how much I exercise or how much I weigh. That made it easier for me to become normal again.

I agree that eating protein keeps hair healthy. I also noticed that if I keep my stress level down, my hair and skin look great.

Lillu

xtxscarletxtx wrote: »

I had a similar problem when i was really sick, my hair started to split in the middle and to this day it's still not the same length as all my other hair and that was like 4 years ago.

Do you mean the strands actually split in the middle of the shaft, like split ends do??! Did you have to cut it off, how did you deal with it?

multicurly, im so glad to hear you are well and healthy again honey xxx

Curlyeyes, you must be so strong to have overcome this type of illness on your own. Happy to hear your better now xxxxx

xtxscarletxtx

it was really strange how it happened but one day i noticed my hair was a lot thinner and i was wondering why it wasn't as big as usual and i was feeling underneath my hair and noticed that i had a row of hair that was 1/4 the length of my other hair. i was extremely confused and didn't know what was going on but i blamed it on bad nutrition because my hair had been falling out in clumps..i mean i can't positively say that it was splitting becuase of Ed but thats the way it seemed...and my hair was not splitting as in split ends but as if it were cut...it doesn't really make too much sense but this was about 4 years ago and to this day it is still shorter but it's getting there. and the hair thats shorter is a completely different texture than the rest of my hair, but i really can't explain what happened:sad8:

xtxscarletxtx

sry i guess i didn't explain it too well the first time.

Lillu

Oh i see now wot you mean xtxscarletxtx! That would scare me to death... and you say its still not the same length as the rest of your hair even now?

I have a thin patch at the back of my head at the moment... I'm not sure if its ED-related as I am underweight but nowhere near as low as I was before, and am eating healthily... I am being optimistic and thinking its a surprise patch of super-moisturised hair that isnt as poofy as the rest hehehhe! Its right underneath right at the back and I havent looked at it yet just in case I'm actually going bald!

xtxscarletxtx

Lillu, even if it is ed related i'm sure your hair will return to normal over time...even if it's a bald spot. I never had a bald spot but i did have what your describing and my hair is now it's poofballself again lol. Stay strong.

Lillu

xtxscarletxtx wrote: »

Lillu, even if it is ed related i'm sure your hair will return to normal over time...even if it's a bald spot. I never had a bald spot but i did have what your describing and my hair is now it's poofballself again lol. Stay strong.

Thanks xtxscarletxtx, I have checked and it isnt bald thank god but it just really thin... I'll up my vitamins and protein and hopefully that will help!! xxxxx

InMediasRes

I definitely noticed a thinning, snapping, and drying out of my hair . I try to counter this by taking lots of biotin and other vitamins.

Lillu

Hi InMediasRes!!

I would say yes, getting enough vitamins is essential for ED people, so not only taking supplements but finding lots of healthy foods that are nutrient rich will help a lot too. For example I used to be vegan but made sure I had lots of fortified soya milk, so I got enough protein and vitamins, and also ate (in small amounts) different nuts and seeds, which are really good for skin and hair.

I also think that eating the right amount of fats (ewww!) has helped my hair tremendously, i dont mean fatty foods but foods with healthy fats in like avocados and oily fish. I practically live off salmon at times as its full of essential fats and has tons of protein, and if u get skinned fillets it doesnt have lots of calories! I think this has helped my hair a lot, plus I notice that my skin isnt as dry either when I have lots of salmon. I really need to get back on that... my hair is suffering a little bit these days :sad:

I have had omega supplements too, had to force myself and pretend they werent little capsules of fat... but yes I would def recommend them if you would find it easier.

Upping intake of vitamins, protein and essential fats is the way to go I reckon!

HTH, and take good care of yourself xxxxxxx

InMediasRes

Nuts, fish, fruit? wooow, I could never do that. To be honest, I live on coffee ketchup chips, sugar and vitamins. Yes this makes me indefinitely ill.

Vitamins are a savior, although I hear it's not good to actually live on them. When it comes down to it, I think this is especially difficult for us and our hair is just one of the things we sacrifice with our disorder, along with our relationships, school, body, skin.. the list just goes on and on.

What I would suggest then is that we need to be as stress free as possible.

Hrm, I'm actually at school right now, I will continue this rant when I get home.. which isn't.. untill 9pm. Then I need to write an essay.

Remember gals, the best thing we can do for our hair is love it.

Lillu

InMediasRes wrote: »

Nuts, fish, fruit? wooow, I could never do that. To be honest, I live on coffee ketchup chips, sugar and vitamins. Yes this makes me indefinitely ill.

I have had a similar mindset in the past and still do at times! It seems impossible sometimes and you cant even imagine being able to eat certain things. But the way I managed to eat healthier is by realising that I dont have to necesarily eat more, not if i dont want to.For example, the soya milk was easy cos i simply got the type that is only 26 calories instead of 126, it has the same amount of nutrients in. The nuts are insanely full of calories, but they are nutrient dense in much the same way, so therefore just a few nuts a day will give you tons of vitamins and minerals and some of the essential fats. I remember I used to make myself eat 2 small Brazil nuts a day, which i counted as 100 cals... you really dont need to eat a bag of nuts to get the benefits, just a few will do.

The fish thing was a case of finding frozen fillets with individual calorie counts on... i only buy the ones that are 150 cals per fillet, and have one with salad for my evening meal... simple but effective. Have you tried to include green salads into your eating? Cos leafy green things like spinach (i only eat it raw, like its lettuce) not only have vitamins but also lots of minerals in them too, including iron and calcium! All for like 20 cals! All these little things can contribute to improving our skin and hair, and general health... but doesnt have to compromise our food and/or weight issues.

Please please take care of yourself... and try to ensure the calories you do get are healthy calories.

InMediasRes wrote: »

Vitamins are a savior, although I hear it's not good to actually live on them. When it comes down to it, I think this is especially difficult for us and our hair is just one of the things we sacrifice with our disorder, along with our relationships, school, body, skin.. the list just goes on and on.

I agree with you totally. I have at one point or another sacrificed all the best things in my life because of the eating disorder... loving supportive boyfriend, friends, my studies, my home, lots of things. The thing is i am still doing it... i will never learn.

Please be careful honey and take care of yourself xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

InMediasRes

I actually only eat dinner, and a little bit. I always make excuses like I ate at school and am not hungry.

To be honest, no one knows about my disorder, I am very ashamed... but I seem awkward most days. I fidget, I look as though I am not paying attention, I'll fall asleep, not be able to talk properly, trip over myself... and people assume it's drugs. My best friend calls me a steatopygous which is a term used to describe a figure with a fat ass, when I tell him to stop, he won't and will make cracks about my weight thinking it's funny because I'm "not fat".

Soy milk is wonderful! I can't handle dairy.

I'm scared for next week, my memory is shot and I'm always tired. I need to get through a Latin exam, Greek art exam and a Greek test...

I'm ranting again, it's a bad day.

I wish I had supportive parents and friends. When I had told my mother years ago that I am depressed, she told me to get the **** over it.

xtxscarletxtx

InMediasRes wrote: »

I actually only eat dinner, and a little bit. I always make excuses like I ate at school and am not hungry.

To be honest, no one knows about my disorder, I am very ashamed... but I seem awkward most days. I fidget, I look as though I am not paying attention, I'll fall asleep, not be able to talk properly, trip over myself... and people assume it's drugs. My best friend calls me a steatopygous which is a term used to describe a figure with a fat ass, when I tell him to stop, he won't and will make cracks about my weight thinking it's funny because I'm "not fat".

Soy milk is wonderful! I can't handle dairy.

I'm scared for next week, my memory is shot and I'm always tired. I need to get through a Latin exam, Greek art exam and a Greek test...

I'm ranting again, it's a bad day.

I wish I had supportive parents and friends. When I had told my mother years ago that I am depressed, she told me to get the **** over it.

I can totally relate...or i could have totally related a few years ago. But that is terrible that you don't have anyone supportive of you!!! My parents were all for getting me help when i reached a all time low, but most of the time they weren't into doing what the doctors said would help me. They just wanted me to "snap out of it" But im happy to say after being hospitalized three times and attended day treatment 5 times, four years later i'm doing awesome and every year I have less and less bad days. But you should seek help because it only gets worse! You don't want this for yourself, it takes everything away...some things you'll never get back. Please help yourself if no one else will. Don't be ashamed. You need help and thats it, it's okay to ask for help!!!! Take care..if you ever want to talk to anyone you can talk to me...I've been there

sillyellie

InMediasRes wrote:

I actually only eat dinner, and a little bit. I always make excuses like I ate at school and am not hungry.

To be honest, no one knows about my disorder, I am very ashamed... but I seem awkward most days. I fidget, I look as though I am not paying attention, I'll fall asleep, not be able to talk properly, trip over myself... and people assume it's drugs. My best friend calls me a steatopygous which is a term used to describe a figure with a fat ass, when I tell him to stop, he won't and will make cracks about my weight thinking it's funny because I'm "not fat".

Soy milk is wonderful! I can't handle dairy.

I'm scared for next week, my memory is shot and I'm always tired. I need to get through a Latin exam, Greek art exam and a Greek test...

I'm ranting again, it's a bad day.

I wish I had supportive parents and friends. When I had told my mother years ago that I am depressed, she told me to get the **** over it.

My psychiatrist, told my parents I was depressed and they chuckled while telling him I was only twelve. Years later in eleventh grade when I finally told them i had suffered from anorexia and bulimia on and off since 4th grade, they were baffled.
I was told, "you are half black, black girls dont have eating disorders." Surprisingly i hid it for so long even at my lowest weight they thought it was phase.

You know parents dont understand unless they have had that experience also.

CurlyEyes

The worst part is that this whole thing because of your dysfunctional parents in many cases - who do you turn to? I thought I was better, you know, self-healed. Today I nearly made myself throw up. How do you stop from relapsing into an eating disorder?

sillyellie

CurlyEyes wrote: »

The worst part is that this whole thing because of your dysfunctional parents in many cases - who do you turn to? I thought I was better, you know, self-healed. Today I nearly made myself throw up. How do you stop from relapsing into an eating disorder?

When i was at my worst i turned to my friends
surprisingly i made numerous friends whom secretly
had ed's also. i never needed to share this part of me with my parents.



Gosh you sound like me, told after I ate a whole can of ravioli, a sausage and a waffle i had to sit in the bathroom telling myself one time couldnt hurt.

Its just that full feeling that makes me feel uncomfortable. Its really pathetic actually as many
times I relapsed and promised myself i wouldnt anymore.

Lillu

CurlyEyes wrote: »

The worst part is that this whole thing because of your dysfunctional parents in many cases - who do you turn to? I thought I was better, you know, self-healed.

Curlyeyes, you are absolutely right, i know the exact cause of all my eating/body images problems in one way or another they r down to my total lack of proper parents!

My mom reacted similarly to yours InMediaRes, she was totally dismissive and then got really patronising and angry about it... she would make me huge meals and actually expect me to eat them out of guilt!!! Then of course i wud say 'hell no' and she would rant on about how i was 'grown woman and shud stop behaving like a teeneage kid', etc,etc. Imagine her reaction when i told her what my consellor had said about it all being down to her being totally f**ked up... she said i was lying, didnt know why i had told my counsellor lies about her... and so on, so i just left and never mentioned any of it again. This made me feel even worse, so i simply moved away... within a week i was gone, and it was the best thing i ever did.

sillyellie wrote: »

When i was at my worst i turned to my friends
surprisingly i made numerous friends whom secretly
had ed's also. i never needed to share this part of me with my parents.

This is also so true! I coudlnt believe that BOTH of my best friends have eating disorders... as soon as i started telling them about my problems, they slowly came out with more of theirs that were the same in most cases, like laxative abuse, throwing up... but it was like we'd all been too ashamed to be honest about it before, and so we'd ended up going thru the worst bits all alone... its so sad. But sometimes i think we trigger each other tho... it is bad but if one of them stops eating i immediately feel fat and like i need to restrict too, although id never admit it and i try to encourage them to eat sensibly.

To be honest ive never found anyone to whom i can fully turn to about the ED thing... the people who shud be there are either too selfish (mom) or i dont want to hurt (rest of family, boyf), have similar probs themselves (close friends) or else i'm too embarrased (everyone else!). The only person who i found helped at all was my old counsellor... but shes a few hundred miles away now :sad7:

CurlyEyes wrote: »

Today I nearly made myself throw up. How do you stop from relapsing into an eating disorder?

Oh curlyeyes i am so sad about this... i wish i knew the answer for you... i personally havent thrown up for a few months now, when i had a small relapse, but i think about it a lot... i think just remembering that if u are able to stop yourself from doing it just one time then you are stronger for it, and hopefully it will get easier each time to say no. Let me know how things go, and everyone, take good care xxx

moodydove

Lillu wrote: »

Hi there xtxscarletxtx!

I have had a similar experience, my hair turned dry and brittle (well even more than usual) and thinned considerably... but the weird thing was that it only thinned on one side of head! It was only on the right side, which is usually where my hair is the thickest and is the side that grows faster (I'm right-handed), so i really noticed the difference when i was going through anorexia and bulimia. I think i noticed a greater change during my bulimic phase, which was horrendous to say the least.

It is scary when u realise just how much what u do/dont put into your body can affect your hair.

Thanks for sharing your experience, I am glad to hear you are recovering and are well. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

This is exactly what happened to me! And I've recovered from bulimia, also. Thanks for giving me hope.

09robiha

My hair just damn straight stopped growing and became really brittle and dry. After three years of anorexia it jsut started falling out and im not suprised my body was brutalised so much in those years. I cut my bsl+ hair to chin to save what was left when I started getting better.

09robiha

CurlyEyes wrote: »

The worst part is that this whole thing because of your dysfunctional parents in many cases - who do you turn to? I thought I was better, you know, self-healed. Today I nearly made myself throw up. How do you stop from relapsing into an eating disorder?

CurlyeyesI'll tell you something. I suffered severe anorexia (full blown for three years, was probably underlying formany years before that) and everyday I stilltry to challenge what is left of my eating disorder.Something .Anything. I know it will NEVER really be gone, but by eating that cookie I wanted or something as simple as not letting myself do those 5 extra mintues in the gym letsme know that I am the one in the control.Me, Hannah the person, and not anorexia.
Look at what you wrote, you said 'nearly'and thats so important. The fact that you resistant,that you didnt let the eating disorder win is a huge step, and if you can say to yourself everyday: I am ME, I am what I am and I am beautiful beacause I am me, then your are well on your way to recovery.

crimsonshedemon

Back in my teenage years, early 20s, my hair suffered because of my diet. I exercising a lot and really limiting the food I consumed. I believe the lack of proper nutrition is the reason my hair fell out. Thankfully it grew back.
During high school, I dropped weight quickly. Like many of you, my parents were oblivious. To this day, unless my mother has experienced it, it just can't/doesn't happen. She had easy pregnancies so mine had to be easy.. when in fact, my first was HORRIBLE.
I now have lupus and she doesn't believe it when I'm flaring.. I must have the flu, need to take my vitamins and wear glasses (I have 20/20 vision)
People handle situations differently and while we yearn for sympathy and understanding, it's not always there, sadly.

That's one reason the internet is a great thing. We can meet other people with similar experiences.
From my experience, I didn't feel worthy. My weight was the one thing I could control while the rest of my life felt out of control. Eating and exercise were all under my control. What I've learned now that control is just an illusion.
When we don't eat, we don't function well so our life goes into a downward spiral. Talk about lack of control. And what you do in high school greatly affects your adult life.
Believe that you are worthy of taking care of yourself. If you relapse, it's ok. Start over. We learn by mistakes.... pick up and start over. It's ok.
You can get better. Find your triggers. Explore your emotions. Fine someone to talk to. There's a lot of free counseling out there.
If your parents don't understand, don't talk to them about it. It'll just upset you more. One day, maybe a counselor can talk to them for you. They still love you. They just don't "get it". Hang in there. And if you need to talk, we're here.
Nicole

curlypearl

I'm not sure what made me read this thread because I don't suffer from ED but it made me so sad for everyone here. ED isn't my problem, but I've had my share of psychological and physical illness so I can relate in a way.

I wish all of you the strength to conquer your demons. Hang on.

Curlgurl515

Well I've never had an eating disorder, but there was one year that I didn't gain any weight. That year my hair was a lot thinner. Once I gained the weight I needed it went back to the way it was. Hopefully this will be the same to you

RobinP92202

I didn't have a true eating disorder but had gallbladder disease that caused extreme all day nausea and I couldn't eat and lost 60lbs in just a few months. I went from a size 10 to a size 00 (could fit in child size 10s).

My hair fell out in huge clumps, especially around the temples. I had bald spots right up front. My skin also turned sallow yellow green and I had huge bruises covering my skin. It was horrible.

Sent from my Ally using CurlTalk App