Kratom Hair Loss: Helpful Tips to Reduce and Manage Hair Loss
Signs of hair loss include bald spots, a receding hairline, an itchy scalp, and hair falling out when combing or washing. If you observe these signs when using kratom, it is only natural to want to establish the reasons for hair loss and ways to reduce and manage it.
Fortunately, this guide covers this and more.
Does Kratom Cause Hair Loss?
The benefits and side effects of kratom are not extensively documented since there is limited research in this field. This evergreen tropical tree has been used as a herbal medicine for treating psychological, digestive, and physical pain by the natives of Southeast Asia.
Most of what we currently know about kratom's effectiveness and side effects relies on users’ comments and observations. There is no scientific evidence to prove that kratom causes hair loss, but some kratom users mention they experienced it.
With no scientific evidence to link kratom strains and thinning hair, there are a few potential reasons why kratom causes hair loss.
Kratom Is an Immunostimulant
When kratom is repeatedly used over extended periods, it can lead to hair loss. Kratom is an immunostimulant, meaning its alkaloid chemicals stimulate the immune system to produce white blood cells necessary for fighting inflammation and resisting infections. However, the repeated stimulation of the immune system can stall other biological functions like growing healthy hair.
Think of it this way; some biological functions are more critical than others. In this case, maintaining a healthy immune system free of infections is of utmost importance to growing your hair. So, if the immune system is constantly overstimulated, it may cause the hair follicles to enter a dormant or resting phase. As the old hairs fall out, there is no production of new hairs to replace them, leading to hair loss.
In addition, kratom’s immunostimulant properties cause inflammation, an immune response responsible for sending healing responses to the affected body parts. Increased inflammation can affect the scalp by triggering the immune cells to attack your hair follicles or reduce the blood flow in these cells. This slowly leads to hair loss.
Kratom Causes Hormonal Changes
Although scientists are yet to relate kratom and low testosterone levels, a 2018 case study established that it can cause secondary hypogonadism. Active ingredients in kratom bind to the mu-receptor, similar to opioids, to cause low energy, motivation, libido, and testosterone levels. With low testosterone levels comes decreased hair growth.
Additionally, free testosterone is converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to cause male baldness and hair loss.
Kratom Affects the Opioid System
Kratom alkaloids similarly interact with the opioid system like opioids. The alkaloids offer analgesic relief, relaxation, and a sense of euphoria. By acting as an opioid, kratom can also cause hair thinning, a side effect associated with opioids.
Traces of Pesticides and Heavy Metals
Some farmers use chemical pesticides when growing kratom. When used correctly, these pesticides wear off before the drug is packaged. However, improper spraying may leave some chemicals behind. For instance, excessive amounts of selenium-based pesticides can contribute to hair brittleness and loss.
Moreover, some kratom products are contaminated with heavy metals. In 2018, the FDA tested 30 kratom products only to find high concentrations of heavy metals. These metals may not directly result in hair loss, but they can cause health conditions that do.
Other Underlying Conditions
In other cases, a user may have underlying conditions responsible for hair loss. For instance, poor diet, stress, weight loss, genetics, imbalanced hormone levels, aging, and medical conditions can trigger hair loss.
A sudden natural or unnatural drop of hormones from using drugs or supplements can result in hair loss. Or, if your family has a history of baldness, it can be passed down to you. Besides, chronic stress is known to cause telogen effluvium, a condition characterized by temporary hair loss. Plus, medication like antibiotics, birth control pills, anabolic steroids, NSAID pain medications, and some cancer medications cause loss of hair.
If a user has any of the above triggers when using kratom, they may be quick to blame kratom when they notice signs of hair loss.
6 Tips for Reducing the Chances of Hair
Since you do not want to experience hair loss when using kratom, here are six pointers to keep your hair healthy.
1. Stick to Low Doses
Some users admit that they experienced hair loss due to using high kratom doses over extended periods. So, you can turn this around by only using low doses of kratom. And if you observe hair loss, stop the dose altogether. Users mention that their hair started growing a month or two after they stopped using kratom.
2. Take Supplements
A deficiency in Biotin, Vitamin B, C, and Vitamin D can contribute to hair loss. So, include these vitamins and supplements in your diet to promote healthy hair. You can also take iron, silica, omega fatty acids, zinc, Vitamin E, and calcium supplements to prevent hair loss. Alternatively, eat fruits, vegetables, cereals, and meats as they are rich in these vitamins and minerals.
3. Reduce Stress
High levels of stress can increase inflammation, thus affecting the health of your hair. To avoid this, find ways to lower your stress levels. For instance, try getting adequate sleep each night, meditation, yoga, exercising, massages, or breathing exercises.
4. Avoid Tight Hair Styles
Tightly braided hair, tightly tied dreadlocks, and tightly pulled buns and ponytails weaken the hair resulting in hair loss. So, be gentle with your brains, buns, and locks. Additionally, avoid harsh shampoos, conditioners, and hair bleach to limit hair and scalp damage.
5. Avoid Some Medications
It would be best to do away with medication that contributes to alopecia. Consult your healthcare provider for advice if your contraceptives, antidepressants, anti-inflammatory, anti-coagulants, or hormone therapy medications cause hair loss.
6. Buy Kratom from Legitimate Suppliers
Did you know that kratom lovers from Southeast Asia do not report hair loss as a side effect? This clearly depicts how adulterated kratom products can be harmful to your health. Although kratom is legal in the US, it is not regulated, creating pathways for unscrupulous manufacturers. Therefore, aim to get high-quality, organic kratom from legitimate vendors to avoid consuming dangerous chemicals, pesticides, and heavy metals.
To get the best kratom product, look for lab-tested products with a Certificate of Analysis. This proves the vendor adheres to the necessary manufacturing procedures to provide a safe, pure, and potent product. Also, look for customer reviews since a high-quality vendor will always receive positive and honest reviews.
What Are the Treatments for Hair Loss?
If you are experiencing hair loss, you might wonder whether kratom hair loss recovery is possible. Fortunately, there are treatments for hair loss, and they include:
⦁ Scalp Massage
Regular scalp massages can promote the regrowth of healthy hair. The process stimulates and dilates hair follicle cells to promote hair growth and thickness. Scalp massages proved effective in a 2016 study where nine participants received a daily, 4-minute-long massage for 24 weeks. When the study period was over, all men had thicker hair.
You can massage your scalp by applying gentle pressure with your fingers and moving in circles to cover all areas. Massaging with essential oils like lavender or peppermint can also promote hair regrowth. Alternatively, you can use a scalp massager or opt for services from a professional massage therapist.
⦁ Wear A Wig
If you observe that the hair loss is extensive and long-term, you can opt to wear a wig. This nonmedical approach disguises hair loss and baldness. You can opt for synthetic or human hair wigs.
Synthetic wigs are more affordable and readily available. But they only last 6 to 12 months and can get itchy and hot. On the other hand, human hair wigs can last up to 4 years and have a natural look and feel. However, they are pretty expensive.
⦁ Medication
Some over-the-counter medications like Minoxidil and Finasteride treat hair loss. The FDA approves topical application of Minoxidil (Rogaine) FDA as it promotes the growth of thick and long hair by widening the hair follicles. But it also poses some side effects, including excessive hair growth, skin irritation, allergies, and hair shedding.
On the other hand, Finasteride (Propecia) decreases DHT levels to stimulate hair regrowth on the scalp and not other body parts. Even though it has a 90% success rate at managing male baldness, Finasteride is not recommended for pregnant and nursing women. Plus, topical application can result in dandruff or an itchy scalp.
⦁ Laser Treatment
Laser treatment works by reducing inflammation in the hair follicles to promote regrowth. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) illuminates photons of light into the scalp tissues to stimulate hair growth. According to a 2014 study, laser treatment is safe and effective for both men and women. It is painless, non-invasive, and poses no significant side effects. However, it might take 16 to 24 weeks to witness the results.
⦁ Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment
PRP treatment involves drawing your blood, processing it in a centrifuge machine, and injecting platelet-rich plasma into your scalp. The centrifuge machine separates red blood cells and platelet-poor plasma from platelet-rich plasma within 10 minutes. The injected platelets promote healing and reduce hair loss.
Unfortunately, PRP treatment is relatively new and not FDA-approved. Plus, it puts you at risk of developing complications, injuring your blood vessels, and creating scar tissue.
⦁ Hair Transplants
Cosmetic surgery is the best last resort when all hair loss treatments fail. You can choose between follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT).
With FUE, the surgeon transplants individual hair follicles from healthy parts into the bald scalp, whereas FUT involves removing a long strip of scalp and transplanting it to the affected part. Both transplants are expensive and can cause discomfort.
Best Place to Purchase Kratom Tea
Without a doubt, Kratom Monkey is the best online store to purchase high-quality kratom tea. We have the most potent kratom strains in stock, including Green Maeng Da, White Maeng Da, and Red Maeng Da tea bags.
If you did not know, green vein strains are processed from mature kratom leaves with balanced levels of Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymintragynine for an invigorating kratom experience during the day or night.
Meanwhile, white vein kratom is harvested in the early stages of maturity, making it potent in Mitragynine levels. This fast-acting strain offers natural energy and mood boost to elevate your overall wellness.
Red kratom is rich in 7-hydroxymitragynine since it is harvested in the late stages of maturity. Although the strain is slow acting, it offers a sense of calmness, relaxation, and relief from physical discomfort.
At Kratom Monkey, we offer more than green, white, and red kratom strains. We have well-balanced yellow vein kratom that boosts energy levels, manages stress, and promotes sleep. This hybrid strain has longer-lasting effects compared to white kratom.
You can also find unique gold kratom in stock. This premium strain contains a unique alkaloid profile due to unique harvesting and drying techniques. It is effective at producing stimulating and sedating benefits.
Final Thoughts: Can Kratom Cause Hair Loss?
At this point, we cannot link kratom use to hair loss. Despite the online anecdotal reports, scientists have yet to come up with conclusive evidence that supports this claim despite the online anecdotal reports. Nevertheless, some theories suggest why users suffer the loss of hair when using kratom.
If you observe hair loss after using kratom, you must establish the reason behind it. If you think that it could be a result of using a high kratom dose, switch to a lower dose or stop using it for a while. As observed, it is possible to reduce and treat hair loss.
We recommend buying your kratom products at Kratom Monkey. Our products are free of GMOs, herbicides, pesticides, and heavy metals, as indicated by third-party lab results. Trust us to deliver safe, potent, and legal kratom to your state of residence.
Sep 2nd 2024
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