Dairy & Hair Loss

Dairy consumption is a question of moderation when it comes to its affect on hair. Dairy contains vitamins and minerals essential to healthy growth, while in some, too much dairy can lead to thinning and even balding.

Dairy Products

• Animal milk extracted and processed, usually from goats and cows, becomes dairy products. Milk, butter, cheese and cream products, some of the most basic dairy foods in the American diet, contain various nutrients important to the human body.

Hair Loss

• An autoimmune disease, alopecia presents itself in many forms, from patchy baldness anywhere on the body or scalp to complete loss of hair all over the body. According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, alopecia areata (patchy balding) affects about 2 percent of the overall population. Hair may regrow with treatment.

Vitamins and Minerals

• Milk contains high amounts of calcium, protein and vitamins A, D, E and B-12, nutrients useful for healthy skin and hair growth. Protein (keratin) composes most of the hair's cuticle or shaft, the part of the hair above the scalp's surface.

Research

• The itch and scratch cycles associated with skin dermatitis such as eczema can lead to alopecia areata, or patchy hair loss. Although it may not prevent other forms of baldness, removing pasteurized milk products from the diet may help manage eczema, according to Dr. Ben Kim.

Alternatives

• Several options exist for those allergic to dairy products. The nondairy alternatives are made with soy products, such as isolated soy protein and tofu, rice or oat milk, according to the Vegetarian Journal.