Latest research: Will intermittent fasting cause baldness? Scientific maintenance methods revealed!

As a popular diet, intermittent fasting has attracted widespread attention because it can help lose weight and promote health. However, a research paper published in the journal Cell by Zhang Bing's team from the School of Life Sciences of Westlake University pointed out that intermittent fasting can induce apoptosis of hair follicle stem cells and inhibit hair follicle regeneration, thereby reducing the amount of hair. In short, "intermittent fasting" can make people bald.

Initially, Zhang Bing's team found in mouse experiments that the hair follicle regeneration ability of mice undergoing intermittent fasting was significantly impaired, and hair was difficult to regenerate. In order to verify whether this phenomenon also exists in the human body, they recruited 49 healthy subjects for a 12-day clinical trial. The results showed that the hair growth rate of the subjects in the intermittent fasting group decreased by 18%, and the diameter of the regrown hair also became smaller.

The hair growth cycle and the effect of intermittent fasting on it

To understand the effects of intermittent fasting on hair, we first need to understand the hair growth cycle. The hair growth cycle consists of three phases: growth phase, regression phase, and resting phase. Each phase has its own specific physiological processes, and intermittent fasting may interfere with these processes.

Through a series of experiments, the team found that intermittent fasting, especially the 168-hour time-restricted feeding and alternate-day fasting regimens, may affect hair health through the following mechanisms:

1. Apoptosis of hair follicle stem cells: Studies have shown that intermittent fasting selectively induces apoptosis of hair follicle stem cells. This is a process of programmed cell death, and the reduction of hair follicle stem cells directly affects the regeneration ability of hair.

2. Hair growth inhibition: In the experiment, after mice experienced intermittent fasting, their hair growth slowed down and the amount of hair decreased. This phenomenon was also confirmed in subsequent studies on human volunteers.

3. Increased levels of lipolysis hormones: Studies have also found that intermittent fasting can lead to increased levels of lipolysis hormones in the blood, which may be a factor affecting hair follicle stem cells and hair growth.

After understanding the possible effects of intermittent fasting on hair, let’s learn how to care for your hair through scientific means!

1. Nutritional supplements: Make sure your diet contains enough protein, vitamins and minerals. In particular, vitamins A, B group, C, E and trace elements such as iron and zinc are essential for hair health. These nutrients can be obtained by eating lean meat, fish, eggs, soy products, nuts, whole grains, and rich fruits and vegetables.

2. Gentle shampoo and conditioner: Choosing shampoo and conditioner that are suitable for your hair type and have mild ingredients is the key to protecting your hair. Avoid using products containing sulfates, alcohol and other harsh chemicals, as these ingredients may strip your hair of its natural oils, causing it to become dry and brittle. Using gentle shampoo and conditioner can help preserve your hair's natural moisture and reduce damage.

3. Reduce heat damage: High-temperature hair dryers and styling tools (such as curling irons and hair straighteners) can directly damage hair, causing it to dry out, split ends, or even break. Try to use these tools less frequently, and if you need to use them, use heat protection products first. In addition, allowing hair to dry naturally or using a hair dryer at a low temperature can greatly reduce heat damage to hair.

4. Regular trimming: Regular trimming of the hair ends not only keeps your hairstyle neat, but also removes damaged split ends and prevents damage from spreading upward to healthy hair. Generally speaking, trimming the hair ends every 6 to 8 weeks is an ideal frequency, which helps promote healthy hair growth.

5. Scalp massage: Scalp massage is a simple and effective hair care method. It can promote blood circulation and increase blood supply to the scalp and hair follicles, thereby providing more nutrition to the hair follicles. You can use your fingertips to gently massage your scalp for 5 to 10 minutes each time to enhance the health of your scalp.

For those who are practicing intermittent fasting to promote weight loss and maintain health, here are some special hair care tips:

1. Monitor hair changes: Pay close attention to hair density, luster, elasticity, and growth rate. If you notice an increase in hair loss, thinning of hair, or a significant deterioration in hair quality, you should consider adjusting your fasting plan to avoid further hair damage.

2. Adjust your fasting strategy: If you find that your hair health is affected, you may want to make some adjustments to your fasting strategy. If you have been using a long fasting cycle before, you can try to shorten the fasting time, such as from 24 hours to 16 hours, or from fasting two days a week to one day. At the same time, you can appropriately increase the eating window to ensure that you consume enough nutrients during the eating period.

3. Professional consultation: Before starting intermittent fasting, consult a doctor or nutritionist. Remember, everyone's body is unique, so personalized guidance is very important.

Reference: Chen et al., Intermittent fasting triggers interorgancommunication to suppress hair follicle regeneration. Cell. 2025.doi:10.1016/j.cell.2024.11.004