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If you've been confused about why your hair has suddenly begun to thin out, it could be the little-mentioned secret of the weight loss industry: that a successful diet may also trigger hair loss. As many Americans try various fad diets, dermatologists nationwide say they are hearing more complaints from confused dieters about thinning hair.

Needless to say, if you are using hairstyles that pull tightly on the scalp for prolonged periods--styles such as tight ponytails, braids, cornrows, buns, chignons and twists, that can make the problem even worse. Even without dieting, using these kinds of hairstyles can damage your hair. Hair loss may be confined to one area of the scalp but if ignored long enough, balding can occur.

What's The Cause?

Hair loss can be triggered by several factors, including pregnancy, stress, surgery, and age-related hormonal changes. However, few realize that losing weight can cause you to shed hair, most likely because of a nutritional deficiency. Iron deficiency is often associated with diet-related hair loss, but a range of deficiencies can have the same effect. Changes in levels of zinc, magnesium, protein, essential fatty acids and vitamins D, B, and A can all result in episodes of thinning hair. The problem affects men and women, but women are more likely to notice it and go for treatment.

So, when you see that many weight loss programs sell supplements, essential oils, and vitamins, it's not just that they want to make extra money off you. There is a reason. Just be careful not to go overboard and buy lots of expensive things that are not necessary. You'll have to be a smart consumer and do some research yourself to weed out the essential vitamins from the non-essential ones. Your physician, a dietitian, or a nutritionist probably is best qualified to tell you what's most important. Ask them.

Quick weight loss diets, say professional dermatologists, often lack proper nutrition and rapid weight loss in itself can also trigger metabolism changes that affect hair growth. For the healthiest hair, physicians say that the best weight loss programs are reduced calorie diets that promote gradual weight loss and a healthy diet using foods from all the food groups. Diet plans low in protein and iron, such as vegetarian diets and very low-fat diets, often cause deficiencies. However, high-protein diets like Atkins that initially discourage fruits and vegetables can also result in hair loss.

The typical hair thinning patient of dermatologists complains after losing about 20 pounds in a relatively short time period. No scientific study has ever identified whether certain diet plans are more or less likely to produce hair loss.

Sudden changes in nutrition can disrupt the hair growth cycle, causing hair follicles in the growing phase to convert to the "resting" phase too soon. This may mean a 20-30% increase in the number of daily hairs a person loses.

What You Can Do - Treatments

For many people, diet-related hair loss is temporary and may last only 2-6 months. Once you start eating a healthy diet, a balanced diet, the hair eventually comes back.

1) Try to stay away from quick weight loss fad diets if you can. Use ones that promote healthy weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week.

2) Don't use radical hairstyles that pull your hair tightly on your scalp.

3) Take vitamins. If you only want or can afford one, make it a multivitamin with iron.

Dermatologists say that they advise dieters to take a multivitamin with iron and keep the weight loss to a rate of 1-2 lbs per week. Those with a family history of thinning hair or baldness should be especially careful and use proper nutrition and a moderate rate of weight loss.

Minoxidil (the active ingredient in Rogaine, a topical treatment) is often recommended for chronic hair loss, although it does not work for everyone. Below are some treatment options..

Minoxidil/Rogaine...  cost: $120 - $200 a year, requires continuous treatment

Propecia... cost: $600 a year, only for men, requires continuous treatment

Electric current... cost: $1,200 a year, weekly treatments, unproven

Hair transplant... cost: $5-20,000, expensive and requires a skilled surgeon.

So, as you join a weight loss program like Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, LA Weight Loss, South Beach Diet, NutriSystem, Atkins, or especially any fad diets, you may want to ask the program staff about ways to ward off potential hair loss, and if they have a line of vitamins they recommend.