Fasting is good, but it may damage your hair

Author: Huang Yanhong Duan Yuechu

In the pursuit of health and beauty, there are endless diet control methods, among which "intermittent fasting" is highly praised and regarded as a good way to lose weight and improve metabolism. However, a recent study by West Lake University is like a bombshell, revealing the unknown side of "intermittent fasting" - it may cause damage to our hair health. The research results were published in the world's top academic journal "Cell" on the 14th, attracting widespread attention from the scientific community and the public.

Hair follicle stem cells, as the "seed cells" in hair follicles, are responsible for the key mission of maintaining hair follicle growth and hair regeneration. They are like the "source of life" of hair follicles. Throughout a person's life, they continue to provide new cells for hair follicles, ensuring that hair can grow, regress and rest periodically, thereby maintaining the normal replacement of hair. Under normal circumstances, hair follicle stem cells are in a relatively static but ready state. Once they receive the appropriate signal, they will be activated and differentiate into various hair follicle cells, starting a new round of hair growth cycle.

This study was led by an elite team from West Lake University, which brought together experts from many fields such as biology and cell biology. They explored the subtle relationship between "light fasting" and hair follicle stem cells, and through a series of rigorous experiments found that "light fasting" can induce apoptosis of activated hair follicle stem cells, thereby inhibiting hair follicle regeneration and hair growth. This discovery seems to go against common sense, after all, "light fasting" is usually associated with positive regulation of the body, but in the microscopic cellular world, it presents a different picture.

In the experiment, the researchers simulated the body environment under the "light fasting" state and observed the response of hair follicle stem cells. The results showed that the apoptosis signaling pathway inside the hair follicle stem cells under the "light fasting" condition was abnormally activated, causing the cells to gradually die. Hair follicle stem cells play a key role in the regeneration of hair follicles and the continued growth of hair. Their apoptosis means that the hair follicles have lost their "new force", the hair growth cycle has been disrupted, and eventually growth inhibition occurs.

The importance of this research result is self-evident. From the perspective of individual health, the health of hair often reflects the overall function of the body. Problems such as hair loss and thinning hair not only affect personal image, but may also indicate potential health risks. For those who have been using the "light fasting" diet for a long time, this study is undoubtedly a warning, reminding them that while pursuing weight management, they cannot ignore the subtle changes in various parts of the body.

In the medical field, this discovery provides a new perspective for the study of certain hair loss diseases. In the past, the causes of hair loss have focused on factors such as genetics, hormone levels, and external stress. This study has included dietary factors, especially "intermittent fasting", into the scope of hair loss research, paving the way for the development of new treatments and prevention strategies. For example, when diagnosing and treating hair loss patients, doctors may need to consider the patient's eating habits, especially whether there is long-term "intermittent fasting" behavior, so as to develop a more precise treatment plan.

From the perspective of the aesthetics industry, this research result will also have a far-reaching impact. As people's pursuit of beauty continues to escalate, the hair care and regeneration market is booming. This study provides a new theoretical basis for the research and development of related products, prompting companies to consider how to design solutions from the reverse perspective of dietary regulation when developing hair care products and hair growth technologies to meet consumers' desire for thick and beautiful hair.

Experts have also expressed their views on this research result. A senior cell biology expert said: "This discovery is an important supplement to the relationship between cell metabolism and tissue regeneration. It reminds us that any change in dietary pattern may have systemic effects. Even the seemingly simple "light fasting" needs to be carried out under professional guidance to balance health and possible side effects." Dermatologists also pointed out that some cases of hair loss caused by extreme diets have been observed in clinical practice. This study provides a reasonable explanation at the cellular level. In the future, in the treatment of hair loss, more attention will be paid to the patient's dietary assessment and intervention.

The study on the effect of "intermittent fasting" on hair follicle stem cells has sounded the alarm for us. In the process of pursuing a healthy lifestyle, we need to have a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the pros and cons of various diets to avoid blindly following trends and damaging the health and beauty of the body. Perhaps, future dietary guidelines will not only focus on weight and disease prevention, but also take into account details such as hair health, helping people find a more accurate balance on the road to health and beauty.