Hair Problems on Dialysis
[ad#Ad-plus-sense]Conditions such as chronic kidney disease (CKD) can cause changes to your body when you are on dialysis – such as hair loss or nail discoloration. What happens to your hair when you have chronic kidney disease? Like a person’s skin, hair can become visibly abnormal when you develop a disease. Some people experience breakage due to dry and brittle hair, while others find that their hair falls out, or sometimes both. For some kidney patients, hair problems can occur before starting dialysis, or it may happen after being on dialysis. In contrast, people who do not have chronic kidney disease lose their hair, is usually due to the aging process, stress or heredity.
Why is my hair falling out?
Hair is made of protein. If you become malnourished, a few months later your hair may break more easily and fall out. Eating enough good protein will help, but it takes a couple of months to see a change. Ask your dietitian about good protein sources. Hair loss can also be caused by thyroid problems, zinc deficiency, drug reactions, and other problems. Some patients have had hair loss when the unit changes the type of dialyzer (kidney) used. Talk with your doctor about this, or ask for a referral to a skin doctor.
For people with chronic kidney disease, hair and nail changes are common. But there are a couple of reasons why hair and nail changes occur in those with kidney disease: malnutrition and side effects of certain [...]
Tags: chronic kidney disease, hair fall out, Hair Thinning On Dialysis