Dietary habits linked to hair loss and skin health

Dietary habits, particularly the consumption of ultra-processed foods, may be a primary cause of hair loss and dull skin. Dr. Luísa Ortiz Cabrera, an endocrinology professor at Afya Educação Médica, explains that when the body receives excessive empty calories and lacks real food, it enters a nutrient-saving mode. In this state, the body prioritizes vital organs and leaves peripheral tissues, such as hair and skin, as a lower priority.

Data from IBGE and USP indicate that ultra-processed foods account for approximately 20% of daily calories consumed by Brazilians. This nutritional gap is significant, as hair loss issues already affect more than 40 million people in Brazil, according to the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD). Experts suggest that high intake of sodium, preservatives, and trans fats can trigger systemic inflammation, which stresses hair follicles and impacts overall dermatological health.