In recent years, several studies have looked into the effects of energy drinks on our bodies. The findings confirm that these drinks can give your brain a quick boost. At the same time, they could also cause some serious health problems. Some even claim that, in high quantities, energy drinks cause hair loss.
Artificial Sweeteners and Hair Loss
We already know that sugary drinks can cause blood sugar level spikes and thus contribute to hair loss. But most energy drinks contain little-to-no sugar. So, in theory, this means that they are highly unlikely to cause hair loss.
However, to make up for the lack of sugar, most manufacturers add artificial sweeteners to their energy drinks. The most common of them is aspartame. According to research, this ingredient has many known side effects, and hair loss could be one of them.
Yet if your only contact with aspartame is through energy drinks, there’s little to worry about. You’d have to drink copious amounts in a single day to experience any of these side effects.
The Role of Caffeine
Many energy drinks also contain caffeine. Not only does this ingredient not cause hair loss but it may even help reverse it. In fact, several alopecia treatments incorporate caffeine to improve their efficacy. But this only applies to its topical use.
Like aspartame, dietary caffeine can also sometimes have a negative effect on your health. It could thus also indirectly contribute to hair loss. But again, you’d have to consume about 50 energy drinks in a day to experience these side effects.
So, Can Energy Drinks Cause Hair Loss?
As you can see, there’s little proof that energy drinks cause hair loss. Still, like all other foods and drinks, you should consume them in moderation.
If you’re experiencing hair loss, chances are there might be something else that’s causing it. Talk to your dermatologist to find out what the problem is and how you can solve it.
