How liver health affects hair loss

Last updated July 2, 2025, by Agata Boxe
Fact-checked by Marta Figueiredo, PhD

The liver helps with many essential bodily functions, such as digestion and removing toxins from the blood.

Liver disease can cause your liver not to work properly, leading to potential symptoms like hair loss; this can be incredibly upsetting and might make you feel less confident.

Fortunately, there are ways to manage the potential impact of liver disease on your hair. The primary approach involves treating the underlying cause of the disease, although adjusting your lifestyle can also help.

The link between liver health and hair

The liver is involved in a few important processes for keeping your hair healthy.

One liver function is making bile. Bile is a digestive fluid that helps to break down fat so your body can use it as fuel for energy. It is key for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A and D, which are essential for hair health.

The liver is also involved in processing and/or storing other vital nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, and zinc, which are thought to contribute to hair health.

Finally, the liver removes toxins from the body that could damage hair follicles and helps control hormones, like testosterone and estrogen, that directly influence hair growth cycles.

Causes of liver disease-related hair loss

Some liver diseases, which tend to be marked by high liver enzymes and poor liver function, have been linked to hair loss. These conditions can interfere with the body’s normal processes, leading to changes that affect hair growth.

For instance, metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) — previously known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease — involves a buildup of fat in the liver that can impair liver function and contribute to hair loss.

Similarly, liver cirrhosis — an advanced stage of liver disease involving irreversible liver scarring — has also been associated with hair loss.

Several mechanisms may explain why liver disease causes hair loss, including:

• body-wide inflammation, which can affect hair growth cycles and contribute to hair loss
• nutritional deficiencies, which are caused by the liver’s inability to produce bile (which helps in the absorption of certain fat-soluble vitamins involved in hair health) and to store and process other key nutrients for hair health
• hormonal imbalances, which occur when the liver cannot properly control the levels of hormones involved in hair growth
• toxin buildup, which occurs when the liver can’t remove toxins properly, effectively weakening hair follicles.

Additionally, some medicines used to treat liver disease can also cause hair loss.

Lifestyle changes to help prevent hair loss

Healthy lifestyle changes can help support your liver health, which is closely related to your hair health. Eating well and staying active are great ways to start.

First, follow your doctor’s advice. They may recommend eating a healthy diet for your liver and eliminating or reducing your alcohol intake.

Generally, the best foods for liver health are rich in vitamins and other nutrients, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

It’s also important to avoid smoking, as it increases the risk of liver disease and liver cancer, as well as of hair loss.

Exercise can also help your liver. Research in people with liver disease has shown the benefits of exercise for liver health. It may even play a role in liver disease prevention.

Your doctor can recommend the best types of exercise for you or refer you to a physical therapist for a custom workout plan.

Treatments for liver-related hair loss

The best way to treat hair loss from liver disease is to focus on treating the liver condition itself.

Treatment depends on the type of liver disease. Lifestyle changes can improve some cases, while others may require medication. Your doctor can guide you on the right treatment for both your liver and hair health.

Be careful with supplements that claim to help with hair loss. Natural supplements, like cod liver oil, might be unsafe to take without a doctor’s supervision.

Unlike medications, supplements in the U.S. are not strictly regulated, so companies don’t have to prove they are safe or effective prior to sale, which can pose health risks. Always check with your doctor before taking any supplements.

Liver Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.