Vitamin D Insufficiency Linked To Hair Loss
Multiple studies have made the connection between vitamin D insufficiency and hair loss. A 2017 review published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences found a link between low vitamin D levels and:
- Telogen effluvium, a stress-induced condition that causes excess hair shedding
- Alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder where hair falls out in clumps
- Female pattern hair loss
Another study published in 2019 in the Indian Dermatology Online Journal concluded vitamin D deficiency could increase hair loss over time. And another group of researchers in 2016 found that women showed greater vitamin D deficiency among younger people with hair loss.
Research has also found a connection between vitamin D and the promotion of healthy hair follicles and hair growth. A 2014 study published in Molecular Endocrinology found that hair regrew in mice two weeks after introducing vitamin D receptors. Other studies have suggested that a lack of sufficient vitamin D intake may lead directly to hair loss.
How To Reduce Hair Loss
Apart from using vitamin D for hair loss, you can also take some preventive measures to reduce and prevent hair loss by practising doable and straightforward tips. Here are a few suggestions:
- Prevent hair breakage by avoiding tight hairstyles
- Brush your hair gently, and do not tug at it
- Use a gentle conditioner, preferably one with natural ingredients
- Prevent tangling by tying hair loosely before going to bed
For A Long Time Scientists Thought That Calcitriol Was The Only Form Of D That Mattered Since Calcium Control Is Its Classic Function
However, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 can also activate the vitamin D receptor.
This form is more lipid-soluble and, therefore, probably disperses more inside the fat cells the very place we need it for thermoregulation.
So it wouldnt necessarily show up on blood tests even if they checked for it
Blood tests dont tell us much about fat concentration.
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Why Is Vitamin D Important
An essential nutrient that your body needs, vitamin D is beneficial in several ways. Your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium and make your bones stronger. It also regulates the immune system and plays a role in cell growth. When it comes to your hair, vitamin D is vital as it helps create new hair follicles, which promotes hair growth. It also helps to make your hair thicker.
How Much Vitamin D Should You Be Getting
The amount of vitamin D someone needs depends on their age, as highlighted below.
Infants 0-6 months:
- 400 IU/day for adequate intake
- Upper level intake of 1,000 IU/day
Infants 6-12 months
- 400 IU/day for adequate intake
- Upper level intake of 1,500 IU/day
Children 1-3 years old
- Recommended dietary allowance of 600 IU/day
- Upper level intake of 2,500 IU/day
Children 4-8 years old
- Recommended dietary allowance of 600 IU/day
- Upper level intake of 3,000 IU/day
People 9-70 years old
- Recommended dietary allowance of 600 IU/day
- Upper level intake of 4,000 IU/day
People over 70 years old
- Recommended dietary allowance of 800 IU/day
- Upper level intake of 4,000 IU/day
Women 14-50 years old who are pregnant or lactating
- Recommended dietary allowance of 600 IU/day
- Upper level intake of 4,000 IU/day
That being said, other factors can affect how much vitamin D you may needâso itâs best to ask your healthcare provider what they advise for you.
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Too Much Of This Vitamin Can Cause Hair Loss
Matt CookHair Loss, Sunlight, Vitamin D1
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What’s The Deal With Vitamin D
Vitamin D is often referred to as the “sunshine vitamin” because when your skin is exposed to sunlight, it triggers vitamin D synthesis. Experts and doctors consider high vitamin D levels necessary to human health.
Low vitamin D is linked to the following:
- Fatigue
- High blood pressure
- Chronic pain
But that’s not all. Dr. Rashmi Byakodi, a health and wellness writer and editor at Best for Nutrition, said that while vitamin D was primarily considered essential for bone formation, there are also links between vitamin D and the proper function of the brain, heart, muscles, immune system and skin.
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What Is Vitamin D And What Does It Do In The Body
Vitamin D is one of the four fat-soluble vitamins. It naturally occurs in just a few foods like fatty fish, red meat, liver, egg yolks, and mushrooms. However, several foods are fortified with vitamin D, and itâs also available as a dietary supplement.
In foods and dietary supplements, it comes in two forms vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 . D3 comes from animal-sourced foods, and D2 comes from plant-based and fortified foods.
You actually get most of your vitamin D from the sun, as our body naturally produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.
When you take in vitamin D from foods or the sun, it’s useless to the body at first. It has to be transformed via the liver and kidneys into a usable form. Once your liver and kidney have done their jobs, the role of vitamin D is crucial to several biological processes, including:
- Regulating serum levels of calcium and phosphate in the body â which helps to promote healthy bones and teeth
- Reducing inflammation
- Promoting heart health
- Regulating glucose
Vitamin D deficiency is also linked to certain types of hair loss â in particular alopecia areata. We’ll delve into this in more detail below.
Alternative Options For Hair Loss Treatment
If Vitamin D isnt the solution for you, dont worry. There are plenty of options out there to help with your hair loss issue. Below, we name just a few.
- Minoxidil: Using minoxidil as a topical cream has been effective in clinical trials for treating people with alopecia areata or androgenic alopecia .
- Finasteride: Finasteride is an oral medication for hair loss. Studies have found that 1 mg of finasteride per day can help prevent further hair loss, and thicken hair in patients with androgenic alopecia .
- UVB therapy: UVB rays exist in natural sunlight and aid the body in producing enough vitamin D. Research has found UVB phototherapy to be effective in improving alopecia areata .
- Hair follicle transplantation: For those with more severe hair loss, such as advanced androgenic alopecia, surgical treatment is possible. While this method doesnt prevent additional hair loss, it helps restore hair growth .
Along with vitamin D supplements, these alternatives are only part of a more extensive list of hair loss treatments. Hair loss is often a distressing experience, but know that you arent alone and there are many treatment options out there to explore.
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Does Vitamin D Deficiency Cause Hair Loss Heres What You Need To Know
Every morning when you brush your tresses, have your worries been increasing, seeing more and more strands fall off from your scalp? Increasing hair loss requires introspection, so it is time to look at your routine to understand what is causing it. Is it your lifestyle? Is it your food habits? Maybe you are using hot styling tools a bit too much or tying your hair tightly too frequently. If none of these reasons are applicable to you, then perhaps the reason for your hair loss might be the deficiency of vitamin D.
After all, while all the other factors above are noticeable, the deficiency of a vitamin is not exactly something you can figure out immediately. So if you think your hair loss might have something to do with the lack of this vitamin, then read on to know about vitamin D for hair loss, how you can treat hair loss caused due to vitamin D deficiency and more.
Recommended Dosages Of Vitamin D
According to the NIH, adults between the ages of 18-70 should have a daily intake of 15 mcg/600 IU of Vitamin D. For adults older than 70 years, 20 mcg/800 IU of Vitamin D is recommended. Many people get their Vitamin D from several sources, whether its a combination of diet, sun, or supplements .
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What Does Vitamin D Have To Do With Hair Loss
Lack of vitamin D may not be the reason for all types of hair loss, but it may play an important role in the development of alopecia areata and pattern baldness.
Vitamin D works by binding to vitamin D receptors found in all kinds of cells in your body, such as immune cells, kidney cells, and hair follicles. One important function of vitamin D is to help regulate cell cycles, which is particularly important when it comes to hair growth. In patients with alopecia areata, for example, research seems to show that hair follicle cycling is disrupted due to low levels of vitamin D .
In one study, researchers found that patients with alopecia areata were more likely to be vitamin D deficient .
Less research exists linking vitamin D to pattern hair loss, however, recent research found that lower vitamin D levels correlated with more severe cases of this type of hair loss . Not just thattheres even evidence that treatment with vitamin D may help restore hair growth. More on that below.
A Good Dose Of Sunshine
If youre one of those people who stay inside, there are high chances that the various scalp and hair-fall-related issues youre dealing with are because of it.
At every age, a good dose of sunshine is essential to maintain a balance of vitamin D levels.
When exposed to sunlight, the skin works to synthesize vitamin D.
When absorbed from UV lights, vitamin D2 naturally converts into vitamin D3 .
However, it is important to keep in mind the right way to sunbathe to avoid sunburn.
- Its recommended to sunbathe between 11 am-1 pm.
- For adequate vitamin D level, 13 minutes of fully clothed sun exposure 3 times a day is enough.
Moreover, in case you are still not completely recovered from vitamin D deficiency, you might want to consider topical and oral hair loss treatments.
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What Is Vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 is a fat-soluble nutrient that is essential for optimum health.There are dietary sources and supplements of Vitamin D3 which must be taken for the body to maintain adequate levels. Although not in active form, it is also present in the skin and can be activated only by sun exposure. The inactivated 7-dehydrocholesterol present in the skin is converted to cholecalciferol by UVB rays. Cholecalciferol is converted into an active form,1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol in the liver and kidneys. Sun exposure of approximately five to ten minutes on bare skin at least two to three times per week can produce a substantial amount of Vitamin D3. Although sun exposure is essential, it breaks down quickly and cant be stored for a long time resulting in rapid depletion of the stores, especially during the winter.
What Does Sunlight Have To Do With Getting Enough Vitamin D
There are health benefits of sunlight. Vitamin D is produced when your skin is exposed to sunshine, or rather, the ultraviolet B radiation that the sun emits. The amount of vitamin D that your skin makes depends on such factors as:
- The season: This factor depends a bit on where you live. In areas such as Cleveland, OH, the UV-B light does not reach the earth for six months out of the year due to the ozone layer and the zenith of the sun.
- The time of day: The sun’s rays are most powerful between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- The amount of cloud cover and air pollution.
- Where you live: Cities near the equator have higher ultraviolet light levels. It is the UV-B light in sunlight that causes your skin to make vitamin D.
- The melanin content of your skin: Melanin is a brown-black pigment in the eyes, hair and skin. Melanin causes skin to tan. The darker your skin, the more sun exposure is needed in order to get sufficient vitamin D from the sun.
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Spend More Time In The Sun
When you are deficient in vitamin D, the first thing you should do is start spending more time in the sun. When you are indoors all day, you miss out on the vitamin D that you could receive naturally by being in the sun. If you can, take a 15-30 minute walk on a sunny day. Do not slather on more sunblock than required, as it does not allow your skin to absorb the vitamin D from the sun. However, if you cannot stay in the sun for long, try to spend some time near a window in your house where natural and direct sunlight is coming through.
What Other Factors Can Lead To Vitamin D Deficiency
- Age: The skin’s ability to make vitamin D lessens with age.
- Mobility: People who are homebound or are rarely outside are not able to use sun exposure as a source of vitamin D.
- Skin color: Dark-colored skin is less able to make vitamin D than fair-colored skin.
- Human breast milk: A woman’s breast milk only contains a small amount of vitamin D. Often infant formulas also only include a small amount of D also. Therefore infants are at risk of not receiving enough vitamin D. This is especially true for infants who are only fed breast milk.
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Symptoms Of Vitamin D Deficiency
These symptoms may indicate a lack of Vitamin D deficiency.
- Constant changes in mood
- Medications for HIV
- Anticonvulsants
If you do notice symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency after starting any of these medications, make it a point to tell your doctor about it.
Other diseases like celiac disease and Crohns disease may also cause a lack of Vitamin D as they prevent the absorption of nutrients by the body.
Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss
One of the most common causes of hair loss involves diets and vitamins. Vitamin deficiencies cause hair loss and also make pre-existing hair loss worse. Fortunately, vitamin deficiency-induced hair loss has an easy fix just add more vitamins into your diet!
According to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, about 35 million men and 21 million women suffer from hair loss. The statistic shows that hair loss can affect anyone and is quite common.
Unfortunately, individuals that experience hair loss experience mental distress and sometimes a decrease in confidence. Usually, hair loss happens due to an underlying condition rather than purely genetics.
While some causes of hair loss are impossible to address, others are fixable. To help you out, weve researched 4 of the most common deficiencies that cause hair loss. Check out the following vitamins and see if you may be deficient in them!
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