How Long Will It Take For Vitamin D To Reverse Hair Loss
Hair growth cycle takes months, so even if you start correcting your vitamin D levels, you wont likely see any significant benefit for at least three months.
However, I generally advise people that they should wait at least 6 months before evaluating whether or not something has worked.
This is because we can go through at least one or two cycles before the hair follicle functions normally again and produces hair that is both visible and strong. And is able to reach terminal length without falling out too early.
The earlier you catch the deficiency, the more chance you have of regrowing your hair.
Vitamin D And Your Health
Vitamin D, nicknamed the sunshine vitamin because your body produces it after sun exposure, has long been known to help build strong bones by increasing the body’s absorption of calcium and phosphorous. But beginning in 2000, research into vitamin D’s role in other health conditions began to expand rapidly.
While there is strong support for vitamin D’s role in bone health, the evidence that it prevents other health conditions is not yet conclusive, says Dr. Manson. “Research on vitamin D and calcium supplementation has been mixed and, especially when it comes to randomized clinical trials, has been generally disappointing to date,” she says.
Dr. Manson was a principal investigator of the recently published Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial , a large study . The study found that those taking a vitamin D supplement did not lower rates of heart attack, stroke, or cancer. However, among people who later developed cancer, those who took vitamin D supplements for at least two years had a 25% lower chance of dying from their cancer compared with those who received a placebo.
What Is Vitamin D
According to the National Institutes of Health, Vitamin D is an essential, fat-soluble vitamin that plays a role in numerous biological processes within your body.
Unlike most vitamins, vitamin D isnt commonly found in foods. While some foods, such as milk, soy and certain types of fish, contain vitamin D, most vitamin D is produced endogenously when UV rays from sunlight come into contact with your skin.
In its natural form, vitamin D is biologically inert. To use vitamin D, your body needs to convert it into a usable form using the liver and kidneys.
This complex, multi-step process is referred to as hydroxylation, and allows your body to use vitamin D for a variety of important processes.
Vitamin D plays a role in countless biological processes within your body. Its responsible for:
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Promoting calcium absorption
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Ensuring healthy bone growth and remodeling
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Modulating cell growth
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Reducing inflammation
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Maintaining a healthy immune system
Vitamin D also plays a key role in preventing certain diseases. People with low levels of vitamin D have an increased risk of developing rickets and osteomalacia two diseases that can affect the health and integrity of your bones.
Low levels of vitamin D are also linked to certain forms of hair loss a topic weve discussed in more detail below.
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Vitamins And Hair Loss: What Is The Connection
Vitamins deficiency is one of the main causes of hair loss in women. Despite the wide availability of hair products enriched with vitamins and minerals for hair, true health of your locks starts from within. Thus, if you have noticed that your hair is falling out beyond its norm, it is time to analyze what vitamins you are lacking to optimize your nutrition or select supplements for hair growth.
What Vitamins Can I Take To Stop My Hair From Falling Out
Supplements
- Multivitamin. Scientists have determined that vitamins A, B, C, D, iron, selenium, and zinc are all important to the hair growth and retention processes, specifically with cell turnover.
- Vitamin D. One 2018 study noted that vitamin D is associated with nonscarring alopecia.
- Biotin.
- Ginseng.
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Get A Free Hair Loss Evaluation
If you are experiencing hair loss, call RHRLI for a free consultation. My many years of experience as a hair restoration surgeon and my state-of-the-art facility using the ARTAS® robot means that you will have an outstanding experience. Contact us at RHRLI for an appointment by filling out our contact form.
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How Is Hair Loss In Women Treated What Medicines Or Supplements May Help
Treatment depends on the cause of your hair loss.
- In cases where the loss is due to stress or hormone changes like pregnancy, there might be no treatment needed. The hair loss will stop after a period of time.
- In cases of hair loss being due to hair styling practices, like tight braids or ponytails or certain chemicals, treatment means not doing the things that caused the damage.
- In cases due to nutritional deficiencies, you might be told to take supplements. For instance, you might be told to take a multivitamin and three to five milligrams of biotin daily.
- Minoxidil is approved for treating FPHL. The 2% or 5% solution can be purchased in stores. However, you have to follow directions exactly and use the product indefinitely. Dont use this product if youre pregnant, if you plan to get pregnant, or if youre breastfeeding.
- The HairMax Lasercomb® low light laser is approved by the US FDA to treat FPHL. Another FDA-approved laser product is the Theradome LH80 PRO® helmet and low light laser helmets and caps.
Other medications that have been studied, but not approved, for hair loss in women include:
- Spironolactone and other anti-androgens.
- Steroids.
- Other light treatments.
It is important to note that premenopausal women should not take medications for hair loss treatment without using contraception. Many drugs, including minoxidil and finasteride, are not safe for pregnant women or women who want to get pregnant.
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What To Do If You Suffer From Hair Loss
No matter the cause for your hair loss, there are a lot of different cosmetic solutions to deal with hair loss and thinning. Whether your hair loss is permanent or temporary, you will likely want some kind of headcovering to help restore your confidence and make you feel more like yourself. There are many different hair loss headcoverings available:
- Clip-in extensions are a good solution for women who have lost volume in their hair due to hair thinning.
- Toppers & Wigletsmight be a better option for you if your hair loss occurs on the top of the scalp. Toppers attach with pressure sensitive clips to your biological hair to cover your crown, top, or part.
- Full Wigs might be an option for you If you find that your hair loss is more extreme Try one that matches to your biological hair, or try out a new style or color! Wigs can be a fun option to explore as you navigate through hair loss.
- Hats, scarves, and turbans are a comfortable, fashion forward, and affordable way to cover up total hair loss loss or partial hair loss on top of the head.
Have you been diagnosed with any of these vitamin deficiencies or a different one? If so, what were your experiences? Let us know in the comments section below!
To get this hairy situation under control, weve included details regarding how certain vitamins can affect your body differently, especially when it comes to your luscious locks.
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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How Can I Find Out If I Have A Vitamin D Deficiency
If you suspect you may have a vitamin D deficiency, you may be right. But that doesnt mean you should go grab supplements. Your first step should be a visit to your healthcare provider for a simple blood test to figure out if you need more vitamin D 60190-0/fulltext” rel=”nofollow”> Kennel, 2010).
If your healthcare provider finds that your levels are low, your best bet is to make sure youre getting enough vitamin D through your diet. There are two forms of vitamin D: D2 and D3. We get vitamin D2 by eating certain plants and mushrooms. While you can get vitamin D3 from the sun, most of us dont spend enough time outside to fulfill our vitamin D needs. Luckily, though, you can also get your vitamin D3 by consuming foods like fatty fish, eggs, and milk .
Your healthcare provider may recommend that you add a supplement to your routine to ensure that you replenish your vitamin D stores. Not all supplements are created equal, though. Make sure to pick one from a reputable brand.
Recommended Doses Of Vitamin D
Its recommended that you get at least 600 IU or 15 micrograms of vitamin D a day starting at the age of 1. Babies younger than 1 should receive 400 IU of vitamin D. For people over the age of 70, the suggested intake jumps to 800 IU . If youre concerned about your vitamin D intake, ask your doctor about checking your vitamin D levels. When you get the recommended daily amount of vitamin D, youre able to maintain hair growth, bone health, and normal calcium breakdown.
Research shows that a lack of vitamin D in your body can lead to hair loss. One role vitamin D plays is stimulating new and old hair follicles. When there isnt enough vitamin D in your system, new hair growth can be stunted.
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to alopecia, the autoimmune condition that causes bald patches on the scalp and other areas of the body. Both men and women can experience alopecia. Another study found that women 18 to 45 years old who experienced alopecia or other types of hair loss had low levels of vitamin D.
Reasons for insufficient vitamin D levels include spending more time indoors, wearing a lot of sunscreen, and not eating foods packed with the nutrient.
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Vitamin D And Hair Loss
A new study from India found that 86 percent of men with androgenetic alopecia had low vitamin D levels.
Note: Reddit Tressless often has anecdotal reports on this subject. e.g. It saved me.
Some scientists are finding that low levels of vitamin D are linked to higher death rates from Coronavirus .
Vitamin D deficiency has been blamed for hair loss in select cases. Usually, this type of hair loss is temporary. Some researchers believe that vitamin D supplementation can reverse hair fall and lead to hair regrowth in select cases.
The role of vitamins and minerals in hair loss is important. During the past decade, vitamin D has been in the news more so than any other vitamin. Its deficiency has been touted as the reason for dozens of human health problems. These include rickets, osteoporosis, teeth loss, depression, cancer, high blood pressure and multiple sclerosis.
Deficiency
For most such health related problems, there is insufficient evidence that a vitamin D deficiency caused the condition in the first place. Nor is there concrete evidence that vitamin D supplementation causes any significant improvements in most such health problems.
Having said that, there are some conditions where prolonged vitamin D deficiency has been proven to have a strong causative effect.
And there exist a number of other conditions where there is some evidence of the importance of a sufficient intake of vitamin D. After all, most plants and animals need direct sunshine in order to thrive.
Eating Foods That Contain Vitamin D
Some foods are rich in vitamin D, making them a good natural source of this vitamin. Foods that contain vitamin D include fatty fish, such as tuna, avocado, nuts, salmon or mackerel, cheese, egg yolks, mushrooms and beef liver.Fortified foods may also contain vitamin D. Certain types of milk, yogurt and other dairy products, as well as soy drinks, breakfast cereals and orange juices, may contain added vitamin D. You can often find this information on the products nutrition facts label.
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Vitamin D Supplements: How Much Is Too Much
It is possible to get too much of a good thing, though. Constipation, kidney stones, and changes to your normal heart rhythm are possible if you are consuming too much Vitamin D. The risks are relatively low though. Youd have to take more than 10,000 IU of Vitamin D3 every day to see any evidence of toxicity.
A good course of action is to have your doctor order tests for your Vitamin D levels during your annual physical. That will ensure you dont exceed healthy levels.
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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Vitamin D And Hair Loss: What You Need To Know
Medically reviewed by Kristin Hall, FNP
Looking a little thin up top? Hair loss can occur for a variety of reasons, the most common of which is hormonal hair loss caused by male pattern baldness.
Other common causes of hair loss include stress and, in some cases, deficiencies of important vitamins and minerals.
If youve searched online for information about vitamins and hair loss before, you might have heard of a link between vitamin D and hair loss.
Although research is somewhat limited, theres evidence that vitamin D deficiency can affect healthy hair growth, potentially resulting in shedding, thinning and patchy hair loss that affects certain parts of your scalp.
Below, weve discussed what vitamin D is and how it fits into the hair growth process.
Weve also explained how vitamin D deficiency may affect your hair, as well as what you can do to make sure you have optimal vitamin D levels throughout the year.