Can A B12 Deficiency Cause Hair Loss
by OmegaQuant | Jun 8, 2022 | Omega-3s, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D
Its not uncommon to find some strands of hair in your brush, or on your pillow, or even clogging up the shower drain over time. Generally, these incidents are not cause for alarm, but rather are simply part of a normal cycle of hair growth, loss and replenishment.
On average, a healthy scalp boasts around 100,000 hair follicles housing a similar number of hairs, and if youre losing between 50 100 hairs a day, thats just normal hair shedding, according to the American Academy of Dermatology .
However, there is a medical termtelogen effluviumthat is used for excessive hair shedding. If you wake up in the morning and your pillowcase looks like there was a party the night before where way too many of your hairs didnt make it home afterwards, combined with your not being able to see your brushs bristles through the hair strands, you might be experiencing undesirable hair shedding. In other words, if youre consistently noticing more and more hairs in places other than on your head, you may have excessive hair shedding.
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But it may or may not mean that you have anagen effluvium. The AAD says theres a difference between hair shedding and hair loss. And were going to get to that difference.
Are Some More Susceptible Than Others?
Yes, there are some people who are more likely to experience either hair shedding or hair loss. And heres why.
Treatment For Thinning Hair
All is not necessarily lost when a B12 deficiency leads to thinning hair, as Telogen Effluvium treatment at Belgravia has led to many happy clients as the Success Stories gallery illustrates. The clinics hair loss specialists typically recommend appropriate formulations of high-strength minoxidilfrom those available at the in-house pharmacies. These help to open up potassium channels in the scalp to promote hair regrowth.
Augmenting this are several hair growth booster products including the FDA-cleared HairMax LaserComb and LaserBand devices which help to stimulate the scalp using low-level laser therapy. Alongside these are Belgravias premium hair growth supplements, Hair Vitalics, a proprietary blend of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanicals which have been carefully selected for their hair-friendly properties. These are taken in a handy once-a-day supplement form and available in for Men and for Women formulations in order to ensure they are as highly-targeted as possible.
What Health Problems Occur Due To Deficiency Of Vitamin B12
This vitamin is readily available to the majority of people. You may need to be tested for vitamin B12 levels if you’re unsure. This vitamin might be tougher to absorb as we get older. If you’ve undergone weight reduction surgery or another treatment that removes part of your stomach or if you drink excessively, you may also be at risk of developing GERD.
Vitamin B12 insufficiency can lead to:
- The inner lining of the stomach or strophic gastritis deteriorates
- Diseases of the small intestine, such as Crohn’s, celiac, bacterial proliferation and parasite infestation
- Having a swollen, irritated tongue
- Diseases related to the immune system like Lupus
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Is Hair Loss From A Vitamin B12 Deficiency Reversible
Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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Vitamin B12 plays a very important role in our health and well-being. Its not often that you hear about someone developing a vitamin B12 deficiency or developing hair loss from it, but it does happen more than you might think. Fortunately, hair loss from a B12 deficiency appears to be reversible.
Certain groups of people will be more prone to developing hair loss related to B12 deficiency than others.
In this article, Ill clear up a few things for you!
Vitamin B12 For Hair Growth
So what role does vitamin B12 play in hair growth? Vitamin B12 is important for the creation of red blood cells, which nourish the hair follicles with nutrients and oxygen for healthy hair growth.
Since vitamin B12 also plays a role in cell formation, hair follicles may not be able to grow new hair as efficiently when vitamin B12 levels are low. So one side effect of a vitamin B12 deficiency may be hair loss.
However, you cant diagnose a vitamin B12 deficiency based on hair growth patterns alone. If you suspect that you have a vitamin B12 deficiency or are concerned about hair loss, ask your doctor about it.
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Vitamin B12 Deficiency And Hair Loss: Is There A Link
The short answer to that is, Yes, there definitely is! Your hair reflects your health, and when you suffer from nutritional deficiencies, it may impact hair growth and structure.
Let us try and understand the exact mechanism of action by which a vitamin B12 deficiency impacts hair growth:
- Your hair needs nourishing oxygen and nutrients. The hair follicles are supplied with essential oxygen and nutrients through the red blood cells.
- Vitamin B12, which belongs to a family of cobalamin compounds, plays a vital role in the production of red blood cells .
- When you dont get enough vitamin B12, your body cannot produce enough healthy red blood cells . Sometimes, the red blood cells may even die sooner than normal.
- Without enough red blood cells, the cells in your hair follicles starve. This may make your tresses more prone to shedding, breakage, and slow growth.
But, did you know that sometimes you may be eating enough nutrients and still have a B12 deficiency? This is because some people, especially older adults, may suffer from a condition called pernicious anemia that causes malabsorption of vitamin B12 .
Malabsorption is prevalent in people with reduced levels of stomach acidity or intestinal disorders. The body may have trouble absorbing vitamin B12 from food and, in some cases, oral supplements. However, pernicious anemia can be medically managed .
Can Men Have Long Hair
All men will have their own reasons to let their hair grow long, and one very practical defense might be to simply avoid having it cut! Short hair needs trimming and therefore requires frequent visits to the hair salon. However, mens long hairstyles can really stand out and provide their own distinct look.
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How Vitamin B12 Is Related To Hair Growth
Even though the protein keratin, which is the main ingredient in your hair, is dead, hair follicles beneath it are quite alive and need nutrition. The hair follicles need oxygen and nutrients to grow which can only be supplied through blood.
A new hair strand grows when your hair cells divide and multiply. Your hair bulb base consists of blood vessels that connect your hair follicles to your body’s blood supply.
Vitamin b12 assists the production of oxygen-rich red blood cells, which carry oxygen to your hair follicles. It is a biological process to produce new hair cells and promote hair growth.
The vitamin plays a significant role in cell division, cellular metabolism, and DNA replication. Whenever a hair cell reproduces, it makes a copy of its DNA. Thus, hair growth is dependent on the synthesis of DNA and absorption of vitamin b12.
How Vitamin B12 And Hair Growth Are Connected
If youre suffering from a Vitamin B12 deficiency, it is likely that you have already begun seeing symptoms of a low red blood cell count. It is one of the essential nutrients required for healthy hair.
Vitamin B12 helps produce red blood cells that carry oxygen to your scalp and keep it healthy and stimulating hair growth.
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Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms
- Hair fall, diffuse hair loss or hair thinning, and premature greying of your hair
- Mouth ulcers
- Constipation
If the vitamin B12 deficiency isnt attended soon, it could have serious repercussions such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, nerve problems and depression.
As you age, your body requires more b12. But your capacity to absorb adequate amounts of the vitamin also reduces. Generally your body stores 1,000 to 2,000 times as much vitamin B12 compared to your food intake in a day, so the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can take several years to appear.
Vitamin B12 And Hair Loss Whats The Connection
Vitamin B12 is absolutely crucial and you cannot live without it. It is part of the B-complex vitamins and plays many important roles in proper cell function and the human body overall. Since Im a vegan, I always make sure that I take a Vitamin B12 supplement.
Here are just a few reasons why Vitamin B12 is important
- It helps create new red blood cells that supply oxygen to every part of your body, including your hair!
- It allows nerves to function correctly and is an important co-factor in myelin formation which protects the nerves.
- It plays a critical role in creating DNA, which is the genetic material that is used to create proteins of which the body is made up of.
- It plays an important role in energy metabolism by allowing the body to produce energy from fats and proteins.
What are the main symptoms of a B12 deficiency?
- Anemia
- Nerve tingling and burning from neuropathy
- Hair loss
There are only just a few of the symptoms which can arise as you become critically low in vitamin B12 stores.
If caught in time, the majority of symptoms are reversible, however, once it starts damaging your nerves, it can be permanent if not reversed in time.
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Important Safety Information For Finasteride
Finasteride is for use by MEN ONLY and should NOT be used by women or children.
Read this Patient Information before you start taking finasteride and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.
What is finasteride? Finasteride is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss . It is not known if finasteride works for a receding hairline on either side of and above your forehead . Finasteride is not for use by women and children.
Vitamin B12 Benefits Hair
Vitamin b12 is a significant water-soluble nutrient for the human body. It is beneficial in many ways for a person, but vitamin b12 contributes a lot to hair growth and maintenance, which many people are not aware of. Following are the vitamin b12 benefits for hair that medical researchers have concluded:
Maintain pH balance and oil production.
Health studies often concluded that two of the main reasons that cause a higher percentage of hair loss are increased oil production and imbalanced pH levels. Both contribute to hair loss and cause scalp itching, dandruff, hair follicles blockage, and excess oil. In this case, vitamin b12 provides moisture and balances the pH, enhancing hair growth and maintenance.
Improve hair growth
Usually, a person loses 100 hairs per day, but it becomes a significant problem if you start to lose more. Many vitamins contribute to better hair growth, but vitamin b12 is specific as it increases the blood circulation in the hair and prevents the unnecessary oxidation of cholesterol which improves hair growth.
Enhance hair shine
We all use some heating device on our hair once a week, whether a hair straightener or a blow dryer. Using these devices can cause dryness and hair damage, making your hair dull and lifeless.
Often medical specialists say that adding vitamin b12 to your diet helps you bring back the shine of your hair. So, vitamin b12 intake is a must as it makes your hair shinier and smoother even if you use heat devices.
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Why Is Vitamin B12 Important
The oxygen we breathe in is circulated throughout the body with the help of red blood cells. And our body needs vitamin B12 to make red blood cell. So when theres a lack of B12, the red blood cells wont form properly, plus their numbers will dwindle. As a result, the oxygen transport will suffer. And therefore, the common symptom of B12 deficiency is tiredness, fatigue and breathlessness.
Along with creating red blood cells, vitamin B12 has many roles in our body:
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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What Are B Vitamins
While many people associate the term vitamin B with a single vitamin, the reality is that there are eight different B vitamins, each with their own important functions in your body.
The eight different B vitamins are thiamine , riboflavin , niacin , pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, biotin , folic acid , and vitamin B12.
All of these vitamins are water-soluble and all play key roles in helping your body to metabolize important nutrients, such as proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
Is Vitamin B12 Effective For Hair Loss
While vitamin B12 supplementation may help with hair loss, results are immediate. Your hair will still follow a normal growth cycle. Dont expect to see hair growth within days or even a couple weeks of supplementing with vitamin B12. Each strand of hair on your head may require up to 4 months to appear on the scalp depending on what stage it is at in the hair life cycle. B12 is a long-term strategy for hair growth. As you take a supplement or get an injection, you are consistently nourishing your growing cells with nutrients in order to maximize their growth.
Take away
Vitamin B12 is an important vitamin to boost the bodys overall health. It may also be a natural way to help improve hair growth. In fact, hair growth is just one of the bonuses you get from taking the supplement. A stronger immune system, better sleep, and healthier systems are all possible benefits of taking this essential vitamin.
The experts at Medical Weight Loss Centers of America are here to answer any questions you may have about vitamin B12. You can contact the team at any time and see how vitamin B12 may be an appropriate option for you depending on your goals.
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