What Are The Best Vitamins For Women’s Hair Loss
There are various vitamins and minerals that you should include in your diet to support scalp and hair follicle health, prevent further hair loss, and help regrow hair. If you are dealing with female pattern hair loss, these are some of the essential nutrients you should look for when taking hair loss supplements:
Vitamin A
Having the right amount of vitamin A in your scalp is essential for healthy hair regrowth. Vitamin A deficiency results in severe skin dryness and can cause sudden hair loss and hair fragility.
Vitamin B family
The vitamin B complex contains 8 different vitamins. Deficiencies of Riboflavin , biotin , folate, and vitamin B12 have been associated with hair loss. One study has shown that sufficient biotin deficiency resulted in patchy alopecia and brittle nails, and that hair loss was resolved with oral supplementation of biotin. Folate and vitamin B12 have an essential role in hair follicle metabolism.
Vitamins B9 and B12
Folic Acid and B12 help promote red blood cell circulation, supporting hair follicle health to produce healthy hair. Deficiencies in these two vitamins have been linked to hair loss. Folic acid also helps with the keratinization of hair, meaning it helps hair follicles produce keratin for strong hair. An important note for anyone following a vegan diet: it is essential to ensure you’re getting enough vitamin B12 through dietary supplements since it is primarily found in animal sources .
Vitamin B5 and vitamin B6
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
What Ingredients To Look For In Hair Growth Products
Below, Mack details the main ingredients to look for in products to help combat hair thinning and hair loss:
- Minoxidil: This ingredient is found predominantly in serum formulations but may also be found in shampoos at varying concentrations.
- Finasteride: As a dermatologist, Mack prescribes Finasteride orally for many of my male patients suffering from hair loss secondary to androgenetic alopecia. Plus, there are more natural renditions of this formula to consider.
- Red Clover Flower Extract: This natural herb contains a very high level of isoflavones a type of phytoestrogen. The phytoestrogens are plant derived molecules similar to female estrogens. This extract has been shown to help with hair loss associated with hormonal changes in women.
- Saw Palmetto: New, exciting research is pointing to saw palmetto as a natural alternative to preventing/minimizing hair loss. The research suggests that saw palmetto is a natural blocker of dihydrotestosterone , the molecule known to shrink hair follicles promoting hair thinning/hair loss.
Best For New Growth: Viviscal Extra Strength Hair Nutrient Tablets
Viviscal is designed to extend the growth phase of each hair’s cycle. The creators added a patented marine complex in the supplements, which works to both nourish hair and promote new growth, and 80 percent of Ulta users love it so much they say they would recommend the product to their friends. “I started noticing some thinning around my hairline and more shedding than usual. After taking one pill daily, my hair has filled in and I am experiencing less hair loss. My stylist is again commenting on the thickness of my hair,” said one shopper.
To buy: $40 ulta.com
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Supplement List Of Vitamins For Thinning Hair
The vitamins to help hair growth the most are often considered to be:
- Soy Isoflavones .
As you can see, theres a lot of supplements you could take to try and help save your hair.
So, choosing a good multi formula is the easiest way to obtain all the vitamins andminerals listed above. And if the B vitamins they contain are at a decent dose, then you might not even need the vitamin B complex formula mentioned earlier.
Many multi formulas also contain various other nutrients besides vitamins andminerals which might also promote hair regrowth ).
And some formulas will specifically target hair loss many of these dont really contain anything different from a regular multi formula, but the dose you get from certain nutrients might be a lot higher .
Clearly then, the dose is very important:
Maintaining Good Hair And Scalp Care
Taking proper care of the hair and scalp can help prevent hair loss. It may also improve hair growth. Keeping the scalp and hair clean may also prevent hair damage and loss.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends gently massaging the shampoo into the scalp but not into the hair. The Association also recommends using conditioner after every shampoo.
The AAD states that wearing tight hairstyles such as ponytails, buns, or cornrows can damage hair and recommends loose hairstyles that do not pull on the hair.
According to a
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Q: My Hair Isn’t As Thick And Full As It Once Was Is There A Supplement For Hair Growth That Can Help
A: If you experience hair thinning because your diet is lacking in a specific nutrient, addressing your deficiency through supplements may help restore healthy growth. However, you want to avoid just choosing any random daily multi-vitamin on the shelf, as a more targetted approach may be best, according to pros. Before diving in, be sure to consult your healthcare provider for the necessary bloodwork or other testing needed to determine the best hair growth supplement for you.
What Is Female Pattern Hair Loss
With female pattern hair loss , a woman will begin to notice thinning hair around the part line of the scalp and on the edges of her hairline. Typically, FPHL becomes apparent for women ages 40 to 60 but it can affect women at any age. In addition to genetic and hormonal changes affecting women in this age bracket, quite a few external factors may trigger excessive hair shedding and rapid hair loss. These include emotional stress, inadequate nutrition, and underlying medical conditions.
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Follow The Mediterranean Diet
Eating fruits, vegetables and protein the main ingredients in the Mediterranean diet can be helpful, especially compared to other trendy diets.
When you go on these restrictive diets, you may lose weight but its probably something you cant maintain, says Dr. Bergfeld. And theyre usually lacking in something that your hair follicles need.
Hair Growth Formula Gummies For Men
Hairlust’s popular gummy hair loss supplements also come in a formula just for men! These hair loss supplements are loaded with all the vitamins and minerals you need to grow healthy hair, with the formula tweaked to meet the unique needs of mens hair loss.
Hair Growth Formula Gummies for Men
Sugar-free hair vitamins for men, with biotin, zinc and selenium, which helps with the maintenance of normal hair.
$48.00
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What Vitamin Is Good For Hair Loss A Complete Guide
Medically reviewed by
David Culpepper, MD
While theres little evidence to suggest that individual vitaminsin excesswill encourage your hair to grow faster, theres plenty of research to suggest that a deficiency in certain vitamins can result in thin, brittle hair and even hair loss.
Making sure that you get enough of these vitamins will help to keep your hair healthy, long, and strong.
If youre currently experiencing hair loss, it may be the result of a vitamin deficiency. If thats the case, reversing it can be an easy fix without the need for complex surgeries or prescription hair loss medications.
Simply increasing your nutrient intake should help your hair to return to normal.
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Which Type Of Hair Loss Is This
If you’re hair is thinning or falling out during peri-menopause or after menopause the first thing to figure out is – what’s causing it.
80% of the time peri-menopausal and postmenopausal thinning hair is caused by “EFFLUVIUM.” This is by far the most common type of hair loss in women, and it’s related to hormones and menopausal changes.
We’re going to dive deeply into what you can do about this type of hair loss.
But if you’re not sure, check with your doc or healthcare practitioner to rule out other less common causes of hair loss like fungal infections or a thyroid disorder.
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Essential Vitamins For Hair Growth
Medically reviewed by Vicky Davis, FNP
Although the main causes of male pattern baldness are genetic and hormonal, diet and lifestyle factors can also have a huge effect on the health and thickness of your hair.
One important hair health factor thats often forgotten is vitamin consumption. Just like vitamins strengthen your immune system and give you healthier skin, regular consumption of certain hair vitamins may have a positive impact on the thickness, shine and health of your hair.
If youve noticed your hair starting to thin, become weaker, or split apart towards the end, theres a chance it could be due to insufficient vitamin consumption.
Luckily, hair vitamins are very affordable, making it easy for you to supplement your diet and get a full intake of the vitamins you need to keep your hair at its best.
Even without hair loss supplements, most vitamin or nutritional deficiencies that affect your hair can be fixed with some simple changes to your diet and lifestyle.
Below, weve shared the most important vitamins for healthy hair. Weve also shared other ways that you can stimulate optimal hair growth, prevent hair loss and maintain a healthy head of hair in your 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond.
What Vitamins Are Good For Hair
Experts say that over-the-counter vitamins for hair growth and thickness often contain B complex vitamins, iron, protein, and vitamin D. “We know that low levels of these vitamins are associated with hair thinning,” Dr. Zeichner tells Health.
If you have already experienced hair loss, Amy Lee, MD, doctor of internal medicine and head of nutrition for Nuciific, recommends B12 vitamins because they help “produce new hair cells and promote growth.”
As with any supplement, you should be mindful of the RDA of each ingredient. This is especially important if you’re taking vitamins that contain iron or vitamin A, both of which can trigger adverse side effects if taken in excess. When in doubt, the National Institutes of Health has a handy guide for dietary supplements.
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Are There Side Effects To Vitamins For Hair Growth
I know what youre thinking: Whats the harm in taking hair growth vitamins and supplements, justin case they do end up helping? But sadly, thats not how vitamins work in a healthy human. Even if you were to ingest triple the vitamins your body needs , you still wouldnt reap triple, or even double, the hair growth rewards.
Why? Because your body keeps only the vitamins it needs and then gets rid of the rest, says Burg. It’s kind of like pouring water into a glass thats already 100 percent full. So unless youre actually missing some key nutrientsi.e., youre vitamin deficientyoull usually end up peeing out the excess vitamins pretty soon after you ingest them.
Correct The Underlying Hormonal Imbalance
If your difficulty sleeping started – or got WORSE – during menopause… It might be due to hormonal changes and imbalance.
If you can correct that underlying hormonal imbalance… Your sleep can improve to the point where you no longer need to worry nearly as much about good sleep habits, because when you lie down, you sleep.
There’s not always a quick fix for this, but I help women with this all the time. It’s possible.
I’m so passionate about helping you to quickly and easily start using herbs for sleep, hormonal balance, and, yes, hair loss – that I hope you’ll take advantage of my free herbal masterclass while it’s available and FREE.
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Why Trust Verywell Health
As a seasoned health writer, Danielle Zoellner knows the importance of finding just the right product to fit your medical needs. Throughout her career, Danielle has interviewed a variety of experts in the medical and health fields while reviewing dozens of products. Her experience and knowledge in the field work together to help readers like yourself find the best products for your daily life.
Best Scalp Scrub: Ouai St Barts Cleansing Scalp And Body Sugar Scrub
-
Can be drying
Dry, flaking skin and sebum buildup on the scalp could be one reason why you might be experiencing excessive hair loss and thinning. The Ouai St. Barts Cleansing Scalp and Body Sugar Scrub helps remove the flakiness that can form on the scalp with the addition of sugar crystals that will gently exfoliate the surface. Then the product incorporates panthenol and glycerin to help improve the skins moisture to prevent future dryness. Coconut is also incorporated into the product to further nourish the scalp.
For most optimal use, apply the product in the shower by sectioning the wet hair to reveal the scalp. Use about a quarter-size amount of the product and rub it in a circular motion on the scalp before washing the product out. Once you are done, finish off your shower routine by moisturizing the hair with a conditioner. This scrub can also be used on the body to exfoliate any dry or flaking skin.
Type: Scrub | Frequency of Use: As needed | Key Ingredients: Panthenol and glycerin
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Simone Thomas The Biotin Hair Care Plan
Leading hair loss consultant and trichologist, Simone Thomas, who knows everything there is to know about getting healthy hair and the overall nutrition your hair craves, has created not one, but two, incredible hair care plans.
The first, The Biotin Hair Care Plan, is best for those looking to brighten dull locks, have shinier and stronger hair. While the Ginkgo plan is better suited to those with fine hair and suffering from hair loss. Both are vegan-friendly, completely natural, easy to swallow, have clear instructions and no horrible after taste.
Each plan contains three supplements that feed your hair with essential vitamins. Our testers tried both plans and were astounded by the results though overall the Gingko plan was the most impressive. Results were consistent and noticeable within four weeks. If youve been neglecting your hair, stick to this plan to restart and refresh your tresses.
Moon Juice Super Hair
Moon Juice is a brand known for producing many fantastic hair care products. It has a good reputation, and its products have shown promising results.
Among other causes of hair loss, stress is one of the leading causes. When your body is under pressure, nutritional flow to your hair is the first thing to stop. You may not notice at first, but prolonged stress can lead to hair loss. Moon Juice Super Hair supplement treats all the different causes of hair loss, including stress-related hair loss. It contains adaptogens like ashwagandha and ginseng, which are natural stress relievers. They control the cortisol hormone, which is responsible for stress and keeps its levels regular.
It also contains pumpkin seed powder, horsetail grass, organic kelp powder, and saw palmetto, which is excellent for hair growth. Pumpkin seed powder acts as an antioxidant, reducing any inflammation in the scalp. Moon Juice Super Hair supplements can be pricey compared to your average drug store multivitamin, but it is worth it. Vegetarians dont have many options when it comes to hair growth supplements. Moon Juice takes exceptional care of its vegan customers by making its supplements 100% vegan.
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What Is The Best Kind Of Supplement For Thyroid
Dysfunction of the thyroid gland is a common cause of increased hair shedding and thinning hair. If you have abnormal levels of thyroid hormones or thyroid-related diseases, you need to consult your local physician for proper diagnosis and treatment. Thyroid-specific vitamins and minerals can be used to support thyroid function when blood levels of thyroid hormones are in the normal range.
Iodine
Iodine deficiency causes thyroid disease. It is essential for the production of Triiodothyronine and thyroxine .
Selenium
Our thyroid gland contains high amounts of selenium, and a deficiency can lead to thyroid dysfunction. In addition to its role in producing thyroid hormones, selenium helps protect the thyroid from damage caused by oxidative stress.
Iron
Iron deficiency is associated with thyroid dysfunction. The thyroid gland depends on iron to convert T4 into T3, the active form of thyroid hormone.
Zinc
Proper amounts of zinc are needed for healthy levels of T3, T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone .
Vitamins
Vitamins B and E are also required for thyroid function. Being deficient in these vitamins can negatively affect thyroid health and increase your risk of thyroid disease.
An excellent example of supplements that can help hair and support your thyroid is the MDacne restore supplements. These supplements contain the optimal amounts of Iodine, Iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamins B and E.
Best Thinning Hair: Nutrafol Capsules For Hair Growth
Nearly every dermatologist we polled cited Nutrafol supplements as a winning choice for hair growth. New York City dermatologist Debra Jaliman, MD, raves about the ingredient list of these hair growth pills, which boasts a slew of beneficial vitamins and antioxidants like vitamin A, biotin, keratin, resveratrol, and biologically active compounds derived from food and botanicals. “The special blend of all these ingredients make this a very good product,” she says. “It has components that many other hair growth supplements do not have.”
More than 4,000 shoppers left the supplements a five-star rating on Amazon, with many raving over the effectiveness of the formula. One person said: “I bought this for my thinning hair. I have used it for 2 months. I was completely caught off guard as I noticed not only new hair growth but a REMARKABLE change in my color coming back! I have 50% less grey using this product. My hair is growing back and coming out brown…NOT GREY.”
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