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What Vitamins Can Cause Hair Loss

You Dont Get Enough Biotin

What Minerals & Vitamins Cause Hair Loss? Maggie Yu, MD

Although data directly linking increased biotin intake and hair growth is somewhat limited, biotin has been linked to keratin production, says Hicks-Graham. Thats why this B vitamin is known for making hair stronger, adds Ploch.

Although rare, deficiency in biotin can cause hair thinning and hair loss. The average recommended daily intake of biotin for adults is 30 micrograms, and youll find the vitamin in all sorts of supplements formulated to support hair, skin, and nails.

People with hereditary conditions that influence hair loss may especially benefit from biotin supplementation, says Ploch.

Whats The Best Hair Loss Treatment

Treatment for hair loss depends on the cause, Peters states. There are many treatments for hair loss, though the best treatments for you will be those that address the root cause of your hair loss. For example, if nutritional deficiencies contribute to your hair loss, an ideal treatment would be taking supplements or making changes to your diet.

Your doctor may recommend minoxidil or finasteride for hair regrowth or hair transplant surgery to treat permanent hair loss. Laser therapy may also be an option if you are experiencing permanent hair loss. Your doctor can discuss all your available treatment options based on the cause of hair loss.

Zinc Deficiency Treatments And Considerations

In one study of 312 people with AA, TE, and male and female pattern hair loss, all were shown to have lower zinc concentrations compared to 30 people with no hair loss. Those with AA and TE had the lowest levels of zinc. Another study showed those with AA and low zinc levels benefitted from zinc supplementation .

Researchers warn that using supplements when zinc levels are already normal can be dangerous and do not show a benefit. Zinc toxicity can cause pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, and long-term over-supplementation can lead to adverse interactions with iron and reduced immune function .

A few things to consider if you think you may be suffering from hair loss due to a zinc deficiency include :

  • Zinc deficiencies are uncommon in North America, but they can occur with conditions that make it harder to absorb zinc, such as inflammatory bowel disease, gastric bypass surgery, pregnancy, and alcoholism.
  • Vegetarians have an increased risk of deficiency because zinc levels are lower in vegetables than in meat.
  • Foods high in zinc include oysters, red meat, poultry are the highest other good sources: seafood, nuts, beans, whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals, and dairy products.

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Can Supplements Cause Hair Loss

While we most often suffer from nutrients deficiency, too much of a vitamin can cause hair loss too. To avoid the problem, maintain a balanced diet, consult your doctor regarding taking the vitamins and minerals for hair and carefully follow the dosage prescriptions.

If your hair receives all necessary nutrients, it will look shiny, healthy, and appealing. Thus, start your hair care with adopting a healthy diet or taking carefully selected supplements.

Do Hair Vitamins Genuinely Work

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Growing and maintaining overall hair health is complicated, as many internal and external factors influence the process. Despite this, many swear by hair vitamins and supplements to help support hair health throughout the day.

Essentially, hair supplements work by producing keratin and supporting the internal structural structure of hair, like cysteine, proline, threonine, and arginine, which are amino acids. In most processes throughout the body, keratin production is impacted by free radicals and oxidative stress-both, which are alleviated or mitigated by antioxidants.

The real question here is, do they truly work? Well, there is no clear answer. While essential nutrients and bioactive could support the synthesis and protection of hair, there arent many clinical studies taking into account healthy populations. Research on hair supplements for the average person is scarce, with most published studies dealing with people with various nutrient deficiencies. It is also difficult to track how much they influence hair growth since their mechanism is more about creating optimal conditions for hair health.

Furthermore, the effectiveness of supplements depends in part on the formulation. However, customer reports can still be considered valid: Peer-reviewed publications are ideal, but many customer reports are also worth considering.

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Vitamin B7 For Hair Loss

Role in hair: biotin helps to activate the proteins that contribute to healthy hair growth. This vitamin can also stimulate the production of keratin.

Supplementing for hair loss: biotin supplements for hair loss are only proven to benefit those with biotin deficiency, and a normal diet is thought to provide you with enough biotin. There are no high-quality studies to show that supplementation can benefit people with healthy biotin levels, or that it can effectively treat ADA, AA, or TE hair loss.

Do You Need Vitamin A Supplements

Vitamin A supplements are best for those with nutritional deficiencies. If youre taking a balanced diet, you may already have enough vitamin A for your body to function. Some foods that are good sources of vitamin A include:

  • Dairy products
  • Mangoes
  • Other fortified processed food

Animal-based products contain preformed vitamin A, while vegetables and fruits contain beta-carotene that your body can convert to vitamin A. If you eat a healthy diet including of these foods, you likely already have enough vitamin A. However, its best to consult your doctor for medical advice if you suspect you have a vitamin deficiency. You may be asked to undergo blood tests to see if theres enough vitamin A in your body.

Since vitamin A comes from meat and animal products, vegans and vegetarians may not have dietary sources rich in vitamin A. Its possible to get beta-carotene out of fruits and vegetables to convert to vitamin A, but some people may have complications and conditions that make it difficult to get their daily vitamin A from these sources. In these cases, vitamin A dietary supplements may be a good addition to your diet.

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How To Treat Vitamin B12 Deficiency

It is essential to spot the early signs of vitamin B12 deficiency. If not identified and treated, its lack can lead to more severe health problems, including neurological disorders. If youre experiencing any of the above symptoms, we recommend you speak with your doctor and get your vitamin B12 levels checked at the earliest.

Do Hair Supplements Really Work

Why Supplements and Vitamins for Hair Loss Donât Treat the Genetic Causes of Thinning Hair

Were sorry to debunk this myth, but physicians warn that hair supplements dont usually work for the majority of individuals. I dont really believe in any of the hair supplements out there, Mizuguchi adds. I believe there is increasing evidence that iron supplementation in some women with confirmed low ferritin levels should be taken since it is a key component for hair development. However, Mizuguchi suggests that you see a doctor before taking iron since too much might cause significant liver damage.

While youve certainly heard of biotin, which is a popular element in many hair supplement products, its vital to understand that it primarily targets hair strength. Biotin is another supplement thats frequently given, particularly for women of color, because its believed to help with hair breakage, adds Mizuguchi. A lot of people think its beneficial for hair thinning, but biotin deficiency promotes hair breaking, not hair loss.

To be honest, there is very little well-researched data to support the claim that biotin increases hair development in those who are not deficient, Herrmann says.

Overview

Vitamin D is an important nutrient that is essential to our health. It boosts immunity, keeps bones strong and skin healthy, stimulates cell growth, and helps create new hair follicles. You absorb vitamin D through sun exposure primarily, but you can take dietary supplements and eat certain foods to up your intake of the nutrient.

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Other Vitamin Deficiencies Related To Hair Loss: Zinc Fatty Acids Selenium

There are a range of vitamin deficiencies that can be linked to hair loss, so it isnt just your Vitamin D and iron levels you will need to get checked. Making sure you are getting enough zinc, fatty acids and selenium are also crucial. Zinc and selenium are vital for healthy hair and so are fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6.

Chronic Telogen Effluvium Long Term Diffuse Hair Shedding

Chronic Telogen Effluvium, is the most common form of hair loss in women, particularly young and middle age women. CTE is an increase in hair loss and decrease in hair thickness over a long period of time. You may have always seen excessive hair in the brush or shower and thought it was normal. Its only when you see your scalp is visible you ask yourself why is my hair falling out? But in reality it would have been thinning long before you noticed.

Chronic hair loss affects approximately 30% of pre-menopausal women. So if you think your hair is thinning, youre not alone! Stopping female hair loss and regaining hair thickness, depends on establishing the true cause and treating it.

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Get A Free Hair Loss Evaluation

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Hair Loss: Whats Normal And Whats Not

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According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the average person loses up to 100 strands of hair every day. And thats totally normal! How much hair we loseand the pattern in which we lose itthough, varies from person to person.

Our genes, as well as certain health conditions , can strongly influence hair loss. For instance, approximately 6.8 million Americans suffer from or will suffer from alopecia, a genetic autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the hair follicles. Its marked by either patchy or complete hair loss, which can occur in unpredictable, repeating cycles.

Some prescription medications can also contribute to hair loss. And though not permanent, extreme hair shedding can occur because of stressors like childbirth, surgery, or sudden weight loss. Similar to alopecia, this hair loss happens suddenly, but it tends to be temporary.

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You Have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome is another imbalance in male and female sex hormones. An excess of androgens can lead to ovarian cysts, weight gain, a higher risk of diabetes, changes in your menstrual period, infertility, as well as hair thinning. Because male hormones are overrepresented in PCOS, women may also experience more hair on the face and body.

Treating PCOS can correct the hormone imbalance and help reverse some of these changes. Treatments include diet, exercise, and potentially birth control pills, as well as specific treatment to address infertility or diabetes risk.

Vitamin D And Hair Growth

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin made in the skin. When your skin comes into contact with the suns UV light, it becomes activated and travels to the liver and kidneys. It then undergoes further chemical reactions to produce its final active form. This nutrient helps control calcium and phosphorous levels in the blood, regulates the immune system, and exerts anti-inflammatory properties.

Hair follicle cells contain receptors for vitamin D, making it important in hair growth. People with genetic mutation of this receptor, like those with type II rickets, have very little to no hair growth on their bodies.

Evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency is linked to alopecia areata, an autoimmune form of hair loss. A meta-analysis found that the average vitamin D level in alopecia areata patients is significantly lower compared to people without this type of hair loss. Additionally, alopecia areata patients were more likely to be vitamin D deficient.

This study did not find a significant link between vitamin D levels and the severity of hair loss. However, a more recent test in 45 adults found a negative correlation between vitamin D levels and the severity of alopecia areata. Another study showed the same results in 50 individuals with androgenic alopecia , with a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and the severity of the disease in these patients, as well.

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Symptoms Of Iron Deficiency

There may be no symptoms in milder cases of iron deficiency, and those who suffer from it may ignore symptoms like feeling tired, cold, anxious, or out of breath. Some notice hair loss, brittle nails, or restless legs. Cravings for dirta condition called picacan occur. If undiagnosed and untreated, iron deficiency can lead to depression, heart problems, increased risk of infection, and pregnancy complications .

Iron deficiency anemia can affect thyroid functioning, adding to the problem. Both disorders affect the normal hair growth cycle. Studies show iron deficiency may also play a role in female pattern hair loss and may worsen or trigger earlier male pattern baldness .

Vitamin B12 For Hair Loss

6 Vitamin Deficiencies that cause Hair Loss

Role in hair: vitamin B12 helps in the production of red blood cells, which transport all-important oxygen to the hair follicles.

Supplementing for hair loss: there is limited evidence that taking this vitamin can prevent or restore hair loss and more studies are needed. Scientists have tried to determine whether there is a relationship between vitamin B12 deficiency and temporary hair loss, but many studies have found no significant correlation.

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Too Much Of This Vitamin Can Cause Hair Loss

Matt CookHair Loss, Sunlight, Vitamin D1

This vitamin is usually touted as the best thing since sliced bread But now research shows that TOO much can be very bad for men

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Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss

Your scalp contains around 100,000 hair follicles. Of these, 90% require vitamins, minerals, and other essential micronutrients in order to produce healthy hair.

As such, experts believe that vitamin deficiency may lead to hair loss. According to Van Onselen, there is strong evidence linking two specific vitamin deficiencies with hair loss:

“Current evidence indicated that when a person is vitamin D-deficient, supplementing vitamin D may help with AGA hair loss.

Iron deficiency may also be a cause of this type of hair loss in women. Vitamin C is important for hair loss associated with iron deficiency, so supplementation of this vitamin may be helpful.”

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