Food/Health & Wellness

Do vitamin supplements remedy hair loss?

In the beauty industry, vitamins are being promoted as hair loss remedy

We read about it everywhere, particularly in the advertisements, where vitamin supplements are being promoted as a remedy for hair growth. Do they really work, and if they do, which ones work best?

Hair builds up our confidence, especially for women, and it does a lot to enhance our beauty. Hair also regulates body temperature. So naturally, we don’t want to lose our hair but rather protect it from damage and loss. No wonder, hair loss remedies are worth millions of dollars—in fact, $3.9 billion in 2022—and will rise to $14.2bn by 2028. It is obvious that this is no small industry at all.

Two Most Common Types Of Hair Loss

There are many causes of hair loss, but the most common are:

Permanent Hair Loss (Androgenetic Alopecia AGA) This is a form of male pattern hair loss affecting men because of changes in hormones affecting hair follicles’ ability to grow hair. This can affect a third of men in their thirties, about 50% of men in their fifties, as young as thirty years of age, and virtually all men over sixty.

‘’Alopecia does not refer to the normal, everyday loss of hair. It is common for a person to lose around 50 to 100 hair each day. Alopecia suggests an amount of hair loss greater than what is normally expected.’’

In women, this can also occur, but as a general hair thinning rather than general hair loss, and occurs again due to hormonal changes, usually as a result of menopause.

Alopecia Areata (AA) — is caused by a fault in the immune system attacking hair follicles, causing bald patches. Its symptoms are different for each person, but they generally experience loss of hair in patches.

Telogen Effluvium (TE) is a type of alopecia areata caused by stress, making the hair fall out due to the stressful incident.

‘Telogen effluvium is a form of temporary hair loss that usually happens after stress, a shock, or a traumatic event. It usually occurs on the top of the scalp.’

Alopecia areata is usually temporary, although, in a small minority of people, it can be permanent.

Micronutrients Are Important In The Health Of Hair Follicles

Micronutrients, which are derived from vitamins and minerals, play a huge part in nourishing the hair follicles to make them perform well. Julie Van Onselen, a dermatologist, believes there is a strong link between two specific vitamin deficiencies and hair loss, She believes nourishing about 100,000 hair follicles can make a difference.

‘’Micronutrients are major elements in the normal hair follicle cycle, playing a role in cellular turnover, a frequent occurrence in the matrix cells in the follicle bulb that are rapidly dividing.’’

Four Essential Vitamins For Hair Loss

Vitamin — Low levels of vitamin D can affect hair growth. The vitamin, which is fat-soluble, is essential for healthy skin, teeth, and bones. A low level of vitamin D in the body prevents adequate production of keratinocytes. Keratinocytes produce keratin, a protein in hair, nails, and skin. A low level of keratin causes unbalanced hair growth and shedding.

Iron—hair loss associated with iron deficiency (in menopausal women or those with a heavy period). Vitamin C is essential for the absorption of iron. Iron contributes to haemoglobin production, which carries oxygen and nutrients to the blood, and nourishes the cells, including hair follicles. Without these essential nutrients, hair will not grow, resulting in hair loss.

Zinc: A low level of zinc in the body can result in poor immunity, which can damage the hair follicles, resulting in hair thinning. Zinc is a trace mineral that regulates hormonal imbalance, important for vitamin A absorption too.

Selenium is generally found in the soil, and is important for its anti-oxidant properties. Antioxidants protect cells from damage. Any deficiency in this important nutrient can cause thyroid malfunction, which in turn can affect hair loss.

To treat hair loss, you will need to consult a specialist who will start by knowing the real cause of your hair loss, in order to prescribe treatment. Remember that not all hair loss is due to vitamin deficiency.

Yana Bostongirl wrote about her female pattern baldness below:

The Takeaways

• Vitamin, mineral, and energy deficiencies are very common causes of hair loss in women.
• Our hair’s growth and strength are largely reliant on our diet, according to trichologist Anabel Kingsley.
• No hair loss treatment is 100 percent effective.
• ‘’People with vitamin-related hair loss may lose more than just the hair on their heads. Damage to hair follicles can also cause the eyebrows and lashes to shed.’’ Abraham Armani, MD, a hair restoration surgeon and hair loss expert in Dallas, Texas

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