Tensing has developed to be one of the most dangerous phenomena threatening millions of people all over the globe. Such factors can be heredity or hormonal changes or stress, but hunger-skin and vitamin deficiency are significant contributors to the development of the problem. This article analyses the vitamins which are related to hair, consequences of their deficiency and how this can be prevented.
Understanding Hair Loss
Let's talk about hair loss from vitamin deficiency in
detail, but first, define the different types of hair loss and how these can be
related to nutritional deficiencies.
Types of Hair Loss
- Androgen etic Alopecia: Popularly known in referring to male
or female pattern baldness. It is the genetic type of hair loss, and it has
connections with hormonal imbalance.
- Alopecia Areata: This is an autoimmune disease that causes
hair to fall rapidly in patches.
- Telogen Effluvium: This is a reversible one and many a time
hair sheds occur due to stress, hormones, or eating regimen. Actual hair is no
longer formed, the hair follicle becomes resting and thus hair shedding occurs.
- Traction Alopecia: It is one style of hair loss caused by the same hairstyle. Continuous tension causes breakage and hair loss.
Role of Vitamins in Hair Health
Vitamins are needed in most of the body's functions like growth and even the hairs to be kept at its best. These enable hormones to function for it to work, allow absorption into the human body, and hence, retain or keep it that way and at its best; hair health. This causes a weak condition of the hair follicle to tend to lose many of them.
Key Vitamins Linked with Hair Loss
1. Vitamin D
Function in Hair Development: The vitamin D is related to
the creation of new hair follicles. Other than that, it is important for
governing hair growth cycles; very essential for healthy hair.
Deficiency Symptoms: Vitamin D deficiency has been blamed to have caused the onset of alopecia, including hair fall due to disease or conditions like alopecia, as many researches affirm. Other observations even validated the belief that low vitamin D levels may even render one more susceptible to becoming victims of hair fall.
Sources: Increase vitamin D via the following sources:
- Sunlight: skin will produce vitamins D from sunbathing;
sunbathe 15 to 30 minutes a few times a week.
- Consumption through food: the richest sources include fatty
fish, including salmon and mackerel, fortified dairy products and egg yolks.
- Supplementation: Vitamin D supplements might be helpful for people living in regions having less sunlight.
2. Biotin (Vitamin B7)
Role in Hair Growth: Biotin is a B-complex vitamin that helps out in the breakdown of foods into energy and so helps the hair, skin and nails.
- Symptoms of Deficiency: This condition does not present
itself in most, but biotin deficiency presents with hair loss and breaking
hair. Besides that, other complications such as hair thinning and scalp
conditions have been reported on the cases of people suffering from biotin
deficiency.
- Dietary Sources: Use the following rich biotin containing
food in diet
- Egg: It is a rich food source, even the yolk is the richest
biotin contented.
- Nuts and Seeds: Biotin contented in rich abundance is
almonds, walnuts, and sunflower seeds
- Whole Grains: Oats, barley
3. Vitamin E
- Hair Growth Source: Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant. It
helps in safeguarding hair follicles from oxidative stress. The flow of blood
towards the scalp for hair growth increases.
- Deficiency Symptoms: The scalp and hair get dryness because
of deficiency in vitamin E that causes hair loss.
- Sources:
- These are foods that raise the level of vitamin E in the
body.
- Nuts and Seeds: Hazelnuts and sunflower seeds are rich in
vitamin E
- Leafy Greens: Spinach and Swiss chard are highly rich in
vitamin A
- Avocados: And now throw in a bit of this fabulous addition to your diet too
View More: The Rise of Oral Minoxidil - Does Oral Minoxidil Work for Hair Loss
4. Vitamin A
- Role in Hair Growth: Vitamin A aids in cell development and
healthy skin, which includes the scalp. It triggers the release of sebum;
therefore, ensuring the hair is moist.
- This vitamin deficiency leads to dry, itchy skin conditions paired with infections on the scalp. This can cause the hair not to grow and, at worst, cause the falling off of the hair.
Source: Vitamin A sources include;
- Carrots: Deep breath: full of beta-carotene that the body
will convert into vitamin. A
- Sweet potatoes: Another beta-carotene gem
- Dark leafy Greens: Think kale, spinach 5. Iron
- Hair Growth: Technically a mineral and not a vitamin, iron
is needed to build hemoglobin, the compound which carries oxygen to the
follicles. This lack of enough iron may develop anemia in some, who can have
affected hair health due to the malady.
- Symptoms of Deficiency: The most common cause of female hair
loss is due to iron deficiency. Some of the symptoms are brittle hair, fatigue,
and pale skin.
- Sources: The amount of iron can be increased by the
following methods:
- Red Meat: A high quantity of beef and lamb contain heme
iron, which is easily absorbed.
- Poultry and Fish: Chicken and fish contain a good quantity
of iron.
- Plant-Based Sources: Although non-heme iron is contained in lentils, beans, and spinach, which are not absorbed, it gets absorbed nonetheless.
Extra Tips on Hair Health
Vitamins could be obtained with the aid of other tips which
may include, apart from vitamins supplements:
1. Balanced Diet
Diet should be aimed at promoting a balance that is supplied
through different types of nutrient. Meals that ought to be prepared should
contain fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats. The
variation of diet provides vitamins and minerals contributing to general
well-being, therefore, the hair will be sound.
2. Hydration
Hydration is one characteristic of healthy hair. There is no
such thing as over hydration, but under hydration makes hair brittle and dry
along with scalp issues. Hydration intake should at least reach eight glasses
of water per day based on activity and climate.
3. Stress Control
It has proved that stress leads to hair loss. Daily stress
reduction from yoga, meditation, and exercising can occur within an individual.
Healthy outlets of stress will, therefore, turn out to be a god-gift to a
healthy mind, as well as to one's hairs.
4. Avoid Severe Hair Care Procedures
Use as much as possible away from damaging hair treatments,
such as overuse of heat styling, chemical dyes, and tight hairstyles that cause
breakage. Instead ensure the use of gentle, sulfate-free shampoos, and
conditioners for healthy hair.
Conclusion
Vitamin deficiencies have been known to cause hair loss and
thinning due to their impact on hair health. These include D, B7 (biotin), E,
A, the minerals which include iron that is essential for hair health. If you
are facing hair loss issue then you may want to check out your diet as whether
you’re getting all these nutrients or not. I could help you identify them but
let me warn you that if you plan on making major changes to your diet or
starting on supplements you need to see a doctor.
There are areas of potential inadequacy that will have to be
worked out through healthy lifestyle habits that help promote growth in better
hair with a healthier lifestyle. Remember the changes do not show up overnight
but instead begin to manifest themselves if done correctly and with time and
patience, and it can be just what heals your hair, getting it back into an
earlier state of health and shine.
Please book an appointment with the Best Dermatologist in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and all major cities of Pakistan through InstaCare, or call our helpline at 03171777509 to find a verified doctor for your disease.