Vitamins, minerals, and hair loss: Is there a connection?

There are many other potential causes of hair loss in women. It can be helpful to keep a hair diary to track any changes you notice or symptoms you experience and to look for patterns. See a GP to get an idea about what's causing your hair loss before thinking about going to a commercial hair clinic. We can lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, often without noticing.

What are the signs of hair loss in women?

If you have a nutrient deficiency, food alone may not be enough to replenish your nutrient stores and a supplement may be necessary. However, research suggests that if you don’t have a nutrient deficiency, supplements might not benefit hair loss (1). Deficiencies in iron, zinc, protein, selenium, and essential fatty acids have all been linked to hair loss (13, 1). Notably, the participants with hair loss had much lower levels of zinc and vitamin B12 both before and after surgery (9). If you’re getting enough nutrients, “your hair will rebound and there will be no permanent damage,” Kraftson said.

Major Responses Seen for Cicatricial and Total Hair Loss - Medscape

Major Responses Seen for Cicatricial and Total Hair Loss.

Posted: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

A quick look at our hair loss prevention categories

Not getting enough iron, protein or vitamin B12 in your diet can also cause your hair to thin. If this happens to you, talk to your doctor about supplements. These molecules react with others to cause oxidative stress, which can harm cellular DNA. A 2018 review found that cells in the hair follicles of scalps with hair loss are extremely sensitive to oxidative stress. Because it’s a vasodilator, caffeine may also help improve blood flow to your scalp, promoting hair growth.

Laser therapy

Menopause can also lead to uncomfortable systemic symptoms such as night sweats, weight gain, and vaginal dryness, which may raise your overall stress levels. If you have a deficiency, your doctor may suggest multivitamins or supplements like iron and biotin. Don't take any supplement before checking with your doctor.

Minimize the use of high-heat styling tools, hair extensions and harsh treatments like perms. Avoid hairstyles like tight buns and braids that pull on your scalp, potentially causing traction alopecia. A variety of treatments have been developed to help regrow hair and thicken existing hair on patients with alopecia, dermatologists say.

What are the best treatments for alopecia?

Telogen effluvium refers to the excessive shedding of hair follicles, and it occurs when hair follicles prematurely skip to the end of the hair growth cycle, she adds. Prescription medications, like finasteride (Propecia), may help prevent further androgenetic hair loss, especially for male pattern baldness. You take this medication daily to slow hair loss, though some experience new hair growth when taking finasteride.

Vitamin or mineral deficiency

A review study published in 2022 found that it significantly increases hair diameter and hair count in patients with several types of alopecia. It typically isn’t covered by insurance, and it can be expensive, Mirmirani says. Dozens of over-the-counter supplements and products purport to reverse hair loss, making it tough for patients to know which ones work and which don’t. “As soon as you notice hair loss is happening, you should come in,” says Lauren Eckert Ploch, a dermatologist in Aiken, South Carolina. Advanced treatments are available for more serious hair loss. With minoxidil, you might also see hair growing in places other than your scalp (cheeks and forehead, for example).

To avoid damage, use lukewarm water instead of hot, avoid brushing and stretching your hair while it’s wet, and use a deeply moisturizing conditioner regularly. But if you experience more sudden loss, loss in patches, or overall thinning, you may want to see a doctor. However, you may need to use the medication for as long as 12 months before you’ll see any results. It also has various side effects, including loss of libido and erectile dysfunction. Possible side effects include scalp irritation and acne at the site of application.

Hair typically falls out in small, round patches about the size of a quarter. If you notice hair loss, experts recommend as a first step asking your health care provider for a basic blood test to check for nutrient shortages. Working with a dermatologist, you can begin identifying what might be causing your hair loss. Your doctor will ask about your health, your medications and your family history.

They can identify the underlying cause of hair loss and recommend suitable treatment options. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance present in cigarettes. Tobacco products containing nicotine can negatively influence health and lead to hair loss. In particular, nicotine can result in hair loss due to damaging hair follicles.

Some research, including a 2024 review, suggests that there may be a connection between vitamin D deficiency and alopecia. Although more research is needed, it’s possible that treating this deficiency could help with hair regrowth. Extreme diets that are too low in protein or certain vitamins, such as iron, can sometimes cause excessive hair shedding. Telogen effluvium is usually a temporary condition that resolves over time, but it is advisable for people to contact a doctor to determine the cause. A doctor may need to treat the underlying cause of the condition to reduce hair loss.

Especially if you’re vegan or vegetarian, you may need to increase the amount of protein you consume. “Eating well, sleeping well, exercising, not smoking — all of those are important to hair,” Mirmirani says. Several serious diseases also attack the hair follicle, says Robert Brodell, a dermatologist at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Most of us shed hair a little at a time — pretty much all the time. Minoxidil may irritate your scalp and cause dryness, scaling, itching and/or redness. Other essential oils to consider include lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint.

Other times, your healthcare provider will need to do some detective work to figure out what’s causing your hair loss. It's typical to lose some hair every day as part of your hair’s usual growth cycle. For most people, the lost hair grows back, and you maintain a full head of hair. But illness, hormonal changes, stress, aging and inherited conditions can interfere with your hair’s growth cycle. More hair falls out, but new strands don’t always grow back. Even if your hair loss is hereditary, there are treatments that exist that can help slow or reverse hair loss.

But because the signs are subtle, hair loss is sometimes the first symptom women notice, Colavincenzo says. The FDA has approved this newer treatment to help with hair growth. On average, most people lose about 100 strands of hair a day. And with new strands growing to take place of the ones lost, most won’t notice a difference. A healthcare provider might recommend using minoxidil (Rogaine®). You can purchase the 2% or 5% solution over the counter (OTC).

If finasteride works for you, you will need to keep taking it to continue getting results. Before taking this medication, be sure to discuss possible side effects with your dermatologist. While at-home treatments offer convenience, a procedure performed by a board-certified dermatologist tends to be more effective.

Another cause of hair loss is called telogen effluvium (TE), which is typically temporary. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), TE isn’t actually defined as “hair loss,” but rather as excessive hair shedding. Although it’s more common in men, hair loss regularly affects women and people of other genders. You may experience any one of several types of hair loss, such as hair thinning, a widening part, or patchy hair loss. If the hair loss is caused by a deficiency in one or more nutrients like zinc or iron, correcting the deficiency or deficiencies may stop the loss and lead to hair regrowth (1). As mentioned, hair loss during weight loss can be caused by nutrient deficiencies or rapid weight loss.