Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss?

Medically reviewed by Dr. Kiran

Hair thinning or hair loss is a frequent problem that may have an impact on a person’s confidence, self-esteem as well as physical appearance. The most frequent cause of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as male or female-pattern baldness.

Hair loss affects 67.1% of men and 23.9% of women, according to research published in 2016. Hair loss may be a symptom of a variety of health issues. It may be caused by some vitamin deficiencies, however, addressing the underlying reason may resolve the issue.

Keep reading to know about which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss.

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Causes of Hair Loss

Normally, you lose around 50-100 hair strands a day. However, new strands of hair grow on the scalp simultaneously. Numerous factors cause hair loss, like:

Heredity: pattern hair loss with age in both men and women
Hormonal imbalance or health complaints
Intake of certain drugs or supplements
Radiation therapy
nutrient deficiency
Traumatic incidents that lead to anxiety and stress
Hairstyling and chemical treatments
Poor diet

Which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss?

The reasons for hair loss vary from person to person. A deficiency in some necessary vitamins can lead to pattern balding, shedding, or thinning of your hair. Some of these vitamins include:

Iron

Iron is an important nutrient that helps the body in creating hemoglobin. This protein transports oxygen throughout your body. Thus, if the supply of iron runs short, there will be a short supply of hemoglobin.

Hence without proper nutrition, the hair strands may begin falling out. This could lead to pattern hair loss and bald patches.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D promotes the growth of follicles and retains the thickness of the hair strands. The deficiency of this vitamin is the most common reason for hair loss. Sometimes, it may even cause alopecia areata, which is an autoimmune syndrome that causes hair fall, often in bunches. Generally, insufficient exposure to the sun is a major cause of this deficiency.

Vitamin B7 (Biotin)

Biotin or Vitamin B7 plays an important role in maintaining the health of your hair, skin, and nails. The deficiency of this vitamin can cause reddish rashes, brittle nails, or thinning hair. Usually, biotin deficiency is inherited. However, smoking, alcohol intake, and a few drugs can disturb your biotin levels.

Vitamin A

Incorporating Vitamin A into your diet is often quite tricky. You should not consume too much or too little of it. Hence, achieving the right balance of nutrients is very important. Excessive intake of Vitamin A causes toxic accumulation in the body. As a result of this, hair follicles age faster and can lead to thinning or even balding.

However, deficiency of this vitamin causes reduced cell growth in the hair. Moreover, it may hinder sebum production, which moisturizes the scalp and aids in healthy hair growth.

Treatments for Hair Loss

Effective treatments for some types of hair loss are available. You might be able to reverse hair loss, or at least slow it. With some conditions, such as patchy hair loss, hair may regrow without treatment within a year. Treatments for hair loss include:

Medication

A medical condition such as an underlying illness may need therapy for your baldness. You may be advised by your doctor to cease taking medicine for a few months if it’s causing the thinning of your hair.

There are medications to treat genetic pattern baldness. The most popular choices are as follows:

Minoxidil (Rogaine)

Prescription-free (nonprescription) Minoxidil is available as a shampoo, a foam, and a liquid. Apply the cream to the scalp skin twice daily for males and once every day for women to get the best results.

Many individuals find that minoxidil-containing products help them either regrow their hair or slow down the pace at which they are losing it, or both. To stop additional hair loss and begin hair regeneration, you’ll need to undergo therapy for at least six months. To know whether the therapy is working, you will probably take a few more months. If it’s working, you’ll have to keep taking the medication forever to keep reaping the rewards.

Hair growth on the surrounding skin, such as the face and hands, is possible as a side effect.

Finasteride (Propecia)

These pills are prescribed to males alone. It’s a tablet you take once a day. Men who use finasteride see a reduction in hair loss, and some even have fresh hair growth while on the medication. It may take many months before you can determine whether or not it is working for you. To maintain the advantages, you’ll have to keep taking it. Finasteride may not be as effective for men over the age of 60 as it is for younger men.

Some rare finasteride adverse effects include decreased libido or sexual desire, as well as an increased risk of prostate cancer. Pregnant women and anyone who may become pregnant should avoid handling broken or crushed pills.

Other medications

Spironolactone (Carospir, Aldactone) and oral dutasteride (Avodart) are also available as oral medications.

Hair Transplant Surgery

Permanent hair loss that affects just the crown of the head is the most frequent kind. Hair restoration surgery, such as a hair transplant, may help you make the most of the hair you do have.

It’s possible to have hair transplanted by a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon from a balding area of the head, but it’s not always an option. There are too many hairs in each bald spot (micrografts and mini grafts). In certain cases, a long strip of skin is used to collect hair from several areas of the body at the same time.

Although this treatment does not need hospitalization, you will be given a sedative to help alleviate your discomfort. Bleeding, bruising, edema, and infection are all potential side effects. You may need more than one procedure to achieve your goals.

Laser therapy

Men and women with genetic hair loss may now take benefit of a low-level laser device authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It has been demonstrated in a few modest trials to increase hair density. Long-term consequences will need further research.

Conclusion

Hair loss can make you anxious and shatter your confidence. However, there are always ways to fix it. Keep track of what you eat and enhance your diet. Include healthier foods and exclude the ones that can affect your hair health.

If your diet does not improve hair growth, consult dermatologist doctor and take supplements. Nonetheless, in more severe cases, you can consult our doctor and contact us to know about the medical treatments to win your hair back.