How Vitamins Can Affect Hair Loss

How Can Vitamins Affect Hair Loss

If you're losing hair, it can be an alarming time. Hair loss can be brought on by various conditions, such as stress, alopecia, and thyroid issues. Perimenopause, menopause, and pregnancy sometimes trigger hair loss as well. Whatever the cause of your hair loss, it's natural to think about turning to supplements to see if these can help you with your condition.

Though it's not that common, a deficiency in particular vitamins can cause hair loss or thinning. So, if you're still searching for the cause, it could be worth getting this checked out with a doctor.

Which vitamin deficiencies can cause hair loss?

Only a handful of vitamins have a confirmed casual link to hair loss, though many can promote hair health. If you're trying to pinpoint a vitamin deficiency that might be tied to your hair loss, consider the following:

Vitamin B7

In rare cases, a deficiency in vitamin B7 (also known as biotin) can cause hair loss. Vitamin B7 is water-soluble, meaning that it's not something your body can store up to use later. This means you need a constant, steady intake of vitamin B7-rich foods. Essentially, it's a vitamin that lets your body turn food into energy.

You can get vitamin B7 by eating fish, eggs and sunflower seeds. Some fruit and vegetables high in this vitamin are sweet potatoes, broccoli, avocados, and bananas.

Vitamin B2

Vitamin B2 (also known as riboflavin) is another water-soluble vitamin that you need to constantly consume. In rare cases, a deficiency can cause hair loss. This vitamin has many functions, one of which is to provide hair follicles with energy. It also facilitates healthy collagen levels to maintain your skin and hair.

If you'd like to get more vitamin B2, consider eggs, organ meat, milk, plain yoghurt, almonds oats, salmon and mushrooms. 

Vitamin B12

A deficiency in vitamin B12 can also contribute to hair loss. Menopause can sometimes bring this on. This is because increased menstrual bleeding may deplete levels of this vitamin, among others.

To get more of this important nutrient, you may want to eat more fortified break cereal, tuna, yoghurt, trout, cheese and eggs. 

Iron

Iron is, of course, a mineral, but it's worth mentioning because a deficiency of this can trigger hair loss. It's easy to mistake iron deficiency-triggered hair loss for male-pattern or female-pattern baldness, so a doctor will often suggest testing your ferritin levels to see if an iron deficiency might be the reason.

This type of hair loss is usually only temporary and can be rectified by taking certain measures. In addition to enhancing your diet with iron-rich foods such as spinach, lean meant, beans, and nuts, you should ensure you're getting plenty of vitamin C. Add vitamin C-rich foods such as tomatoes, citrus fruits, and bell peppers to your diet to help your body store iron more efficiently. 

Can a vitamin D deficiency cause hair loss?

Vitamin D helps you create new hair follicles, which can aid hair thickness.

Research has found that a vitamin D deficiency is common among people with alopecia areata (an autoimmune condition where hair falls out in a patchy manner). If this is a condition you have, contact your doctor and enquire about vitamin D supplementation.

Due to the lower amounts of sunlight in the UK, the government recommends that many people supplement with 10 micrograms of vitamin D in autumn and winter anyway.

Can hair loss in children be caused by a vitamin deficiency?

As with adults, a vitamin deficiency can occasionally cause hair to fall out. A balanced diet is an important way to prevent this from happening.

But keep an eye our for any habits your child may be developing that are causing hair loss, such as hair pulling. If you do your child's hair for them, refrain from vigorous brushing or tying the hair into ponytails and plaits that are too tight.

There are other potential causes of hair loss in children (just as with adults) so it's best to speak to a doctor before you consider supplements.

Can taking too many vitamins cause hair loss?

Over-supplementing can sometimes have side effects, which is why it's always best to get professional medical advice first.

Excessive supplementation of vitamin A is known to cause hair loss. Issues affecting your eyesight, skin and bones may accompany this side effect.

Getting too much vitamin B12 is another potential hair loss culprit. B vitamins occur naturally in a wide range of foods and are also made available by fortified food products and supplements, so it's easy to overdo it.

Over-supplementation of the mineral selenium - found in Brazil nuts and tuna among other foods - can also cause hair loss if you're not careful.

Are there any vitamins for hair loss due to stress?

Unfortunately, stressful life events and lifestyles sometimes lead to hair loss. The three types that can be triggered by stress are telogen effluvium, trichotillomania, and alopecia areata.

In the first instance, see a doctor as soon as you notice this occurring. They may recommend treatment that includes getting more of certain vitamins and minerals. For example, getting the right quantity of vitamin D can help reduce stress and anxiety. What's more, vitamin D also aids hair growth itself, so your doctor may suggest supplements to get these double-pronged benefits.

Are there any vitamins for hair loss after having Covid-19?

Illnesses like covid-19 place the body under physical stress, which can trigger telogen effluvium, as Alopecia UK reports. This causes hair follicles to stop growing and enter their resting phase (also known as the telogen phase) earlier than usual. This then leads to hair shedding or thinning.

Luckily, telogen effluvium is usually temporary. It can still cause you significant stress though, so work with your doctor on this. They may recommend vitamin D, vitamin B7, vitamin B12 or iron.

Are there any vitamins for hair loss after menopause and perimenopause?

During perimenopause and menopause, hair loss is not uncommon. Several lifestyle changes can help mitigate this, along with ensuring you get enough of the vitamins that your body may now be lacking.

It can be helpful to get a medical professional to check whether you've got any deficiencies that your diet or supplementation can fix. Perimenopause and menopause can impact levels of B vitamins, vitamin D, and iron, which all have a role to play in healthy hair growth. 

Are there any vitamins for postpartum hair loss?

After having a baby, the body goes through a lot of change in a short space of time. The increased oestrogen present during pregnancy can cause hair to thicken, followed by a shedding of this extra hair in the post-natal months. Reassuringly, this generally just means your hair is going back to normal, even if the amount of hair you're shedding feels like a lot.

If you're concerned, consult your doctor. They may recommend B vitamins, iron, vitamin C (to produce collagen, which strengthens hair) or vitamin A (to produce sebum that moisturises the scalp).

What vitamins are recommended for thyroid-related hair loss?

They thyroid's job is to regulate various bodily functions affecting growth and development. When there's a problem with the thyroid, symptoms like hair loss may result, and it's only natural for this to cause an element of distress.

If your thyroid issue is causing your hair to thin, come out in patches, or break more easily, then there are a few vitamins your doctor may suggest. These include vitamins A, C, D, or E and B vitamins. They can also give you essential advice to manage the underlying condition. 

Why get your hair loss vitamins from Rightdose?

We ensure you get the treatment you need delivered conveniently to your doorstep. Perhaps a doctor has recommended specific vitamins for your hair loss. Or maybe you have been prescribed a hair loss treatment, such as Rogaine or Finasteride.

People with a busy lifestyle sometimes struggle to factor a trip to the pharmacy into their daily routine and we understand that. This is why we offer a free, discreet delivery service on all order over £25 or more.

To get help for hair loss and find the underlying cause, your GP should always be first port of call. To find out additional information about our products, our qualified pharmacists may be able to help too. Simply visit us in-store or get a prescription from our handy online doctor service.