Healthy hair and skin can reflect your inner health. When you take care of your body, it responds in kind by growing strong, shiny hair and showing clear, glowing skin. "You are what you eat" could not be truer. The nutrients you take in go to vital organs first, ensuring your body will function properly. Vitamins and minerals, as well as other nutrients such as calcium and protein, all work together and yet each operate individually, benefiting certain parts of the body. According to the Vitamins and Nutrition Center website, a single hair follicle on the scalp goes through a growth cycle that consists of building up and tearing down the hair shaft structure. After a while, the hair follicle is built new and the process is repeated. This process needs the proper vitamins for the hair to grow stronger and longer.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A, also known as retinol, plays a role in the maintenance of epithelial tissues, according to the World's Healthiest Foods website. This maintenance keeps the skin healthy and intact, providing the first defense for the immune system. The I Health website states that vitamin A is needed for the oily deposits on the scalp. This helps to keep hair from becoming dry and brittle. Vitamin A is responsible for making healthy cells and tissues, thus being important for healthy skin and hair. A deficiency in vitamin A affects the health of the skin, hair, eyes and immune system. According to the World's Healthiest Foods website, vitamin A deficiency can lead to hyperkeratosis, or excessive production of keratin. Hyperkeratosis creates a goose bump appearance on the skin because of blocked hair follicles and can eventually lead to hair loss.
Vitamin B Complex
According to the Vitamins and Nutrition Center website, to keep the growth cycle of hair going and to maximize its potential, it is necessary to take a vitamin B complex. Adequate blood circulation and healthy blood cells are a crucial element for hair and skin, and the B vitamins help to promote this, according to the I Health website. The B vitamins also help to transport minerals along that are also needed for healthy hair growth. According to the Linus Pauling Institute website, pantothenic acid helps to speed up the healing of wounds. A deficiency in biotin results in hair loss and a scaly, red rash. Both niacin and riboflavin deficiencies cause dermatitis. Pellagra, a niacin deficiency result, is characterized by rough, raw skin creating a thick, scaly, dark rash.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E can be found in lotions, shampoos and conditioners. It is essential for healthy hair and skin because it promotes circulation to the scalp and hair follicles. According to the All 4 Natural Health website, vitamin E can help decrease sun damage to skin. Vitamin E contains antioxidants that help the immune system and improve blood circulation to all parts of the body, skin and hair included. It can protect your skin from ultraviolet light and prevent cell damage from free radicals, according to the World's Healthiest Foods website. Vitamin E has been called a lightning rod because it protects the skin from lightning-like strikes of reactive molecules against the cell.
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