Hair loss can be an embarrassing problem for some people. Even people who don't experience hair loss might want to strengthen their hair or help it grow faster. Although there are no sure-fire treatments guaranteed to increase hair growth, certain vitamins can help. Remember to only take the recommended dosage of vitamins and to consult your doctor before making any major dietary changes.
Vitamin H
Vitamin H, or biotin, is frequently suggested for strengthening hair, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Deficiency, although rare, can cause hair loss. Biotin is also sometimes used to help treat alopecia, a hair loss disorder experienced by children and adults. You can purchase vitamin H as an individual supplement, in multivitamins or in B-vitamin complexes. The vitamin is also found in many foods, including cooked eggs, sardines, nuts, soybeans, whole grains, bananas and mushrooms.
Vitamin B Complex
If you have a vitamin B deficiency, you are likely to experience a number of symptoms, including hair loss, according to the American Cancer Society. Vitamin B affects enzymes, plays a role in cellular energy production that affects the skin, influences normal growth, helps break down carbohydrates and plays a role in a variety of additional bodily functions. Add vitamin B to your diet through pill supplements or food sources that include whole grains, fish, chicken, nuts and dried beans.
Vitamin C
If you have a vitamin C deficiency, your symptoms are likely to include dry and splitting hair, gum inflammation, dry skin and easy bruising, according to the UMMC. You can purchase vitamin C in a variety of forms such as pills, chewables and liquids. Vitamin C is also present in fruits such as oranges and strawberries, vegetables such as Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, tomatoes and other sources.
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 may also play a role in hair growth, according to a 2002 study done by the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine. In this study, bald mice were treated with vitamin D3. Researchers discovered that vitamin D3 dramatically increased hair growth in a cyclical pattern, which included forming normal hair follicles. These mice, previously incapable of growing hair, experienced hair growth after receiving vitamin D3.
Hypervitaminosis A
Before beginning any new vitamin supplement, consult your doctor and make sure that you take only the recommended dosage. Too much of a vitamin can cause unintended consequences. For example, having too much vitamin A in your body can cause hair loss, according to MedlinePlus. This most frequently occurs when people take more than the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A.
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