Facts About Using Vitamins For Hair Loss

Vitamins, minerals and a nutritious diet can help combat hair loss. Many kinds of hair loss have a vitamin deficiency as a root cause. Vitamins can be an effective part of a doctor-supervised treatment plan for mild to moderate hair loss.

Types of Hair Loss

The most common types of hair loss are androgenetic alopecia, also known as male and female pattern hair loss; telogen effluvium, or physiologic shedding; and alopecia arreata. Androgenetic alopecia is hereditary hair loss that becomes increasingly apparent each decade following puberty, according to Dr. Michael Reed, New York University professor of dermatology. In about 20 percent of people it affects, especially women, it's severe enough to become an obvious cosmetic issue. The condition is treatable. Telogen effluvium occurs when an excessive number of hair follicles stop producing hair. This condition is more common in women and is usually related to an event, such as pregnancy or illness. Treatment of the underlying problem usually resolves this condition. Alopecia areata creates noticeable bald spots. According to Reed, if you suffer this condition you should see your physician as soon as you notice it. Some people don't respond at all to treatment for alopecia areata.

What Causes Hair Loss

Some hairs are lost naturally in the hair's natural growth-rest-shed cycle. In addition, as you age, you produce fewer hairs and your hair tends to thin out. Moreover, some medical and genetic conditions and therapies, such as lupus and cancer treatment, can cause hair loss. Conditions that can have an effect on your hair include stress, hormonal imbalance, extreme dieting, disease, medications, surgery, scarring, immune system problems, birth control, thyroid issues and many others.

Vitamins and Minerals for Hair Health

Your health care provider is best positioned to advise you on what remedies you should take to stop hair loss, but dermatological and nutrition experts from the University of Maryland and NYU say that nutritional supplements such as vitamins and minerals can help. Vitamin B12, for example, helps develop red blood cells and being deficient in it means less oxygen is reaching your hair follicles. Biotin is another B vitamin used by the body in the hair manufacturing process. Lack of iron is often behind women's unexplained hair loss. It may lead to anemia and leave fewer red blood cells for hair growth, according to NYU nutritionist Samantha Heller. The University of Maryland Medical Center says a multivitamin containing antioxidant vitamins A, C, E, -- along with the B-complex vitamins and trace minerals copper, zinc and magnesium -- may help with deficiencies causing hair loss. In addition, the center and Heller recommend essential fatty acids, found in fish oil.

Diet is Key

Eating a nutritious diet is one of the most important ways to defend against hair loss. Foods that are healthy for the body are also healthy for the hair. The vitamins and nutrients you take in may not grow more hair on your head, but they will protect the hair you have from loss. Some important foods that should be in your diet include walnuts, canola oil, fish and soy, which provide needed essential fatty acids and anti-inflammatory properties. You can find B12 in eggs, meat and poultry. Nuts are the richest source of biotin. Iron is found in lean red meat; dark, leafy vegetables; liver; beans; shrimp and dried fruit.

Consult Your Health Care Provider

Your health care provider must tell you which vitamins and minerals you need, in what dose, and in what order. Don't take these indiscriminately, as minerals especially must be properly balanced with one another. Your doctor can also diagnose the underlying problem that's causing the hair loss and set you up for additional treatment beyond nutritional supplements.