Certain vitamins can help your hair grow and give your skin a healthy appearance while helping heal wounds faster. Prenatal vitamins are intended for women who are planning to become pregnant or who are pregnant or breastfeeding because they offer specific nutrients for the mother and baby; however, prenatal vitamins have no impact on hair growth or healthy skin.
What's In Prenatal Vitamins?
Prenatal vitamins do not help hair grow or promote healthy skin because they don't contain vitamins that aid in these functions. Prenatal vitamins contain folic acid, calcium and iron. The amount of each type of vitamin may vary depending upon manufacturer, but MayoClinic.com reports that the typical amount found in a prenatal vitamin is 800 mcg of folic acid, about 200 to 300 mg of calcium and up to 27 mg of iron.
Vitamins That Help Hair and Skin
B vitamins help your hair grow while vitamin C helps keep your skin healthy. Vitamin C is what helps your skin heal after you cut your skin or have a surgery. Vitamin C also helps promote the growth of new collagen, which grows back after you cut yourself. B vitamins aid in regular cell function and growth. B vitamins help your hair and nails grow long and keep them strong. Without vitamin C and B vitamins, your hair and skin would become dry, split, crack and break easily.
Why Women Take Prenatal Vitamins
If prenatal vitamins do not help your hair, skin and nails, you may wonder why women even take prenatal vitamins. The iron, calcium and folic acid found in prenatal vitamins help the mother and unborn baby ensure they both have enough nutrients necessary for the pregnancy and development of the baby while keeping mom healthy. The iron helps support the increased blood volume that's associated with pregnancy while the calcium supports the health of bones and teeth for the mother-to-be and the baby while his bones form and develop. Folic acid helps prevent neurological birth defects and other birth defects, such as spina bifida.
Food Sources and Supplements
If you're worried that you're not getting enough vitamins or you just want longer hair and healthier skin, talk to your physician about taking a multivitamin or vitamin supplements. Most Americans obtain plenty of B vitamins and vitamin C from diet alone, but if your diet lacks certain foods, you may not get an adequate amount of these vitamins. Foods rich in vitamin C include berries, melon, cantaloupe, tomatoes and oranges. Foods rich in B vitamins include fortified cereals, meat, nuts, egg yolk and bananas.
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