According to the American Hair Loss Association, by the age of 35, male pattern baldness will affect two out of every three men. Despite the common notion that hair loss is strictly a male issue, females make up 40 percent of all American hair loss sufferers. Thinning hair or fine hair, as opposed to shedding hair, is the result of the hair follicle shrinking. If you notice excessive hair loss or thinning hair, contact your doctor or a dermatologist as soon as possible.
Causes of Hair Loss in Men
If you are a male experiencing hair loss or thinning hair, it is not likely to be from a vitamin or mineral deficiency. The American Hair Loss Association reports that 95 percent of hair loss in males is from androgenic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness. Drs. Victor Hasson and Jerry Wong, hair transplantation surgeons and members of the International Association of Hair Restoration Surgeons and the American Hair Loss Association, confirm this and state that only 1 percent of hair loss cases are the result of nutritional, metabolic or hormone disorders. Androgenic alopecia results when the hormone dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, progressively shrinks hair follicles, resulting in a finer and thinner hairs. Your degree and rate of male pattern baldness will depend on how many hair follicles are genetically prone to androgenic alopecia.
Causes of Hair Loss in Women
If you are a woman experiencing hair loss or thinning hair, it is also not likely to be from a vitamin or mineral deficiency. The American Hair Loss Association explains that women's hair loss does not usually follow the predictable "horseshoe" pattern that male pattern baldness follows; however, androgenic alopecia is still often the cause. Women can also experience telogen effluvium or stress-related hair loss after a traumatic event such as childbirth. With telogen effluvium, the hair sheds, but it does not thin because the follicle does not actually shrink. It should regrow to its original density once the stressor is removed.
Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies and Hair Loss
Although the majority of hair loss cases for men and women are likely to be caused by androgenic alopecia from DHT, malnutrition can potentially cause hair loss as well. According to a February 2010 study in the "Dermatology Online Journal," vitamin D plays an important role in the hair cycle, especially the anagen or growth phase. A vitamin D deficiency could reasonably be expected to slow hair growth. Additionally, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, biotin is essential for healthy hair growth. Although quite rare, a biotin deficiency could cause noticeable hair loss as well.
Treatments
Before attempting to treat your hair loss, consult your doctor or a dermatologist. For males, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves minoxidil and finasteride for the treatment of male pattern baldness. For women, the FDA only approves minoxidil. Although it is likely not a nutritional deficiency causing your hair loss, the University of Maryland Medical Center does suggest several supplements. The center recommend a multivitamin with vitamins A, C, E and B-complex, omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, and the amino acid L-lysine. Ginkgo biloba may also help by increasing blood flow to your scalp.
References
- American Hair Loss Association: Men's Hair Loss
- American Hair Loss Association: Women's Hair Loss
- Hasson and Wong: Hair Loss FAQ Top 5 Hair Loss Questions
- "Dermatology Online Journal"; Does D Matter? The Role Of Vitamin D in Hair Disorders and Hair Follicle Cycling; Kari Amor, M.D., et al.; February 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin H (Biotin)
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hair Disorders
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