Different Kinds Of Stress Can Cause Hair Loss
If youve been under emotional or physical stress, it may lead to hair loss. Things like a death in the family, major surgery, or a serious illness may cause the body to shut down certain processes like hair production.
Theres around a three-month delay between when a stressful event happens and when you might see hair loss, so you may not pinpoint the trigger right away.
However, if you are experiencing thinner hair, consider different events or situations in your life that may have caused you considerable stress. Hair loss due to stress is generally temporary. Hair may begin growing again after the event has passed and the follicle starts producing again.
Zinc Deficiency Treatments And Considerations
In one study of 312 people with AA, TE, and male and female pattern hair loss, all were shown to have lower zinc concentrations compared to 30 people with no hair loss. Those with AA and TE had the lowest levels of zinc. Another study showed those with AA and low zinc levels benefitted from zinc supplementation .
Researchers warn that using supplements when zinc levels are already normal can be dangerous and do not show a benefit. Zinc toxicity can cause pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, and long-term over-supplementation can lead to adverse interactions with iron and reduced immune function .
A few things to consider if you think you may be suffering from hair loss due to a zinc deficiency include :
- Zinc deficiencies are uncommon in North America, but they can occur with conditions that make it harder to absorb zinc, such as inflammatory bowel disease, gastric bypass surgery, pregnancy, and alcoholism.
- Vegetarians have an increased risk of deficiency because zinc levels are lower in vegetables than in meat.
- Foods high in zinc include oysters, red meat, poultry are the highest other good sources: seafood, nuts, beans, whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals, and dairy products.
Are There Any New Treatments For Hair Loss
Finasteride, another prescription drug in the same chemical family as dutasteride, is also used to treat enlarged prostate. It has received FDA approval as a treatment for hair loss. Finasteride also produced the greatest increase in total hair count at 48 weeks.
Will there be a cure for baldness in the future?
There is currently no cure for baldness, however, many research groups and facilities around the world are reporting successes using stem cells to promote hair regrowth. Which means, if there is ever going to be a permanent cure for baldness, then stem cell research may be our best hope.
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Treatment For Hair Loss
Most hair loss does not need treatment and is either:
- temporary and it’ll grow back
- a normal part of getting older
Hair loss caused by a medical condition usually stops or grows back once you’ve recovered.
There are things you can try if your hair loss is causing you distress. But most treatments are not available on the NHS, so you’ll have to pay for them.
No treatment is 100% effective.
The 5 Best Vitamins For Hair Loss Prevention Based On Research
Is your diet affecting your hair? If you arenât getting enough of certain key vitamins and minerals, you may be at risk for hair loss. Find out which foods you can get these important nutrients from, and make sure you talk to a medical professional before you take a supplement. When it comes to vitamins, more is not better, and sometimes too much can be harmful.
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Treating And Preventing Hair Loss
Hair loss affects everyone differently, and you might be completely comfortable with it. In which case, you don’t need to do anything but embrace it.
If you are experiencing hair loss, thinning, or shedding, and it does worry you, then vitamin D deficiency could be one of the contributing factors. It’s worth getting your vitamin D levels checked out.
But, there are also other medical treatment options available that can help you slow down, stop hair loss, and sometimes regrow hair. A prescription for hair loss medication might be the right option for you â and Felix can help you with that.
Why not start with our online consultation to see if you qualify for Health Canada authorized hair loss treatment? Our licensed healthcare practitioners can help you find out if hair loss medication is the right fit for you and arrange for it to be delivered right to your door. You don’t have to accept hair loss. You have options. Explore them with Felix.
Recommended Doses Of Vitamin D
Its recommended that you get at least 600 IU or 15 micrograms of vitamin D a day starting at the age of 1. Babies younger than 1 should receive 400 IU of vitamin D. For people over the age of 70, the suggested intake jumps to 800 IU . If youre concerned about your vitamin D intake, ask your doctor about checking your vitamin D levels. When you get the recommended daily amount of vitamin D, youre able to maintain hair growth, bone health, and normal calcium breakdown.
Research shows that a lack of vitamin D in your body can lead to hair loss. One role vitamin D plays is stimulating new and old hair follicles. When there isnt enough vitamin D in your system, new hair growth can be stunted.
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to alopecia, the autoimmune condition that causes bald patches on the scalp and other areas of the body. Both men and women can experience alopecia. Another study found that women 18 to 45 years old who experienced alopecia or other types of hair loss had low levels of vitamin D.
Reasons for insufficient vitamin D levels include spending more time indoors, wearing a lot of sunscreen, and not eating foods packed with the nutrient.
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Why Would A Lack Of Sunlight Cause Hair Loss
Sunlight contains vitamin D, which we need for a whole range of things, but the thing its really necessary for is bone, skin and hair health.
In recent years, with increased public awareness around skin cancer, weve all started taking a lot more care about our sun exposure, but this isnt necessarily a good thing when it comes to our hair.
And months of lockdown have really compounded that issue with many of us stuck inside for the major part of every day, we have missed out on some of that vital summer sunshine and our hair is suffering for it.
What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
- What is the cause of my hair loss?
- How many strands of hair am I losing per day?
- What type of hair loss do I have?
- Will my hair loss be permanent?
- Whats the best treatment for me?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Hair loss may cause you distress whether it happens because of genetics, a disease, or even stress. Know that there are some treatments you can try, and expert dermatologists are there to help you. Your hair loss may be able to be reversed. See your healthcare provider as soon as you notice something wrong because the sooner you start treatment, the better.
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How Can Hair Loss In Women Be Prevented
Preventing hair loss is not possible when it is due to disease, aging, heredity or physical stressors like injuries. You can prevent hair loss caused by caustic chemicals or tight hairstyles by avoiding them. You might be able to prevent some hair loss by eating a healthy diet that provides necessary nutrients in terms of vitamins, minerals and protein. You can stop smoking.
Suffering From Hair Loss
In female hair loss, the Savin Scale measures overall thinning and hair density. Compare your own hair to the charts to determine which stage of hair thinning you are closest to. If you think you are suffering from Female Hair Loss Contact the Cotswold Trichology Centre to arrange a consultation with our expert Trichologist Sally-Ann Tarver. Or call the clinic today on 01386 421703 for an appointment.
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Effective Hair Loss Treatments
Hair loss caused by stress or hormonal changes, like pregnancy or menopause, may not require any treatment. Instead, the loss will likely stop on its own after the body adjusts.
Nutrient deficiencies also dont often require medical treatment beyond supplements, unless the deficiency is caused by an underlying health condition. And any medical conditions that lead to hair loss should be treated directly to address the full condition, not just its symptoms.
That said, there are a number of possible medications and treatments for hair loss caused by female-pattern baldness and other alopecias. You may need to use one or a combination of treatments for months or years to see the full results.
Vitamin C And Iron For Hair Loss
Role in hair: your body needs vitamin C in order to absorb iron, a mineral that plays a key role in the red blood cells that transport oxygen around your body. When you don’t have enough iron, less oxygen can be used for the growth and repair of the cells that stimulate hair growth.
Supplementing for hair loss: if you are iron-deficient, Van Onselen suggests that both vitamin C and iron supplements “may be helpful” in reversing temporary hair loss.
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What Questions Might Your Healthcare Provider Ask To Diagnose And Categorize Your Hair Loss
Your healthcare provider might ask about your habits:
- What kinds of hair products do you use?
- What kinds of hair styles do you wear?
- What types of food do you eat ?
- Do you have a habit of pulling your hair out ?
They might ask about your history:
- Has anyone in your immediate family experienced hair loss?
- Is there anything stressful going on in your life?
- What medications and supplements do you take every day?
- Has hair loss ever happened to you before?
- What foods are in your diet?
And, they might ask about your observations:
- How long have you been losing hair?
- Have you been shedding more?
- Have you noticed hair loss in places other than your scalp, like your eyebrows? Leg and arm hair?
- Does anything worsen your hair loss?
- Does anything improve your hair loss?
- Have you noticed hair loss occasionally or has it been going on continuously?
- Have you noticed if your hair growth has changed?
- Has your hair been breaking more often?
Vitamin A For Hair Loss
Role in hair: this vitamin is needed for healthy cell growth, including your hair cells. It also supports the production of sebum, a substance which keeps hair hydrated and prevents hair breakage.
Supplementing for hair loss: most people should be able to get enough vitamin A from their diet without supplementation. This is important to remember, as Van Onselen cautions that taking too much vitamin A through supplements can in fact result in hair loss. Therefore, you should be cautious of how much vitamin A supplement products contain. You can find recommended daily limits here.
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Vitamin D3 Supplements For Hair Loss
The good news is that Vitamin D3 supplements, like Nina Ross Vitamin D3 Soft Gels, can help you take control of your Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D3 for hair loss has proven to be extremely useful in helping to regrow hair. If you are unsure of your Vitamin D3 levels, your doctor can order labs to evaluate your Vitamin D levels and get started on the necessary dose to boost those levels.
When To See A Doctor For Hair Loss
If your hair loss doesnt end even after taking all the necessary precautions, it is advised that you consult with a doctor, possibly a hair expert of a nutritionist. There might be an underlying cause of the problem that you are facing.
The doctor might also ask you to undergo a lab test, change your diet, or recommend any other potential treatments.
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What Is Vitamin D And What Does It Do In The Body
Vitamin D is one of the four fat-soluble vitamins. It naturally occurs in just a few foods like fatty fish, red meat, liver, egg yolks, and mushrooms. However, several foods are fortified with vitamin D, and itâs also available as a dietary supplement.
In foods and dietary supplements, it comes in two forms vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 . D3 comes from animal-sourced foods, and D2 comes from plant-based and fortified foods.
You actually get most of your vitamin D from the sun, as our body naturally produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.
When you take in vitamin D from foods or the sun, it’s useless to the body at first. It has to be transformed via the liver and kidneys into a usable form. Once your liver and kidney have done their jobs, the role of vitamin D is crucial to several biological processes, including:
- Regulating serum levels of calcium and phosphate in the body â which helps to promote healthy bones and teeth
- Reducing inflammation
- Promoting heart health
- Regulating glucose
Vitamin D deficiency is also linked to certain types of hair loss â in particular alopecia areata. We’ll delve into this in more detail below.
Vitamin D Deficiency And Hair Loss
Overview
Vitamin D is an important nutrient that is essential to our health. It boosts immunity, keeps bones strong and skin healthy, stimulates cell growth, and helps create new hair follicles. You absorb vitamin D through sun exposure primarily, but you can take dietary supplements and eat certain foods to up your intake of the nutrient.
A number of symptoms, such as hair loss, can occur when your body lacks the recommended amount of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to alopecia, also known as spot baldness, and . These include bone softening, low bone density, osteoarthritis, heart disease, and cancer.
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Medically Endorsed Hair Loss Treatments
In the UK, only two hair loss medicines are actually endorsed by the medical community, and have been proven to treat hair growth.
Prescription tablets:Finasteride
The most effective treatment for male pattern baldness is Finasteride . This prescription treatment is not available on the NHS, but you can order it through affordable services like our own LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor. Finasteride has been proven to stop hair loss in 90% of men with male pattern baldness.
Medicated foam/lotion:Minoxidil
Minoxidil is a lotion or foam that is applied to the scalp every day as an effective hair loss treatment. It is not as effective as Propecia, but has still been proven to stop hair loss and promote hair regrowth in 60% of men with male pattern baldness. Minoxidil is available without a prescription, through high street pharmacies or supermarkets. You can also order it online from our website.
References
What Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss: 4 Vitamins Linked To Hair Loss
Experiencing hair loss from chemotherapy or alopecia is jarring and frustrating. But what do you do when you’re experiencing hair loss and you have no idea why? If you find yourself pulling way more hair out of your hair brush than normal or find that you have to unclog your shower drain every morning, you may have a vitamin deficiency. In some instances, vitamin deficiency causes hair loss, among other baffling side effects.
To get this hairy situation under control, weve included details regarding how certain vitamins can affect your body differently, especially when it comes to your luscious locks.
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The Vitamin Deficiencies That Cause Hair Loss
A vitamin deficiency isnt going to result in immediate, permanent hair loss, but over time, vitamin deficiencies can cause problems for the growth, sustainability and overall health of your hair.
On the long list of vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy body, there are some that apply particularly to hair:
Other Causes Of Hair Loss
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, there are many common causes associated with hair loss:
- Androgenetic alopecia: known hereditary hair loss or male/female pattern baldness. A 2017 study found a link between female pattern baldness and vitamin D deficiency.
- Age: hair growth naturally slows as you age.
- Alopecia areata: an autoimmune condition.
- Cancer treatment: such as chemotherapy or radiation treatments.
- Hormonal imbalance: can be caused by several reasons, such as polycystic ovary syndrome or starting/stopping birth control.
- Telogen effluvium: temporary hair loss that can occur after stress, shock, or a traumatic event. Although not considered the leading cause, vitamin D deficiency has been linked to telogen effluvium.
- Medication: there is a wide range of drugs that can contribute to hair loss, like certain acne medications, antibiotics, immunosuppressants, and more.
- Pregnancy/childbirth: often due to hormonal imbalance or stress levels.
- Certain illnesses: such as thyroid disease, skin infections, and conditions like psoriasis.
- Types of hair care and styles: using tight hairstyles or harsh chemicals on your hair.
- Essential vitamins and mineral deficiencies: such as vitamin D, iron, protein, and zinc.
As there are so many factors to consider, you should speak to your healthcare practitioner if you are worried about your hair loss. Since vitamin D has been linked to several hair loss causes, they might want to explore if you are deficient in vitamin D.
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