Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are among the most common causes of hair fall. And by correcting them, one may actually get rid of the problem.
Consequently, most people prefer improving their diet or seeking supplements instead of getting their hair transplanted.
Though most people search for which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss, in most cases, iron and zinc deficiencies are the popular culprits.
Let’s find out, correcting which mineral or vitamin deficiency is the exact hair loss treatment for you.
Most Common Cause of Hair Fall
The most common cause of hair fall is the deficiency of Iron and/or Zinc. Though both of them are minerals and the question was which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss.
They are worth mentioning as a large population suffering from hair loss is found to be deficient in Iron and Zinc over vitamins.
[Related: Causes of Hair Fall in Females with Sure-shot Treatment]
Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency has hit a large part of the world, especially women, and has become the major cause of hair fall. Hence, your first step to how to stop hair fall should be increasing your iron intake.
Are you Iron Deficit?
A shortage of iron in your body can be a result of blood loss or an iron insufficiency diet. Hence, some people are more prone to losing hair from ID than others.
The individuals falling under the following categories are at a higher risk of having a shortage of iron.
- Vegetarians
- Vegans
- Premenopausal women
- Postmenopausal men and women
- Patient of malabsorption disorder
- Achlorhydria patients
The food of vegetarian and vegan diets consists of a lower bioavailability of heme iron than that present in meat and fish.
Consequently, vegans and vegetarians are at a 1.8 times higher risk than non-vegetarians.
Other Results of Iron Deficiency
These days, iron deficiency has become one of the biggest causes of hair fall. It is among the most prominent causes of hair loss in teenage females.
So before asking which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss, you must care about increasing your iron intake. Moreover, there are several other health complications that people with ID can experience. These are-
- Weakness
- Chest pain
- Extreme fatigue
- Pale skin
- Brittle nails
- Headache or dizziness
- Cold hands and feet
Healthy Foods to Increase Iron Intake
Consuming healthy food rich in iron can keep your iron level in check. The foods are easily available and contribute greatly to the overall health of the consumer.
Especially recommended for females as iron deficiency is the main cause of hair loss in women.
- Spinach
- Sprouts
- Legumes
- Broccoli
- Quinoa
- Pumpkin seeds
- Tofu
- Dark chocolate
Include the above-mentioned foods in your diet to increase your iron intake. It can work magically to save your hair if iron deficiency is the reason for your hair loss.
Otherwise, the foods offer great health benefits. In any case, you’ll be thankful to add them to your diet.
Zinc Deficiency
Zinc deficiency contributes greatly to hair fall causes. Maintaining a healthy zinc level is of utmost importance for hair fall treatment as the nutrient is the building block that grows and repairs the hair tissues.
Are You Zinc Deficit?
Again, the risk of being zinc deficient is more likely to be observed in a certain group of people than in others. These are-
- Vegetarians
- Alcoholic patients
- Pregnant women
- Malignancy patients
- Patients with renal or liver dysfunction
- Patients following surgery for gastric bypass
The lower bioavailability of zinc in vegetables makes a large vegetarian population of the world zinc deficient.
And this is not all, vegetarian foods including whole grains and legumes inhibit zinc absorption due to the presence of phytates.
Other results of Zinc Deficiency
Besides hair fall, zinc deficiency causes several other health issues that are mentioned below. If you can relate to these, you should better visit a doctor to confirm the shortage of zinc.
- Growth Retardation
- Loss of appetite
- Impaired Immune System
- Diarrhoea
- Delayed maturation
- Abnormality in eye and skin
- Brittle hair
- Telogen Effluvium
Again, for treating hair fall, zinc comes before knowing which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss.
Healthy Foods to Increase Zinc Intake
Though non-vegetarian foods are a great source of Zinc, especially oyster and crab, there are certain herbivorous options as well.
Although the zinc content is comparatively less in these foods, daily intake, using the right technique, can help you evidently.
- Breakfast cereal
- Pumpkin seeds
- Yoghurt
- Oatmeal
- Cashew
- Chickpeas
- Milk
To increase the bioavailability of zinc in your vegetarian diet, soak the grains, seeds or beans till they become sprouts. By doing so and increasing the intake of leavened grain foods, you can witness zinc hair loss regrowth.
Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss?
Getting optimum nutrition is the key to maintaining a healthy scalp holding lustrous hair. Though the major cause of hair loss is the deficiency of iron and zinc, certain vitamins are also linked to the health of your hair.
Interestingly, all the vitamins from A to E play a major role in hair growth. The 5 best vitamins for hair loss treatment are discussed below.
#1. Vitamin A
Vitamin A is responsible for growing hair tissues. The vitamins for hair growth and thickness moisturise the scalp and make it healthy avoiding hair loss.
Source of Vitamin A
Vitamin A can be found in the foods from your regular diet that includes-
- Sweet potatoes
- Pumpkins
- Carrots
- Spinach
- Kale
- Milk
- Eggs
- Yoghurt
#2. Vitamin B (or B Vitamins)
Biotin or B vitamin is the most discussed supplement when it comes to fast hair growth. It is among the most popular vitamins that cause hair loss when consumed in a low amount.
Source of B vitamin
Biotin is present in a variety of regular foods mentioned below as a result of this, its deficiency is very rare.
- Dark green vegetables
- Leafy vegetables
- Almonds
- Whole grains
- Sweet potato
- Banana
#3. Vitamin C
Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, is a much-needed vitamin to treat hair loss. It plays an important role in creating hair protein, absorbing iron and protecting the hair from oxidative stress. Hence, Vitamin C can be a suitable answer to — which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss.
Source of Vitamin C
Deficiency of Vitamin C can be a reason for hair fall in males as well as females. Hence, your diet must contain enough Vitamin C content for healthy hair growth. The food mentioned below is an excellent source of Vitamin C-
- Orange
- Strawberries
- Peppers
- Guavas
- Lemon
- Potatoes
- Broccoli
#4. Vitamin D
Increasing the intake of Vitamin D is a great step towards maintaining a healthier mane as the vitamin is crucial for hair production. In fact, it is responsible for creating new hair follicles.
Sources of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is among the best vitamins for hair growth. Though the sun’s rays can suffice your daily needs, there are several vitamin d foods available as alternatives.
- Orange juice
- Almonds
- Milk
- Yoghurt
- Soy beverage
- Mushrooms
- Cheese
#5. Vitamin E
Vitamin E is proven to be the best vitamin for hair growth. Preventing oxidative stress with its antioxidant properties, the vitamin has effectively boosted the hair growth process of plenty of individuals.
Sources of Vitamin E
Supplementing vitamin E for around 8 months, a large group of people has witnessed a 40% increment in their hair growth. You can be one of them consuming the foods rich in Vitamin E, that are-
- Almonds
- Sunflower seeds
- Spinach
- Avocados
- Peanuts
- Pumpkin
Which Vitamin is good for hair growth?
Though all the vitamins contribute almost equally, Vitamin E is found to be the best supplement for promoting hair growth experimentally.
Moreover, the exact answer to which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss is– Vitamin deficiency is not the major cause of hair fall. It is a mineral deficiency that needs to be corrected greatly.
Iron is the most crucial hair growth supplement and since Vitamin C promotes iron absorption, it is another essential vitamin for hair growth and anti-hair fall treatment.
Can too many vitamins cause hair loss?
Where vitamins and minerals can reverse your hair fall, too much intake can result in worsening the situation.
Over Supplementation
Over supplementation refers to consuming complementary products, when you are not deficient.
Not all but certain Vitamins including Vitamin E and Vitamin A are known to promote hair fall when taken in excess. Besides, too high a dose of zinc can prove to be harmful to your hair.
So even after knowing which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss, you must not self diagnose or start taking supplements.
Safe Supplementation
Since supplementation may harm your hair, getting the nutrients from whole food is a safer and well-working choice. The food won’t mistreat your body or hair in any case.
Hence, one should always consider adding highly nutritious food to his diet, till going for supplements becomes the last option.
Infections that Cause Hair Loss
Sudden hair loss in males can be a result of certain infections like fungal skin infection and bacterial infections including-
- Ringworm
- Folliculitis
- Piedra
- Demodex folliculorum
- Seborrheic Dermatitis
If an infection is the main root of your hair loss problem, seeking medical attention should be your very first step.
Illness that causes Hair Loss
Though many people are looking for an answer to which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss, they must know that the cause of sudden hair fall can be a disease as well.
Besides, diet deficiency, bad hair care routine and over-styling, certain illnesses can be the reason for your hair fall problem.
- Alopecia
- Thyroid- hypothyroidism, overactive thyroid and hyperthyroidism
- Pregnancy
- Side-effects of medications especially contraceptives and drugs
- Physical Trauma
- Emotional Stress
- Diabetes
- Lupus
Can hair loss be a sign of something serious?
Hair loss is a common problem these days. A huge population of the world is stressed about their hair falling out due to changing environmental conditions, hormonal changes, heredity and lack of nutrition.
Hence, in most cases, hair loss is normal. However, though rarely, hair loss can be a sign of something serious– an underlying health condition.
Which Vitamin Deficiency causes Hair Loss?
For a safe and exact answer, visiting a doctor is the right option in case your hair fall is so heavy that you cannot resist thinking about it.
Bald or patchy spots with gradual hair thinning can be a result of some serious health issues.
My hair is falling out from the root what can I do?
Here comes the most frequently asked question about hair fall. What should one do to prevent hair fall?
First of all, you must stop getting stressed about it. It is normal and you can reverse it by taking certain careful steps.
Besides finding an answer to which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss, focus on maintaining a healthy hair care routine.
Mentioned below are the healthy habits you should adopt to prevent hair fall.
- Avoid rubbing your hair till you feel it is strong enough to withstand the massage.
- Use conditioner to circumvent tangling since the hair is weak and pulling out will harm it.
- Don’t over brush or comb the tresses.
- Never use too hot or too cold water for washing the scalp.
- Improve your diet with nutrient-dense food.
- Don’t use styling or heat tools till the tresses get back to life.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Avoid wearing hairstyles that pull your hair for a long time.
- Start using serum if your hair tangles frequently.
- Don’t overexpose the tresses to direct sunlight.
