Using vitamins to treat hair loss
Using vitamins for hair loss is not a new concept. What is new is the number of options available to choose from. Now more than ever, it’s important to do your homework and select the best hair loss treatments to meet your own unique needs.
If you have noticed that your hair is starting to thin, it is likely a good idea to take a look at your nutritional status. Your doctor can easily measure the level of vitamins, minerals and nutrients in your diet, and help you improve your diet and use supplementation when necessary to reach optimum levels of nutrition.
Just make sure you do your homework and read the fine print — some vitamins for hair loss make work fine for hair growth or maintenance, but they could cause an imbalance in other nutrients. Caution is key!
Just Say Yes To Vitamins!
Vitamins: Among The Best Hair Loss Treatments
Every person has their own unique chemistry, their own personal response to foods, medications and supplements. What works for one person won’t necessarily work for another.
Add in the fact that most of us have room for improvement with our diets and you have a recipe for hair disaster. Not only do we damage and mistreat our hair with a variety of punishing hairstyles, harsh chemical treatments and sun exposure, but we also often neglect to give our hair the nourishment it needs to thrive.
Taking a vitamin blend that’s specifically formatted to prevent hair loss is a good start, and there’s no limit to the number of options you can find for specific hair loss vitamin blends.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is one of the key vitamins for hair loss prevention. It’s an important nutrient that hair can’t thrive without. The good news is it’s relatively easily found in meat, eggs, chicken and turkey. Low levels of B12 are linked to depression, reduced cognitive function and fatigue.
Since B12 is found in foods that come from animals, vegetarians and especially vegans need to pay careful attention to supplementation. Experts recommended between 2 and 3 µg per day of Vitamin B12.
You can read more about using B12 for hair loss here.
Vitamin A
Women require between 600 and 3000 units of Vitamin A each day. Good sources include liver, sweet potato, eggs, cheddar cheese, spinach, butter, kale and pumpkin. It’s important to pay attention to the levels of Vitamin A in your system if you are taking a lot through supplementation. At high levels, Vitamin A can be toxic, and it can lead to hair loss.
Experts say you might have Vitamin A deficiency if you see a white clump or lump at your hair root (follicle).
Because Vitamin A levels can reach a toxic point, it’s important to be cautious when using this as one or your vitamins for hair loss.
Iron
Low iron (or anemia) is the most common nutritional deficiency. And that’s world-wide. Especially for women who are of child-bearing age, iron deficiency can reck havoc with your hair.
You can learn all about iron and hair loss here, including recommendations for specific supplements that can make a real difference.
Biotin
Biotin is key in the manufacture and growth of hair. Experts recommend between 2 and 3 mg of biotin per day, particularly since it can be hard to get in your diet (good sources include liver, peanuts and egg yolks).
It’s worth noting that a B vitamin (B7 to be precise) biotin deficiency has been linked to hair loss.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Omega 3 fatty acids are becoming increasingly popular, and experts and now linking them to healthy hair, as well. Because of their anti-inflammatory role, they may be more important than previously thought.
Good sources of omega 3 fatty acids include fish, canola oil, flaxseed oil and walnuts. Use caution, though — there’s anecdotal evidence that too much omega 3 fatty acids can actually promote hair loss.
Zinc
Experts suggest that up to one in four people across the globe are suffering from zinc deficiency. Zinc is though to work with hormonel levels, particularly androgens, which play a role in some kind of hair loss. Many multivitamins contain zinc to ensure you get your daily requirement, which experts estimate at about 800 mg daily.
Zinc deficiency can lead to hair loss, nail problems and even acne.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is pretty common in the general population, and even more so when you look at women who are experiencing hair loss. An estimated 1 in 7 people are deficient in Vitamin D — including up to 35% of the women in the US.
Hair loss (and other health problems) are most likely when your Vitamin D levels are low (under 30 ng/mL). The deficiency inhibits the receptors that control hair follicles, and can be a contributing factor for women experiencing female pattern baldness or alopecia areata.
Raising your levels is relatively easy — I use three drops of this supplement daily, and have found it highly effective.
You can read more about Vitamin D and hair loss here. There are many other health benefits to boosting your Vitamin D levels, including — potentially — a reduction in your risk for cancer.
The Miracle of Viviscal?
For the past three months, I have been taking Viviscal extra strength. Religiously.
It’s not daunting — you take two pills a day, both after meals. I haven’t noticed any side effects at all, but you need to make sure that you wash the pills down with plenty of water. Otherwise you might experience some heartburn.
I have to say, I feel very optimistic about what the Viviscal supplements are accomplishing. I’m seeing more hair growth, and my hair definitely seems fuller. I’ve been on a gradual road to improvement, so it’s tough to be 100% sure what is helping put a stop to my hair loss. But after three months, I’m confident saying I think Viviscal is one of the more effective vitamins for hair loss.
There are plenty of places to purchase Viviscal online. Pricing starts at about $35 to $40 for a one-month supply. Check your prices carefully though because there’s a huge range in pricing for identical product.
You can watch a video about Viviscal’s effectiveness at left. Still Curious? Stacy Cox Talks Viviscal on Arizona Midday by Lifes2good_US.
If Viviscal is good enough for Reese Witherspoon, it’s good enough for me!
