Archive for the ‘Vitamins for Hair Loss’ category

Effects of Hair Loss Vitamins

August 14th, 2009

There are a range of different vitamins for hair loss as well as other supplements that could be effective. In this article we will look at some of these in more detail.

Omega 3 fatty acids
Essential fatty acids are in fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines and halibut. They also occur naturally in aome plants and nut oils. Omega 3 fatty acids help your hair grow, and they also improve hair health. This means that your hair is less likely to be brittle and prone to breaking or pulling out.

B complex vitamins
There are 8 separate vitamins in this group: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyroxidine, biotin, folic acid, and another sub-class of compunds referred to as B12. B vitamins are best taken as a group, as they work together in synergy. It is important to take a good quality B complex vitamin supplement, as some cheaper products are not optimised in terms of the amount and quality of each B vitamin. Many of the B group vitamins help hair health and growth in different ways. Pyridoxine works by preventing testosterone from being converted to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT ). DHT is a natural product of your body that is a big contributor to hair loss. Folic and pantothenic acids help hair to grow healthy and strong.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C may help with hair health by improving circulation in your scalp, which helps to carry blood to the follicles that produce hair.

Inositol and Choline
These compounds help to protect follicles in the scalp from damage. They are important parts of your diet, and hair loss is actually a symptom of inositol deficiency.

Vitamin E and Zinc
These can help to stimulate the growth of hair by keeping your immune system working properly.

Causes of Hair Loss

August 14th, 2009

Hair loss is an unfortunate fact of life for many men, and some women. Gradual thinning of hair is part of the normal aging process for both genders. However for some, hair thinning can give way to baldness, when whole areas of the scalp lose most or all of their hair.

There are no one-size-fits-all treatments for baldness, as it can have different causes.

Pattern Baldness

Male pattern baldness is often hereditary from either side of the family. Heredity may determine at what age you lose hair, and how quickly.

Skin conditions and scarring

A range of conditions can lead to the loss of hair, or e growth of thinner hair. Alopecia areata is a condition taht may cause loss of areas of hair, followed by regrowth. Hair groth patterns can also be effected by major emotional stress or physical stressors such as surgery, illness, or excessive rapid weight loss.

Poor nutrition

Hair loss caused by poor nutrition is fortunately something that can be treated by vitamins. A lack of various vitamins and minerals in your diet can certainly cause hair loss or baldness. Taking B vitamins for hair loss is a good start, although there are a range of vitamins that you need in a balanced diet.

Other causes

Other causes for hair loss include medications, crash dieting, hormonal changes due to pregnancy or birth control medication, excessive hair treatments like coloring or heat treating. If you fall into any of these categories, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to make sure you are getting a balanced range of vitamins and minerals in your diet. However check with a health professional if you are taking other medications before starting on any new vitamin supplements.