The world of dietary supplements for hair growth is bountiful and ever-expanding. Every day seems to bring a new claim that some exotic ingredient will miraculously halt hair loss, regrow lost hair, or make one’s existing hair thicker and stronger. It can be challenging to choose the right supplement to meet one’s hair growth goals, or to understand if supplements are the right choice at all.
What Vitamin Am I Deficient in If My Hair Is Falling Out?
Hair growth requires a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. Consuming an unbalanced or unhealthy diet deprives the scalp of the fuel it needs to produce healthy hair strands.
Hair is the fastest-growing tissue in the human body. Too little vitamin A may cause poor cell growth. Vitamin A is also necessary for scalp-moisturizing sebum production. A lack of B vitamins (particularly biotin) decreases the red blood cell production necessary to carry oxygen and nutrients to the scalp.
Vitamins C and E are potent antioxidants. Without them, there is less protection against hair-damaging free radicals. Vitamin C also helps the body absorb iron and is a crucial component of collagen production.
Iron deficiency is a common cause of diet-related hair loss. Iron is necessary for red blood cells to carry oxygen to the scalp and throughout the body. Low iron often leads to anemia – a significant cause of hair loss, particularly in women. Other dietary requirements for healthy hair include zinc, selenium, niacin, proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, and folic acid.
Can Supplements Help Grow Hair?
If hair loss is caused by a nutritional deficit, vitamin and mineral supplements may be able to improve or reverse it. Even if one’s hair loss has another root cause or if one wishes to take supplements proactively, supplementation creates better conditions for hair growth. That said, we cannot understate the importance of consuming a healthy, balanced diet and addressing any health issues that are contributing to hair loss.
Other supplements contain botanicals like saw palmetto, pumpkin seed oil, or green tea extract that may act as DHT blockers. These are thought to inhibit the effects of this hormone derivative on hair growth, particularly as it relates to androgenic alopecia (pattern baldness). Keratin and collagen supplements are also growing in popularity and show promise in boosting the proteins that are the building blocks of healthy scalp cells.
Can Supplements Cause Hair Loss?
When it comes to supplements, one can have too much of a good thing. Excessive consumption of certain supplements can lead to hair loss and even damage the liver and other organs. Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as iron, zinc, and selenium are generally helpful for hair growth. However, if they are taken in excessive quantities, they can become toxic. Before taking supplements, check with your physician and be sure not to exceed recommended dosages.
What Is the Best Supplement for Hair Health?
We recommend Nutrafol supplements for both men and women. Nutrafol is a natural supplement consisting of hair-friendly vitamins, minerals, and botanicals. Backed by clinical studies and highly recommended by dermatologists and hair restoration physicians, Nutrafol targets multiple causes of hair thinning, including telogen effluvium (stress-related hair loss), androgenic alopecia, and other forms of hormone-related hair loss. Be sure to ask us about our special pricing for Nutrafol products.
Trust Hair Restoration of Lehigh Valley for Advice on Hair Loss Supplements
Hair Restoration of Lehigh Valley can help you determine if Nutrafol supplements will improve the health of your hair and scalp. We can also maximize your hair’s potential with minimally invasive procedures like platelet-rich plasma treatment (PRP) or the Capillus Spectrum MD low-level laser therapy (LLLT) cap.
In addition, we offer the most advanced surgical hair restoration technology in the Philadelphia area, including ARTAS® and NeoGraft® robotic-assisted procedures that give natural-looking results with minimal downtime. We take a patient-focused approach and are happy to answer your questions and fully explain your hair restoration options. Contact us today to set up a free, no-obligation consultation.
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