QUESTION: Which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss?
ANS:
- Vitamin D is commonly associated with hair loss.
- Vitamin D is involved in regulating the hair follicle cycle, which includes
- Growth (anagen)
- Resting (telogen)
- Shedding (exogen) phases
- Vitamin D receptors are present in hair follicles; vitamin D influences the proliferation and differentiation of cells within the follicles.
- A deficiency in vitamin D may disrupt this cycle and lead to hair thinning or increased shedding.
| Vitamin Deficiency | Hair Loss Association |
| Vitamin D | · Alopecia areata · Telogen effluvium |
| Vitamin B7 (Biotin) | · Brittle hair · Thinning hair · Hair loss |
| Vitamin B12 | · Premature graying · Hair thinning · Hair loss |
| Vitamin C | · Weakened hair shafts · Hair breakage |
| Vitamin E | · Poor blood circulation in the scalp · Hair thinning |
| Vitamin A | · Dry scalp · Excess sebum production · Hair loss |
| Iron | · Telogen effluvium, · Anemia-related hair loss |
| Zinc | · Impaired hair growth · Hair thinning · Hair loss |
| Niacin (Vitamin B3) | · Brittle hair · Hair loss · Inflammation of the scalp |
| Vitamin B6 | · Dull · Brittle hair · Hair loss |