Table of Contents
Introduction
It is very easy to blame external things, such as stress, hard water, or a new shampoo brand, for hair loss. But it is not always the case; sometimes it is due to a problem of the body rather than the scalp.
Most people have a terrible experience of hair loss due to a vitamin deficiency, and they don’t even realize it. Our diet has changed from healthy to junk, and we have no time to eat without rushing. Getting the morning sunlight nowadays has become a fortune. These things get together and create hair loss problems over time.
Your hair requires more than care products. It needs nutrients like vitamin D, vitamin B12, iron, and biotin, which fuel the growth of hair and keep it strong.
This article breaks down which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss, how to spot the signs early, and what you can do to restore balance naturally.
Why It’s Important to Know Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss
Many think that hair loss is caused only by genetics, but it is not true. Sometimes, it might be your body saying that there is a lack of important nutrients.
Each hair root is growing from the scalp directly through a tiny follicle. It requires a constant flow of vitamins, minerals, and oxygen to grow hair roots properly. When the nutrient is lacking, the hair growth slows down.
This has become a very common problem in today’s world. Most people are suffering from problems like busy schedules, lack of proper breakfast, overconsumption of caffeine, etc. People rarely get any sunlight.
These things have contributed a lot to the hair loss problem. The body starts lacking the building blocks that keep hair strong and growing.
So, it’s essential to know which nutrients (vitamins or minerals) your body is lacking. Once you have figured it out, you can have an edge and can fix it properly.
How Vitamins and Minerals Support Hair Growth
It is quite true that healthy hair begins from within your body. Your body requires proper nutrition to produce RBC, whose duty is to supply your hair roots with oxygen.
It keeps your hair roots active and causes new hair to grow normally. The growth of the hair decreases, and the follicles become weak if your body lacks proper nutrition.
Vitamin is the fuel for your hair. If your body receives an adequate intake of vitamins, your hair will become thick and strong as each strand of your hair is going to become properly nourished. Likewise, a lack of vitamins causes the hair to become weak and brittle over a period of time.
Minerals are a must for a healthy head of hair. They make it possible for your body to grow strong strands of hair. And also keep your follicles running fine.
It also safeguards your scalp. If your body does not have sufficient minerals, your hair will turn weak and dry. And eventually, due to its consequences, hair fall begins.
That is why it’s necessary to acquire enough vitamins and minerals for healthy hair. It serves to establish a healthy base so that the hair is strong and becomes thicker.
Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss?
Most people blame oils, shampoos, or home remedies for their hair loss at the very beginning, when there is more hair fall than usual. But sometimes, the reasons are not any of them. It might be that your body is missing something (nutrients).
We all have studied that hair growth depends on a constant flow of vitamins and minerals. They help to keep your scalp nourished, follicles active, and strengthen the hair strands.
When such nutrients are deficient, the whole thing gets messed up, and your hair is one outcome of that. There are no perfect vitamins for hair growth, because hair loss is not the result of only one deficiency.
Below, we will look closely at which vitamins and minerals affect hair loss the most.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D plays a vital role in creating new hair follicles(tiny pores from where new hair grows). When there is an improper supply of vitamin D, most hair follicles become inactive, which leads to slow regrowth of the hair.
The deficiency of vitamin D is very common in countries like India. Most people here stay indoors, and when they step out, they put on sunscreen, which also contributes to reducing the skin’s ability to absorb vitamin D.
And there is no need to describe the pollution in India, which is also a great factor reducing the ability to consume vitamin D from sunlight. This leads to noticeable hair loss, fatigue, and mood swings with time.
Iron Deficiency
Iron is one of the minerals that plays a vital role in hair growth. It helps RBC to carry oxygen to your scalp and hair roots. If there is no proper flow of oxygen, hair follicles struggle to produce healthy and strong strands. Hence, the deficiency of iron results in dull and thinning hair.
Iron deficiency is seen in females more than in males. The main cause for this is heavy menstrual cycles, vegetarian diets, or poor iron absorption.
Iron deficiency results in tiredness, pale skin, and brittle nails. These are some early signs shown by the body due to a deficiency of iron.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 helps RBC production and helps in delivering oxygen to different parts of your body (your scalp included). Lack of vitamin B12 results in thinning hair, loss of shine, and slower hair regrowth. Many people have reported experiencing fatigue due to a deficiency in vitamin B12.
Most vegetarians lack this because vitamin B12 is mostly found in animal-based foods. So, taking a supplement for this can make a big difference if you are a vegetarian. You can also consider treatments like PRP therapy to regrow new hair to support regrowth.
Biotin (Vitamin B7) Deficiency
Biotin or vitamin B7 is also referred to as “hair vitamin”. It helps the body to produce keratin(the main protein that forms hair, skin, and nails). That’s why its deficiency results in weaker and more brittle hair.
It is a very rare case that a person suffers from biotin deficiency. It can only happen when you eat the same thing every day or consume many raw egg whites( blocks biotin absorption). Or people with digestive problems might have this deficiency.
Folic Acid (Vitamin B9) Deficiency
The main function of folic acid is to support new cell growth( this includes your hair follicles). Without folic acid, your body struggles to produce new hair efficiently. This results in thinner strands and slower hair growth.
The deficiency of folic acid is only seen when your diet lacks leafy vegetables and fruits. Pregnant women need this in a higher amount.
Vitamin C Deficiency
We all know vitamin C for immunity. But guess what, it also plays a vital role in hair health. It helps your body to absorb iron, which is essential for hair growth.
Lack of vitamin C results in dry, rough, and fragile hair. It can also lead to a less nourished scalp.
Zinc Deficiency
Zinc is one of the most important minerals that helps in tissue repair and keeps the oil glands around hair follicles functioning efficiently. When the amount of zinc drops in the body, the scalp becomes dry and hair growth slows. Its deficiency can also trigger hair shedding, which is quite similar to pattern baldness.
Most Indians are suffering from its deficiency because their diet is heavily based on cereals. This diet blocks zinc absorption in the body.
Signs That Your Hair Loss Is Due to Vitamin Deficiency
It is very hard to predict that the hair loss is exactly due to a vitamin deficiency. But there are some signs that the body shows when the hair loss is due to this. I have listed some common signs of it below.
- Sudden increase in hair loss
- Hair seems thinner day by day
- Hair turns into dry from smooth to dry
- New hair takes a long time to appear
- The body starts feeling tired
- You might start having pale skin
- Nails become more brittle
- You might lose hair in all areas equally on the scalp, while genetic hair loss starts from a particular region
How to Reverse Hair Loss by Fixing Vitamin Deficiencies
It is possible to fix hair loss caused due to a deficiency in nutrients. Once your body gets a sufficient amount of nutrients required, the problem is fixed automatically. It is not a magic pill, but things get better when the diet improves.
Firstly, do a simple blood test to know what exactly is missing. Just guessing sometimes can lead to a great problem. You can overeat something or miss something in the diet.
Rather than focusing on one thing, try to focus on a balanced diet. Your diet should contain leafy greens, pulses, eggs, milk, nuts, seeds, and seasonal fruits. This would supply all the essential vitamins and minerals required for the body.
Try to have a walk in the morning for at least 10 minutes. This would improve the flow of vitamin D in the body. It supports hair growth.
A balanced diet might not be efficient every time. You might need to take some supplements recommended by the doctor.
Lastly, be consistent. This problem is not going to be solved overnight. You need to have proper discipline for a long time to actually see results.
When to Seek Medical or Dermatological Help
When the hair loss doesn’t stop even after taking proper nutrients and diet, it is advised to seek medical or dermatological help.
Here are a few things to know about to actually know when to seek medical or dermatological help:
- Hair fall increases even after taking a proper diet.
- Redness, itching, or swelling starts showing up in the scalp,
- Your hair loss has exceeded 3 months,
- You are feeling tired and dizzy suddenly.
A dermatologist will recommend a blood test to determine the nutrient level in the body. In some cases, a PRP therapy or targeted supplement can be suggested.
Don’t wait for too long to show professionals. Early diagnosis helps in faster recovery. It also prevents long-term damage to hair follicles.
Conclusion
This article answers the question “which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss?”. Hair loss can be discouraging, but the solution often starts inside, not in a bottle.
Your hair needs a good amount of vitamins and minerals to grow. When the body starts lacking them, the effect is shown in the hair. Is there any particular nutrient doing this? The simple way to find out is a simple blood test.
You can explore more hair loss solutions and treatments that address both internal and external causes.
Q&A ASK:
FAQ 1: Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss the Most?
Vitamin D deficiency is most common in cases of hair loss. Majorly in countries like India, this deficiency is seen most. This is because people in these countries spend very limited time in direct sunlight. Lack of abundant vitamin D causes problems like hair thinning. Other vitamins and minerals, such as zinc, iron, etc., also lead to this problem. If you are having excessive shedding, a blood test is recommended.
FAQ 2: How Can I Tell If My Hair Loss Is Due to Vitamin Deficiency?
There is even hair loss when it is caused by a deficiency in nutrients. But when it’s genetics, there is uneven hair fall. You may notice other symptoms too, such as pale skin and fatigue. Again, a blood test is the simple method that clarifies everything.
FAQ 3: Can Hair Grow Back After Vitamin Deficiency Hair Loss?
Yes, there is no doubt in this. Hair loss due to a vitamin deficiency can be recovered just by fixing the nutrient supply in the body. Once your body starts receiving an adequate amount of nutrients, the problem starts to fix itself. Usually, people see results within 6 months.
FAQ 4: Which Vitamins Are Best for Hair Growth in India?
The perfect nutrient must include nutrients like vitamin D, vitamin B12, iron, and zinc. They help in the improvement of blood flow and strengthen the hair follicles. A balanced diet is always recommended for an adequate amount of nutrients to be supplied to the body.
FAQ 5: How Long Does It Take to Reverse Hair Loss Due to Vitamin Deficiency?
The quick answer to this is that it depends on the damage caused. If you have lost a good amount of hair evenly, it might take longer time, and vice versa. In most cases, people have said that they started seeing results after 3-6 months.
