Vitamins and Supplements for Hair Growth

There are many companies in the market that sell vitamins and supplements for hair. They claim to provide a healthy boost for hair growth but do they really work?

Every day we shed hair due to the natural growth cycle our hair is constantly going through. It only becomes a problem when that amount of hair being lost increases noticeably. It’s at this point that a dreaded realisation you might be going bald, kicks in. Given the fact that hair plays an absolutely pivotal role in how attractive we feel, it is only natural that if we lose hair, we start looking for remedies and solutions from any source available.

Then, let us understand hair loss first.

What are the primary causes of hair loss?

Genetics: The predominant cause of hair loss in both men and women has been attributed to our genes and so keeping a close eye on your parents or grandparents can give you an insight into whether it may one day affect you. The technical term for common baldness, Androgenetic alopecia is responsible for 95% of the worlds hair loss issues.

Hormonal imbalances and changes: In particular, for women, pregnancy and other hormone related conditions can lead to temporary hair loss. The onset of menopause or childbirth can also trigger hair fall.

Medical problems: Iron deficiency, improper thyroid functions can also affect hair fall. As the levels of hormone secretion are also affected by the thyroid gland, any problems with this organ can cause hair loss.

Alopecia Areata: This is a type of patchy and non-scarring condition caused due to a breakdown in the immune system that attacks the hair follicles. This kind of hair loss leaves smooth patches of scalp on the head which may or may not be temporary.

Other disorders and diseases: Scalp infections such as ringworm, skin diseases such as scarring alopecia and anxiety disorders such as trichotillomania can also cause hair fall and balding.

Hair styling: Tight styling of your hair with braids, ponytails and chemical straightening can in some cases cause severe and irreversible damage.

Vitamins and supplements for hair growth

Though a booming industry, there is no evidence that supplements and vitamins can actually boost hair growth.

So what are they made of?

Most hair supplements comprise of Biotin, vitamins C, B and A. All these are essential for the healthy functioning of the body and simultaneously useful for hair growth. Most of these are found in a variety of everyday foods and natural juices.

There are some studies that show a handful of vitamins are made up of natural plant extracts such as Eclipta Alba, Polygonum multiflorum etc. These might or might not have a positive effect on hair growth.

What exactly is the conclusion then?

If you are really deficient in a particular vitamin you should find out which vitamin you require to supplement yourself with. At that point, hair loss is not what has to be addressed but the lack of the crucial vitamins and minerals. A proper diagnosis such as blood tests will reveal if you are low in zinc, iron or vitamin D, which are responsible for hair growth as well as other bodily functions. Hair growing vitamin products comprise of basic ingredients such as vitamin C, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins B, A and E.

The conclusion is we need a constant source of vitamins and minerals for all our bodily functions not just hair growth, so dismissing these specific supplements is not the goal but to state you can get most of what they contain from a healthy balanced diet which in turn is going to help support healthy hair growth!