Does Vitamin D Deficiency Cause Hair Loss?

Are you one of those people who remain indoors all the time and prefer not to expose yourself to the sunlight even during sunrise or sunset? Then, in this case, deficiency of Vitamin D could be the cause of your hair loss!

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin commonly referred to as the sunshine vitamin or sunflower seed vitamin. It's made by the body from exposure to sunlight, and is essential for calcium absorption, immune system maintenance, and skin health. Having sufficient levels of vitamin D in our bodies helps regulate the flow of calcium and phosphorus (two key elements for building and maintaining healthy hair) throughout our bodies.

Yes, role of vitamins and minerals are indeed vital to maintaining good skin and hair health. And Vitamin D deficiency has directly linked to normal hair shedding as well as conditions that cause hair loss.

Let us understand this in detail and how you can deal with it.

Does Vitamin D deficiency cause hair loss?

Most people have a query regarding which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss. Vitamin D does help stimulate hair follicles, so a lack might cause hair loss. There is some evidence that having a vitamin D deficiency does cause loss of hair and other hair problems. 

Alopecia Areata-

A deficiency in vitamin D may also be associated with alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that causes patchy hair loss. Research has shown that people with alopecia areata have fewer levels of vitamin D than people who do not have alopecia.

The deficiency of Vitamin D can also play a major role in hair loss in people who are without alopecia. Other research has also shown that women who have other forms of hair loss also had low vitamin D levels.

How does Vitamin D deficiency cause hair loss?

Now, you might wonder how vitamin D impacts your hair. As we all know Vitamin D affects the health of many parts of the body, including our skin and hair.

Vitamin D plays a significant role in the formation of new hair follicles. Hair follicles are the tiny pores from where your new hairs grow. The new follicles might help hair maintain its thickness and prevent existing hair from falling out prematurely.

Due to this link, getting adequate amounts of vitamin D can support your hair growth and regrowth.

Is Vitamin D Deficiency Hair Loss Reversible?

Vitamin D supplements could help if there exists a vitamin D deficiency that is contributing to your hair loss. Vitamin D supplement can come in a pill, or it can be applied to your skin through creams like calcipotriol, which is a psoriasis drug that has shown promise in treating hair loss.

Getting 10 to 30 minutes of sun exposure is a great way to get vitamin D, but this might raise skin cancer risks. The amount of sun that is required to form Vitamin D will vary depending on your skin type, how much of the skin is exposed, and where you live. 

Talking about alopecia from autoimmune conditions or diseases where the body attacks its hair follicles, it’s recommended to see a doctor. 

How Can You Raise Your Vitamin D Levels?

Several pieces of research have suggested that when a person lacks Vitamin D, the most effective treatment is for them to take some vitamin D supplements.

Vitamin D supplements should be taken with appropriate meals, particularly the ones with plenty of healthy fats. Fat also helps vitamin D to be absorbed into the body.

Some of the good sources of dietary fat are:

• Avocado
• Eggs
• Chia seeds
• Some fish, including salmon, trout, and sardines
• Nuts
• And most importantly, cheese

These supplements come in a variety of forms. Some of them might have to be taken daily, once a week, or even once a month. While treating low vitamin D levels, doctors will do a blood test every few months to see if a person’s levels are increasing.

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency

Symptoms of bone pain and muscle weakness do show that you have a vitamin D deficiency. However, for various people, the symptoms are subtle. Yet, even without symptoms, too little vitamin D can impose several health risks. Low blood levels of the vitamin have been linked to the following:

• Increased chances of death from cardiovascular disease
• Cognitive impairment in older adults
• Severe asthma in children
• Cancer

Sources of Vitamin D

Some foods with Vitamin D:

1. Mushrooms
2. Cheese
3. Fish
4. Egg
5. Soy-milk
6. Fortified cereals
7. Milk
8. Butter

Vitamin D benefits

Most people usually believe that vitamin D deficiency can lead to hair loss. They aren’t aware of the various proven benefits of vitamin D that are linked to healthy hair. These include

• Improved immunity and gut health

• Improvement in libido

• Better bone health

• Increased energy

• Improved vision

• Skin condition.

Takeaway

If you want to regrow your hair that is lost due to Vitamin D deficiency then you can take up some medications or consult a dermatologist. You can also check out some of our products which are dermatologists recommended at Mars by GHC website.

Frequently Asked Question

How long does it take to restore vitamin D levels?

Adding vitamin D supplements can make improvements in your levels in just three to four months' time. Vitamin D with a strength of 1000-2000 IU daily is the recommended dose for most adults. Most multivitamins contain vitamin D, so extra supplementation isn't always required.

References

1. Serum ferritin and vitamin d in female hair loss: do they play a role?