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Hair Growth Vitamins And Supplements
Do vitamins and supplements for hair growth actually work?
Hair growth supplements are vitamins or herbal supplements used to promote happy and healthy hair growth and regrowth.
When can supplements help?
In both men and women is hair loss is caused by a combination of genetic and hormonal factors. It can also be a side effect of medication (such as steroids), medical treatment (such as chemotherapy), due to pregnancy, or illness (such as stress, auto-immune disorders, thyroid problems).
If your hair loss is a result of health-related issues, you should visit your doctor to treat the medical condition first. Once the health issue is under control, your hair should return to normal.
If your hair loss is a result of poor diet or a nutritional deficiency, hair growth supplements may help. A well balanced diet will help you maintain overall health. However, if you don’t have a specific vitamin deficiency, there is no evidence to show that extra vitamins or supplements will help your hair to grow.
What kinds of hair growth supplements are there?
There are many vitamins, plant extracts and herbal supplements advertised to help healthy hair growth. These supplements will only help hair growth if you are lacking in any of the vitamins or nutrients to begin with.
Supplements or vitamins related to hair growth include:
- iron
- vitamin A, B, D and E
- zinc
- amino acids
- omega acids (especially omega-3 fatty acids)
Iron is very important for hair growth. If your iron levels are too low (anaemia), less iron is supplied to your hair follicles disrupting your hair growth cycle and causing hair loss in some people. Raise your iron count by taking supplements or eating red meat, fish, lentils, spinach, or green vegetables
Vitamin A is needed by the body to create an oil known as sebum, which helps keep the scalp conditioned and healthy. With too little sebum, the scalp can become irritated or itchy, and your hair becomes dry and brittle. A pre-stage of Vitamin A is found in orange or yellow vegetables like carrots or pumpkins.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps the body absorb iron and aids the production of collagen. Good sources of Vitamin C are blueberries, kiwis, sweet potato, and oranges.
Vitamin D is a vitamin that helps reduce stress and depression, and is found in healthy hair follicles. Vitamin D is crucial to healthy cell reproduction, which is why it is so important for hair growth. It is found in oily fish, eggs, and mushrooms.
Vitamin E is an important supplement to take in order to protect your hair from sun damage, just as you would for your skin. Nuts are a great source of vitamin E.
Zinc helps regulate the level of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) in the body, which is the hormone that is known to cause hair loss. If your zinc levels are too low, your body will produce more DHT, which can lead to hair loss. You can find zinc in sesame seeds, eggs, nuts, and fish.
Amino acids are also thought to be essential for hair growth, because they help the body to produce keratin and grow hair. Amino acids are found in protein-rich foods like meat, eggs, and dairy products.
Omega acids, such as omega-3, are important fats that are not produced by the body itself. Omega-3 acids provide the necessary oils that keep your scalp healthy and hydrated. They can be found in oily fish, avocado, and pumpkin seeds.
You should avoid taking more than the recommended daily dose of each of these vitamins or nutrients, because taking too much of something can be as harmful to your hair and skin as taking too little of something.
What is Nourkrin?
Nourkrin is a nutritional supplement that contains the fish extract known as marilex. Taken regularly for a period of at least 6 months, Nourkrin promotes hair growth by maintaining the health of your hair follicles.
Nourkrin is not suitable for anyone allergic to fish or shellfish, and should also be avoided by pregnant women or during breastfeeding.
What is Biotin?
Biotin is a water-soluble B-vitamin also known as vitamin H or coenzyme R. Biotin is a vitamin found typically in fish or pulses, and works to break down certain fats and carbohydrates in the body. Biotin is often advertised as use for hair loss, brittle nails or skin rash, especially by pregnant women.
If you do not get enough Biotin in your diet, your hair will become brittle and can lead to hair loss. Make sure you get enough by taking biotin supplements or by eating plenty of biotin-rich foods such as wholegrains, eggs, liver and yeast.
Do they work?
Unless you have been diagnosed with a serious deficiency in a specific vitamin, mineral or nutrient, it is unlikely that any hair growth supplements will have a noticeable effect on your hair growth or regrowth.
On the other hand, it is always important to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. You should always make sure you are eating well and getting your recommended daily vitamin and nutrient intake.
Related Hair Loss Treatments
Further Reading on Hair Loss Treatments
- How To Stop Hair Loss
- What are the best products for hair loss?
- Side Effects Of Propecia
- Minoxidil For Hair Loss
- How To Stop A Receding Hairline
- Side Effects of Finasteride
- Are Hair Transplants Worth it?
- What Is Alopecia Areata?
- Can Stress Lead To Hair Loss?
- DHT Blockers And Hair Loss
- How To Get Thicker & Healthier Hair
- Male Pattern Baldness: Causes & Treatment
- The Hamilton-Norwood Hair Scale
- Topical Finasteride