Lowโ Vitamin D Levels Can Contribute โto Hair Loss
Vitamin D, an essential nutrient functioning as a hormone inโ the body, plays a crucial role in overall health, including hair growth. Beyond its well-known โขfunction in calcium absorption, โฃVitamin D supports the immune system and strengthens bonesโ and joints.โ Emerging research highlights โคa direct link between Vitamin D levels and the health of hair follicles.
According โฃto Dr. Linky Kapur, โdermatologist and co-founder and director of The Esthetic clinics โฃ(Mumbai Mira india), Vitamin D receptors areโ present within โฃhair follicles and actively participate in regulating the hair growth cycle. “Vitamin D is a vitamin and hormone with anti-inflammatory and โคimmunomodulatoryโข properties and playsโฃ an essential role in keratinocyte differentiation and hair follicle health,” explains Dr. Kapur. She further states that a deficiency in Vitamin D can “disrupt the hair growth cycle, causing hair loss.”
Interestingly, Vitaminโข D deficiency is surprisingly common, even in sun-rich countries, as noted by Onlymyhealth. โSeveral factorsโ contribute to this prevalence:
* limited Sunโค Exposure: Modern lifestyles frequently enough involve extended periods indoors or consistent use of sunscreen,reducing Vitamin D synthesis.
* Skin pigmentation: Individuals with darker skin tones haveโ aโข reduced capacity to produce โVitamin D from sunlight.
* Dietary Intake: Insufficient consumption of Vitamin D-rich foods, including โfortified milk, canโฃ lead to deficiency.
* Underlying Healthโค Conditions: โขAging, digestiveโ disorders,โค and chronic illnesses like kidneyโค and liver disease โฃcanโ impair Vitamin D absorption and utilization.
Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency can beโฃ subtle. Fatigue, muscle weakness, brittle toenails, and even hair loss can โbe early indicators, frequently enough going unnoticed.
If you suspect hair loss is linked to low Vitamin D, Dr. Kapurโ recommends a blood test to โขaccurately determine your Vitamin D levels. A physician can then advise on appropriate โsupplementation to โrestore levels to a healthy range.
Alongside supplementation, maintaining a Vitamin โขD-rich diet – including fatty fish, eggs, mushrooms, and fortified โคmilk – and incorporating regular, safe sunโ exposure can support natural Vitamin D production.
Regular monitoring during supplementation โis โvital to ensure safety and effectiveness, preventing potential health issues from overdosing.
Itsโ important to remember that hair loss can stem from various causes. A comprehensive evaluation isโ recommended to determine the underlyingโ reason and select โthe most appropriate treatment. Supportive therapies, such as hair cellโข therapy lasers or specialized hair treatments, might potentially beโข considered on a case-by-case basis to enhance follicle recovery and address hair shedding.
