What are the main causes of hair loss?
1. Age
As you get older, hair growth begins to slow down. This is due to hormone levels changing and the size of the hair follicle diminishing. Hair strands begin to lose pigment, and they become finer.
2. Stress
Stress pushes the hair follicle into a “resting” phase where no new hair strands are produced. You can lose pieces when brushing hair due to the delayed growth process.
3. Hormones
When levels of estrogen and progesterone are too low, people can experience an increase in androgen, which causes the hair follicle to shrink. This hormone allows for hair loss.
4. Nutritional Deficiency
Not eating the right food or enough food can cause hair loss. Foods provide us with vitamins and minerals to grow and stay healthy.
5. Hair Follicle Damage
Damage, including heat, ponytails, and bleach, affects the hair follicle's growth and development. These types of damage cause inflammation of the hair follicle.
Do hair supplements really work?
The answer is complicated! Hair supplements do not work miracles overnight, but they can help the overall health of your hair. These supplements can help strengthen the development of the hair follicle and improve appearance.
What supplements target healthier hair?
Most often, biotin, Omega-3, and vitamins A, C, and E are related to strengthening your hair. Biotin maintains protein structure in your hair, Omega-3 fatty acids help strengthen and thicken the hair shaft, Vitamin A keeps your scalp moist and helps reduce hair breakage, Vitamin C aids collagen production, and Vitamin D helps regulate hair follicle growth. Many of these supplements have other benefits, such as improving heart health, Arthritis, skin aging, and fighting off viruses.
The importance of taking the right amount of Vitamin A.
People often think taking more vitamins will help you get results faster, which is not the case. Taking too much vitamin A can cause liver damage and adverse side effects. Connected Health's medical team recommend not including Vitamin A supplements for hair growth. This is due to people often getting enough vitamin A in their natural diets. Vitamin A is found in dairy products, eggs, carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes, leafy green vegetables, and much more. However if you have a vitamin A deficiency, taking these supplements can help you.
Supplements Connected Health's skin health expert and nurse practitioner, Kaya recommends:
- Pure Encapsulations Hair/Skin/Nails
- Douglas Laboratories Biotin 8 mg
- Omax3 Professional Omega-3 Fish Oil
(These are all sold in the Connected Health Pharmacy)
The importance of having a healthy diet:
Supplements of vitamins and minerals do not correct negative diet choices. It is recommended to have a healthy diet for supplements to work properly. You can get lots of vitamins from the foods you eat! For example, an avocado is abundant in vitamin C, E, fiber, vitamin B6, magnesium, and folate. Many foods can help with hair growth, including eggs, berries, spinach, fatty fish, sweet potatoes, nuts, seeds, avocados, and Greek yogurt.
Overall View:
Supplements can give people positive health effects but cannot fully cure their hair and health problems. Consider other significant aspects, including your diet and lifestyle. This will ensure that your body gets the right amount of nutrients for growth and development. Also, focus on other parts of your health, such as stress and sleep, as these can affect your body's overall health.
Sources:
https://www.realsimple.com/types-of-hair-damage-7376462
https://www.cnet.com/health/nutrition/are-hair-growth-vitamins-worth-the-money/
https://www.theriegelcenter.com/blog/women-and-hair-loss-what-your-hair-is-telling-you-about-your-hormones#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20keeping%20your,and%20contribute%20to%20hair%20loss.
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-well-do-hair-vitamins-work
Connected Health, located in Wexford, PA, offers concierge primary care that is accessible, personalized, and proactive. Everyone’s healthcare journey is different. Through our personalized approach, we firmly believe that having high-touch, relationship-based medical care saves patients time and money while improving their health. Connected Health is accepting new patients.To schedule a consultation, please call 724-933-4305