We are what we eat. These words are attributed to Hippocrates, and scientists have confirmed their validity over time. And almost certainly every day we do not eat enough vitamin D - for hair, as noted by dermatologists, it can be very beneficial.
Why and what does science say about it?
How vitamin D affects your hair
- vitamin D3 for hair is important as a follicle genetic program stimulator, it is thanks to him that the cells responsible for the formation of the hair shaft work properly;
- D3 supports skin homeostasis - the ability to maintain normal moisture and heat levels - and promotes keratinocyte proliferation, meaning the vitamin is essential for skin cell division;
- a number of studies confirm that vitamin deficiency is fixed in people with oily dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis) and various types of alopecia;
- vitamin D3 is involved in the regulation of scalp immunity - recall that local immunity reduces the likelihood of skin diseases and discomfort caused by adverse environmental factors.
Most studies have one conventional flaw: they prove that there is a link between the amount of vitamin D and the condition of the scalp, but how exactly the vitamin affects the skin and what its benefits for hair are - a big question. Research is ongoing, and doctors recommend checking blood levels regularly and, if they are below 30 ng/ml, adjusting your diet.
It's interesting! In a cosmetic treatment of already grown hair, the effect of vitamin D is unlikely to be pronounced. For thinning, brittle, dry or dehydrated strands, products with vitamins A, E and B are more useful.
How to determine vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D regulates metabolism in bone tissue, which is its main role, so among the symptoms of deficiency is brittle bones. Decreased immunity, depression, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular problems can also indicate a deficiency condition.
If you're looking for the cause of increased hair loss or dandruff, remember the findings of scientific studies: patients with these symptoms often have low levels of vitamin D.
In any case, it doesn't hurt to get a blood test for total 25-OH D (D). This is the only way to confirm or refute your suspicions.
Does vitamin D help with hair loss
So what's the deal with the healthy pill? Is vitamin D worth taking for telogen hair loss, does it help women and men against other forms of alopecia?
Scientists believe that it is too early to recommend it with a hundred percent certainty of an excellent result; their statements are very cautious. For example, here is a quote from the study mentioned above: "Vitamin D supplementation may be considered a therapeutic option for patients with focal alopecia, female pattern hair loss or telogenic alopecia. However, further research is needed. As I have already noted, the mechanism of involvement of this biologically active substance in alopecia is not completely clear. One thing is clear: if hair loss is suspected, there are reasons to suspect vitamin D deficiency, but it is unlikely to stop hair loss.
Where you can get vitamin D from
It is estimated that nearly a billion people worldwide are deficient. The first thing that comes to mind when it comes to vitamin D for hair growth, against hair loss or to keep the body healthy in general are supplements. But they have their own nuances, and besides, they are not the only way to get the vitamin.
Nutrition - both forms of vitamin D, D2 and D3, are ingested with food and both are converted to calcitriol.
Solar baths - sun is our natural friend and enemy. On the one hand, ultraviolet light stimulates the synthesis of vitamin D3 in human skin. It is enough to walk for 5-30 minutes daily in the fresh air with open face and hands to ensure the prevention of hypovitaminosis.
Health supplements - as nutritionists say, many people have to get enough vitamin D in the form of supplements - capsules or drops.
Vitamin D, when it comes to hair density, is somewhat of a mystery. It is quite clear that taking supplements or eating a kilogram of salmon every day at normal levels of the vitamin in the body is pointless. There will be no supereffect, it is impossible to jump above your genetic norm of density. Another thing is a strong thinning or slowing of new hair growth, which in itself is a reason to visit a doctor or a trichology expert and to reconsider your diet and usual care scheme. Perhaps vitamin D can play a significant role in restoring hair density.
