What Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss?

Being iron deficient (anemic) or low on Vitamin B or folic acid can cause your hair to fall out. Protein deficiency can also cause hair loss. Protein is acquired through eating dairy, whey and lean meats. Calcium pantothenate, also known as pantothenic acid or Vitamin B 5, has actually been proven help prevent hair loss. You can get this vitamin by eating potatoes, vegetables, whole grain foods, whole milk and egg yolks. Vitamin B 5 plays a role in maintaining the pigmentation of hair and prevents our hair from turning gray earlier than it should. Ask your physician what type of supplements you should take and how much.

Biotin is a B Vitamin that is particularly beneficial to hair growth and health. It also aids in the metabolism of fats, proteins, carbohydrates and the production of energy. Biotin is present in carrots, sardines, mushrooms, cauliflower, egg yolks, bananas and yeast. Biotin is also known as Vitamin H. It is thought to prevent hair loss and prevents hair from turning gray.

Probably the most highly reported case of alopecia occurred when Princess Caroline of Monaco lost all of her hair following the tragic death of her husband. Alopecia areata is caused by an abnormality in the immune system and can strike both men and women. No one knows for sure exactly what causes alopecia but it is very possible that it is stress induced. Some physicians believe it is a hereditary condition because it often occurs among family members. People suffering from alopecia have abnormalities in their immune system, which leads to autoimmunity and the immune system attacks hair follicles. Alopecia can also occur if a person is suffering from lupus, thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis and colitis. Sometimes the hair grows back and sometimes it doesn't.

Hair loss is common a few months after having a baby. It's caused by a readjustment of hormones. During pregnancy, a woman's hormone levels are so high they interrupt the normal cycles of hair loss. When the hormones return to normal, hair that should have fallen out during the pregnancy falls out all at once. Some post-partum women report ending up with bald spots. Hair normally grows about one half-inch per month during the regular hair growth cycle, which lasts from two to six years. At any given time, bout 10 percent of your hair is in a resting phase, which means it's not growing. This hair rests for a couple of months and then sheds. New hair replaces it. If your thyroid is over- or under-active, it can cause hair loss. If female hormones---estrogen---and male hormones---androgens---are out of balance, they can cause hair loss. Blood thinners (anti-coagulants) can cause hair loss as can birth control pills and antidepressants. If you take too much Vitamin A, it can result in hair loss. Hair loss is a symptom of both lupus and diabetes. Of course, chemotherapy often causes hair to fall out.

Stress can take its toll on your hair as well as on every other part of your body. Get more exercise, more rest and learn to meditate. Air pollution causes estrogen levels to increase and high estrogen content is the main culprit of hair loss. Living in a highly polluted area can damage your overall health and cause hair loss.

Keep yourself hydrated by drinking a lot of water and taking daily supplements. Ask your physician for her recommendation. Apply olive oil, lemon juice and egg yolk directly to your scalp and let this concoction sit there for awhile before rinsing it out. Get enough protein, via fruit and dairy foods, to keep your hair healthy. Boil henna leaves in mustard oil and apply this to your scalp.