Vitamin B12 also manufactures red blood cells that are oxygen carriers, throughout your body, including to your scalp. If your scalp is not rich in oxygen, not only will you likely experience hair loss, but your hair follicles may not be able to sustain hair regrowth.
Symptoms Of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
When vitamin B12 levels are low, your hair follicles may not be able to grow new hair as efficiently, resulting in hair loss. A vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause symptoms of anemia, which is associated with low iron levels, hair thinning, and hair loss.
Over-supplementation of certain nutrients, including selenium, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E, has actually been linked to hair loss [4,8–11].
As a result, when vitamin B12 levels are low, your hair follicles may not be able to grow new hair efficiently. This will result in hair loss. B12 deficiency can also lead to symptoms of anemia, which is linked with low iron levels, hair thinning, and hair loss.
A deficiency in vitamin D can be linked to many different types of autoimmune disease—including alopecia areata. This study found that vitamin D deficiency was a risk factor for developing alopecia areata and that a significant number of patients with this condition had low levels of vitamin D.
In alopecia areata, the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing inflammation. Researchers do not fully understand what causes the immune attack on hair follicles, but they believe that both genetic and environmental (non-genetic) factors play a role.
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss.
Clinically proven to regrow hair in 3-6 months, no pills required.
Most temporary hair loss is telogen effluvium — a type of nonscarring, temporary alopecia that's triggered by certain life events and changes in your physical or psychological health. One of the most common causes of telogen effluvium is stress.
Prescription-strength corticosteroids in liquid form can be applied directly to the scalp. This is often an effective treatment for children affected by alopecia areata. Corticosteroid injections into areas of patchy hair loss on the scalp may help revive hair growth within several weeks in people with alopecia areata.
Finasteride and minoxidil are the main treatments for male pattern baldness. Minoxidil can also be used to treat female pattern baldness. Women should not use finasteride.
“Alopecia areata may be reversed through diet, possibly with antioxidants or an anti-inflammatory diet, probiotics, zinc, biotin and healthy oils,” Kimberly Langdon, MD, an OB/GYN based in Ohio who works at Medzino, tells WebMD Connect to Care.
How much B12 should I take daily for hair growth? The lowest amount recommended that should be traceable in your body is 2.4 mcg. While you are looking for a difference in your hair growth you can increase this dosage to 3 mcg and beyond.
B12 is a long-term strategy for hair growth. As you take a supplement or get an injection, you are consistently nourishing your growing cells with nutrients in order to maximize their growth. Vitamin B12 is an important vitamin to boost the body's overall health.
The good news is that hair loss due to vitamin D deficiency is usually reversible. Once levels of vitamin D are increased, hair follicles will typically begin to function properly again and hair will start to regrow.
But if you need more vitamin B12 than what your diet provides, that's when supplements can come in. If you are low in vitamin B12, a common recommended dose for oral supplements is about 1,000 mcg daily.
Supports healthy hair, skin, and nails. Given vitamin B12's role in cell production, adequate levels of this vitamin are needed to promote healthy hair, skin, and nails ( 36 ).
The three most common triggers for hair loss in young women are stress, dieting, and hormonal changes. Less commonly, hair loss can be caused by certain autoimmune diseases. Here's more on these four triggers for hair loss in young women.
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to alopecia, the autoimmune condition that causes bald patches on the scalp and other areas of the body. Both men and women can experience alopecia. Another study found that women 18 to 45 years old who experienced alopecia or other types of hair loss had low levels of vitamin D.
It is believed that the person's genetic makeup may trigger the autoimmune reaction of alopecia areata, along with a virus or a substance the person comes into contact with. Alopecia areata is an unpredictable disease. In some people, hair grows back but falls out again later. In others, hair grows back and remains.
The first sign of alopecia areata is often a round or oval bald patch on the scalp.
For patients who use treatments, there are several options. However, alopecia areata cannot be "cured." As noted above, most patients experience future episodes of hair loss. Corticosteroids — Corticosteroids, commonly called steroids, are anti-inflammatory medications that are used to treat alopecia areata.
Alopecia areata is an inflammatory, non-scarring hair loss associated with autoimmune conditions. It is more commonly seen with thyroid disorders and vitiligo, but alopecia areata has also been linked to diabetes, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.