Yes, taking too many vitamins and nutritional supplements can lead to hair loss. Excess selenium and vitamin A can be the culprits, and it's best not to exceed the recommended upper limit of vitamins. Fortunately, there are many ways to treat hair loss in both women and men, depending on the cause. Vitamin deficiencies, stress or illness, pregnancy, and not consuming enough protein in the diet can all lead to hair loss.
Male pattern baldness is caused by a combination of genes and male sex hormones, while female pattern baldness is caused by hormones. The only FDA-approved treatment for both is minoxidil (Rogaine). Iron deficiency and autoimmune diseases like lupus can also cause hair loss. Weight loss can also lead to thinning hair, even if it's ultimately good for you.
It can be a symptom of an eating disorder like anorexia or bulimia. No matter the cause of hair loss, it's important to talk to a healthcare provider before trying any treatment on your own. They can help diagnose the cause and recommend the best course of action.
What Causes Hair Loss?
Hair loss can be caused by a variety of factors, including vitamin deficiencies, stress or illness, pregnancy, not consuming enough protein in the diet, male pattern baldness, female pattern baldness, iron deficiency, autoimmune diseases like lupus, and weight loss.Vitamin Deficiencies
Vitamin deficiencies can cause hair loss. Taking too much vitamin A can also lead to hair loss; the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends a daily vitamin A value of 5000 international units (IU) per day for adults and children over 4 years of age; supplements can contain 2500 to 10,000 IU.Stress or Illness
Stress or illness can cause hair loss, a process known as telogen effluvium or stress-induced excessive hair loss. Pregnancy is an example of the type of physical stress that can cause hair loss (that and hormones).If you experience hair loss after pregnancy, rest assured that your hair will grow back in a couple of months.
Not Consuming Enough Protein
The American Academy of Dermatology lists not consuming enough protein in the diet as a possible cause of unwanted hair loss. You can easily add more protein to your diet by incorporating more eggs, chicken, beans and yogurt into your daily meal plan.Male Pattern Baldness
Male pattern baldness is caused by a combination of genes and male sex hormones that usually causes hair on a man's head to recede at the temples, leaving an M-shaped hairline.Female Pattern Baldness
Hormone-related hair loss in women (pattern baldness also exists), according to the U. S. National Institute of Health. This type of hair loss occurs (in both men and women) when the hair follicle shrinks so much over time that no new hair grows.Symptoms of female pattern baldness include a widening of the central part of the hair and sometimes thicker hair on the face. The only FDA-approved treatment for female and male pattern hair is minoxidil (Rogaine). Women can benefit from minoxidil (Rogaine) to help grow their hair or, at least, maintain the hair they have.
Iron Deficiency
The American Academy of Dermatology lists iron deficiency as a possible cause of unwanted hair loss.According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), iron-deficiency anemia occurs when you don't have enough iron in your body; symptoms include fatigue, tiredness, shortness of breath, or chest pain. To help remedy this problem, your healthcare provider may suggest iron supplements or other healthy lifestyle options such as increasing your intake of foods rich in iron and vitamin C.
Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases like lupus can cause hair loss as a side effect of both lupus and medications used to treat lupus. Sometimes with lupus scars on the scalp in the area where hair loss occurred can prevent regrowth; however, medication-induced hair loss may grow back when treatment is completed and the medication is stopped.Alopecia areata is another common autoimmune skin disease that causes hair loss on the scalp and other parts of the body; there are a variety of treatment options for alopecia areata available.
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