Can Vitamin D deficiency cause hair loss?
Can Vitamin D deficiency cause hair loss?
I've been experiencing gradual hair thinning for close to 2 years now. It's not very noticeable to others, but it is to me. During those two years, a little over a year ago my mom passed away.. prior to that I dropped out of school to take care of her so I was experiencing a lot of stress during the past two years. (I'm 20 by the way.) I went to the doctor's recently, and my ferretin levels (iron stores) were at about 20.7 with a reference range of 11-370.. so it's on the low end. My doctor prescribed 975 mg of ferrous sulfate a day, with 500 mg of vitamin c for better absorption. I've been taking it for a month, and have noticed my hair looking a little healthier... but, I haven't noticed any regrowth. During the past two years, I've become somewhat of a homebody.. while I was taking care of my mom I rarely went out, and after she passed, I was severely depressed and stayed in ALL the time. Only recently have I been getting out a little more, but still not that much. I haven't gotten my Vitamin D levels checked yet, but considering the circumstances (I don't drink milk, get out in the sun rarely, and live in the NW) I feel like I might be low in Vitamin D as well.
I'd like to know if anyone has experienced hair thinning due to Vitamin D deficiency and if it has gotten better from taking supplements. I've read online that Vit D deficiency can cause hair loss, but I'd like to hear a real experience with it.
Thanks :)
October 27th, 2010 - 17:20
Hello Samantha
Vitamin D, Iron deficiency AND worry or stress can all cause increased hair loss, and it doesn’t help when we start to lose our hair and worry about losing our hair.
If you DO have any vitamin or other deficiencies (go see your doctor for a blood test), the first step is to deal with the deficiency. With vitamin D you can take supplements and I advise you get out and get lots of sun (exposure to sunlight causes your body to produce more vitamin D).
When you sort out the deficiencies, you won’t see any reduction in hair loss immediately – it takes time. Added to that is the psychological factor. Since we all start to get negative and pessimistic when we see hair loss, even when there IS improvement, we don’t see it. We tend to notice hair loss more, so you’ll get worried about the same amount of hair you were losing 10 years ago.
But if you’ve sorted out all the deficiencies and you’re having a good diet with whole foods, avoiding refined foods, avoiding cholesterol and avoiding salt, then you may consider using minoxidil 2% for women.
Minoxidil is a topical solution and one of the few drugs that have been proven to reduce the rate of further hair loss.
See how it goes. Good luck.
October 27th, 2010 - 17:20
well, i am on 50,000 units as of now. i had to take that dose twice a week for a month and for this month i am down to once a week. i couldn’t take over the counter because it was not enough for me. i did have hair loss and my bones (or i should probably say joints) ached a lot. but i also suffer from lupus SLE and i am also on chemotherapy pills so i am not sure which one it is. i know that i was prescribed the strong dose because i had like no vitamin d in me whatsoever and my doctor said that my hair loss was partly to blame for that. i am not sure yet if it is working because my appointment is on the 8th of november. my hair has grown back but strands fall out everyday but no one can tell because my hair is so thick.
but if you are really concerned about your hair, i do take vitamins for my hair and ever since i started taking them my hair grows fast and long. they are called "biotin" and "vitamin b". that is why my hair grows so thick and fast. you can get them at walmart for about $5 a bottle and it last for like 3 months.
but i do know that vitamin d is very important. you especially need it for your bones. as you get older you will feel the effects greatly in a negative way if you don’t keep your vitamin d up, so please make sure you take care of it just for that reason alone. and vitamins in general keep skin and hair healthy. i have provided you a link that explains all the benefits of it.
i am sorry if i couldn’t be of more help.
October 27th, 2010 - 17:20
Hello,
It seems like you have been under some stress lately that could be one of the main reasons for your hair loss. Although the vitamin deficiency could be a factor, it is hard to say the exact reason. Before you look into any treatments, I’d suggest scheduling a free consultation with a Bosley physician at one of our many regional offices (all listed on our website).
Our people are hair loss experts who can diagnose the specific cause of your case & recommend appropriate treatment options. Best of all, the consults are conducted free of charge so at the very least you receive the information you need to move forward in addressing your problem without having to spend a dime for it.