Hair loss is a problem that a large number of people are faced with today, so supplementing with vitamins for hair health can be beneficial. There are many factors that contribute to hair loss. One of these are deficiencies of vital nutrients and minerals in the body. Let’s take a look at the importance of vitamin A in maintaining healthy hair and how a deficiency could lead to hair loss.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin and is available in a number of forms including retinol, retinal, retinoids, and dehydroretinol. It is important for treating and reducing the symptoms of many health conditions such as vision diseases, including cataracts and glaucoma, premenstrual syndrome, malaria, measles, diarrhea, hair loss, and a lot more. If you don’t get enough vitamin A in your diet and notice hair loss, hair supplements supporting healthy hair growth that contain vitamin A could be an option for you.
How Vitamin A Prevents Hair Loss
A crucial vitamin for healthier hair is vitamin A. As a result of different metabolic processes, our body continuously produces free radicals, which are highly damaging for normal cell growth. Similarly, our hair follicles are also damaged due to free radical production. Vitamin A has antioxidant properties that help stop the free radical from forming in the body and restoring hair health. Also, normal levels of vitamin A in the body are associated with better blood circulation, which greatly promotes hair health and hair regeneration.
Vitamin A supplements can also prevent wilting of the hair follicles and dryness of the scalp. Due to this, thinning is greatly prevented because a consistently moisturized scalp assures stronger and well-nourished hair.
Types of Vitamin A Deficiency
There are two types of Vitamin A deficiency: primary and secondary.
In primary deficiency, you do not get enough dietary vitamin A from what you eat – different animal and plant sources such as liver, dark leafy vegetables or fruits. This deficiency can be treated either by increasing the dietary intake of vitamin A or taking supplements.
In case of secondary deficiency, different factors such as alcoholism, smoking or zinc deficiency affect the effective absorption of vitamin A from your intestines. This leads to increased deficiency of vitamin A in the body. This type of deficiency can only be treated by fixing whatever is contributing to decreased absorption of vitamin A.
Symptoms of vitamin A deficiency in the body include impaired vision, dry eyes, conjunctivitis and a weakened immune system.
Get a complete list of reasons why we lose our hair and what vitamins can be taken to help prevent it.
What Is Vitamin A Toxicity?
Efficient quantities of vitamin A promote can help promote natural hair heath and reduce hair loss. But too much of it can lead to nausea, vomiting, dryness of the skin and eyes, and even hair loss. This is because vitamin A is fat-soluble, so it’s not as easy for the body to dispose of excess vitamin A as with a water-soluble vitamin.
Vitamins For Hair Loss – How Much Is A Good Amount?
It is uncommon for a vitamin A deficiency if you eat a healthy diet. If you take supplements, be mindful so you don’t intake too much. A great suggestion is to eat a balanced diet. The recommended dose of vitamin A in treating chronic hair loss diseases such as alopecia is between 5,000 to 25,000 IU per day.
So, What Foods are Rich in Vitamin A?
Eating a balanced and varied diet is a great way to get enough vitamin A. Examples of food high in vitamin A are carrots, sweet potatoes, dark leafy greens such as kale, squash, romaine lettuce, dried apricots, tuna or tropical fruits like mango.
If your lifestyle makes it hard to always eat in a nutritious and balanced way, taking supplements with vitamins that benefit your hair can be a good option. They contain a mix of all the ingredients that promote hair health and can supplement your daily intake when needed.