Hair Vitamins
In addition to special shampoos conditioners and treatments you can now buy hair vitamins The makers of these pills and tablets claim that they will make your hair grow faster look healthier and resist breakage better than before Whats in these products Where can you find them And whats the science behind the claims
Most vitamins simply offer healthier hair while some are targeted at specific hair problems You can find products for
General hair health
Hair loss
Greying hair
Slowgrowing hair
Some preparations are simply multivitamin tablets Others are essentially herbal supplements Some include a secret ingredient usually a scientificsounding formula that the company does not specifically define
There are many different products available on the internet Your hair stylist may also have suggestions
Its hard to say if hair vitamins really do any good Certainly the manufacturers advertising material is full of testimonials from satisfied customers But theres no way to tell how many people tried the product without success or even if the testimonials are real
There is good medical evidence supporting the idea that protein deficiency can damage hair but Americans particularly those who can afford luxuries like hair vitamins rarely experience the severe malnutrition that would lead to problems Vitamin deficiencies can also cause brittle unhealthylooking hair or even hair loss These effects have mostly been studied in people with severe deficiencies related to illness or poor nutrition not in healthy people who eat a balanced diet
On the other hand there is very little scientific evidence concerning slight vitamin deficiencies and the appearance of hair People who dont eat properly may well benefit from supplements So might vegetarians and vegans because some nutrients are obtained more efficiently from animal products than from plants We know that BVitamins including Biotin and Vitamin B12 Vitamin C Copper Zinc and other nutrients are important to the development and growth of hair Will taking extra doses of these vitamins and minerals help your hair It might Theres no good evidence either way
Some pharmaceutical companies claim that anemia causes hair loss Anemia is a decrease in red blood cells often related to iron deficiency Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body delivering it to tissues including your scalp and hair follicles
There may be something to the vitamin manufacturers claim Several scientific studies have linked hair loss and iron deficiency The evidence isnt perfect however other studies failed to find a connection But its strong enough that many doctors check patients iron levels when evaluating hair loss
How does iron deficiency cause hair problems Some hair vitamin companies claim that lack of iron actually suffocates your scalp that when youre anemic your blood cant deliver enough oxygen to keep your hair healthy Other researchers think low iron may interfere with DNA production Hair follicle cells reproduce very quickly and they use iron in the process If theres not enough iron the cells may not be able to make healthy hair
Check with your doctor before starting supplements containing iron to find out if you really need them and if theyre safe for you
Some hair supplements contain exoticsounding herbs often with Asian names He Shou Wu derived from the plant polygonum multiflorum is traditionally thought to reverse graying hair and promote hair growth In fact the herb does have some antioxidant properties as do some of the more familiar vitamins Whether it really makes hair healthier isnt known He Shou Wu has been known to cause liver inflammation so people with liver problems probably shouldnt take this herb and others should be cautious
Saw Palmetto is another popular ingredient primarily in products that offer to reverse hair loss in men Saw palmetto is known to block the action of a certain male hormone which contributes to male pattern baldness The idea makes sense but as with most supplements the results arent proven Side effects of saw palmetto may include upset stomach and decreased sexual desire
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein Because protein is important for healthy hair some hair vitamins contain amino acids However the typical American diet provides all the protein we need Its doubtful that the extra amino acids in the vitamin pills will make a difference On the other hand there arent any scientific studies looking at amino acid supplements and the health of hair so its really up to the consumer whether to give them a try
The safety of each product depends on whats in it and how its used as well as on the medical history and general health of the person taking it Its possible to overdose on some vitamins and minerals Supplements may also interact with other medications youre taking Its always smart to check with your health care provider before starting any supplement
In addition to special shampoos conditioners and treatments you can now buy hair vitamins The makers of these pills and tablets claim that they will make your hair grow faster look healthier and resist breakage better than before Whats in these products Where can you find them And whats the science behind the claims
Most vitamins simply offer healthier hair while some are targeted at specific hair problems You can find products for
General hair health
Hair loss
Greying hair
Slowgrowing hair
Some preparations are simply multivitamin tablets Others are essentially herbal supplements Some include a secret ingredient usually a scientificsounding formula that the company does not specifically define
There are many different products available on the internet Your hair stylist may also have suggestions
Its hard to say if hair vitamins really do any good Certainly the manufacturers advertising material is full of testimonials from satisfied customers But theres no way to tell how many people tried the product without success or even if the testimonials are real
There is good medical evidence supporting the idea that protein deficiency can damage hair but Americans particularly those who can afford luxuries like hair vitamins rarely experience the severe malnutrition that would lead to problems Vitamin deficiencies can also cause brittle unhealthylooking hair or even hair loss These effects have mostly been studied in people with severe deficiencies related to illness or poor nutrition not in healthy people who eat a balanced diet
On the other hand there is very little scientific evidence concerning slight vitamin deficiencies and the appearance of hair People who dont eat properly may well benefit from supplements So might vegetarians and vegans because some nutrients are obtained more efficiently from animal products than from plants We know that BVitamins including Biotin and Vitamin B12 Vitamin C Copper Zinc and other nutrients are important to the development and growth of hair Will taking extra doses of these vitamins and minerals help your hair It might Theres no good evidence either way
Some pharmaceutical companies claim that anemia causes hair loss Anemia is a decrease in red blood cells often related to iron deficiency Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body delivering it to tissues including your scalp and hair follicles
There may be something to the vitamin manufacturers claim Several scientific studies have linked hair loss and iron deficiency The evidence isnt perfect however other studies failed to find a connection But its strong enough that many doctors check patients iron levels when evaluating hair loss
How does iron deficiency cause hair problems Some hair vitamin companies claim that lack of iron actually suffocates your scalp that when youre anemic your blood cant deliver enough oxygen to keep your hair healthy Other researchers think low iron may interfere with DNA production Hair follicle cells reproduce very quickly and they use iron in the process If theres not enough iron the cells may not be able to make healthy hair
Check with your doctor before starting supplements containing iron to find out if you really need them and if theyre safe for you
Some hair supplements contain exoticsounding herbs often with Asian names He Shou Wu derived from the plant polygonum multiflorum is traditionally thought to reverse graying hair and promote hair growth In fact the herb does have some antioxidant properties as do some of the more familiar vitamins Whether it really makes hair healthier isnt known He Shou Wu has been known to cause liver inflammation so people with liver problems probably shouldnt take this herb and others should be cautious
Saw Palmetto is another popular ingredient primarily in products that offer to reverse hair loss in men Saw palmetto is known to block the action of a certain male hormone which contributes to male pattern baldness The idea makes sense but as with most supplements the results arent proven Side effects of saw palmetto may include upset stomach and decreased sexual desire
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein Because protein is important for healthy hair some hair vitamins contain amino acids However the typical American diet provides all the protein we need Its doubtful that the extra amino acids in the vitamin pills will make a difference On the other hand there arent any scientific studies looking at amino acid supplements and the health of hair so its really up to the consumer whether to give them a try
The safety of each product depends on whats in it and how its used as well as on the medical history and general health of the person taking it Its possible to overdose on some vitamins and minerals Supplements may also interact with other medications youre taking Its always smart to check with your health care provider before starting any supplement
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