Many women consider their hair to be their “crowning glory”. A bad hair day means a bad day, period. If their hair doesn’t look good, they can’t feel good about themselves. While this may seem shallow to some, to others, that is just the way it is. Their self esteem is tied directly to their looks. Can you imagine how this person feels when they realize that their hair is getting thinner every day?
Hair loss in women is not as common, or as commonly discussed, as men’s hair loss, but it still affects a large number of women. It can have several causes: the natural aging process, genetic conditions or a medical condition. Just as there are numerous causes for hair loss in women, there are a variety of ways to treat it. One of the easiest things to try first is to change your diet.
B Vitamins and Hair Growth
A diet that consists of high protein, low carbohydrates and a lowered fat content is as good for your hair as it is for your overall health. Samantha Heller, MS, RD, an NYU Medical Center nutritionist believes that a lack of omega 3 fatty acids, plus low iron, can lead to an anemic condition that reduces red blood cells and is often a cause of women’s hair loss. She says that adding iron rich foods like broccoli or brewer’s yeast, plus good fats like walnuts, fish, soy and canola oil, can lead to healthier hair, and in some cases even reverse hair loss.
Dermatologist Ted Daly, MD, also adds that the best hair growth vitamins include B12 and other B vitamins. Foods that are naturally high in vitamin B12 include meat, poultry, and eggs. Other B vitamins, like Biotin, are also essential for healthy hair. In fact, Biotin is often prescribed in addition to name brand hair loss treatments such as Propecia and Rogaine.
Biotin For Hair
Biotin is also found in liver and eggs but in such small amounts that it isn’t practical to try to eat enough to get the amount of Biotin that can make a difference in your hair’s health. Daly recommends up to 3 mg per day for his patients with hair loss. Others recommend no more than 2 mg daily.
Other Supplements To Aid In Hair Health
Zinc is sometimes recommended because it has been shown to affect your androgens, which can be part of the reason for genetic hair loss. But if you take zinc, you have to also take the proper amount of copper to balance it out. If you take too much zinc, it can cause a copper deficiency that will result in even more hair loss, so this is best done under medical supervision.
Do Hair Care Products Cause Hair Loss?
The short answer is NO. Daly says that scalp inflamation is possible from some permanents and dyes, which in turn can cause hair loss, but these cases are very rare. The common sense approach is to take care of your hair, whether you suffer from hair loss or not. Daily use of a very hot blow dryer and frequent use of permanent solutions and hair dye will leave you with dry, brittle hair that breaks easily and appears thinner, even though there is no medical or genetic reason for hair loss.
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