StAnd stress, nutrition and bad habits have consequences on the strength and health of the hair, vitamins can lend an extra hand by making up for some deficiencies. There vitamin D stimulates the functioning of the hair bulb helping the growth, the B12 reduces hair loss, while B1 regulates the life cycle of the stem. How to take them and what are the benefits?
Hair, vitamins and supplements are needed?
«To date there is no clinical study demonstrating the effective positive effect of supplements and vitamins on hair in preventing hair loss or improving problems such as dryness or thickness. It is however true that, in cases of nutritional deficiencies, they can improve its quality» explains the Dr. Andrea Giuseppe Di Stefano, dermatologist at GB Mangioni Hospital in Lecco.
The hair, like the rest of the body, ages and changes. The most evident sign is its change of colour, when the hair starts to turn grey: «The cause is in the reduction of melanin produced by the hair follicles, the epidermal structures that produce and grow hair. With ageing, production decreases causing the hair to turn gray» explains the expert.
When does this phase start? «Tbasically already around the age of 30 hair begins to gray at the temples extending to the top of the scalp, color begins to become lighter to white. But it is true that the process is determined for much of genetics. In these cases, for example, the supplement of vitamins and natural components do not stop or slow down the graying».
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Hair life: what are vitamins for?
Genetics is therefore fundamental in the life of the hair: if their duration is about 2-7 years, the amount of hair that makes up the crown, and more generally the presence of down on the body, are hereditary issues.
Furthermore, some aging processes are natural and normal: «If androgenetic alopecia occurs in men, i.e. baldness starting from the temples and on the top of the head due to testosterone, in women, the feminine one can occur. The hair becomes less dense and the scalp can become visible. As we age, the body and face also lose hair while the remaining facial hair can become coarser and thicker especially on the chin and around the lips.
Does improving your diet and lifestyle help improve your hair too? «Yes, absolutely, although still i natural aging and graying processes do not change. Taking or supplementing the right amount of nutrients, in particular proteins which are the main building block of the hair itself, it helps the hair to keep fitter and to grow».
The vitamins that help to have shiny hair at all ages
The most useful vitamins are those of group B, C and D “whose deficiencies have been linked to hair loss, poor hair growth, and weak hair».
Which ones are they? “There B7which is biotin, the B8, which counteracts the onset of seborrheic dermatitis, the B9 which synthesizes keratin by contrasting hair lossand B12 are fundamental macromolecules for the development of metabolic processes in the production of red blood cells and the energy needed to carry out activities».
Specifically, «B5 acts on the integumentary system so as to keep the hair shiny and prevent it from becoming brittle. While the B12 makes sure to prevent breakage of the stem, therefore the appearance of split ends. Also not to be underestimated is vitamine C which counteracts the formation of free radicals and stimulates cell turnover in the scalp» explains the expert.
Vitamins for hair after 50
After the age of 50, and with the onset of menopause, it can occur further hair loss. «The cause, in addition to stress and genetics, it is also the hormonal change and a lack of nutrients. In this phase, in fact, the level of estrogen decreases to rise instead that of testosterone ».
“Especially at this time in life, it’s important keep vitamin D levels under control: it acts on the proper functioning of the hair follicle, i.e promotes the growth of new hair and above all its thickness, so as to slow down the premature fall.
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