Does Vitamin A Cause Hair Loss?

Is Vitamin A really the best hair-care defense against hair loss and breakage? As we age, hair becomes much more prone to loss, thinning, and breakage. Understanding which essential vitamins and minerals your body and hair need is the first step to enjoying thick and healthy hair at any age. For women over 40, vitamin deficiencies can be a key element in hair loss. What are the best vitamins and minerals for hair loss in women over 40?

With the list of vitamins and their many benefits as long as a phone book, it can be tough to know which are safe to use on our hair and skin. Better Not Younger is a brand that believes in sharing each and every ingredient in their products, with a list of vitamins and other natural ingredients being easily accessible on each product page.

It’s important to look for hair-care products that focus on the unique needs of aging hair, providing essential nutrients and vitamins to promote thicker, stronger locks. The root of hair care begins with quality hair-care products rich in vitamins and natural ingredients that will show our hair the love it deserves. Maintaining good overall health is important for optimal hair growth.

Here we take a look at some of the benefits of Vitamin A, and how it can help your hair health over time. Keep reading to find out about the best hair-care products for stronger, shinier, and healthier hair.

Vitamin Deficiency and Hair Loss in Women Over 40

There are many factors that can contribute to hair loss in women over 40. For example, hair loss can be triggered by symptoms related to age, genetics, and hormones. In particular, menopause can cause hormones that affect hair growth as well as the overall look and vitality of hair. This is all a very normal part of aging.

Most causes of hair loss, however, are within our control. Vitamin deficiency is also a major cause of hair loss in women over 40. Focusing on taking care of our bodies through proper diet, nutrition, and vitamin intake can help foster stronger, healthier hair. When we are lacking certain nutrients, our bodies respond, sometimes causing effects such as hair loss, hair thinning, and breakage.

Although aging is a natural and beautiful part of life, many people relate strong, thick looking hair to beauty and health. To achieve this at any age we have to pay attention to our vitamin intake and our overall health. Just like our bones, skin, eyes, and heart, our hair is reliant on what we put into and on our bodies. That means that the best hair-care products for hair loss are those  that contain the right vitamins and nutrients that our bodies need in order to thrive.

Best Vitamins & Nutrients to fight Hair Loss

Besides caring for your overall health, there are certain vitamins to look for in hair-care products that can help reduce hair loss and increase hair health over time. Vitamin A is your best friend when it comes to stronger and healthier hair. Biotin, Iron, Zinc, Vitamin E, Protein, and Vitamin D also contain many benefits for combatting hair loss.

• Vitamin A - The body’s cells require a sufficient stock of Vitamin A in order to grow. This of course includes the skin cells that form hair follicles. Vitamin A helps the skin produce an oil called sebum which is the substance that keeps the scalp moisturized and healthy, allowing hair to grow. Your body needs Vitamin A for healthy hair.
• Biotin - A B-Vitamin, Biotin is vital for hair health and studies have linked biotin deficiency to hair loss. Luckily, Biotin is easy to come by and can be found in many whole grain foods, meat, fish, and dark leafy greens. 
• Iron - This heavy-duty vitamin is important for many functions of the body such as helping red blood cells carry oxygen to cells. When experiencing an Iron deficiency, this may affect the health of hair follicles, resulting in progressively thinner hair. Iron deficiency is also extremely common for women who menstruate. Foods that contain iron are red meats, seafood, and beans.
• Zinc - When the body is lacking Zinc, hair loss is often a symptom of this deficiency. Zinc is an important nutrient in the wellbeing of skin and keeps oil glands working properly. This means that if you’re lacking zinc, your hair follicles may not be working as well as they could be, causing slower growth and hair loss. Zinc is found in many common foods such as oysters, beef, spinach, and lentils. For hair care, be on the lookout for products containing Kelp Extract - an ingredient rich in minerals including Zinc - such as Better Not Younger’s Fortifying Hair and Scalp Serum.
• Vitamin D - Alopecia, the medical term for hair loss, is often linked to low levels of Vitamin D. Some research shows that Vitamin D can even help create new hair follicles, resulting in thicker hair. Bodies produce Vitamin D through contact with sun rays. So, for indoorsy types, it’s important to supplement Vitamin D through fatty fishes and oils, egg yolks, and red meats.
• Vitamin E - Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant in the body and can help prevent oxidative stress. A study by the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Malaysia concluded that in people with hair loss, there was an increase of 34.5% in hair growth after introducing a Vitamin E supplement. Natural foods that contain Vitamin E are sunflower seeds, almonds, spinach, and avocados.
• Protein - Consuming enough protein is essential for hair growth because hair is made almost entirely of protein. At the discretion of their physician, some vegetarians and vegans may opt to take supplements to combat protein deficiency.

Being conscious about which vitamins and nutrients are included in the things that you consume can make all the difference in the appearance of hair - and combat the vitamin deficiencies that cause hair loss.

The Benefits of Vitamin A for your Hair

The body needs Vitamin A, period! Your body’s cells require Vitamin A for growth. Since hair is actually the fastest growing tissue in the body, it needs a lot of help from vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to do so.

• Sebum - Vitamin A helps skin glands to create a substance known as sebum. Sebum allows the skin and follicles to remain hydrated and moisturized. As we know, abundant and healthy follicles are necessary for producing hair strands. The more healthy follicles, the thicker and more luscious your hair will be!
• Oily / Moisture - Oil on your scalp and hair is a good thing! Many shampoos and products aim to strip away these natural oils. However, the oil produced at your follicles and glands is required for healthy hair growth. Without it, your hair will become dry, brittle, and over time breakage may occur causing hair to appear thin and lifeless. Keep that hydration coming!

There are plenty of reasons to ensure you’re consuming enough vitamin A! The good news is that Vitamin A is found in many foods that are probably already present in your regular diet. Vitamin A can be found in sweet potatoes, fish, carrots, pumpkins and squash, spinach, and kale. These foods are high in beta-carotene which the body converts into Vitamin A. Other good sources of Vitamin A include animal by-products such as milk, eggs, and yogurt.

As for your scalp, you may have heard the old myth of rubbing egg yolks into your hair for that movie-star worthy shine. Believe it or not, there’s some truth to this sticky trend. Eggs contain Vitamin A which aids in hair health, and the natural oil from the yolks can have a moisturizing effect. To save the mess, however, vitamin gummies such as Better Not Younger’s Significant Other Hair, Skin & Nails Supplement are a great option to supplement those much-needed nutrients for hair health and wellness.

Significant Other Hair, Skin & Nails Supplement contain:

• Vitamin A (Retinyl Acetate)
• Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
• Vitamin D3
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin B6
• Folic Acid
• Vitamin B12
• Biotin

Visit the Better Not Younger product page for a full list of ingredients and an easy-to-order check out. These gummies act as that special boost to give your hair the care it needs. The Significant Other dietary supplement strengthen your roots and promote healthy hair along with unbeatable shine.

Does Vitamin A Cause Hair Loss?

Although Vitamin A is one of the key players for hair growth and overall health, too much of one thing (even a good thing), is never good! Just ask someone who’s eaten too many carrots.

Some studies show that an overdose of Vitamin A can cause negative effects, one being an onset of alopecia. Likewise, Vitamin A toxicity can occur after very high doses of Vitamin A. Signs of this include rash, abdominal pain, headache, and vomiting.

An overdose of Vitamin A usually happens when large amounts are ingested accidentally (such as kids getting into the vitamin cabinet), and aren’t common. It’s always a good idea to consult with your physician before consuming supplements if you think they may be the right choice for you. However, the risk of getting too much Vitamin A is quite low as supplements and products containing Vitamin A, normally, do not contain a large enough dosage to cause any negative effects.

The Best Products for introducing Vitamin A to Hair Health

Being aware of what you’re consuming goes across the board. Meaning, it doesn’t only have to do with what’s in your fridge. The products you put onto your skin and scalp also enter into your body’s system and affect your health and appearance. The saying “You are what you eat” should also mention “You are your Shampoo”!

For hair-care products, look for shampoos and conditioners that contain Vitamin A or other scalp-saving ingredients. Oil is an important factor for healthy scalp and follicles, so look for products that are sulfate-free and work with your hair, instead of stripping your hair of natural oils. For long-term hair health, hydrating shampoos such as Better Not Younger’s Second Chance Low Suds Repairing Shampoo for Dry/Damaged Hair are great for keeping hair looking smooth and moisturized.

The Second Chance shampoo combines your hair’s natural oils with a gentle, low-sud formula that works different from normal shampoos. It’s sulfate-free, paraben free, vegan, cruelty free, and safe for colored and chemically-treated hair. It also contains plenty of nutrient-rich ingredients to keep your hair happy and healthy:

• Betula Alba (Birch) Bark Extract – Promotes metabolic activity; rich in Vitamins B1, B2, A, C, E.
• Rice Bran Oil – Rich in amino acids, and protein; can help strengthen hair shaft against environment stress while providing body to the hair.
• Passiflora Incarnata (Passion Flower) Fruit Extract – Rich in Vitamin A, C , linoleic acid and omega -6fatty acids; can slow damage by free radicals, enrich the scalp and provide shine to hair.
• Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil – Rich in natural phenols; can help support hair follicle health and maintain scalp and hair from drying out.

Check out Better Not Younger’s full line of sulfate-free shampoos for hair-care products rich in Vitamin A and other vitamins and nutrients.

When combatting hair loss and thinning in women over 40, the ingredients and vitamins in hair-care products are vital for healthier, thicker, and shinier hair. One of the best vitamins for hair strength is Vitamin A. With so many benefits not only for your body and overall health, but for your scalp, hair follicles, and strands, a Vitamin A rich diet and care routine can help promote hair health.

Don’t let hair loss and thinning determine how you feel about yourself - let your beauty shine through from the inside, out. Avoid stripping your hair of its natural oils and feed it what it’s hungry for - vitamins and minerals that will help your skin and hair stay healthy at any age.