Genetics may determine your hair type, but diet and lifestyle have everything to do with the health of your hair. If you aren’t nourishing your body with the right vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fats, your hair could suffer — and, yes, it could shed and appear thinner. If you fear your hair is thinning out and you’re not sure why, the first thing to do is make an appointment with your doctor and rule out health conditions. If all else checks out and the culprit could be your diet, ask about these three supplements for thinning hair, which dermatologist agree are incredibly important.
A quality multivitamin provides a well-rounded balance of key nutrients you may not be getting enough of in your diet — including zinc, protein, and iron, all of which are needed for hair growth and health. If you think your diet isn’t providing sufficent nutrients, start here: with a great daily multivitamin that doesn’t contain fillers or artificial dyes or ingredients.
Biotin is one of the most important nutrients for hair health and growth. This water soluble vitamin is part of the vitamin B family and helps convert nutrients into energy. Without enough biotin, you can experience hair loss, dry scalp and skin, brittle nails, and even depression. But here’s the thing to keep in mind before you run out and down a bottle of biotin: you shouldn’t take too much of any supplement and trying to treat thinning hair with biotin only works if you have a biotin defiency. Incorporating biotin into your supplement regimen when you’re already getting enough biotin through your diet will not make you hair grow faster or longer.
Like biotin, a lack of vitamin D is associated with health problems that include hair loss, fatigue, and depression. The problem, particularly if you are a vegetarian or vegan, is that many foods with vitamin D are dervied from animal sources (including eggs, cheese, milk, and tuna). If you sense you may be lacking this vitamin in your diet, ask your doctor for blood work so that you can determine where you are deficient before relying on this supplement.
