Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss?

Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss?

Author

Hairy Hair

Verified by

Matthew Payne

Published on

May 29, 2025

Est. Reading Time

12 mins

There are many reasons for hair loss. They include pattern loss of hair, stress, and over styling of hair. Lack of vitamins is another cause of hair loss. You are perhaps curious as to the sort of vitamin deficiency that will result in baldness. There are several nutrients by which you may be deprived leading to this.

If you’re not getting enough nutrients, you can experience medical side effects that include hair loss. This can be particularly troublesome if you’re already prone to hair loss through genetics or aging. 

Here, we’ll explore some of the most common vitamin deficiencies and what you can do to tackle them. We’ll also show you how Hairy Hair may help you fight your hair loss on your terms. 

 

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Can an iron deficiency cause hair loss?

Iron deficiency can lead to several issues. One of these is anemia, which happens when the body cannot make enough red blood cells. It is the most common nutrient deficiency in the world, and it can lead to hair loss. 

It can be hard to know if iron deficiency is causing your hair loss. It may look like pattern balding. Some people are more likely to have an iron deficiency. This includes vegetarians and vegans. Women with heavy periods and those with celiac disease are also at a higher risk of iron deficiency.

Vegetarians and vegans do not absorb heme iron from fish and meat. However, they can use non-heme iron from plants. Women with heavy or long periods are more likely to have iron deficiency. This is because blood loss can lower iron levels in the body. 

Nutrients may not be absorbed properly from food if you have celiac disease. Your iron levels should be measured with a blood test if you’re concerned about having a nutrient deficiency. You can risk getting iron deficiency anemia if your iron levels stay low for a long time..

You might need to take a supplement if you can’t lower your iron level through diet alone. You should consult with a health specialist before you start taking a supplement. Excessive consumption of iron supplements leads to stomach cramps and nausea. It can even lead to organ damage.

If your iron deficiency is serious, a doctor may prescribe a stronger supplement. This will work better than a regular multivitamin.

Can a zinc deficiency cause hair loss?

Zinc helps keep your immune system healthy. It also promotes wound healing and supports your sense of taste and smell. Not getting enough zinc can result in telogen effluvium. This is a type of hair loss that is caused by severe trauma, illness, and extreme stress. 

Since your body puts you in a state of stress, it might cause sudden hair loss on your scalp. When the normal hair growth cycle is interrupted, more hairs fall off than are growing. This is known as telogen effluvium. You will usually notice it because more hair appears to fall from your pillow or clogs up your shower drain.

Some people are more likely to have a zinc deficiency. This list includes:

  • Vegetarians
  • People with inflammatory bowel disease
  • Pregnant women
  • Alcoholics
  • Gastric bypass patients
  • Those with liver disease
  • Those with kidney disease

Vegetarians have fewer foods that provide zinc compared to meat eaters. Inflammatory bowel disease can also prevent the body from absorbing nutrients from food. Even though studies show that zinc supplements can help with low levels, you should talk to a doctor first. This will keep you safe and ensure they don’t interact with any medications you are taking.

 

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Is hair loss caused by vitamin D deficiency?

Vitamin D is a supplement that will do its part to make the bones healthier, muscles work better, and the immune system healthier. It will work best if we obtain it through sun exposure, but based on where you are, you may not receive enough daily doses for healthy levels.

Some foods will contribute to an elevated level of vitamin D in your body, such as oily fish and some mushrooms. Vitamin D deficiency will have some effect on hair loss, but more research needs to be done to establish how they are related.

Others are more likely to be low like those who don’t go out enough, expose enough of their body to the sun or have darker skin. This is because melanated skin takes longer to produce vitamin D. Vitamin D tablets are normally prescribed daily during darker periods like autumn and winter on a low dose of 10 micrograms.

Can a biotin deficiency cause hair loss?

Biotin is needed to maintain healthy skin and hair and is ranked among the top hair vitamins.  Biotin, or vitamin B7, is also an enzyme that produces keratin, a protein that creates the nucleus in nails and hair.

Insufficient biotin can lead to alopecia, i.e., hair thinning and loss on the scalp and elsewhere on the body, depending on whether it is androgenetic or non-androgenetic alopecia. Biotin deficiencies are rare because gut bacteria normally produce sufficient biotin for optimal performance. Supplementing biotin in your diet, however, can cause hair shafts to be stronger, and hair will no longer break.

How can Hairy Hair help with my hair loss?

If your hair loss is due to an illness, then Hairy Hair provides one pill a day that may help fight your shedding and restore your confidence.

This combination of the ingredients acts to perhaps stimulate hair regrowth and help tackle different reasons for baldness to give your hair the possible regrowing capabilities. Your scalp can now absorb more oxygen and nutrients, as well as slow down the formation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is the hormone that brings about the shrinkage of the hair follicles and leads to hair loss.

It’s best to initiate thinking about the treatment of baldness at its initial stages. With a tailor-made treatment protocol, our specialists can create medication that suits you without causing too much change to your daily life.

The impact of vitamins on hair loss

Low levels of nutrients will cause hair loss if you lack a balanced diet. Some of these include iron, zinc, vitamin D, and biotin. A supplement will restore low levels of these nutrients, or even just eating a balanced diet. If this is the cause of your hair loss, hair growth can be regained over time after the deficiency has been treated.

While vitamin deficiencies can be difficult to detect, a blood test can usually reveal if there are any issues in your nutrient levels. For some, though, a vitamin deficiency will only work to worsen hair loss that stems from genetics or aging. If you’re struggling with your hair loss and want a convenient and discreet treatment option, contact Hairy Hair today. 

After you answer a quick online questionnaire, we’ll check through your information and set up an individualised treatment program based on your hair loss. An accredited Australian GP will contact you to clear up any queries and assist you with taking your medication.

Then, just sit back and wait for your prescription to be delivered right to your doorstep. Without having to go to the clinic, you can have your hair loss treatment sorted out from home.

 

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