Vitamin D Supplements: Vitamin D Deficiency Causes Hair Loss

Written by the UPGUYS Editorial Team

Published on March 29, 2022

Did you know that 1 billion people around the world are vitamin D deficient? Many people fail to get their recommended daily dose of Vitamin D, even if they take supplements.

Interestingly, many people who have a vitamin D deficiency also have hair loss, which could mean a possible link between the two. 

So, does vitamin D deficiency cause hair loss? Let's check out the answer in this helpful guide!

Table of Contents

If you're looking for specific information, you can use our table of contents to find what you're looking for. Select one of these topics and learn whether Vitamin D Deficiency will cause hair loss!

1. What Is Vitamin D and How Is It Related to Hair?
2. Does Vitamin D Deficiency Cause Hair Loss?
3. What Are the Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency?
4. How to Treat Vitamin D Deficiency
5. Final Words: How to Prevent Vitamin D Deficiency

What Is Vitamin D and How Is It Related to Hair?

To fully understand the link between Vitamin D and hair loss, it's essential to talk about what Vitamin D is and how it works. Vitamin D is a nutrient that our skin metabolizes through keratinocytes, which also process keratin proteins in hair, skin, and nails. 

We need about 600–800 IU of daily vitamin D. We can get that by eating certain foods and maintaining a healthy diet. 

It's important to note that it's difficult for us to get enough vitamin D through diet alone. As such, many people choose to eat fortified foods or take supplements. 

A few of the ways that we can get vitamin D and avoid low vitamin D and hair loss include: 

1. Spending time in the sunlight
2. Eating fatty fish
3. Eating mushrooms
4. Consuming egg yolks
5. Eating fortified foods
6. Taking supplements
7. Sitting near a UV lamp

The trick to making sure you get enough vitamin D is to find a method that works for you. If you're still struggling to get enough vitamin D, you can ask your doctor for more recommendations. 

Does Vitamin D Deficiency Cause Hair Loss?

When the body doesn't have sufficient levels of vitamin D, it's hard for keratinocytes in the hair follicles to keep growing and shedding. That can result in vitamin D hair loss. 

To take things one step further, vitamin D deficiency hair loss has been associated with: 

1. Alopecia areata
2. Thinning hair in men and women
3. Female pattern hair loss
4. Excess hair shedding

If you're struggling with any of these issues, there's a chance that a vitamin D deficiency is to blame. In other words, yes, low vitamin D levels and hair loss have a strong relationship, and low vitamin D can cause hair loss. 

Excess Vitamin D and Hair Loss

When looking at vitamin D deficiency and hair loss, it's important to talk about whether taking too much vitamin D can also lead to hair loss. The fact is, if you take too much vitamin D, you may also experience hair loss.

The reason this happens is that your body can experience vitamin D toxicity. This is a buildup of calcium in the blood, which can cause a whole slew of side effects, including, you guessed it, hair loss. 

Other symptoms of vitamin D toxicity include: 

1. Weakness
2. Frequent urination
3. Nausea
4. Vomiting
5. Bone pain
6. Calcium stones

If you experience any of these symptoms, be sure to speak to your doctor right away. 

What Are the Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency?

If you suspect you have a vitamin D deficiency, there are a few symptoms to be on the lookout for. 

For one thing, frequent infections and illnesses could be a sign that you have a vitamin D deficiency. Since vitamin D is linked to a strong immune system, you may be more likely to get sick when you don't have enough vitamin D.

On top of that, if you find yourself constantly feeling tired and fatigued, vitamin D could be to blame. Depression and anxiety can go hand-in-hand with vitamin D deficiency and fatigue as well.

Bone pain and bone loss are two other key indicators that you could be dealing with vitamin D deficiency. Plus, hair loss is a symptom of vitamin D deficiency.

Lastly, muscle pain and weight gain are signs that you could have a vitamin D deficiency. Paying attention to these symptoms can help you nip it in the bud early. 

How to Treat Vitamin D Deficiency

If you've got a vitamin D deficiency and are wondering if Vitamin D hair loss regrowth is possible, we've got good news. You can treat hair loss if it's caused by a vitamin D deficiency!

The easiest way to do this is to simply increase your vitamin D intake through supplements. However, to ensure that you're getting the right amount of vitamin D, you might want to speak to a doctor.

Your healthcare provider will be able to get you the right dosage of vitamin D. That way, you can make sure that you really are consuming the correct amount of the nutrient. 

If you don't want to take supplements, you can focus on obtaining more vitamin D through your diet. Look for fortified foods and foods rich in vitamin D to help you get the recommended daily dose and make your vitamin D hair loss reversible. 

Final Words: How to Prevent Vitamin D Deficiency

Now that you know the answer to the link between vitamin D deficiency and hair loss, you're better equipped to start treating hair loss issues in yourself. By getting your vitamin D levels back on track, you might be able to get rid of hair loss for good.