Talk To Your Doctor Before Taking Vitamins For Hair

TE (Telogen effluvium) is one of the most common types of hair loss. To understand how and why we lose hair, we have to understand how we grow it. Our hair follicles are not continuously producing more hair. They have a cycle of growing that can last up to two years. Then they have resting cycle that can be as long as two month. The growing stage is called Anagen, and 80-90% of our hair is in the Anagen phase at any one time. The rest of our hair follicles are in the resting phase, which is called Telogen.

Effluvium means outflow. Telogen effluvium means that the number of follicles that are actively producing hair falls during the resting phase, which creates a significant loss of hair, or an 'outflow'.

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When you have TE, your hair will thin all over your scalp. It is not the typical male pattern baldness or even a receding hairline. It will, however, show more at the top than the sides or back of the head.

Total hair loss is rare with TE, although some people do lose much more than others. The loss of hair is usually limited to the head, but severe cases do exist where it has affected pubic areas and eyebrows.

There are numerous conditions that cause TE, but several dermatologists agree that the growing number of people who follow the vegetarian diet and a general reduction in the amount of red meat we consume, has caused a nutritional deficiency that contributes to the problem. Lack of iron is believed to be a major factor, along with low levels of zinc, L-lysine, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and amino acids.

One of the best ways to get these nutrients is to add the foods that are high in them. When this isn’t possible or practical, there are vitamin supplements that can supply the nutrients you need. You do have to be careful with the supplement, though. You can create a toxic level of iron if you take too much. This can also cause hair loss. Another vitamin that can reach toxic levels in your body is Vitamin A, so be sure that you don’t overdo that one, too.

If you decide that you need supplements to help with you hair loss condition, a visit to a doctor or dermatologist will help you figure out exactly which supplements are best hair growth vitamins for you, and the proper doses you need to take.