Zinc Deficiency Causes Hair Loss. Know Why!

Many external and internal factors can cause hair fall and baldness, one factor being zinc. Continue with the blog to learn more about hair loss due to this micronutrient called zinc.

Zinc is one of the trace elements that is required by our body in small amounts for proper growth. Zinc helps carry out a lot of biological processes, including proper functioning of the immune system, DNA and RNA synthesis, protein synthesis, production of hormones, absorption of vitamins and minerals and cell repair and growth. When the amount of zinc in the body reduces, vitamin A and D deficiency rise side by side.

Below are the benefits of zinc for hair loss:

Hair Growth
Promote hair growth by facilitating hair follicle cell division and reducing the activity of the DHT hormone that halts growth.

Enhance Immune System
The immune system is enhanced to the optimum by zinc.

Helps in Cell Division
RNA and DNA synthesis are possible due to zinc, which facilitates hair follicle cell division leading to growth.

Promote Wound Healing
Cell division properties in zinc promote the growth of cells and heal the wound.

Proper Growth and Development
The small quantities of the nutrient facilitate proper growth of the body.

Zinc is available in a lot of dietary sources, and thus frank deficiency is not commonly seen. But alcoholics, pregnant women, and people with sickle cell anaemia or gastrointestinal diseases may show zinc deficiency or low levels of zinc. Following are some signs which suggest low levels of zinc –

Loss of Appetite
You feel like you are full, and your interest in having a meal reduces.

Poor Immune System
The immune system gets highly affected as zinc plays a vital role in maintaining it.

Hair Loss
Due to improper maintenance and production of hormones, hair loss occurs.

Night Blindness
Due to zinc deficiency, vitamin A and D deficiency also transpire, leading to night blindness.

Delayed Growth
As the trace element is not sufficiently supplied, the growth gets delayed.

Zinc works as a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor which inhibits the action of DHT or dihydrotestosterone. DHT is an androgen hormone present in both males and females, the action of which can cause pattern hair loss. Zinc is also responsible for the proper functioning of the immune system, and deficiency of which can also cause alopecia areata, which is an autoimmune disorder.

Zinc can alter the progression of telogen effluvium, alopecia areata and pattern baldness. Below are the ways to treat zinc deficiency and hair loss.

Diet Containing Zinc

A diet containing red meat, poultry, liver, prawns, egg yolks, soy products and wheat is rich in zinc and can help in restoring zinc levels and treating zinc hair loss.

Zinc Supplements

Consumption of 8-11mg of the nutrient in the form of a supplement can help prevent hair loss.

Medications

Minoxidil and finasteride are common medications prescribed for hair loss and thus can also help in hair loss due to zinc deficiency.

If you are suffering from excessive hair loss, then book an appointment with an expert dermatologist at your earliest. A dermatologist can help you find the exact cause of your hair loss and guide you towards proper management.