It is not only hormonal changes that lead to hair loss, but also nutrient deficiency.
By Dawn Flemming
Hair loss is a normal part of life as people age. With age hair lines tend to recede due to hormonal changes. However, not all losses of hair are due to aging and hormonal changes. Sometimes it can be due to stress and depression.
Hair loss can also be due to nutritional deficiencies. One B vitamin in particular, biotin, has been associated with hair loss when deficient.
One study found the following:
Biotin deficiency was found in 38% of women complaining of hair loss. Of those showing diffuse telogen effluvium in trichograms (24%), 35% had evidence of associated seborrheic-like dermatitis. About 11% of patients with biotin deficiency had a positive personal history for risk factors for biotin deficiency. The custom of treating women complaining of hair loss in an indiscriminate manner with oral biotin supplementation is to be rejected, unless biotin deficiency and its significance for the complaint of hair loss in an individual has been demonstrated on the basis of a careful patient history, clinical examination, determination of serum biotin levels, and exclusion of alternative factors responsible for hair loss.
That’s nearly 40% of women who complain about hair loss are biotin deficient! Biotin deficiency can come from a diet that is low in dietary protein from animal sources. This is why eggs are not just good for your skin for their collagen, but it’s also an excellent source of biotin for your hair and nails.
If you are experiencing hair loss, it is important that you have a thorough examination to discount any other factor that may be causing abnormal hair loss.
Dawn Flemming is Director of Business Services at Geriatric In-Home Care in Fresno, California.
