The Relationship between Zinc and Hair Loss

If you are going through them yourself, various sources may tell you that zinc supplements can fix your hair loss, but then again, numerous controversies have been coming out saying that zinc tablets can also trigger hair loss. What's the real deal then?

Zinc Facts

Before anything else, here are some facts about zinc that you should know. First, zinc is a trace mineral that is found in the body. It plays a vital part in many bodily processes and functions such as in cell reproduction, hormonal balance, proper absorption of vitamins, and in protein synthesis. All these processes are vital for proper hair growth such that an adequate amount of this mineral is needed to prevent hair thinning and loss.

Causes of Hair Loss

You must know that a certain amount of hair loss everyday is normal. We usually shed off about 50 to a hundred hair each day, and this should not be a cause of alarm since it will not necessarily lead to permanent hair loss. This shedding is equivalent to the number of hair that grows. But, if you happen to shed more than average, you may want to find out what causes this shedding. Hair loss can be caused by various reasons such as hormones, genetics, poor diet and nutrition, age, radiation or chemotherapy treatment, stress, infections, chemicals, rapid weight loss, or other diseases. The most common cause of hair loss is poor nutrition.

Zinc and Hair Loss

Deficiency in zinc can contribute a lot to hair shedding because without zinc and other related minerals, you hair shafts get weakened, causing hair breakage and very slow hair regrowth. Zinc benefits for hair include promotion of cell reproduction, tissue growth and repair of broken tissues. It also maintains the oil-secreting glands that are attached to your hair follicles, thus decreasing their chances of falling off.

Zinc Hair Treatment

There are various zinc supplements now available in the market. They are usually used to counter zinc deficiencies, but one of the secondary uses of zinc supplement is to fight hair thinning and hair loss. Usually, zinc gluconate at a dose level of 50 or 60 milligrams per day for two weeks is recommended. Other forms of zinc supplements are zinc oxide, zinc chloride and zinc sulfate.

Zinc Selenium Hair Loss Treatment

Aside from zinc, the mineral selenium is also associated with hair loss. Selenium, along with zinc, can help your body properly utilize proteins and hormones to produce more hair. It has also been found that vitamin A , C, E and vitamin B6 aid these two minerals in promoting hair regrowth.

Excess Zinc and Hair Loss

Well, there is a certain truth in the studies that claim that zinc can also trigger hair loss. BUT! Hair loss can only be triggered by too much zinc in the body. The recommended daily amount of zinc is only about 11 milligrams. To counter hair loss, a dosage of 60 milligrams is effective. Taking too much or taking zinc supplements longer than recommended (more than three or four weeks) would do more harm than good to your hair. This is very probable because too much zinc in the body can hinder the absorption of other minerals such as copper, iron, magnesium and manganese, all of which may also take part in maintaining healthy hair. For instance, copper helps in forming blood vessels so that lack of it may be detrimental to the scalp and may limit the growth of your hair. In summary, there is a close knit relationship between zinc and hair loss. The bottom line is that too much zinc in your body would cause hair loss, but too much of it and you lose hair, as well. Thus, for safety and better results, take them only as prescribed.

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