Diet and hair loss: effects of nutrient deficiency and supplement use

Diet and hair loss: effects of nutrient deficiency and supplement use

Authors

  • Emily L. Guo Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
  • Rajani Katta Department of Dermatology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA

Keywords:

hair loss, alopecia, diet, nutrition, supplementation

Abstract

Patients presenting with hair loss should be screened by medical history, dietary history and physical exam for risk factors for nutrient deficiency. If warranted, laboratory studies may be performed. In patients with no risk factors, further laboratory evaluation searching for nutritional deficiencies is not warranted. For patients with nutritional deficiencies, it is clear that those deficiencies should be corrected. Further research is required to determine whether any benefit exists for nutrient supplementation in the absence of documented deficiency. At this time, patients must be informed that such research is lacking and that in fact some supplements carry the risk of worsening hair loss or the risk of toxicity.

Author Biography

Rajani Katta, Department of Dermatology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA

Department of Dermatology

Downloads

Published

2017-01-31

Issue

Section

Review

How to Cite

1.
Diet and hair loss: effects of nutrient deficiency and supplement use. Dermatol Pract Concept [Internet]. 2017 Jan. 31 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];:1-10. Available from: https://dpcj.org/index.php/dpc/article/view/dermatol-pract-concept-articleid-dp0701a01