If more and more hair remains in the brush every day, not only women become really desperate – men become quite worried too. Gorgeous and at the same time thick hair is important not only for appearance, but also for self-esteem. Even though there are many remedies that can effectively combat hair loss, they only work as long as they are taken – and do not help everyone. The first thing to find out is what causes hair loss: is it due to heredity or hormonal disorders? Is it due to stress, an illness or poor nutrition? Whoever loses hair in worrying amounts often suffers from a lack of zinc. Here you can find out why zinc for hair is so important and what you should do if you are suffering from a zinc deficiency.
Zinc for hair loss?
Zinc is a metal and is needed by the body in more than 300 enzymes. Without sufficient zinc, our carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism would not work, as would numerous other bodily functions. The body contains about two to four grams of this trace element, of which around 70 percent is found in the hair, skin and bones. Unfortunately, your body cannot store the zinc. Therefore, it must be ingested daily through food or supplements. Zinc can be found in both animal-based foods and dairy products. The same applies to whole grains. Hair needs zinc for growth: collagen and keratin cannot be formed without sufficient zinc. If the trace element is missing, the hair follicles in which the hair roots are located cannot work properly.
These are the symptoms of zinc deficiency
If there is too little zinc in the body and you do not get enough zinc with your food intake, important processes in the body can be disrupted. Zinc is responsible for the functioning of hormones, which include insulin, thyroid, growth and sex hormones, but also for metabolism, cell growth and the immune system. The World Health Organization (WHO) has found that around half of people suffer from zinc deficiency. This is because modern diets are often relatively low in zinc. If zinc is missing, the following symptoms for skin and hair can occur:
- The skin becomes dry and flaky.
- Wounds on the skin take a long time to heal.
- Eczema, acne, psoriasis or skin fungi can occur.
- The fingernails get white spots and become brittle.
- The hair becomes thin, brittle and falls out.
A lack of zinc can increase hair loss
Zinc ensures the health of the scalp: here are the hair follicles from which the hair grows. If your body is supplied with sufficient zinc, your hair roots get everything they need for hair growth and the hair can grow healthy. On the other hand, if there is a zinc deficiency, stress, poor nutrition or diseases can lead to diffuse hair loss more quickly. If there is enough zinc in the body, it protects the hair roots.
If zinc is missing, an attack by the body’s immune system on the sensitive hair roots can lead to circular hair loss. The androgenetic alopecia, which is hereditary and is therefore more difficult to prevent, can also be exacerbated by zinc deficiency. The male hormone testosterone and its product dihydrotestosterone (DHT) are primarily responsible for this hair loss. If your body is supplied with sufficient zinc, it inhibits the conversion of testosterone to DHT and protects the hair roots.
Your way of life is crucial
If you eat a healthy and varied diet, you will meet your daily zinc requirements. The WHO states that 10 milligrams a day for men and 7 milligrams a day for women are sufficient. Growing children and adolescents need a little more zinc, the same applies to pregnant and lactating women. If the small intestine cannot absorb the zinc well due to diseases such as celiac disease or Crohn’s disease, there is a zinc deficiency. The same applies if you eat fast food and drink too much Coca Cola or Pepsi. Zinc deficiency in the body is accelerated if you drink alcohol regularly, especially if it is more than 12 grams of alcohol a day in women or 24 grams in men.
This helps against zinc deficiency
Many foods are high in zinc. These include oysters, nuts, wheat germ and muscle meat. There is also a lot of zinc in sunflower and pumpkin seeds. However, you might not want to eat oysters or muscle meat everyday. So, adding a zinc supplement to your daily diet plan is a good idea. Not only does zinc help against hair loss, it is also a great immune system booster.
Personally I really like the Zinc Lozenges with Rosehip and Acerola from Immune Defence because I do not like to swallow capsules and the lozenges taste really good. It’s more like having a sweet treat every day that you are actually looking forward to. I take 3 per day (one with each meal), as a woman you only need 2 per day as each lozenge contains 3.5 grams of zinc. You can buy them here!
Conclusion
Zinc is an often overlooked and underestimated cause of hair loss. If you are suffering from brittle hair, thinning hair, hair breakage or other hair problems, it is likely that you are having a zinc deficiency. Taking a zinc supplement every day ensures that your zinc levels are high enough to strengthen your immune system and improve your hair situation. Did you experience hair loss due to a zinc deficiency? Let us know in the comments below!
