Pale Skin and Hair Fall? It Could Be a Vitamin Deficiency

Summary: Learn how to check your face and hair for vitamin deficiencies in your body.

Is your skin looking pale? Is your hair thinner? It is not just stress, as you may normally think. It is what is going on inside your body that can be seen on your face and skin. The reason for this is that your body is not receiving its required quota of vitamins.
Vitamins are essential for our bodies. The stress-based life we lead, sedentary, not enough sunlight exposure, improper meals, all require us to be fortified with vitamins. Therefore, be mindful of what your skin and face show, as it may be a cry for help from your body, asking for vitamins.

Vitamins and Their Deficiencies

Let us see how these vitamin deficiencies show up on our face and skin:

1) Vitamin A: This is essential for the immune system and keeps the skin cells renewed. It helps to control the production of oil in the body.

Deficiency symptoms: Dry skin, rough skin, acne, flaky and dull skin.

2) Vitamin B-12: This is essential for healthy skin cells. It helps them renew themselves.

Deficiency symptoms: Pale skin, dull skin, somewhat yellow skin, uneven tone, dark patches, poor hair growth, and increased hair fall.

3) Vitamin C: This is essential for the production of collagen that keeps the skin smooth and bouncy. It keeps the glow intact and skin firm.

Deficiency symptoms: Rough skin, tired/fragile skin, dull-looking skin.

4) Vitamin D: The Sunshine vitamin is essential for repairing the skin and maintaining hair cycles.

Deficiency symptoms: Dry and flaky skin, slow-healing wounds, thinning hair, weak hair follicles

5) Vitamin E: This is essential for protecting the scalp from damage and improving blood circulation. Deficiency weakens the hair follicles.

Deficiency symptoms: Deficiency weakens the hair follicles, leading to dry and lifeless hair, hair thinning, and hair loss

6) In addition to the above vitamin deficiencies, if your body lacks certain essential nutrients like iron and zinc, they may show up on your skin and face.

Deficiency symptoms: Pale skin, brittle hair, inflamed or scaly skin, thinning hair

The science

The Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, in a recent review, mentions that nutritional deficiencies, particularly Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, B3, B6, Vitamin C and zinc, can manifest changes in skin.
Research has also found that any changes in the metabolism of our body have an impact on hair and skin health. The reason is that our skin and hair are made of tissues that keep regenerating and require certain essential nutrients for the same. This regeneration includes the production of collagen, cell turnover rate, production of oil or sebum balance, and protection from oxidative damage via antioxidants.

Conclusion

Getting a medical appraisal every six months or at least once a year can show if you have any deficiencies, so you can take corrective steps to rectify them. Eat balanced meals to obtain the required nutritional value from them. Stay adequately hydrated throughout the year. Manage your stress levels and rest and relax. Follow a routine to manage your work-home life. Smile more.

Source: Inputs from various media Sources