This article was reviewed by Addie Ganik, MD, FAAD
Losing hair and feeling frustrated? We get it. You’ve probably scoured the internet for solutions and stumbled on products like hair vitamins that come with big promises. But do hair gummies work? Can they really boost new hair growth?
Hair loss can happen for various reasons, from genetics to hormonal changes. If your diet lacks essential nutrients, this can affect hair follicle health and contribute to hair loss.
If you suspect your diet might be to blame for recent thinning, hair gummies packed with hair-friendly nutrients could help support healthier hair.
Below, we dig into the nitty gritty on hair loss gummies.
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What Types of Ingredients Are In Hair Gummies?
Ever wandered down the vitamins and supplements aisle and noticed hair gummies for women? Curious about what’s inside them?
Hair gummies typically contain several vitamins and minerals that support hair health. Let’s take a closer look at some key ingredients.
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B Vitamins
B vitamins, a group of eight essential nutrients, support many bodily functions, including the hair growth cycle.
A deficiency in any of these vitamins can affect your overall health and potentially contribute to hair loss.
A 2018 review highlights a link between hair loss and deficiencies in four B vitamins:
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Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
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Biotin (vitamin B7)
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Folate (vitamin B9)
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Vitamin B12
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Vitamin D
Vitamin D plays a key role in skin and hair health. It helps regulate the immune system and supports the growth of keratinocytes, the primary cells in skin and hair follicles.
Some research suggests that vitamin D receptors may influence the hair growth cycle, potentially by promoting the anagen (growth) phase. However, the exact role of vitamin D in supporting healthy hair growth remains unclear. That said, if you’re lacking in vitamin D, it might be a contributing factor in hair loss.
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Vitamins C and E
These powerful antioxidants help combat oxidative stress in the body, a factor that may contribute to premature hair loss.
Additionally, vitamin C enhances iron absorption in your digestive tract, potentially helping with iron deficiency-related hair loss.
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Iron and Zinc
Iron and zinc are essential minerals that support various body functions, including those related to hair health. A deficiency of either may contribute to hair thinning or loss.
While the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, experts agree that adequate levels of iron and zinc are essential for maintaining healthy hair growth. Thinning hair or hair loss may sometimes indicate deficiencies in these nutrients, but such deficiencies are usually one of many contributing factors.
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Do Hair Growth Supplements Work?
So, are gummy vitamins for hair growth really the answer to female pattern hair loss?
Right now, scientific evidence doesn’t back the idea that hair vitamins boost hair growth — unless you have a nutritional deficiency.
If you’re experiencing hair loss because your diet is lacking key nutrients (or you have a condition that causes absorption issues), hair growth supplements might help restore your hair to its former glory.
Let’s look at some of the evidence for a few popular hair gummy ingredients.
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Biotin
Biotin is a popular ingredient in hair health supplements, but its effectiveness remains uncertain.
A review of studies found that biotin supplementation may boost hair and nail health in people with specific underlying conditions such as a biotin deficiency or brittle nail syndrome.
While biotin supplements might help if you have a deficiency, it’s worth noting that biotin deficiency is quite rare. Most people get enough from their regular diet.
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Vitamin D
A number of studies show an association between low vitamin D levels and certain types of hair loss, particularly alopecia areata (an autoimmune condition causing patchy hair loss) and, to a lesser extent, telogen effluvium (diffuse hair loss caused by a physical or emotional stressor)). However, more research is needed on the effectiveness of hair loss supplements for these conditions.
Vitamin D deficiency is common in the United States, with around 22% of people having moderate deficiencies and 2.6% experiencing a severe lack of the vitamin.
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Iron
Iron deficiency is a common nutritional issue and a known contributor to hair loss, particularly in severe cases that cause anemia. Certain groups, including premenopausal women, vegetarians, and those with malabsorption disorders, are at higher risk for iron deficiency.
Believe it or not, up to 15 percent of women in the U.S. live with iron deficiency.
While iron supplements can help address hair loss linked to significant iron deficiency, evidence of their effect on mild deficiencies is inconclusive.
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Vitamin C
Because vitamin C is known to enhance iron absorption. Vitamin C supplements are often recommended as part of iron deficiency treatment.
But a 2020 clinical trial showed that iron supplements alone work just as well as iron supplements plus vitamin C in treating iron deficiency anemia. This suggests that while vitamin C remains important for overall health, it may not be necessary for iron absorption.
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Zinc
Preliminary research suggests that zinc supplements might benefit people with telogen effluvium and alopecia areata who have a confirmed zinc deficiency. However, the evidence so far is based on small studies that have significant limitations, highlighting the need for more rigorous research.
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What Causes Hair Loss in Women?
Not all hair loss is the same. Women experience different types, each with unique underlying causes. Getting to the root cause of hair loss is crucial for choosing the most effective treatment.
Female Pattern Hair Loss
Female pattern hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia, is the most common form of hair loss in women. Like male pattern baldness, hair follicles will gradually shrink, leading to progressively thinner and shorter hair. Over time, the affected follicles may stop producing hair altogether. Genetics, hormones, and possibly some environmental factors play a role in this type of hair loss.
Researchers estimate that about a quarter of women develop some degree of female pattern hair loss by age 49.
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Other Hair Loss Causes
Additional causes of hair loss in women include:
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Traction alopecia. This form of hair loss, also known as ponytail alopecia, happens when tight hairstyles like ponytails, buns, and braids repeatedly put strain on hair follicles.
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Telogen effluvium. A temporary condition characterized by excess hair shedding, often triggered by a physical or psychological stressor, such as childbirth, hormonal change, surgery, or certain medications.
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Alopecia areata. An autoimmune condition where your immune system mistakenly attacks your hair follicles, leading to one or more patches of hair loss.
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Other Treatments for Hair Loss
Okay, we’ve covered gummies. But what about other hair loss solutions?
One evidence-based option is topical minoxidil, sometimes sold under the brand name Rogaine. This medication is believed to work by prolonging the anagen (growth) phase of the hair cycle. It may also increase blood flow to the hair follicles, which enhances the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to support new hair growth.
Topical minoxidil is available for women over-the-counter (OTC) as a 2% solution or 5% foam. Oral minoxidil can be prescribed off-label to treat hair loss.
Other medications for hair loss in women include spironolactone and finasteride.
Here’s the catch: While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved oral finasteride for male pattern hair loss, it can cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy. For this reason, it is generally prescribed off-label only to postmenopausal women.
Finasteride is sometimes compounded into a topical formulation. Hers offers aa combination finasteride and minoxidil spray designed to treat female pattern hair loss in postmenopausal women.
You also have a few non-medication options for addressing hair loss, including:
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Low-level light therapy
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Platelet-rich plasma therapy
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Hair transplant surgery
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Trying to Prevent or Slow Hair Loss? Try These Tips for Healthy Hair Growth
While there’s no surefire way to prevent or stop hair loss without treatment, lifestyle changes can help support healthy hair growth:
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Eat a balanced diet. Aim to eat a balanced, healthy diet to avoid nutrient deficiencies that can contribute to hair loss.
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Have a healthy haircare routine. Use the right hair products for your hair type. Not sure where to start? Consider meeting with a board-certified dermatologist to get some recommendations.
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Handle hair with care. Try to avoid hairstyles or treatments that can damage hair. Wearing your hair in tight hairstyles, exposing your hair to excess heat, and using dyes and chemical relaxers are all healthy hair no-nos.
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Do Hair Vitamins Work? The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for hair growth gummies that work or other solutions for hair loss, it’s always good to talk through your options with a healthcare professional.
Let’s recap what we know about hair gummies:
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Evidence on the effectiveness of hair supplements in people without nutritional deficiencies is limited. If you have a deficiency, supplements might help support healthy hair growth.
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Product labels are a goldmine of useful info. It’s important to read the product label carefully. This can give you a handle on the ingredient list and the amount of each vitamin or mineral in a serving.
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There are more effective treatments available. Over-the-counter and prescription hair loss treatments for women have more evidence to support their effectiveness than vitamins and nutrients.
Related: Stress and Female Hair Loss: What You Need to Know
Related: Understanding Hair Types: Your Expert-Led Guide to Better Hair Days
This article originally appeared on Forhers.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org
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