Which vitamin deficiency causes dandruff?

Which vitamin deficiency causes dandruff? or Does vitamin deficiency causes dandruff? Vitamins are the main substance that takes care of maintaining our hair, its texture, and many other things in humans. Lack of folic acids or Vitamin B can lead to flaky skin on your scalp and even brittle and thin hair. Omega-3 & Fatty acids are equally important in keeping a dandruff-free scalp. 

Dandruff can also be affected due to other factors like hormonal imbalance, shampooing ways, psychiatric conditions, age, stress, history of skin disorders, or even a weak immune system.

What is Dandruff?

Dandruff is a common problem faced by everyone in today's world. Small pieces of dead and dry skin shedding from the scalp are called dandruff. It is caused by fungal microbes called Malassezia globosa. Some guard cells in the human body prevent them from growing in a large number but due to many factors the cells get weakened and the number of these microbes starts increasing and our skin starts drying which ultimately leads to dandruff. It is not serious but can essentially ruin your hair quality over time and can also lead to hair loss. There are various causes of the Dandruff problem and Vitamin deficiency is one of them.

Why are vitamins important to our Body?

Vitamins are the organic compounds that provide nutrients to our bodies. We need most vitamins that should come from food because the body does not produce them or produces very little.

Different organisms in this universe have different vitamin requirements. Some organisms can produce some vitamins while others have to take them from their diet. For example- humans need to take vitamin C from their diets, while dogs can produce all the vitamin C. Vitamin D is not available in large quantities in food. The best source of vitamin D for the human body is the Sun.

Different vitamins have different roles in the human body and need a different amount of each vitamin to stay fit. Health issues may increase if there is an imbalance of any vitamins in the human body. 

Which vitamin deficiency causes dandruff?

Seborrheic dermatitis (SB) and dandruff are types of skin disorders that affect the oil-producing areas of your body. Both cause itchy, flaking skin. Dandruff and Seborrheic dermatitis is caused by fungal microbes called Malassezia globosa, dandruff is mostly restricted to the scalp. But seborrheic dermatitis can appear on oil areas of the body like the face, upper chest, armpits, and groyne. It also causes scaly patches and red skin. These skin disorders are highest in the first 3 months of life, during puberty, and in mid-adulthood. Both conditions are prevalent in humans. At one point or another, 42% of infants and 50% of adults may suffer from dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis.

Dandruff may be caused by many factors like using harsh skincare & hair care products,  Over Sun exposure, shampooing hair every day, excessive stress, less exposure to fresh air, and a nutrient-poor diet. Each one contributes to the increase of dandruff, but the starting point of every problem is our diet.

According to Ayurveda, food is the key to all health and well-being, and eating the right food nourishes and supports you.

Imbalance and deficiencies of certain vitamins may contribute to an increase in dandruff. Some vitamins are vitamins  D, B2, B3, B6, and B7. They are usually associated with a flaky scalp. A deficiency of these vitamins can aggravate the situation and make it harder to deal with. These vitamins impact the immune system and increase the risk of inflammation. Zinc also plays a vital role in boosting the human immune system and countering dandruff. A low level of Zinc can cause dandruff to increase.

Some strong signals that our body gives regarding Vitamin deficiencies 

There are many Benefits of having a Nutritious and well-balanced diet in our daily life. A diet with fewer Nutrients or which is not well-balanced may cause a variety of undesirable symptoms. Some of these symptoms are used by your body to communicate or indicate if any vitamin and mineral deficiencies occur. Knowing or recognizing these indications can help us to adjust our diet and work on it accordingly. Here are some of the common signs of Vitamin deficiency that our body indicates to us:

1. Brittle hair and nails 

Vitamin B7 is also known as Biotin which helps to convert food into energy for our body. A vitamin B7 deficiency is very rare when it occurs. Splitting, thinning, and brittle hair and nails are some of the most common symptoms. The other symptoms of vitamin B7 deficiency include Muscle pain, cramps, chronic fatigue, and tingling in the hands and feet. 

Alcoholics, heavy smokers, Pregnant women, and people with digestive disorders are the most common people developing Vitamin B7 deficiency.

2. Bleeding gums

Doing a rough tooth brushing is at the root of the bleeding gums problem, but also taking a diet that lacks Vitamin C can also be the reason behind bleeding gum. 

Vitamin C is an important vitamin in wound healing and immunity, & it also acts as an antioxidant in the human body which helps prevent cell damage. The Human body does not create Vitamin C on its own, the only way to maintain its level is by taking a proper diet. Vitamin C deficiency is rare in individuals. People who consume enough fresh fruits and vegetables do not fall into Vitamin C deficiency.

3. Mouth ulcers and cracks 

People with mouth ulcers have a deficiency in Vitamin B1 also known as Thiamine, Vitamin B2 also known as Riboflavin, and Vitamin B6 also known as pyridoxine. A condition known as Angular cheilitis that causes the corners of the mouth to split, bleed, or crack can be caused by dehydration or excess salivation. 

It also is caused by insufficient intake of Vitamins and iron in our body. The good sources of Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, and Vitamin B6 include meat, dark leafy greens, fish, poultry, nuts, legumes, green vegetables, nuts, and organ meat. 

4. Hair loss

In today's world, hair loss is a very common problem. So many adult people report hair loss problems by the time they cross 50 years. There can be so many reasons behind Hair loss problems but having a poor diet can be one of them. According to the study by NCBI, Multiple nutrient deficiencies may result in hair loss. A diet that is rich in Nutrients can help Preventing Hair loss problems:

• Iron
• Linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linoleni acid (ALA)
• Zinc
• Niacin (vitamin B3)
• Biotin (vitamin B7)

5. Restless leg syndrome (a nervous system disorder) 

The Restless leg syndrome is also known as the Willis- Ekbom disease is a condition that causes uncomfortable & undesirable sensations in our legs. 

The Exact reason for Restless leg syndrome was not completely understood but there appears to be a link between a person's blood iron levels and restless leg syndrome symptoms. 

Increasing iron in the diet generally decreases the Restless leg syndrome symptoms in people. However, it may show an effect from person to person 

6. Scaly patches and dandruff

Dandruff and Seborrheic dermatitis is of the same skin problems that affect the area producing oil in our body. They Both involve flaking skin and itchiness. Dandruff is the most common scalp hair problem, but Seborrheic dermatitis can appear on the head and upper chest, face, groynes, and Armpits. They both may be caused by many different reasons, a nutrient-poor diet is one of them. For example, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B2, and Vitamin B6 all these vitamins cause dandruff.

At last, a well-nutritious diet can provide a sufficient intake of vitamins and minerals in the human body, some vitamins are common in several symptoms. Frequently increasing your intake of vitamins and minerals helps you to resolve many symptoms and makes your body healthy but taking a good diet is not sufficient for solving problems like hair loss, dandruff, and many others. To fully cure these problems a person also has to take proper products to solve all these problems.