Vitamin Deficiencies. A well-balanced diet is important; however, a diet lacking vitamins and minerals can lead to many skincare issues. Your skin’s reaction to these complications is one way it is communicating to you that something is wrong and you need to take action.
Here are a few common symptoms that indicate you may have vitamin deficiencies.
Hair and Nails
Delicate hair and nails
Vitamin B7, also known as Biotin, helps in converting food into energy. A biotin deficiency is uncommon, but if it occurs, it leads to the thinning, splitting, and breakage of hair and nails. Other symptoms, such as cramps, muscular or joint pain, and tingling sensation in the hands and feet are sure signs of biotin deficiency.
If you eat raw eggs daily for fitness, it can lead to biotin deficiency as raw egg whites include avidin, which reduces Biotin’s absorption level.
Foods high in Biotin are egg yolks, protein organs, dairy, fruits, nuts, fish, spinach, and bananas. However, adults with high biotin deficiency should have supplements of over 30 micrograms of Biotin per day.
Dandruff and patchy scalp
Dandruff and Seborrheic Dermatitis (SB) are skin disorders that affect the oil-production function of your body. If you have SB, you will notice patchy, itchy, and flaky skin in many parts of your body, whereas dandruff is concentrated mainly on the scalp.
The percentage of having this skin disorder is at its peak during the initial three months of being born, puberty, and mid-adulthood.
Dandruff is nothing to be worried about as this deficiency is common to have and can be dealt with by following a proper diet, including the intake of vitamins B3, B2, and B6.
Hair loss
One of the most common symptoms for adults by the age of 50 is hair loss. A rich diet in nutrients can help slow down or prevent it altogether. The following are some vitamins for preventing and reducing hair loss:
- Iron
- Folic Acid
- Zinc
- Niacin (vitamin B3)
- Biotin (vitamin B7)
The following are some foods that can help prevent hair loss:
- Meat
- Fish
- Eggs
- Legumes
- Leafy greens and vegetables
- Whole wheat grains
These supplements do help in reducing hair loss; however, they do not cover the absence of nutrients from the body. It is also important to understand that not all vitamin supplements help hair growth, but some may even worsen hair loss.
Skin
White or red bumpy skin
Bumps and ingrown hair on the skin are symptoms of keratosis pillars, which appear on the cheeks, buttocks, thighs, and arms. The condition occurs in childhood but disappears in adulthood, only if the disease is treated in its early stages.
If the cause is not identified in the early stages, it can lead to painful ingrown and bumps on the skin, making it nearly impossible to treat.
Dry skin
Vitamin A helps repair inflamed and dry skin by creating new skin cells. However, not getting an adequate amount of vitamin A can lead to eczema, making the skin itchy, dry, and patchy. It can be resolved by having vitamin A-based medicines and supplements but only if it is diagnosed at the early stages.
It is important to understand that vitamin A deficiency can lead to eczema, but genetics plays a vital role too.
The Bottom Line
While supplements are great, increasing the intake of food that is rich in vitamins that your body lacks will help you resolve your deficiencies. For more skincare tips and tricks, check out our blog.