What Vitamin Deficiency Causes Dry Scalp & Itchiness?

Is it possible that a vitamin deficiency causes dry scalp and itchiness? Yes, it is very possible. Also, a vitamin deficiency can cause hair loss and dry skin patches on the scalp.  What a relief it will be to know it could be this and not something more serious.

It’s not unusual for people to suffer from this problem as some don’t even know that an exposure to the sun or a lack of nutrients can cause itchiness.  Often, they dismiss the symptoms as being a shampoo that doesn’t agree with them.  Be that as it may, not everyone displays the signs of a dry scalp the beginning.

Hair loss, eye, and skin irritations are among the signs that your body is low on certain vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.  The symptoms may continue for a long time and affect other areas internally, not just the scalp area. What are some of the deficiencies which can cause an itchy scalp?

Well, for starters, hair loss could be due to a lack of biotin or B7. The deficiency is an easy fix, and you can restore luster to your hair. Put more egg yolks on your plate to get more biotin.

Premature grays and dandruff are true signs of a vitamin B complex insufficiency and a lack of selenium. The body needs to have essential fatty acids, plus specific antioxidants to be healthy since the hair and scalp need the right amount of vitamins.

Again, getting enough of the vitamin is simple. Include more green veggies in your diet along with fish, nuts, poultry and of course, eggs. Here are some foods that will help your hair and scalp.

Do You Need More B12 in Your Diet?

Most of us don’t think of this, but your itchy scalp could be due to a lack of a specific vitamin. Certain conditions can be embarrassing like hyperpigmentation. This is when the skin has dark patches in certain places. In this case, you may need to add more B12 to your diet or use a supplement.

What’s more common is a case of psoriasis of the scalp. Almost everyone is familiar with the name psoriasis, but few know what it’s about. It can also make reddish, raised patches or a single patch appear on the scalp. It can show on the back of your neck, behind the ears and your forehead.

Psoriasis can last a long time, and it causes severe itchiness and dry skin. Just by having psoriasis doesn’t mean you will lose your hair necessarily, but the side effects of stress and some chemical treatments don’t help matters.

On the positive side, there are some home remedies to help soothe the condition, and you’ll be happy to know your hair will grow back. If you choose to medicate your scalp, and your condition worsens, stop using it. Also, take into consideration the weather and stressful situations.

You may want to watch your diet intake as well. Start eating more healthier foods like lean proteins, fruits, and grains. Treat this condition from the inside in addition to any remedy you may choose.

Signs You May Have a B12 Deficiency

If you have a mild case of a B12 deficiency, you may not even know anything is wrong. However, if you are experiencing fatigue, numbness, diarrhea, shortness of breath, or even a tingling sensation in your scalp, fingers or toes, you may need a good dose of B12.

On the negative side, however, neurological damage can cause be the result of a severe B12 deficiency. This is the part where vegans are at risk because the proteins come mainly from animal foods.

On the lighter side, this deficiency could cause a rash or itchy skin.  Make an appointment with your doctor to determine if this is you or not. Because of the potential dangers, you need to know for sure if it’s only a B12 shot you need. Otherwise, treating an itchy, dry scalp or eczema is a breeze.

A lack of the vitamin B12 can also be the cause of the changes in your skin. If you notice little cracks in the corners of your lips, you may want to pick up a bottle of B12 as a supplement to your diet. The “Canadian Family Medicine” reports skin lesions and other irregularities can be the result of this particular deficiency as well.

Ever Heard of a Vitamin H Deficiency?

Vitamin H is also known to produce vibrant, glowing skin so when we don’t get enough of it, and we may start to itch and suffer from dry skin. It’s not as common as some of the other deficiencies, however, it happens and when it does, it can cause hair loss among other things.

Vitamin H is another name for biotin, and it helps to metabolize fats and proteins in our bodies. Some of the other symptoms include fatigue, depression and dry eyes.  When you have enough biotin, your skin and hair is livelier and has more shine.

How do you get more biotin? Yes, eat more eggs! If you can’t or don’t like eggs, try black-eyed peas or mushrooms.

Check your Vitamin D Levels

Atopic dermatitis or eczema is a skin condition that’s chronic.  It can cause inflammation, itchy, dry, rough skin that’s red in appearance.  Mostly, children have it and infants. However, adults are not excluded from having eczema or a vitamin D deficiency. The child can continue to have eczema throughout their adult life.

The medical experts are attempting to find out what causes it and how to prevent it. However, they believe it’s mainly due to genetics and the person’s environment. What’s interesting to remember is people who have eczema don’t have immune systems or skin barriers that work as well as they should.

The studies return with reports verifying people, children and adults, who have eczema have low levels of vitamin D in their systems. Low levels could mean severe problems or symptoms relating to their skin. One thing’s for sure, they are prone to infections.

With this said, more research will need to be done to correctly identify a lack of vitamin D as a cause of eczema. They say maybe getting more sun or taking a supplement can help to prevent eczema or maybe not.  The jury hasn’t fully decided on a conclusion yet.

Do You Get Enough Vitamin B6?

Vitamin B6 is good for many things – it breaks down proteins, helps to maintain blood sugar, produces antibodies and hemoglobin and maintains nerve function. With that said, you know having it is important.

By eating bananas, nuts, poultry, avocados, and whole grain foods, you can naturally add B6 to your body. With all its goodness, it shouldn’t make your skin dry, however, taking a B6 supplement is a horse of another color.

Because there may be other ingredients in the supplement, you could have an allergic reaction to it and start to itch.

Vitamin C is for Collagen

Vitamin C is a protein, and it is water-soluble so you will need to add it consistently.  The body does not keep vitamin C in your system. Sadly, it’s why we must add collagen where it’s lacking. We need collagen to have healthy skin and to protect our bodies.

Collagen is a strong antioxidant that also helps to ward off free radicals. Cigarette smoke and other pollutants harm our skin and our bodies, plus it speeds up the aging process by producing wrinkles and lines in our face.

Our skin becomes dry and itchy when we don’t have enough collagen, but you can quickly add some. Pick up some oranges, spinach, potatoes, red peppers, kiwi and some cranberries next time you’re at the supermarket.

How To Treat Dry Itchy Scalp

Alongside eating the right foods, you can use a shampoo medicated with all the ingredients you need to improve your dry scalp.  Look for brands containing zinc pyrithione. It’s an effective antifungal medication which will control your dandruff. Keep in mind, this is not a cure, but a means of prevention.

When you stop using the medicated shampoo, your scalp will return to its original condition, dry and itching. We suggest continuing use at least twice a week.  If you shampoo has ketoconazole in it, don’t use it often.  Limit use to once or twice weekly to avoid scalp irritation.

Dandruff shampoo with coal tar in them works by killing off the skin cells found on the scalp.  You’ll see a decrease in flaking, but don’t rub this carcinogen into your scalp.

Home Remedies to Help Soothe Dry Scalp and Itchiness

• Baking Soda – Just a handful of baking soda will help relieve you of dry scalp. How? It helps to decrease fungi, and it may also aid in the production of the natural oils in your scalp, so your hair is softer and more manageable.
• Tee Tree Oil – You should know that it is potent so only use a little. It’s a natural antibacterial agent. Tea tree oil can treat dry scalp.
• Coconut Oil – Massage a couple of tablespoons into your scalp and wait an hour. After which, you are free to shampoo as normal.
• Take Your Vitamin B and Zinc – By taking zinc, you’re controlling the production of oil found at the roots of your hair. When you include the vitamin B family, you’re doing something to optimize your skin and hair health. Consume plenty of animal products, nuts, and seeds.
• Get some sun – The sun can be your friend if you use it in moderation. It seems to suppress the fungus causing the dry, itchy scalp. Too much sunlight can also cause your scalp to become overly dry, so it’s a careful balancing act.

Many of us have a vitamin deficiency and don’t even know it.  It could be the reason for hair loss, dry scalp, and itchiness among other things. You can attempt to change things by eating right and maintaining a natural hair care remedy or pick up an over-the-counter medication to help. Be careful, however, not to wash your hair too often as this will only aggravate matters.