A majority of the population is now suffering from various vitamin and mineral deficiencies that affect the health of their hair, skin, and nails.
UK pharmacy has got you covered with everything you need to know about strengthening your hair, skin, and nails.
What affects the health of our nails, skin, and hair?
Daily, our skin, nails, and hair have to tackle several factors for upkeep and health. Even slight variations in the environment can be potentially harmful to their quality and health. Some of these factors are:
- Stress
- Pollution
- Smoking
- UV rays
- Nutrient Deficiency
What are the signs of vitamin and mineral deficiency?
Our body constantly demands nutrients to maintain health, replace dead skin cells and defend against other damaging factors. This nutrition helps produce the building blocks of skin (collagen) and protein for hair/nails (keratin). If these key nutrients are deficient, the body will fall back in growth and ability to combat external factors.
These are a few signs that will help you understand if you belong to this category:
- Brittle hair and nails
- Mouth ulcers
- Bleeding gums
- Poor night vision
- Dandruff
- Hair loss
- Red or white bumps on the skin
- Restless leg syndrome
Vitamins and minerals not only have the power to boost hair growth and fight skin problems, but they improve overall well-being. Don't panic, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms; UK online pharmacy has no dearth of vitamin and mineral supplements that play a vital role in overcoming any deficiency.
Since we know the importance of vitamins and minerals for our body, let us take it a step further.
Which vitamins and minerals are essential to strengthen our hair, nail, and skin?
1) Biotin
Also known as Vitamin H or Vitamin B7, this superstar vitamin is water-soluble. It plays a pivotal role in protein synthesis, especially keratin, which is crucial to strengthen the hair and improve its density. Food sources such as nuts, legumes, egg yolk, whole grains, seafood, avocados, berries, and bananas are rich in Biotin. Regular consumption of these foods can help to meet one's daily requirement for Biotin. Although deficiency of this vitamin is rare, one should prefer to take Biotin supplements from an online pharmacist rather than using over-the-counter products that are not absorbed well by the skin.
2) Omega 3 fatty acids
This family of fatty acids is imperative to improve blood circulation, thus preventing hair loss, helping in regrowth, and strengthening the shafts. Since the body does not produce omega 3 fatty acids naturally, you need to consume a good quantity of fish, nuts, and seeds that are a rich source of this nutrient. Or else pick some supplements of this multi-tasking nutrient from a chemist online.
3) Vitamin A
It is an antioxidant that serves as food for the skin. It plays a vital role in the cell renewal rate, wherein the body sheds the dead skin cells, which are replaced by new cells. Due to this ongoing process, it helps to reduce skin dryness, thereby reducing acne flares. It slows down the aging process and prevents sunburns. The onus of healing scars and preventing hair breakage lies with this vitamin. Additionally, it provides moisture and regenerates growth in thin and brittle nails. Ghee, butter, carrot, sweet potato, green veggies, eggs, liver, fish oils, whole milk, and pumpkin are rich food sources of Vitamin A. If you are taking supplements for this vitamin from an online chemist with the advice of your dermatologist, remember not to take an overdose as it can be detrimental.
4) Vitamin C
This water-soluble antioxidant is required by your skin to maintain youthfulness. It brightens the skin, improves its elasticity, and reduces wrinkles. It reduces skin damage by fighting the formation of melanin. To stabilize collagen and fight free radicals, it behaves as a cofactor in chemical reactions. Vitamin C aids in increased absorption of iron and availability of selenium. Deficiency of this vitamin causes impaired collagen synthesis, leading to enlarged hair follicles, thus causing hair loss. Found in abundance in citrus fruits, bell peppers, spinach, kiwi, guava, and broccoli.
5) Vitamin D
Besides playing an integral role in maintaining the body's calcium level, it plays a major role in skin and hair maintenance. Vitamin D prohibits the unrestricted growth and multiplication of the cells in the outermost layer of the skin, thus preventing dead skin cell build-up. The integrity of the hair follicles is to a great extent maintained by this vitamin. Sunlight is the best and richest source of Vitamin D.
6) Vitamin E
Working in tandem with Vitamin C, it protects your skin from sun damage and pollution. By preventing collagen-cross linking, it blocks free radicals from the body. It helps to slow down extensive cell damage, thus reducing aging. Sunflower, canola, and almond oil can easily meet the body's vitamin E requirement. Nuts, corn, spinach, pulses, and green leafy veggies are other good sources of Vitamin E.
7) Iron
Iron serves as a medium to take oxygen to the scalp and hair follicles. Iron deficiency or anaemia could lead to scalp hair loss as the hair becomes dull and weak. Iron supplements for hair folic women are available at the UK pharmacy. Food sources such as meat, beans, tofu, fish, lentils, spinach, whole grains, and nuts can help beat iron deficiency.
8) Zinc
Zinc is an important trace mineral, which is second to iron in its concentration in the body. It is vital to maintain the health of hair, skin, and nails. During summer, the skin rapidly loses moisture. Zinc helps generate the body's natural oils that retain moisture, providing soft skin and preventing dandruff. Excessive intake of zinc can disrupt the absorption of other vital minerals by our body and may also lead to excessive production of testosterone.
9) Silica
Silica is another trace mineral that has anti-inflammatory properties and is required to produce collagen. It has tremendous potential to aid cell repair and renewal. Silica also assists the skin in retaining moisture. Dietary silica can be obtained from oatmeal, spinach, bananas, whole grain bread, and mango.
10) Selenium
Our body needs this trace element to synthesize more than 35 proteins. Due to its antioxidant properties, it fights free radicals to preserve the structural integrity of the hair follicles. A deficiency of this mineral might cause hair loss, sparse hair growth, and nail sloughing. It is found in nuts, mushrooms, meat, and cereals.
Conclusion:
We must try our level best to fulfill the vitamin and mineral requirements of the body through dietary intake. However, it may not be possible to do so at all times. UK pharmacy is ready with their vitamin and mineral supplements to help you overcome this deficit and keep your hair, skin, and nails healthy. VITABIOTICS PERFECTIL MAX tablets and capsules available at Life Pharmacy give amazing results in providing maximum nutritional care for hair, skin, and nails. We recommend that before you approach us, consult your dermatologist for an appropriate diagnosis and cure.