Link Between Alopecia Areata And Vitamin D Still Unclear

added 20th February 2015

A number of studies have proved a potential link between people with the patchy hair loss condition Alopecia Areata and low levels of Vitamin D, however, as the latest research is published, it seems we are no closer to drawing a definite conclusion.

The Maui Derm 2015 meeting heard Dr Ted Rosen, Professor of Dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine and Chief of Dermatology at the Houston VA Medical Centre, speak about previous research linking low levels of vitamin D to a number of different skin diseases.

Although Alopecia Areata is believed to be an autoimmune condition, Dr. Rosen noted that some patients with the skin condition Psoriasis who also had Alopecia Areata, had responded to vitamin D supplements.

Whilst he was quick to point out that this does not mean low levels of vitamin D can cause Alopecia, or any other skin condition for that matter, Dr. Rosen suggested hair loss specialists test their Alopecia patients to study their vitamin D levels, as a recent Turkish study also discovered that 91% of Alopecia Areata patients had low levels of the vitamin.

Conjecture as to why this link may exist centred on the suggestion that people with skin conditions or Alopecia Areata may be less inclined to spend much time outdoors. This, in turn, meant they received less exposure to vitamin D from sunlight.

It seems that, for now, the link between Alopecia Areata and vitamin D remains unclear, with further study necessary to determine what this link may be and whether an increased intake of the vitamin may help alopecia sufferers.