What Are Men’s Hair, Skin, and Nails Vitamins?

The men’s personal care market is expected to be worth $75.8B by 2027, and for good reason. Generally speaking, men tend to have thicker, drier skin and sweat more than women. They also experience hair loss more commonly and earlier in life than women. This all adds up to men feeling the need to invest more into their personal care; but where to start? To keep things as simple as possible, this blog will serve as a guide to understanding what the important men’s hair, skin, and nails vitamins are.

Which Vitamins Help Hair, Skin, and Nail Health?

Vitamins A, D, and E are all needed for hair, skin, and nail health. These vitamins are also fat-soluble, meaning the body only uses what it needs, and stores the rest to be released sporadically.

Vitamin C also has a lot of properties that promote healthy skin and nails. But unlike the others, it is water-soluble, meaning the body absorbs and processes it quite quickly. As such, vitamin C must be consumed more frequently and from a variety of sources.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is one of the most important men’s hair, skin, and nails vitamins. It is essential for maintaining vision, immune system function, healthy skin, and healthy hair growth. Vitamin A also helps maintain the reproductive system.

The best natural sources of Vitamin A include: 

• Liver and Fish Oil
• Dairy Products
• Carrots
• Kale
• Spinach
• Eggs
• Butter

In developed countries, Vitamin A deficiencies are rare, but still possible. Symptoms of a Vitamin A deficiency include dry eyes, hair loss, skin problems, a weakened immune system, and, in serious cases, blindness.

It is important to mention that high levels of Vitamin A are not recommended for smokers or former smokers. Please consult your doctor before adding Vitamin A into your daily vitamin routine. 

Vitamin D

The body needs Vitamin D, which can be classified as either D2 or D3. Vitamin D is responsible for bone growth and maintenance, and immune system strength. Your muscles need Vitamin D to move, and the body uses it to produce new, healthy skin cells.

Dietary sources of Vitamin D include:

• Fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and trout
• Fish oil
• Mushrooms
• Fortified foods such as orange juice, dairy and plant-based milks, and cereals.

With regular exposure to sunlight, your body can also produce Vitamin D, however, heavy clothing and sunscreen can reduce the amount your skin produces. Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency include fatigue, weak muscles and bones, and increased risk of infections.

Vitamin D may also be linked to hair loss; however, studies about this topic typically focus on Vitamin D receptors, rather than the role of Vitamin D itself.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is actually a family of powerful antioxidants that fight infections and promote red blood cell health. This vitamin absorbs harmful sun rays, preventing skin issues from developing. In the body, Vitamin E protects cells against free radicals and oxidative damage.

Free radicals are molecules with an unpaired electron, and are thus trying to find another electron to pair with. Studies have associated free radicals with the development of degenerative diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, osteoporosis, and more.

Vitamin E is available in many personal care products, however, there is reason to believe that the best ways to reap the benefits of Vitamin E are through natural sources or dietary supplements.

Natural dietary sources of Vitamin E include: 

• Vegetable-based oils 
• Seeds
• Nuts (Almonds in Particular) 
• Leafy Green Vegetables 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that can help promote nail, skin, and hair health. Because Vitamins C and E are antioxidants, combining both offers greater protection for the body against excessive free radicals.

Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron, an essential mineral for healthy hair growth, and create collagen, a protein rich in amino acids that is responsible for providing structure to tissues such as skin, ligaments, and tendons.

Being water-soluble means the body absorbs and processes Vitamin C quite quickly, however deficiencies in this vitamin are still quite rare. It is important to note that the recommended amount of Vitamin C intake is higher for adult men than women.

Natural sources of Vitamin C include: 

• Oranges
• Grapefruits
• Kiwis
• Strawberries
• Cantaloupe
• Broccoli
• Red and Green Bell Peppers
• Tomatoes

How Collagen Can Help Hair, Skin, and Nail Health

Collagen may offer many health benefits for men, despite its reputation as a women’s cosmetic product. It is one of the most abundant proteins in the human body, making up 1% to 2% of muscle tissue, and accounting for about 6% of the weight of strong, tendinous muscles.

Vitamins A, C, and E aid in collagen production but, over time, they could become less effective. As people age, collagen production slows, leading to lower skin elasticity. Hair loss may increase as collagen decreases, and the joints may lose flexibility as well.

To offset the decline in collagen, multivitamins and collagen supplements have become more popular in men’s personal care routines. It can be purchased as a powder or a pill, allowing it to seamlessly be added to just about any diet. However, it is important to mention that collagen supplements are generally made from animal products, disqualifying them from both vegetarian and vegan diets. Be sure to check the label on your vitamin product to know what ingredients are included and if a product is right for your lifestyle. 

What Men’s Hair, Skin, and Nail Vitamins Do Doctors Recommend?

While all of the vitamins and minerals mentioned above can help you towards healthy skin and hair, everybody is different. Some people may need more Vitamin A, while others may need extra Vitamin E. It is important to always consult with your doctor to see which ones you are deficient in.

Once you‘ve figured out what you need more of, Uscriptives has plenty of personal care dietary supplement options for everyone! Shop with us today to help improve and maintain your overall health and wellness.