Selenium Benefits for Hair: How to Get Soft, Shiny, Healthy Hair

Are you looking for ways to improve the condition of your hair? If so, you may want to consider adding selenium to your diet. Selenium is a trace mineral that is essential for healthy hair. It helps to keep your scalp healthy, promotes healthy hair growth, and can help make your hair softer and shinier.

In this article, we will discuss the benefits of selenium to improve healthier hair and provide tips on how to get the most out of this nutrient.

What is selenium?

Selenium is a trace mineral that functions as an antioxidant to keep your immune system healthy. Your body needs it to support several critical enzymes, including glutathione peroxidase, which plays a role in detoxifying substances that could damage your cells. Your hair follicles are surrounded by tiny glands called sebaceous glands, which secrete oil (sebum) to keep the skin underneath healthy.

These glands also contain high levels of glutathione peroxide, which helps to protect your hair from environmental pollutants and free radicals. This means that selenium's antioxidant properties can play an important role in protecting your scalp and hair against cell damage.

Selenium is found mainly in food, and your body doesn't produce it on its own but this is a good nutrient that supports the body fight diseases. In fact, selenium deficiency is a common problem worldwide.

Normally, you can get all of the selenium you need from certain foods and from multivitamins that contain this mineral. However, it's possible to take too much selenium. This can lead to unpleasant symptoms such as thinning hair or joint pain if you consume a large amount for several months or longer.

Does selenium help in getting soft, shiny, healthy hair?

Selenium is a mineral that is found in the soil and in some foods. It is also available as a dietary supplement. Selenium plays an important role in hair health and can help to improve the shine, softness, and overall health of the hair.

Does selenium reduce hair loss?

Selenium may be beneficial for healthy hair growth, and it also has antioxidant properties that can protect against damage to the scalp and hair. Hair grows from the roots and the key to healthy hair growth lies in enhancing the health of the hair follicles and scalp, and selenium also protects the scalp and follicles.

However, it's important to remember that studies have shown mixed results when it comes to selenium as a hair loss treatment for male pattern baldness. Some research suggests that this mineral may benefit those with genetic alopecia, but other studies suggest that it does not.

Further research is needed before scientists can say conclusively whether or not selenium is good for hair loss.

Types of Selenium for Hair Growth

The two main types of selenium include sodium selenite and L-selenomethionine. Here is a look at the differences between each type.

1. Sodium Selenite

Sodium selenite is a synthetic form of selenium that is used as a supplement. It is available in tablet or liquid form. Sodium selenite is a good source of selenium, but it can also be toxic in high doses.

2. L-Selenomethionine

L-selenomethionine is a natural form of selenium that is found in food. It is a protein that is derived from plants. L-selenomethionine is a better source of selenium than sodium selenite, and it is also less toxic.

Benefits of Selenium for Hair Growth

Selenium is an antioxidant that helps protect the scalp and hair from free radicals. This mineral also stimulates new growth in hair follicles, which can help treat genetic alopecia As an added benefit, selenium has anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce scaliness of the scalp.

Many benefits are listed below:

1. Selenium boosts hair follicle stimulation

A lot of hair falls as a result of damaged hair follicles, which means your hair is brittle from the root to the tip. There's so much pollution in today's world that it can harm our hair growth at the roots. When we go out into the sun, exposing our hair to UV rays can make it more prone to damage by free radicals. Selenium supplementation for hair health may help combat these free radicals by neutralizing their presence and increasing hair follicle strength. These supplements directly regulate hair growth over time.

2. Selenium can help prevent damage from the sun

Exposure to the sun can cause hair loss and thinness, which may lead one to look for ways to prevent damage from the sun. The ultraviolet (UV) light that causes this type of damage is also what causes skin cancer. Some scientists believe that selenium supplementations that encourage hair growth may help protect against UV radiation and prevent cellular damage in hair follicles. This can potentially slow down the breakdown of your hair's structure over time and delay the onset of grey hairs and balding.

3. Selenium reduces scalp irritation

Selenium sulfide shampoo was initially used as a topical treatment for dandruff before it was replaced by alpha-hydroxy acid shampoos such as ketoconazole, which are more effective. However, it is still available over the counter to treat seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff, which are conditions that cause scalp irritation.

4. Selenium helps get rid of split ends

Although not proven, hair experts believe that selenium may help reduce split ends because it causes the hair shaft to swell without causing any damage or loss of hair integrity. This can shorten the time between haircuts for some women with long hair. Hair that has severe split ends will be difficult to style into an updo or elegant updo, so any treatment that can reduce split ends will promote hair growth.

5. Selenium support hair growth

Selenium supports cell membrane function and enzyme production for effective hair growth, which means it has the potential to be a strong supplement for promoting faster hair growth. Based on scientific studies, increased intake of selenium may also help thicken the terminal hairs in the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle to make them longer and stronger.

6. Selenium promotes healthy production of thyroid hormone

Hair loss is one of the first symptoms of hypothyroidism or low thyroid levels, so it should come as little surprise that selenium may help prevent hair loss. The main function of the thyroid gland is to produce hormones that regulate metabolic rate. Due to its antioxidant properties, selenium can protect against mercury toxicity and excess calcium build-up within the cells. These are factors that can affect the endocrine system and lead to thyroid malfunctioning

How much selenium should you take for your hair?

The recommended dosage for an average-sized adult man or woman is 200 micrograms per day. However, many studies have looked at dosages ranging from 200 mcg/d all the way up to 850 mcg/d. There is no evidence to date that taking more selenium than necessary has any effect on hair growth. Therefore, it's best to start with the lowest effective dosage and gradually increase it if needed.

If you suspect you've taken too much selenium and you're facing hair loss and brittle hair, stop taking selenium immediately and then consult a doctor for better treatment.

How can you get more selenium in your diet?

Seafood tends to be the richest food source of this mineral due to its high content of omega-3 fatty acids. However, many people are not able or willing to eat enough seafood every day to benefit from selenium intake. Other good sources include poultry, meat, eggs, whole grains, garlic, and onions(selenium-rich foods).

Hair loss supplements (selenium supplement) can also help you to reach your daily goals without consuming too much cholesterol. Supplements may be particularly helpful for vegetarians who do not consume enough selenium from their diet.

What are the side effects of selenium supplementation?

Selenium is considered safe at normal dosage levels, but it may have a laxative effect in some people and causes a copper deficiency or skin rashes if taken for a long time.

Anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding should not take selenium supplements without consulting with their physician first.

Selenium can also interact with certain medications, so you should talk to your doctor or healthcare professional before taking it with any prescription medications.