Benefits of Vitamin E on Hair & Nail Growth

While vitamin A is known for cell growth and vitamin C is taken for combating illness, vitamin E has long been touted for its health benefits. Rather than using gels, lotions and other man-made chemicals, many people prefer to ingest vitamin E in the form of tablets and multivitamins to naturally strengthen hair and nails.

Scalp Circulation

• One of vitamin E's healing properties is as an antioxidant, a natural chemical that helps your body prevent damage and repair any that has already occurred. For your hair, this improves scalp circulation, allowing vitamins and other nutrients to reach all of the hair follicles to encourage healthy hair growth. This is most often manifested by an increased shininess in your strands.

Strength

• Regularly taking vitamin E leads to stronger hair and nails as a result of its natural properties. However, you will not see these results instantaneously, as it takes time for the vitamin to be absorbed into your body and directed to the places it can be used, like your hair and nails.

Hair Loss

• Some studies have shown that increased levels of vitamin E can help prevent hair loss, as well as reduce the incidence of dandruff. However, Dr. D. H. Rushton of the University of Portsmouth wrote in a paper published in "Clinical and Experimental Dermatology" that too much vitamin E can have the reverse affect, causing hair to fall out more rapidly and in greater amounts than those who take the daily recommended amount.