Vitamin D and the Skin: Focus on a Complex Relationship

February 2014 in “ Journal of Advanced Research ”

Wedad Z. Mostafa, Rehab A. Hegazy

vitamin D hair follicle cycling sebaceous gland function UV damage psoriasis acne rosacea alopecia vitamin D receptors vitamin D analogs 25-hydroxyvitamin D hair cycle sebaceous glands UV protection hair loss

Studysummary This review explores the impact of vitamin D deficiency on the skin from a dermatological perspective, but reports no new clinical results.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The 2015 review highlights the multifaceted role of vitamin D in skin health, including its importance in immune function, hair follicle cycling, sebaceous gland function, and protection against UV damage. It suggests that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to skin diseases such as psoriasis, acne, rosacea, and various forms of alopecia, and that vitamin D receptors are crucial for hair cycle regulation. While vitamin D analogs are used in treating conditions like psoriasis and vitiligo, the review acknowledges that the evidence linking vitamin D to the prevention of skin cancer and the treatment of hair loss is not conclusive. It emphasizes the need for further research to fully understand the relationship between vitamin D and skin disorders and to develop clear supplementation guidelines. The review also notes that maintaining an optimal 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of 75 nmol/L or higher is suggested for overall health and skin function.

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Research cited in this study

11 / 11 results

research Reciprocal Role of Vitamin D Receptor on β-Catenin Regulated Keratinocyte Proliferation and Differentiation

49 citations , November 2013 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology”

This study found that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3/VDR inhibits β-catenin's role in keratinocyte proliferation but enhances its role in hair follicle differentiation.

research Serum Ferritin and Vitamin D in Female Hair Loss: Do They Play a Role?

62 citations , January 2013 in “Skin Pharmacology and Physiology”

This study found that low serum ferritin and vitamin D2 levels are associated with hair loss in females with chronic telogen effluvium and female pattern hair loss, suggesting potential benefits of screening and supplementation.

research The Hair Cycle and Vitamin D Receptor

50 citations , October 2011 in “Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics”

This study found that while calcium can substitute for the Vitamin D receptor in maintaining epidermal keratinocyte differentiation, it cannot compensate for hair follicle dysfunction caused by the absence of the receptor.

research Vitamin D Metabolism and Function in the Skin

185 citations , June 2011 in “Molecular and cellular endocrinology”

This review discusses the regulation and function of vitamin D and its receptor in skin cells, highlighting their roles in processes such as proliferation inhibition, differentiation, and innate immunity, but reports no new results.

research Disruption of the Hedgehog Signaling Pathway Contributes to Hair Follicle Cycling Deficiency in VDR Knockout Mice

53 citations , May 2010 in “Journal of Cellular Physiology”

This study found that mice lacking the Vitamin D receptor showed disrupted hair follicle cycling, which was partially restored with hedgehog signaling pathway activation, suggesting a role for this pathway in follicle regulation independent of vitamin D.

research Does D Matter? The Role of Vitamin D in Hair Disorders and Hair Follicle Cycling

98 citations , February 2010 in “Dermatology Online Journal”

This article outlines the potential for upregulating the vitamin D receptor in treating hair disorders, emphasizing the need for further studies to evaluate vitamin D's role in the hair cycle.

research Does Degree of Baldness Influence Vitamin D Status?

19 citations , December 2008 in “Medical Journal of Australia”

This study found no significant association between the degree of male-pattern baldness and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in healthy middle-aged and older men.

research Protection Against Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia

97 citations , September 2006 in “Pharmaceutical Research”

This review discusses advances in protecting against chemotherapy-induced alopecia and reports no new clinical results; calcitriol and cyclosporine A emerged as promising agents in animal models with broader efficacy across multiple chemotherapy drugs.

research Development and Progression of Alopecia in the Vitamin D Receptor Null Mouse

81 citations , January 2006 in “Journal of cellular physiology”

This study found that the absence of the vitamin D receptor disrupts hair follicle structure during the first catagen in mice, linked to increased expression of the hairless gene.

research Lack of the Vitamin D Receptor Is Associated with Reduced Epidermal Differentiation and Hair Follicle Growth

180 citations , January 2002 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

This study observed that vitamin D receptor knockout mice exhibit impaired epidermal differentiation and progressive hair loss, suggesting the importance of the vitamin D receptor in normal skin and hair follicle development.

research Normalization of Mineral Ion Homeostasis by Dietary Means Prevents Hyperparathyroidism, Rickets, and Osteomalacia, But Not Alopecia in Vitamin D Receptor-Ablated Mice

519 citations , October 1998 in “Endocrinology”

The study found that normalizing mineral ion levels in vitamin D receptor-ablated mice prevented hyperparathyroidism and bone disorders but did not address hair loss, indicating the VDR's role in hair growth.