21 citations
,
January 2014 in “Dermatology Research and Practice” This study found no significant difference in serum and hair levels of iron, zinc, and copper between female alopecia areata patients and healthy controls.
11 citations
,
February 2019 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” This study found that male androgenetic alopecia patients had significantly lower serum zinc levels and suboptimal biotin levels compared to healthy controls, suggesting the potential value of zinc and biotin supplementation.
9 citations
,
January 2013 This study found that serum levels of zinc, copper, and selenium were significantly lower in patients with alopecia areata compared to healthy controls, regardless of the number of hair loss patches.
6 citations
,
July 1980 in “PubMed” This study found higher mean zinc levels in the hair of cystic fibrosis patients with growth retardation compared to those with normal growth.
March 2023 in “Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)” This study found that patients with alopecia areata had significantly lower serum levels of zinc and ferritin compared to healthy controls, which may contribute to the disease's pathogenesis and severity.
March 2023 in “World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences” This study observed that patients with alopecia areata had significantly lower serum levels of zinc and ferritin compared to healthy controls, suggesting these deficiencies may contribute to the disease's severity.
February 2019 in “Trace elements and electrolytes” This study found that women with chronic telogen effluvium had significantly lower levels of zinc, copper, and ferritin in their serum compared to healthy controls.
16 citations
,
March 2015 in “Dermatologic therapy” This study reported two cases of alopecia areata where hair regrowth was achieved with zinc gluconate and sulfur amino acids after relapse post-PUVA cessation, suggesting potential zinc responsiveness in some patients.
April 2023 in “Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica” This study found that using Urtica cannabina extract shampoo led to increased levels of copper, zinc, and iodine in the scalp hair of Mongolian women, along with improvements in hair growth, diameter, and density compared to a regular shampoo.
26 citations
,
October 2011 in “Biological trace element research” This study observed that lower serum copper levels may be linked to premature hair graying in young patients compared to controls.
February 2024 in “Journal of Pakistan Medical Association” This study found that patients with chronic telogen effluvium had significantly lower levels of zinc in their hair and serum compared to healthy controls, and observed a positive association between hair and serum zinc levels.
73 citations
,
January 2013 in “Annals of Dermatology” This study observed that patients with various types of hair loss had significantly lower serum zinc levels compared to healthy controls, suggesting zinc disturbance may play a role in the condition.
33 citations
,
April 2009 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” This study observed that psychological factors and serum levels of zinc, folate, and vitamin B12 may contribute to the development of trichodynia.
4 citations
,
October 2011 in “Medical journal of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and Health Services” This study suggests that lower levels of zinc and copper in hair and serum, along with altered oxidative stress markers, may contribute to the development of alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia.
1 citations
,
October 2024 in “FARMACIA” This study found that patients with age-related cataracts had significantly lower levels of manganese, selenium, vanadium, and zinc in their serum compared to healthy controls, with low serum selenium and zinc levels showing an independent association with an increased risk of cataracts.
13 citations
,
March 2012 in “The American Journal of Surgery” This study found that modified laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity reduced ghrelin levels, improved glycemic and insulin levels, and resulted in significant weight loss.
4 citations
,
January 2020 in “Skin appendage disorders” This study highlighted that toxic metals, particularly thallium, arsenic, selenium, and mercury, are commonly associated with cases of alopecia areata.
December 2025 in “Cureus” In this report, successful management of inherited acrodermatitis enteropathica, a zinc absorption disorder due to an SLC39A4 gene defect, was demonstrated in an infant through zinc supplementation.
January 2000 in “대한피부과학회지” This study reviewed 45 cases of zinc deficiency manifesting as skin symptoms related to acrodermatitis enteropathica, emphasizing the need for zinc supplementation in chronic malabsorption conditions.
February 1990 in “Pathology, research and practice” This study in rats with a portocaval shunt observed severe ultrastructural damage to the inner ear, associated with zinc deficiency and symptoms resembling liver cirrhosis in humans.
October 2025 in “OPAL (Open@LaTrobe) (La Trobe University)” This case report describes a 10-month-old minority infant from Xinjiang, China, with acrodermatitis enteropathy due to a SLC39A4 genetic mutation, showing clinical improvement in skin, hair, and zinc levels following zinc supplementation and highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and tailored treatment.
October 2025 in “OPAL (Open@LaTrobe) (La Trobe University)” In this case study, a 10-month-old minority infant from Xinjiang, China, with acrodermatitis enteropathy caused by an SLC39A4 gene mutation showed clinical improvement and increased zinc levels following zinc supplementation, highlighting the importance of early genetic testing and customized treatment in managing the disorder.
In this case report, a two-year-old girl with acrodermatitis enteropathica was misdiagnosed for over a year before low serum zinc levels led to the correct diagnosis, and her skin lesions resolved completely after two weeks of zinc sulfate treatment.
8 citations
,
August 1969 in “Journal of Nutrition” High protein diets improve wound healing and hair growth in calves, regardless of energy intake.
164 citations
,
November 1989 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” This retrospective study found that juvenile alopecia areata is more severe and has a worse prognosis than maturity-onset alopecia areata.
April 1980 in “Archives of Dermatology” This case study reported normal hair structure under polarized light microscopy in a 70-year-old man with zinc deficiency, contrasting with previous findings in acrodermatitis enteropathica.
September 2025 in “Online Türk Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi” This study observed that pediatric patients with diffuse, non-scarring alopecia had significantly lower levels of zinc and folate compared to matched healthy controls, suggesting a possible link between these deficiencies and hair loss in children.
December 2009 in “DergiPark (Istanbul University)” This study found that low levels of ferritin and iron were common among women with diffuse hair loss, suggesting these tests could be useful in evaluating such patients.
January 2026 in “Journal of the Egyptian Womenʼs Dermatologic Society” This study observed that male patients with alopecia areata had elevated serum levels of HSP70 and IL-15, with levels increasing alongside disease severity, suggesting these markers are strongly associated with the disease's pathogenesis.
This study found that telogen effluvium is strongly linked to lower serum levels of ferritin and vitamin D, especially in predominantly female patients.