Dietary Supplements Causing Hair Loss & Acne? A Dermatologist Explains

Can dietary supplements cause hair loss, acne, rashes, nail changes, or other skin problems? Dermatologist Dr. Dray explores the growing connection between social media health trends, fad diets, dietary supplement overuse, and dermatologic disease In this video, Dr. Dray discusses several important examples, including selenium toxicity (selenosis), niacin toxicity and flushing, zinc-induced copper deficiency, whey protein and acne, and potentially adulterated bodybuilding and performance supplements. She also explains why dermatologists should ask about dietary supplements when evaluating unexplained hair loss, nail dystrophy, rashes, pigmentary changes, acne, and other unusual skin findings. One particularly important example is selenium toxicity. Excessive selenium can cause rapid, sometimes dramatic hair loss, nail abnormalities, gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, garlic-smelling breath, and other systemic effects. Selenium exposure can come from supplements as well as foods such as Brazil nuts, making total intake important to consider. Dr. Dray also discusses niacin, which can cause the characteristic "niacin flush," and excessive zinc intake, which can interfere with copper absorption and potentially contribute to pigmentary changes, hair abnormalities, poor wound healing, and systemic complications. The video takes a more nuanced look at whey protein and acne as well. Although whey protein has been associated with acne in case reports and observational research,