Fine hair
I wondered if you know of anything to help my 11-year-old daughter with her hair? It is very fine and there is so little of it, you can actually see her scalp. Do you know of anything we can do to encourage healthy hair growth?
The supplement that can help is called MSM which is short for methylsulphonylmethane; a naturally-occurring form of organic sulphur which is found in all living organisms. About half of the sulphur in the body is concentrated in the muscles, skin and bones but it is also an important constituent of keratin, the tough protein that makes up hair, skin and nails.
Although MSM, which is crucial for making collagen which, in turn, is the primary component of cartilage and connective tissue was originally marketed as a supplement to help maintain healthy joints, so many users reported back that the condition of their hair, skin and nails had also improved that lots of people now use it primarily for this purpose.
Sulphur is present in the diet in fresh fruits, cow’s milk, vegetables, seafood and meats but the reason you need a supplement to get a dose that will make a difference is that it is a fragile mineral that is easily destroyed by cooking and food processing techniques. MSM is widely on sale now in good health stores both in powder or supplement form. Since your daughter is 11, the safe dose is three-quarters that recommended for adults.