Deficiency causing dermatitis, alopecia, and taste disturbances?

• A. Vitamin A
• B. Iron
• C. Zinc
• D. Vitamin C

Answer: (C)

Zinc is essential for many enzymes and proteins involved in skin integrity, hair follicle function, and taste perception. When zinc is lacking, the skin becomes prone to inflammation and dermatitis, hair growth is impaired leading to alopecia, and taste buds don’t function normally, causing taste disturbances. This combination of dermatitis, hair loss, and altered taste is classic for zinc deficiency. Other deficiencies tend to present with different dominant symptoms—for example, vitamin A deficiency affects vision and skin dryness, iron deficiency causes anemia-related features, and vitamin C deficiency leads to gum issues and poor wound healing—so they don’t produce this exact triad.