Guwahati, Sept. 22 -- Most people think of folate as something only pregnant women need to worry about. But this B-vitamin plays a far more important role in everyday health than most people realize - including how your hair grows and how your skin holds up over time.

If you've been noticing increased hair shedding, dull skin, or slow-healing spots, low folate might be part of the picture. Not the whole story, but a piece worth understanding.

Folate, also known as Vitamin B9, is essential for DNA synthesis and cell division. That might sound abstract, but think about what it means in practice - every new cell your body makes depends on folate. Hair follicles and skin cells are among the fastest-dividing cells in the body. They need a co...