Which deficiency can cause skin rashes, hair loss, and loss of taste?

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

Answer: (A)

Zinc deficiency disrupts skin, hair, and taste because zinc is a crucial cofactor for many enzymes and for the maintenance of skin and taste bud cells. When zinc is low, skin integrity worsens, leading to dermatitis and rashes; hair follicles can’t maintain normal growth, causing hair loss; and taste receptors don’t function properly, leading to loss of taste. This combination of dermatitis, alopecia, and dysgeusia is a classic presentation of zinc deficiency. Other options don’t typically cause all three symptoms together—for example, iron deficiency mainly causes fatigue and anemia, vitamin C deficiency causes scorbutic signs like gum disease and collagen problems, and copper deficiency has different effects on connective tissue and blood cells.