7 Health-Related Messages Your Hair can Convey
What Your Hair Says About Your Health Might Surprise You
Hair Changes Aren’t Just Cosmetic – They Could Be Health Warnings
Whether you’re worrying about a bad hair day enjoying a nice blowout or deciding whether to try out the new style you saw on your favorite celebrity you probably think about your hair every day.
Your hair may be giving you hints about your health that you aren’t seeing. Changes in the thickness, texture or appearance of your hair may indicate underlying medical issues according to research. Here’s how to determine whether your hair changes are the result of a nutritional deficit, stress genetics or a medical condition.
Genes and Stress can Cause Graying
Anyone who has observed the way presidential hair changes from one campaign to the next has noticed that stress appears to cause graying of the hair. Chronic stress has been linked to graying hair according to one study by damaging DNA and decreasing the number of pigment-producing cells in hair follicles. Additionally, stress can lead to hair loss.
Gray hair may also be caused by oxidative stress, a different kind of stress. Pigment-producing cells may be impacted by oxidative stress which occurs when free radicals that damage cells prevent the body’s repair mechanisms from functioning.
Going gray is a normal aspect of aging because as you age your hair follicles produce less color. When your hair goes gray is also influenced by your genes. You might follow your parents’ example and find out how old they were when they noticed the first hint of silver. Indeed a study found the gene that causes gray hair.
One Possible Symptom of Cushing’s Syndrome Is Brittle Hair
Excess cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone, causes Cushing’s syndrome, a rare disorder that includes brittle hair as one of its symptoms. High blood pressure exhaustion and back pain are just a few of the many other more visible signs of Cushing’s syndrome.
Glucocorticoids are steroids used to treat inflammation brought on by a number of illnesses. One treatment option for Cushing’s syndrome is to alter the dosage of any medications that may be contributing to the condition. To address the overproduction of cortisol by the adrenal gland other patients may require radiation therapy chemotherapy or surgery (if Cushings is caused by a malignant tumor).
A Thinning of the Hair may Indicate Thyroid Disease
Individuals with hypothyroidism, a disorder in which the thyroid gland produces insufficient thyroid hormones may experience a change in the appearance of their hair as well as increased hair shedding according to Mirmirani.
Roughly 4-6% of the U.S. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases hypothyroidism affects people aged 12 and up though the majority of cases are mild. Along with other symptoms like fatigue, cold intolerance joints and muscle pain puffiness on the face and weight gain it can result in thinning hair. Thyroid medication is used to treat the condition which is diagnosed by a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune hair loss condition that can occur in conjunction with thinning hair due to certain thyroid disorders. Round abrupt hair loss patches are the result of this type of hair loss. It occurs when hair follicles are attacked by the immune system.
Hair Loss May Indicate Anaemia
It may be necessary to get tested if you notice a sudden increase in the amount of hair in your hairbrush or on the shower floor. This could indicate anemia or low iron stores. This is another blood test that we do when you complain of hair changes. People who are vegetarians or women who have heavy periods are more likely to have this blood test ordered because they are more likely to have low iron levels causing their hair changes.
Although iron is essential for many biological and chemical processes including possibly hair growth the exact cause of low iron can lead to hair loss is unknown.
Moreover abrupt changes in estrogen levels can cause (temporary) hair loss which is frequently observed following pregnancy or the cessation of birth control.
An Insufficiency of Proteins may be the Cause of Hair Loss
Hair growth and health depend on protein. Insufficient protein has been connected to hair loss and thinning. For most Americans protein deficiency is not an issue. Approximately 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight is required by most adults. Chicken breast chickpeas tilapia and nonfat Greek yogurt are all excellent sources of protein.
Protein digestion issues may arise in people with gastrointestinal disorders or those who recently underwent gastric bypass surgery. Your physician will need to assist you in managing these unique circumstances. However even in women the majority of hair thinning is probably genetic.
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White or Yellow Flakes may Indicate a Case of Dandruff
A chronic scalp condition called dandruff is indicated by yellow or white flakes in your hair on your shoulders and even in your eyebrows. Prescription shampoos or over-the-counter specialty hair shampoos can typically be used to treat dandruff which typically does not signify a serious health issue.
One of the most prevalent causes of dandruff is seborrheic dermatitis. Seborrheic dermatitis patients have oily red skin with flaky white or yellow scales. Another fungus that can irritate the scalp is malassezia which resembles yeast. Dandruff can also be brought on by dry skin sensitivity to hair care products and insufficient shampooing. Winter is typically the worst season for dandruff because indoor heating can dry out the skin.
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Damaged Hair can Conceal Additional Health Issues
Despite the fact that hair can reveal information about your health. Patients most frequently complain about the harm caused by coloring and styling their hair with heat.
Daily use of a flat iron or blowout can cause excessive heat damage to your hair which can leave it dry, brittle and difficult to manage. Although occasional double-heat procedures are acceptable it is advised to use no more than one hot tool per day.
Serums and shine drops tend to have qualities that preserve the hair when using direct and indirect heat so always use products with protective ingredients when applying heat to your hair.
It is unlikely that getting your hair professionally colored will harm it much but bleaching and using boxed hair color at home can cause problems. The correct products can help you minimize any damage to your hair. Use the right moisturizing and color-preserving shampoo after color treatment.
Hair that has undergone extensive treatment may conceal certain issues and make it challenging to perceive or sense the health indicators that your hair may provide.
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