Most of us treat our hair as we do our teeth. Never providing the necessary attention and care, until we start to suffer from some discomfort. While the way our hair looks relies on several factors beyond our control, such as hereditary predisposition, other factors such as lifestyle and diet can be equally influential and are largely in our hands. Additionally, the health of our hair can be the tip-off to some important health problems.
The quality, texture, and shine of our hair can reflect the nourishment and hydration being provided to the rest of the body. It can also be reflective of the body’s physical and psychological stress levels and underlying health issues. So before reaching for an easy fix that may just treat the symptoms, here are some red flags that can help you tell whether your hair changes are due to a health problem rather than genetics or a treatable hair condition.
Thin and dry hair: Thin hair can be difficult to manage and often becomes frizzy, dull, and plagued with split ends. Often, thin hair has been damaged by chemical processing, excessive hair drying, flattening, or curling, or exposure to chlorinated water. But thinning hair and diminishing volume, especially in a short amount of time can be an indicator of an underactive thyroid. Other signs of hypothyroidism are fatigue, weight changes (usually weight gain), depression and feeling cold when others feel normal. In some cases, the outer part of the eyebrow also thins or disappears. You can discuss all your symptoms with your doctor and ask to be checked for hypothyroidism by checking your TSH and Free T4.
Alternatively, a lack of proteins can cause thinning of the hair shaft since it is largely made up of the protein Keratin. Plant sources that are highest in Protein are quinoa (8 gr. per cup), Buckwheat (6 gr. per cup), Organic Tofu (10 grams per ½ cup), rice and beans together form a complete protein (7 gr per cup), and hemp seeds (10 grams per 2 tablespoon).
Thick crust on the scalp: Thick greasy patches on the scalp can be confused with dry skin or dandruff. However, seborrheic dermatitis (seb-uh-ree-ick dur-muh-tahy-tis) is more than just dry flakes. These patches of skin are yellow and stick tightly to the scalp beneath, which is inflamed, red, and itchy. Other areas may be involved such as the eyebrows, the nasal creases, or around the mouth.
Those with seborrheic dermatitis produce an abundance of sebum that may be induced by a fungus called malassezia (māl'ə-sē'zē-ə, -sā). Seborrheic dermatitis may run in families, but there is no doubt that environmental stressors and internal stressors such as menstrual cycle in women, hormonal imbalance, and certain foods can make it worse. Seborrheic dermatitis is also common in those with other skin rashes such as psoriasis. Remedies may include a change in lifestyle to avoid stress, as well as limiting fungus feeding foods, like sugar, and incorporating foods that naturally fight fungus, such as garlic and ginger into your diet instead.
Shedding Hair: Thinning hair usually starts long before we are aware of it. The process often begins months or years before the end results are noticeable. Most of us will only notice noticeable hair change after fifteen percent of hair is lost. However, if you suddenly notice more hair falling out in the shower or on your hairbrush, look for signs of anemia, such as shortness of breath with minimal exertion, low blood pressure with a high pulse, cool extremities, and pale skin color. You can be checked for low iron, Vitamin B12, and hemoglobin level. Women who experience additional symptoms such as weight gain, and trouble losing weight, acne, facial hair, and irregular periods your doctor may run tests for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
Grey Hair: Despite the old saying “Grey hair is better than no hair” and the biblical reference to grey hair as being a crown of glory and a sign of wisdom, grey hair may bring psychological distress to some. Apart from genetics and stress levels, early greying can be related to vitamin deficiencies. Stress in any form soaks vitamin B from our body, so when in deficit, your hair’s pigment will decrease turning the hair grey. Checking Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and Folic acid levels may help determine the cause for greying hair.
Our entire body communicates in order to let us know what it needs or if something is wrong. Thus, it's important to be alert to what it is trying to tell us. So what is your hair telling you today?