Your hair can give away information about your health. According to research, changes in your hair’s appearance, texture, or thickness may indicate underlying medical concerns. Here’s how to determine whether your hair changes are brought on by a medical condition, a genetic predisposition, a nutritional deficiency, or stress.
1. Brittle Hair Could Indicate Cushing’s Syndrome
One indication of Cushing’s syndrome, a rare disorder brought on by excessive cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, is brittle hair. However, there are numerous other, more obvious signs of Cushing’s syndrome, such as elevated blood pressure, exhaustion, and back pain.
Changing the dose of a drug that may cause Cushing’s syndrome, such as the steroid glucocorticoids, used to treat inflammation brought on by several disorders, may be part of the treatment. Some people may require surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy to stop the overproduction of cortisol by the adrenal glands.
2. Stress and Genes Can Make You Go Gray
Anyone who leads a stressful life may have noticed that stress causes hair to become gray. A study on mice published in Nature revealed that prolonged stress might lead to graying hair by causing DNA damage and decreasing the number of pigment-producing cells in hair follicles. Hair loss is another side effect of stress.
Gray hair may also be caused by oxidative stress, another type of stress. According to dermatologist Paradi Mirmirani, MD, from California’s Permanente Medical Group in Vallejo, “oxidative stress (when cell-damaging free radicals inhibit the body’s repair processes) may affect pigment-producing cells.”
Your hair follicles naturally produce less pigment as you age, which is why you start to go gray. But, Dr. Mirmirani adds, “Your genes also play a factor in when your hair turns gray; ask your parents when they first noticed the first signs of silver, and you might follow suit.” A 2016 study in Nature Communications was the first to pinpoint the gene in charge of gray hair.
3. Hair Thinning Could Indicate Thyroid Disease
When your thyroid gland doesn’t generate enough thyroid hormones, you get hypothyroidism, which can cause significant hair loss and a change in the appearance of your hair.
Although most hypothyroidism cases are mild, about 4.6 percent of Americans aged 12 and older have the condition. In addition to thinning hair, it can result in other symptoms like fatigue, a cold intolerance, joint discomfort, muscular pain, a swollen face, and weight gain. The disorder is diagnosed with a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test, and thyroid medication is used as treatment.
Certain thyroid conditions increase your risk for hair thinning and alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. Round patches of abrupt hair loss are standard with this form of hair loss, which is brought on by the immune system damaging the hair follicles.
4. Hair Loss Could be a Sign of a Protein Deficiency
Hair health and growth require protein (a lack of protein has been associated with hair loss and thinning). However, most Americans don’t have a protein deficiency issue. On average, adults need 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight.
Excellent sources of protein include:
- Chicken breast,
- Chickpeas,
- Non-fat Greek yogurt,
- Tilapia.
Protein digestion issues may occur in people with gastrointestinal problems or who have just undergone gastric bypass surgery. Your doctor will need to assist you in handling these unique circumstances. However, genetics is likely to blame for most hair loss, even in women.
5. Hair Shedding Could Indicate Anemia
It may be necessary to get tested if you notice that there is suddenly a lot more hair on your hairbrush or shower floor because this could indicate that your body is anemic or short on iron. Mirmirani notes that since being a vegetarian or having a heavy period increases the likelihood that hair changes are caused by low iron, she is more likely to prescribe this blood test for these individuals.
According to Rebecca Baxt, MD, a dermatologist in Paramus, New Jersey, it’s unclear why low iron levels can result in hair loss. Still, iron is essential for a variety of biological and chemical processes, possibly including hair growth. She explained that “eating more meals high in iron or taking an iron supplement may assist with hair loss if your doctor decides that you are actually iron deficient.”
In addition, hair shredding is frequently observed after pregnancy or quitting birth control pills, and it can also occur (temporarily) when estrogen levels suddenly fluctuate.
6. Yellow or White Flakes Could Indicate Dandruff
Dandruff is a persistent scalp condition that appears as yellow or white flakes in your hair, shoulders, or eyebrows. Dandruff is typically treatable with over-the-counter specialist shampoos or a prescription shampoo and does not generally signify a significant health issue.
The Mayo Clinic states that seborrheic dermatitis is one of the most typical causes of dandruff. Seborrheic dermatitis is distinguished by red, oily skin coated in flaky white or yellow scales. Malassezia, a yeast-like fungus, can similarly irritate the scalp. Dandruff can also be brought on by inadequate shampooing, sensitivity to hair care products, and dry skin. (Dandruff is typically worse in the winter since indoor heating can dry the skin.)
7. Damaged Hair Can Hide Other Health Issues
Even though hair can reveal information about your health, Mirmirani claims that patients typically complain about the harm caused by coloring and overheating their hair to irreparable damage. Your hair can be damaged by exposure to too much heat, resulting in dryness, brittleness, and difficulty maintaining it.
While getting your hair professionally colored is unlikely to cause significant damage, bleaching your hair and applying boxed hair color at home can have harmful effects. You can lessen damage to your hair by using products with protective ingredients, such as “post-color treatments, proper color-preservers and moisturizing shampoos,” Tania Moran, a certified hairstylist at Swank Hair Salon in New York City, recommends.
However, it’s best to avoid using bleaching products or heated styling equipment on your hair because heavily treated hair might hide some issues and make it challenging to see or feel what your hair can reveal about your health.
