OUR hair can say a lot about us, whether it’s a ponytail at the gym or a loose curl on the weekend.
But now experts have shown that yours luscious locks can really determine if you have a serious medical condition.
Research shows that changes in the appearance, texture or thickness of your hair can indicate its underlying cause health problems.
Dandruffearly graying and thinning are often nuisances that do no harm.
But sometimes they are a warning sign that something is wrong – and often it can be cured.
Heavy stressfor example, can often damage your strands.
1. Problems with the thyroid gland
Dr. Charlotte Woodward, clinical director of River Aesthetics, said that people who have thyroid problem could experience hair loss and changing the appearance of the hair.
A doctor who works with RegenLab said it could be related to hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone.
She said: “This can lead to hair loss as well as other symptoms including fatigue, sensitivity to cold, joint discomfort, muscle pain, swollen face and weight gain.
“Thyroid medications are used to treat a condition that is diagnosed by a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test.”
Dr. Woodward added that in addition to hair loss, many thyroid problems put you at risk for alopecia areata, an autoimmune hair loss syndrome.
“This form of hair loss is caused by the immune system attacking the hair follicles, resulting in round patches of unexpected hair loss.
“It appears as circular bald patches anywhere on the scalp in men, women and even toddlers.
“It usually comes out of nowhere, even within a few days. Although the etiology of alopecia areata is uncertain, the condition develops when white blood cells attack the cells in the hair follicles, causing them to shrink and hair growth is significantly reduced,” she added. . .
2. Cushing’s syndrome
If your hair is brittle, you may be suffering from Cushing’s syndrome.
It is an unusual disease characterized by excessive amounts of cortisol, the main stress hormone in the body.
Brittle hair is just one of the symptoms, and people with this condition may also experience brittle hair. blood pressurefatigue and back discomfort.
3. Anemia
Many people will have to pull hair out of their brush or comb, but if you see an unusual amount of hair, it could be due to anemia.
This could be an indicator that your body is lacking iron.
Hair loss can also occur (temporarily) in response to a rapid increase in estrogen levels, as shown below pregnancy or termination birth control tablets.
4. Irritation
Marie Pricethe certified hairdresser from Derby said that many patients often complain about the damage caused by excessive coloring and heat treatment of the hair.
According to Marie, too much heat, such as from daily use of flat irons or daily blow-drying, can damage your hair, making it dry, brittle and difficult to manage.
Marie suggests always using products with protective ingredients when heating your hair.
“When using direct and indirect heat, serums and shine drops tend to have hair conditioning properties,” she adds.
5. Protein deficiency
Protein essential for hair growth and health, and a lack of protein has been linked to hair thinning and loss.
Protein digestion can be problematic for those with gastrointestinal disorders or those who have recently had gastric bypass surgery.
These unique circumstances require your doctor’s help.
However, even in women, most hair loss is hereditary.
6. Stress
Many people with the coronavirus have reported hair loss, and doctors previously said it could be related to the stress it puts on the body.
Dr. Woodward said chronic stress is hypothesized to play a role in graying hair by causing DNA damage and reducing the number of pigment-producing cells in hair follicles.
Oxidative stress, another type of stress, can also play a role in gray hair.
Dr. Victoria Manning, Associate Clinical Director of River Aesthetics RegenLab adds that your genes play a role in graying hair – ask your parents how old they were when they first noticed a silver thread and you can follow in their footsteps.
