Your hair is amazing. It’s speaking to you about the rest of your body, but are you listening? If you’re doing everything you should to care for your hair, but having issues, such as dryness or thinning, your hair could be giving you clues to underlying health issues, such as thyroid disease or iron deficiency. The following outlines what your hair may be revealing about your overall health, and what you should do to resolve the issues.
Your Hair is Falling Out
Your hair goes through three growth phases: anagen, catagen, and telogen. The anagen phase is active for two to six years, and it’s during this time that your hair grows. The catagen phase is a short transition phase that typically lasts one to two weeks. Finally, the telogen phase can last up to six weeks. It’s during this final phase that hair falls out but, if your hair growth phases are disrupted, your hair could fall out sooner and in large clumps.
There are many reasons your hair could be falling out. Holistic nutritionist and health coach, Kelly LeVeque, told Good Housekeeping that iron deficiency is among the most common reasons for hair loss. If you’re not getting enough iron in your diet (a problem common to vegans and vegetarians), it may be helpful to take a multivitamin that contains iron.
A healthy diet is good for a number of reasons, including promoting healthy hair. You don’t have to make drastic changes to eat healthier. A few simple changes should do. “…outside of diet, hair loss is most commonly related to hormone imbalance and fluctuations like polycystic ovarian syndrome, hypothyroidism, pregnancy, and menopause.” Says LeVeque. “Changing or stopping birth control can cause hair loss as well.”
Your Hair is Dry and/or Thinning
If your hair is dry and brittle, this could be an indicator that something more serious is going on. If you’ve taken steps to care for your hair, such as saturating it in warm olive oil, and it’s still dry, you may want to consult a doctor. Hair shedding and dryness are signs of hypothyroidism, which is a condition that can only be diagnosed with a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test. If it’s determined you have hypothyroidism, your doctor may prescribe a thyroid medication.
In most cases, dry hair doesn’t indicate serious health conditions. It could be something simple, such as weather. Very cold or hot temperatures can cause your hair to dry, or other environmental factors could be the culprit. Hormonal changes may also be changing the texture of your hair, especially if you’ve reached menopausal age, are taking birth control, or experiencing pregnancy.
Your Dandruff is Yellow
Regular white-flake dandruff isn’t an indicator of any serious health problems; however, yellow flakes could be a sign of seborrheic dermatitis. This condition is known to be worse in the wintertime; however, it’s not limited to specific seasons. If your flakes are accompanied by an itchy, red rash, you’ll want a doctor’s opinion before self-administering treatment. It could be psoriasis, eczema, or an allergic reaction.
In most cases, you can treat seborrheic dermatitis with an over-the-counter specialty shampoo. WebMD recommends that you pick a shampoo that contains one of these ingredients known to help heal the scalp: coal tar, ketoconazole, salicylic acid, selenium sulfide, or zinc pyrithione.
Your Hair is Graying
Gray hair naturally occurs as you age; however, it’s also an indicator that you’re under stress. Dermatologist Paradi Mirmirani, MD, warns, “Oxidative stress may affect pigment producing cells.” Because stress is a leading factor in other, more serious health issues, such as increased blood pressure, it’s important to keep stress levels low. You should talk to your doctor or therapist about managing stress.
What’s happening with your hair could be a warning that something more serious is happening in your body. It’s important to listen to your hair, and speak to your doctor about any sudden or persistent changes. Only a doctor can diagnose serious medical issues, but once your health is improved, you can talk to your stylist about improving the look of your hair.
