Your hair is not only your crowning glory. More importantly, it reflects your overall health. There are signs and symptoms of certain illnesses, deficiencies, and other medical conditions that manifest visibly through your hair. Remember that just like your skin, your hair, being an outer covering, is maintained by the nutrients absorbed in the body.
Learn how the state of your hair and health are related:
Dullness
The most immediate remedy for hair dullness is salon treatment, believing that the problem is only skin deep. Unfortunately, it does not necessarily hold true at all times.
Experts say that hair dullness and brittleness are possible signs of a lack of phosphorus, selenium, sulfur, and protein – the very same elements that make up your bones and teeth. If your gums and teeth show signs of bleeding and brittleness as well, along with your hair breakage, then drink supplements, consume more fruits, and load up on omega-3 fatty acids.
Better yet, seek medical attention as the problem could be worse. Cushing’s disease, for example, is accompanied by hair brittleness. Other medical conditions which you need to watch out for includes hypertension, chronic and unclassified back pain, and insomnia.
Dandruff
Are you itching to death because of dandruff?
It’s high time you looked into the matter seriously. Not only are flakes considered eye sores that taint your image to the public and hurt your confidence, but they also cause you unnecessary problems.
For one, excessive itching leads to scalp irritation. When left untreated or when the itching behavior is left uncontrolled, it can lead to infection.
The underlying causes of dandruff also tell several important health insights. Dandruff can be due to harsh chemicals contained in certain hair products that may very well be carcinogenic.
Listen to how your scalp feels and stop using the product immediately. Embarking on a diet and consequently depriving yourself of carbohydrates and essential fats and other nutrients also result in dandruff problems.
On top of buying specialized shampoos to treat the problem, you need to check your nutritional intake. Load up on healthy meals and snacks.
Also prioritize your psychological wellness. Stress may also be the cause of dandruff.
Interestingly, it was likewise found that dandruff is linked to immunodeficiency and gastrointestinal problems.
The occurrence of yellow dandruff, for instance, is associated with the skin condition called seborrheic dermatitis that cannot be treated by a hair salon treatment but with a doctor-prescribed treatment.
Premature Greying of Hair
Certain genes dictate a person’s melanocyte production throughout the different ages in life. This is perfectly understandable and reasonable. However, be alarmed when the greying process occurs prematurely, particularly when you have ruled out the genetic factor.
It could then likely be due to chronic stress, fatigue or poor diet. Experts believe that undergoing fad diets may deprive the body of a significant amount of protein (or other hair nutrients) that affect melanin production.
So, while you can always find creative ways to hide the grey hair strands, what with today’s advanced hair coloring and coating techniques, the best solution to premature greying is to tackle its root nutritional cause.
Hair Fall
Every day, an average person loses about 100 to 150 hair strands daily. Certain natural circumstances can affect hair strength, like aging and pregnancy. In this case, you simply have to go through such natural changes and reinforce your hair’s health by improving nutritional intake.
The danger happens when more strands are lost. It can be due to immune system and/or endocrine system problems. Diabetes or chronic stress is even linked to serious hair fall.
One rudimentary method to check if your hair fall is normal or not is to finger comb your hair from roots to tips.
- One to 2 lost strands meant your hair is in excellent condition
- 3 to 5 strands signify good condition
- More strands lost meant something’s wrong
To avoid hasty or false conclusions, talk to your physician.
Heavy Oiliness
Like the greying of hair, how oily your hair gets is also a function of genes and lifestyle choices. Heavily greasy hair may be caused by unhealthy diet.
Your sebaceous glands can malfunction, especially when you take too much unhealthy fats, sweets, coffee, and alcohol. Likewise, hormonal and liver problems also underlie oily hair concerns. Again, seek medical help if you think the greasiness is beyond normal.
Your hair tells a story; it reflects beauty and health altogether. As you witnessed how hair problems can turn to serious health problems, be wise enough to seek professional advice.