Hair loss and other problems? Find out what your hair says about your health!

Brittle hair, dull hair, split ends, hair fall and other problems may be symptoms of underlying conditions.

By: Dr Anitha Anchan | | Updated: June 17, 2015 4:27 pm

Hair loss: If you want thick, healthy and lustrous locks, just massage some warm castor oil on your scalp at least thrice a week. Leave it overnight and wash off the next morning. The massage increases blood circulation and as castor oil is rich in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, it not only boosts hair growth but also conditions your hair.

Your hair is your crowning glory. Healthy hair is shiny, thick, and strong. But certain lifestyle practices and conditions can directly or indirectly affect it. Here are a few hair symptoms that indicate some underlying conditions:

Brittle hair is generally a sign of damage from chemical and physical treatments done to the hair fibre such as excessive curling, dying, etc. These treatments weaken the strength and integrity of the hair, causing it to become dry and brittle. Brittle hair could also indicate excessive sun exposure or an adverse effect of certain medications.

Loss of lustre

Hair may lose its shine loss from swimming in chlorinated water and using hair colour. Lifeless, dull hair could indicate lack of protein and vitamins in your diet. It may also be associated with several illnesses or certain medications. Loss of hair lustre may be a sign of under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism) too.

Hair loss

If you are experiencing hair loss, chances are you are either stressed or are living on junk food. Junk food could lead to nutritional deficiencies which may contribute to hair loss. Protein deficiency can cause dry and brittle hair that breaks easily. People having eating disorders are also more likely to suffer from extensive hair loss. Blow drying your hair on a daily basis, straightening and curling could also contribute to hair fall.

Bald patches on the scalp are a sign of alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition. The hair loss may also be seen in the eyebrows, arms, legs or facial hair. It is often sudden in onset, and the hair usually grows back in six months to a year. However, when the hair grows back in one area, it may fall out in another. If your hair starts to feel markedly thinner, it may be a sign of a hormonal imbalance caused due to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Hair loss could also indicate other medical conditions like psoriasis, hypothyroidism, diabetes, etc. Diabetes negatively affects the body’s circulatory system. If diabetes is causing poor blood circulation to the scalp, the hair follicles die resulting in hair loss. Furthermore, this poor circulation may prevent further hair growth.

Change in hair colour

As you age, the colour of your hair eventually turns grey and then white. This is called achromotrichia. But stress and smoking could cause premature greying. And so can pernicious anaemia and Werner syndrome. Nutritional deficiency can cause hair to become lighter, dry and brittle. White or pale blond hair could be due to albinism, a genetic abnormality in which there is lack of pigment in hair, eyes and skin. Patchy loss of hair colour is seen in vitiligo. According to a study, premature hair greying or whitening may represent early atherosclerotic changes in heart blood vessels and the degree of grey/white hairs is related to extent of coronary artery disease.

Split ends

For some, hair with split ends could be an indication of a genetic problem called trichorrhexis nodosa. This condition causes a defect in the hair shaft. So the hair is thick at some points and thin at others. This uneven texture causes it to break easily. More common reasons for split ends are excessive thermal, mechanical or chemical stress on hair through blow drying, straightening, curling, perming, strong shampoos, etc. These stresses cause the hair to react to become too coarse, lose sheen or develop split ends.

You may also like to read:

Photo source: Shutterstock

Published : June 17, 2015 3:33 pm | Updated:June 17, 2015 4:27 pm

Read Disclaimer