Hair problems

7 things your hair is telling you about your health

A metaphoric bad hair day can indicate a lot more about your health than just hair. A healthy mane can be an indication of the nutrition we provide to our body as well as the mental health we experience. Less volume, breakage, and loss – every sign reflects your hair’s health. 

Dry Hair – Lack of Healthy Fats

Fat helps retain the natural sheen of hair. Therefore, dry hair hints that you need to feed more healthy fats to your body. 

You may observe this hair condition if you follow a strict diet that eliminates fats from your menu. Other reasons for temporary dry hair can vary from a change in weather or water. If the dryness persists, it is time to switch to a wholesome diet besides getting expert help.

Graying of Hair – Stress

While graying hair can indicate the experience gained, unfortunately, it may not be celebrative if the graying is premature. In many instances, graying can be genetic, provided it follows the parents’ graying suit.

On the contrary, any early graying is a strong indication of stress. Studies find that oxidative stress can often lead to graying of hair and, in worst cases, to hair fall. Hence, any sign of graying of hair too early compared to the family members is a hint to keep stress under check.

Consider implementing stress management techniques such as meditation, breathing exercises, and a healthy 8-hours sleep every day.

Also Read: How to swap refined carbs with healthy foods?

Excessive Hair Loss – Anemia and Vitamin Deficiency

An average individual loses around 100 hair strands per day. However, if you find abnormal amounts of hair on the pillow after waking up or the bathroom drain blocks due to hair strands after a head bath – it could be a red flag.  

Causes for excessive hair loss can range from anemia, heavy bleeding during periods, and hormone disorders to vitamin and iron deficiency. Stress can be a trigger too, which is why immediate medical attention is required to diagnose the root cause.

Dry Scalp – Skin Infections and Lack of Omega-3

Are you experiencing an itchy scalp very often? While a certain level of itching might be due to dry weather, severe and frequent itching on the scalp can be a symptom of skin disorders such as psoriasis. 

Another reason for a dry scalp is the lack of essential fatty acids. Scalp itching can mean it is time to add a tablespoon or two of flax seeds, sunflower seeds, and fish to feed your body with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Suggested Reading: Tips to switch from processed foods to healthy eating

Thin Hair – Inadequate Protein

It is no new fact that protein is vital for a healthy mane. Thinning of hair can be a reminder that you need to amp up your protein intake. 

Hair cells, though dead cells are a part of the growing hair cell that needs protein for healthy growth. Any lack of protein can stunt the new hair cell growth and restrict hair volume.

Eggs, fish, lean meat, paneer, poultry, cereals, pulses, and dairy are protein-rich sources that boost your hair volume.

Healthwise, hormonal disorders such as hypothyroidism may result in thinning of hair. If the thinning is too severe, doctors may suggest a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test diagnose hypothyroidism. 

Brittle hair – Need for Antioxidants

If your hair is breaking too much, then it is an indication of brittle hair. Stress is the primary contributor to brittle hair. Fatigue and high blood pressure are other common causes of hair brittleness. Experts call this condition Cushing’s syndrome which may necessitate treatment ranging from steroids to surgery.

The brittleness of hair can be tackled by adding more omega-3s and antioxidants to your diet. Care such as avoiding over-drying and over-blowing may benefit too. However, if they do not seem to alleviate the condition, seek medical attention to identify the root cause.

Flax seeds, oil massage and a good quality hair brush help your hair

Flakes -Dryness and Fungal Infection

Commonly called dandruff, hair flakes can be in a whitish-yellow color commonly observed on shoulders and eyebrows. Scalp dryness is the root problem that triggers flakes. Incompatible shampoos that excessively dry the hair can cause dandruff too.

If changing the shampoo and oiling does not help improve flakes, it is vital to get checked for any fungal infections and dermatitis conditions.

Listen to your hair!

Our hair signals us to care for it by making healthy tweaks to our diet and lifestyle. However, it can also be awry to experience such drastic symptoms that might often hamper self-esteem. Switch to a healthy lifestyle, try yoga poses that improve circulation to hair, fill your plate with the essential nutrients, get that beauty sleep and consult experts to resolve your hair woes.