If you want to check how healthy you really are, take a good look at your hair. No matter how much you spend on expensive shampoos and extravagant hair products, if your diet and lifestyle are not balanced then your hair will show the first signs of stress.
A lot of people see their hair as a reflection of their identity so it isn’t surprising that the global hair care products market is worth over $80 billion. What might surprise you is how much your hair can reveal about your health.
Medical researchers from around the world have been just as fascinated with hair as some of the world’s top stylists. Trichology, the branch of dermatology that focuses on the study of the health of hair, has existed for more than 100 years. However, scientists are the professionals who have uncovered what hair really tells us about our overall health condition.
Hair is a curious thing. According to the National Institutes of Health, there are more than 189,000 hair studies underway in 190 countries. These studies address a number of hair related issues.
Brittle Hair
Brittle hair can be a sign of a deficiency in zinc, Vitamin C or iron. It can also be a symptom of more serious health problems like Cushing’s syndrome or Hypothyroidism.
Greying
Grey hair at an early age can be caused by high amounts of stress. Usually it takes 3 to 6 months for hair to turn grey from stress.
Itchy Scalp
An itchy scalp and dandruff are signs that your hair is not being properly cleaned.
Red itchy scalp
This can be a sign of eating too much fat and sugar, especially if it is a sudden increase over a short period, which is often the case with pregnant women.
Dandruff
Often a result of stress which changes the balance of the scalp’s secretions. Also, d
Dull Hair
If your hair has body but lacks shine it is probably due to a poor diet. Stop eating all that junk and concentrate on the good kinds of fat from nuts and avocados.
Hair Loss
It is normal to lose some hair every day but if you’re losing a lot it might be anemia. Hair loss is also a genetic predisposition.
Poor hair growth
Can mean you are lacking in vitamins B and C, and zinc. It may point to a thyroid problem or a hormone imbalance.
Thinning Hair
Thinning hair can be caused by a hormone imbalance, such as too much testosterone. It can also be caused by a protein deficiency.
Brittle top layers
Likely to be caused by high stress levels coupled with a low-fat diet and probably smoking. The top hairs break off before they reach full length because they are malnourished.
Split ends
A lack of protein and essential fatty acids.
