You might be surprised to know that your hair can be an indicator of your overall health. This is especially important considering the increasing number of health concerns we are exposed to as we age. While your hair might not help you detect life-threatening conditions, it can give you insight into the overall state of your body. Here are some ways that your hair can serve as a health indicator.
Gray Hair Can Be Indicative of Stress Levels
While most people will most likely dismiss gray hair as a sign of aging, it can also be an indication of chronic stress. This is especially true if you’re too young to have gray hair. Gray hair at a young age can be a sign of DNA damage, which decreases the amount of pigmentation cells in your follicles. Extreme stress levels may even cause significant hair loss as the stress hurts your body’s ability to heal itself, which includes hair follicles.
Brittle Hair and Cushing Syndrome
Apart from being a sign of overexposure to the sun, brittle hair can also be indicative of Cushing Syndrome. Cushing’s Syndrome refers to a condition wherein the adrenal gland produces excessive amounts of cortisol. While this overproduction is not necessarily harmful in itself, if left untreated, it can drastically increase the risk of hypertension, bone loss, and even type 2 diabetes. This condition will usually require surgery or chemotherapy to correct the excessive production of cortisol.
Cavities May Accompany Hair Disorders
The presence of hair disorders can also be an indication of low levels of keratin. While keratin is essential for healthy hair, it is also an essential component for tooth enamel, which makes teeth durable and sturdy. Lower levels of keratin also lead to a lower production of enamel, which results in a softer tooth surface. Softer teeth are more likely to form tooth cavities that increase the risk of bacterial infection.
Anemia and Excessive Hair Fall
Iron is a mineral that is essential for a number of body functions, one being hair growth. Iron levels will usually drop significantly after the body goes through significant endocrine changes. (Particularly with estrogen) Some examples of such changes are post-partum, and the cessation of birth control pill use.
You may also experience hair shedding as a side effect of medication. Some medication may alter the hair growth cycle, which will force follicles to revert to a phase when they are weakest, making it easier for them to fall off.
Hair loss is not necessarily a cause for alarm, but we do understand that it may be worrisome to other people. If you count among this demographic, you may be relieved to learn that there are many guides on how to prevent hair loss.
Dandruff Can Be Caused By an Unbalanced Diet
While it’s true that dandruff is primarily caused by poor hygiene and dry skin, if you’re sure that you’ve got your hygiene sorted out, dandruff could be caused by an unbalanced diet that causes your scalp to produce more oil than necessary. Dandruff may indicate that you are consuming excessive amounts of bad fat, chocolates, and dairy.
While these indicators do not serve as a means to detect life-threatening illnesses early, they can be used as a way to determine your overall health. Just as bad hair can indicate poor health, healthy hair can also be indicative of a healthy body.
