What your hair says about your health

If you’re having more bad hair days than good days, your locks may be trying to tell you something. The state of your hair can be an important indicator of your health. 

Read on to learn about five medical conditions that can affect your hair.

If your hair is: dry and brittle

It could be: hypoparathyroidism

Dry hair might just mean it’s time to switch shampoos or lay off on the heat styling. Your hair and scalp might also be feeling the effects of a dry climate or harsh, drying products. 

But a rare hormonal condition called hypoparathyroidism could also be the culprit. When the parathyroid gland (which lies behind your thyroid) stops making enough parathyroid hormone, it can affect your hair, as well as your muscles, teeth, and cognition. Dry, brittle hair is one possible sign of the condition. Visit your healthcare provider (HCP) if you have dry, brittle hair along with other new symptoms.

If your hair is: thinning

It could be: hypothyroidism

Forget the late-night infomercials promising miracle cures. If your hair is thinning, your first call should be to your HCP. Among many other conditions, thinning hair could be a symptom of an underactive thyroid. Women are more likely than men to develop hypothyroidism, and people over 60 are especially at risk. Weight gain, fatigue, and feeling cold are other symptoms of hypothyroidism, so if you’ve noticed any of these symptoms along with thinning hair, get your thyroid checked out. 

If your hair is: falling out

It could be: iron deficiency

It’s normal to lose hair. In fact, the average person loses between 50 and 100 hairs per day. But if you’re shedding excessively, ask your HCP to check your iron. Iron is a key component in oxygen-rich blood, which your hair needs to grow. When you don’t have enough iron, your hair can stop growing and fall out. 

Though Americans tend to get enough iron in their diets, good sources include lentils, spinach, tofu, meat, poultry, and fish. It’s important talk to your HCP about low iron levels. Some people with deficiency may need supplements and getting exactly the right dose is important, since they can have serious side effects.

If your hair is: full of white flakes

It could be: seborrheic dermatitis

Dandruff is believed to be caused by a combination of issues with hormones, the immune system, the nervous system, and nutrition. Certain microbes have also been associated with it. Sometimes skin conditions lead to dandruff, including psoriasis, eczema, and seborrheic dermatitis, which causes scaly patches on the scalp that can flake into hair. In infants, it’s often called cradle cap.

Sometimes dandruff caused by seborrheic dermatitis will go away on its own, but if it’s bothering you, see a healthcare provider. In many cases, washing your hair with a dandruff-fighting shampoo can help treat the problem.

If your hair is: itchy

It could be: scalp psoriasis

You may not be able to see scalp psoriasis, but you can certainly feel it. If you’re scratching your head often and with little relief, you may have the condition. 

Psoriasis usually looks like scaly, silvery patches. About half of all people with psoriasis have it on their scalps, too. Tar shampoos, shampoos with menthol, steroid cream, keratolytics such as salicylic acid, and oral antihistamines can all provide relief from the itching.

To help keep your hair healthy, try the following strategies:

• Wash oily hair once a day and wash dry hair less often.
• Shampoo your scalp, but only condition your tips.
• Wear a bathing cap in the pool to avoid chlorine damage.
• Skip the blow dryer and curling iron, and don’t brush your hair when it’s wet.
• Wear your hair loose as much as possible. Don’t pull it back into a tight ponytail, bun, or cornrows, or only do so occasionally.
• In the winter, try to stretch the time between coloring sessions.
• Ease up on brushing—you don’t need 100 strokes a day.