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does Bad Hair Mean Bad Health?
Some conditions & medications affect your body as well as your hair.
In other cases, you may just need to take better care of your hair or scalp..
DANDRUFF
Doctors aren't sure how you get Dandruff but one theory is that it may be due to an overgrowth of a fungus
Other possible risk factors include oily skin, stress, obesity, cold, dry weather & having eczema or psoriasis
Although it's embarrassing & the itching can be bothersome,dandruff isn't harmful'
Tips for Normal Dandruff Treatment
1. To decrease the buildup of dandruff's dead skin cells, try using an antidandruff shampoo daily
2. Leave shampoo on for 5 minutes, then rinse well
3. You may need to try several dandruff shampoos to find one that works best for you
4. If one stops working, try another
5. If that doesn't help, call your doctor.
If the dandruff flakes you see are greasy & yellow, you may have seborrheic dermatitis
It's an inflammatory skin condition that can occur where there are lots of oil glands, like the scalp & face
Though seborrheic dermatitis is related to hormones, fungus & even some neurological problems like Parkinson's disease
or HIV are treated the same as dandruff with antidandruff shampoos
Severe cases may need a prescription steroid or antifungal medicine
SHEDDING HAIR
You may be shedding more hair than you think
Some experts estimate that we may shed up to 100 or more hairs a day
That's not cause for alarm, nor does it mean you're going bald
About 90% of your 100,000 hair follicles are producing hair at any given time
The other 10% are in a resting phase & the hair falls out after about 2 to 3 months
It's replaced by new hair & the growth cycle starts over again
RESTING HAIR
A shock to your system like surgery, vaccinations, giving birth, some medications, crash diets, severe stress, thyroid problems
can push hair into its resting, or telogen, state
About two months later, you may see hair falling out & thinning, a condition called telogen effluvium, sometimes described as hair "coming out in handfuls."
In most cases, new hair starts growing right away
HAIR FOLLICLES
A prevalent autoimmune skin disease (Alopecia Areata)can cause your immune system to mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing hair to fall out, often suddenly
Most people will have one or two bald patches, which can be treated easily with injections but in some cases all body hair falls out
Alopecia areata isn't harmful or contagious but it can be tough psychologically
Hair may grow back on its own & treatment may help it grow back more quickly
Unfortunately, some people may experience alopecia areata repeatedly.
GENES
Though hereditary, the trait may be more influenced by your mother's family than your father's
So a look at your maternal grandfather's hair may give you a better clue about the future of yours
Male pattern baldness often starts with receding hair at the temples, then on the crown, leaving a horseshoe-shaped ring of hair around the sides of the head
Medications to slow hair loss include finasteride (Propecia & Minoxidil (Rogaine)
FEMALE PATTERN BALDNESS
Age-related thinning may mean hair thinning all over the head, but pattern hair loss is usually most common on top of the head
Unlike men, women rarely go bald & they tend to lose hair more slowly than men do
Contrary to popular belief, longer hair won't put a strain on the roots, causing more to fall out
Nor will shampooing pull hair out, it just gets the ones that were falling out already
Minoxidil 5% applied once daily may help hair growth & prevent thinning
Spironolactone & Flutamide (oral medications) can also be used in women.
AVOID THE SUN
Too much sun can turn your hair into a brittle, dry mop that breaks & splits easily
This is especially true in those with blonde or grey hair
If you already have thinning hair, you risk a sunburn on your scalp
Choosing hair care products with sunscreen provides some protection, although it can be hard to coat your hair evenly
So it's a good idea to wear a hat when you're out in the sun, especially if your scalp is exposed
Choose a hat made of sun protective fabric with UPF 30 (ultraviolent protector factor)
NUTRIENTS
Your hair needs protein & iron to stay healthy, along with omega-3 fatty acids, zinc & vitamin A, but not too much or you'll lose more hair
Very low-cal diets are often lacking in sufficient nutrients & can stunt hair growth or leave hair dull & limp
If the nutritional deficiency is big enough hair can fall out
HAIR HEALTHY DIET
Help keep hair shiny by eating salmon & walnuts for omega-3 fatty acids, spinach & carrots for vitamin A
brazil nuts for selenium & cashews for zinc
All help maintain scalp & hair health, as do low-fat dairy, whole grains & vegetables
Remember the foods good for your hair are also good for your heart
Premature Gray Hair Is Genetic
Going gray isn't always related to aging
If you're not yet 40 & see more than a few gray hairs, chances are it runs in your family
Gray usually isn't a sign of poor health but causes could be
1. Anemia
2. Thyroid issues
3. Vitamin B-12 deficiency
4. Vitiligo, a condition in which the pigment is lost from areas of the skin, causing whitish patches
You can highlight or color hair to cover the gray, but beware some people are sensitive to the dye's chemicals
The result could be an itchy, burning scalp
PULLING HAIR TO TIGHT
Traction Alopecia, pulling hair to tight can damage Follicles
The following could can damage hair follicles and cause hair to break or fall out
1. Ponytails
2. Braids
3. Corn rows
4. Hair extensions & hairpieces (sometimes)
Changing your hairstyle usually lets hair grow back
Pulling hair back tightly for a long time, though, can lead to permanent hair loss
OVERSTYLING
Blow drying, using a flat iron, coloring, bleaching, even over-brushing can damage the outer layer (cuticle) of your hair
When the inner core of hair is exposed, your locks become dry & dull
Although it doesn't cause any permanent health damage, you can overstyle to the point that your only option for healthy hair is to cut it off and start over
When it comes to your hair, doing less leads to healthier hair
SIDE EFFECTS
Among the medications that list hair loss as a side effect are
1. Anticlotting drugs
2. Cholesterol-lowering drugs
3. Antidepressants
4. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
5. Drugs for menopause, birth control & antibiotics
Usually, hair grows back when the medication is stopped, but may not in some cases
SCALP MASSAGE
There's no evidence that massaging your scalp will slow hair loss or improve any scalp conditions but it can do wonders to relieve stress
Your scalp is covered with nerve endings that make it super-sensitive to touch
Rubbing your scalp may help release tension
Massage may also trigger the release of feel-good hormones like dopamine & serotonin
HAIR ANALYSIS
Some companies claim they can analyze hair clippings to see if you are deficient in vitamins or have health problems
Although hair analysis can detect some poisons like lead or arsenic, findings can be inconsistent & varied
Everything from air pollution to shampoo may affect test results
The American Medical Association is against hair analysis to determine treatment
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