What Does Your Hair Say About Your Health?

Let’s talk about your natural hair (no dyes , perms, extensions, etc.)

 How does your hair grow?

Did you know that your hair continuously breaks and regenerates?¹ Yep! It’s true! There are three stages to get your luxurious locks.

First stage is called Anagen. This is when hair is regenerated and new hair grows.¹ This can take from two to eight years!¹ To give you a better idea, your eyebrows only take two to three months to finish this stage.¹

Second stage is called Catagen. The hair stops growing in this stage and the follicle regresses.¹

Third stage is called Telogen, aka the “resting stage.”¹ Hey, everyone needs a break! Including Dr. Carm…hang on a minute *plays some music that repeats the same tune over and over*

*Comes back a little while later.* That was nice! So, as I was saying, this stage is when your hair sheds.¹ This takes about two to three months before it loops back around to stage one.¹

What your hair color can mean about your health

And, yes, this means your natural hair color! If you are gray, then you can look at what your hair color was before you turned old….er…mature…seasoned…ummm…you know what I mean!

Blondes:

Blondes tend to have a higher risk of developing macular degeneration (AMD)—women more so than men. AMD is an eye condition that causes blindness. Roberts-Grey (2010) suggests that you should eat things with lutein and zeaxanthin (such as kale, spinach, snow peas) to help. Because blondes are usually fair, they are also at a higher risk of developing Melanoma.⁵

 Brunettes:

Brunettes tend to have less hair which is coarser and thicker than blondes or redheads. Therefore, baldness is more noticeable. Robert-Grey (2010) suggests eating more iron. Interestingly, the melanin (which help makes your dark color) can cause you to become addicted to nicotine faster.⁵ This is because the melanin “prevents your liver from quickly metabolizing the drug.”⁵ Vitamin C is recommended to help this.⁵

 Redheads:

Guess what! Your hair color is a result of a DNA mutation. This mutation can also cause you to be resistant to general and local anesthetics (ouch!) You also have a 90 percent chance of developing Parkinson’s disease, but your folic acid might delay its progression.⁵

Problems

Hair loss (Alopecia):

[Male pattern baldness is called Androgenetic Alopecia]

Patchy baldness is called Alopecia Areata. This happens at the end of the anagen stage (first stage). It can be caused by inflammation or attack on the immune system.^1,3

Transient Hair Loss is called Telogen Effluvium. This happens from a premature telogen stage. This type of balding is caused by drugs, childbirth, stress, fever, diet, and endocrine abnormalitites.^1,3

Anagen Effluvium (similar to transient hair loss) is caused by a disupted anagen stage. This type of balding can be caused by chemotherapy and radiation treatment.¹

 Excessive Hair Growth:

Also known as Hirutism and Hypertrichosis. This happens because of an extended anagen stage. This is mostly likely a result of hormones.¹

 Dandruff:

White Flakes can be caused by oily skin, stress, obesity, weather, eczema, or psoriasis. Graber (2012) suggests using an antidandruff shampoo daily (leaving it on for 5 minutes and rinsing well.)³

Yellow Flakes, also known as seborrheic dermatitis, is an inflammatory skin condition caused by hormones, fungus, or neurological problems. Graber (2012) also suggests antidandruff shampoos or medicine (such as prescription steroids or antifungal medicine) to help this condition.³

 Shedding:

Usually this is normal. However, increased amounts of shedding are classified as telogen effluvium (see above.)

Some Hair Facts

Mammal’s hair is dependent upon hormones and daylight (such as shedding or molting), while human follicle cycles are independent of each other.¹

“Hair that is dry, brittle, dull and damaged often results from outside factors like constant sun, chlorine, salt water, air pollution, heated treatments or chemicals from hair dye or permanents. Constantly wearing your hair in tight bands or hairstyles, like cornrows, can cause balding.”² Also,  you should not over brush your hair.³

Nutrition for your hair includes proteins, iron, omega 3 fatty acids, zinc, and vitamin A. Good foods to achieve healthy hair includes: salmon, spinach, carrots, Brazil nuts, oysters, walnuts, low fat dairy, whole grains, cashews, and vegetables.^3,4

Usually gray hair is genetic, but it can be caused by anemia, thyroid disease, vitamin B12 deficiency, and vitiligo.^3,4

Drugs that can cause hair lost: anticlotting drugs, cholesterol-lowering drugs, antidepressants, NSAIDs, menopause drugs, birth control, and antibiotics. Most likely, your hair can grow back after stopping the use of these drugs.³ REMEMBER: Always consult with your physician before starting or stopping any medications!

Scalp massages have not been proven to improve scalp conditions or slow hair loss.³ Sorry, but it does reduce stress!

 Genetic hair loss is influenced more by your mother’s side of the family than your fathers.³

  
¹Ben-Ari, E. T. (2000). Hair today: Untangling the biology of the hair follicle. Bioscience, 50(4), 303-308. 
²Gargulinski, R. (2011). What your hair & nails say about your health. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com 
³Graber, E. M. (2012). What your hair & scalp say about your health. Retrieved from www.webmd.com 
⁴Johnson, L. S. (2009). What does your hair say about your health? Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com 
⁵Roberts-Grey, G. (2010). Brunettes have more beaus? Hair color facts. Retrieved from http://today.msnbc.msn.com

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