4 Things Your Hair Can Tell You About Your Health

By: Sarah Jio

Split ends, itchy scalp, dandruff, thinning locks--whatever the hair issue, your mane may be trying to tell you something about your health--5 clues ...

1. Flakes: Got dandruff? They could be innocent--in other words, dandruff doesn't always signal a health problem. But some experts point out that a persistently flaky scalp could be a sign of fungus overgrowth, excema or psoriasis. Worried? See a dermatologist and have your scalp checked out.




2. "Yellow" dandruff: Some people have what dermatologists describe as "greasy" and "yellow" dandruff, which is actually something called seborrheic dermatitis. "It’s an inflammatory skin condition that can occur where there are lots of oil glands, like the scalp and face," reports WebMD. "Though seborrheic dermatitis is related to hormones, fungus, and even some neurological problems, it’s treated the same as dandruff: with anti-dandruff shampoos. Severe cases may need a prescription steroid or antifungal medicine."



3. Thinning, limp hair: If this describes your locks, check your diet. Just like you, your hair needs iron, protein, zinc, vitamin A, and omega-3 fatty acids to stay strong and lustrous. Your hair can actually fall out (common for those who suffer from eating disorders) if you're not eating a nutritious diet (I know people who have had this happen to them in times of stress when they haven't eaten well!).



4. Hair loss: Shockingly, some medications can cause hair loss, including Coumadin (warfarin); Lopid (gemfibrozil); antidepressants; beta-blockers; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); and drugs for gout, arthritis, birth control, and high blood pressure, reports WebMD. Worried? Check with your doc.

Article Source: Click to be redirected to Glamour.