What thinning hair can tell you about your health

Listen to your hair. It could be revealing important clues about your health and wellbeing.

Hair that is falling out or losing its shine may point to an array of medical conditions, doctors say.

Normally, people lose 50 to 100 hairs a day, and more if they are under stress or following surgery or an illness, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

But more severe hair loss is linked to some 30 different diseases.

“Sudden changes, such as a significant loss of hair, are likely to be linked to a treatable health condition,” said Dr. Kate Viola, a dermatologist with Michigan’s Henry Ford Allegiance Health.

Thyroid disorders

Hair loss can signal thyroid disorders, which become more common as people age. The thyroid plays a key role in controlling metabolism, weight, temperature and skin, hair and nail growth, and the symptoms of thyroid problems can be subtle and mistaken for normal aging signs. An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) can disrupt the balance of hormones and contribute to hair fragility. Conversely, an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) may also impact hair health and lead to brittleness.

Iron deficiency

One mark of iron deficiency can be hair loss. Iron is critical to the body’s production of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the tissues from the lungs. With an iron deficiency, “your body channels oxygen to support vital functions as opposed to ones like keeping your hair intact,” said Dr. Jacques Moritz, a leading New York gynecologist. In other words, iron deficiency can be causing brittle and dry hair due to reduced oxygen supply to hair follicles.

Menopause and hormonal changes

Women’s hair may thin and fall out with the onset of menopause, thanks to hormonal changes. The body produces less estrogen and progesterone, which help hair grow, and more androgens, which shrink hair follicles.

Too much vitamin A

Then there’s vitamin A, which many people take for its antioxidant property. Anti-wrinkle regimens such as retinol are manufactured forms of vitamin A.

But too much vitamin A can cause hair loss, according to the AAD.

Protein deficiency

Insufficient protein intake can affect hair structure, as hair is primarily composed of a protein called keratin. Slow-growing hair might mean a lack of protein, and dull hair might point to poor nutrition as well, experts say.

Stress

Chronic stress can contribute to hair problems, including greyness, hair loss and brittleness, through various mechanisms. Overproduction of cortisol due to stress can also cause Cushing’s syndrome, of which thin hair is one of the common symptoms.