Gray hair, thinning hair, hair loss… what do these symptoms warn about your health?

Stress and genetics can cause you to have gray hair.

One study suggests that chronic stress may actually contribute to gray hair by damaging DNA and reducing the supply of pigment-producing cells in hair follicles. Stress can also cause hair loss.

Another type of stress, called oxidative stress, can also contribute to gray hair. Oxidative stress (meaning when free radicals damage cells and inhibit the body's repair process) can affect pigment-producing cells.

Gray hair is a natural part of the aging process, as your hair follicles produce less color as you get older. Your genes also play a role in causing your hair to turn gray.

Brittle hair can be a sign ofCushing's syndrome

According to Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City), brittle hair is a symptom of Cushing's syndrome, a rare condition caused by too much cortisol – the body's main stress hormone. However, this is not the primary symptom of the disease; there are other more obvious symptoms of Cushing's syndrome including high blood pressure, fatigue, and back pain.

Treatments for Cushing's syndrome can cause this brittle hair condition, such as glucocorticoid medications, which are steroids used to treat inflammation caused by various diseases.

Thinning hair can be a sign of thyroid disease.

People with hypothyroidism—a condition that occurs when your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough thyroid hormone—may notice increased hair loss and changes in hair texture.

Hypothyroidism can cause thinning hair and other symptoms, such as fatigue, intolerance to cold, joint pain, muscle pain, facial swelling, and weight gain. Thyroid-stimulating hormone testing will help diagnose the condition and treat it with thyroid medication.

In addition to thinning hair, some thyroid disorders can also put you at risk of an autoimmune hair loss condition called alopecia areata. This type of hair loss causes sudden patches of hair loss. It occurs when the immune system attacks the hair follicles.

Hair loss can be a sign of anemia.

If you suddenly notice more hair in your comb or on the bathroom floor, this could be a sign that your body has low iron reserves or is anemic and may need to be checked.

Blood tests are also particularly required for vegetarians or women with heavy menstrual periods, both of which increase the risk of hair loss due to iron deficiency.

It's not fully understood why low iron levels can cause hair loss, but iron is crucial for many biological and chemical reactions, likely including hair growth.

If your doctor determines that you are indeed iron deficient, eating more iron-rich foods or taking iron supplements may help reduce hair loss.

Hair loss can also be temporary due to sudden changes in estrogen levels and is often noticed after pregnancy or stopping birth control.

Hair loss can be a sign of protein deficiency.

Protein is essential for hair health and growth; a lack of protein is linked to thinning and hair loss. Protein deficiency is not a problem for most people (most adults need 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight).

Good sources of protein include yogurt, lean meat, fish, eggs, and soy. However, most cases of thinning hair, even in women, are likely due to genetics.

White or yellow flakes can be a sign that you have dandruff.

Yellow or white flakes on the hair, shoulders, and even eyebrows are a sign of dandruff, a chronic scalp condition. Dandruff is usually not a sign of a serious health problem and can often be treated with shampoos specifically designed for dandruff.

One of the most common causes of dandruff is seborrheic dermatitis. People with seborrheic dermatitis have red, oily skin with flaky white or yellow scales. A yeast-like fungus called malassezia can also irritate the scalp.

Not washing your hair enough, sensitivity to hair care products, and dry skin can also cause dandruff. Dandruff is often worse in the winter, when dry weather can make the skin drier.

Damaged hair can mask other health problems.

Although hair can affect your health, most people complain about damage caused by dyeing and using heat to style their hair.

Excessive heat from daily use of hair straighteners/curlers or hair dryers can damage your hair, making it dry, brittle, and difficult to manage. You should use no more than one hot styling tool per day or use hot styling tools infrequently.

Whenever you apply heat to your hair, always use products with protective ingredients. Products like conditioners and shine sprays tend to protect hair from both direct and indirect heat exposure.

Professional hair dyeing is unlikely to cause much damage, but bleaching and using boxed hair dyes at home can have side effects.

You can minimize any damage to your hair by using the right products. After coloring your hair, remember to use a moisturizing and color-preserving shampoo suitable for your hair.