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When we think about our hair, we’re generally thinking about whether it needs a cut or colour change. According to experts, though, our hair reveals a lot more about us than whether we’re keeping up with the latest trends. The health of our scalp and hair can be a clue as to how healthy we are overall. Here’s what to look out for.

Dry, limp and thin hair

Colouring, blow drying and using a straightening iron on your hair can all make it dry. But if, along with dryness, you notice a change in your hair’s overall texture, this may be a sign of a problem. Hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland) can cause limp, fine hair. Other signs of hypothyroidism are weight gain, fatigue, and feeling cold.

Fragile, brittle hair

Chemical treatments like bleaching and straightening lead to fragile hair that can be prone to breakage. Using the right hair care products can usually prevent this. But if your hair is brittle and fragile no matter how well you care for it, this could be a sign of a health problem. People with Cushing’s syndrome (an adrenal gland disorder) and hypoparathyroidism (a lack of the parathyroid hormone) suffer from brittle, fragile hair. If your brittle hair is being caused by a health problem, you’ll likely also have very dry skin.

Unusual hair loss

Many men and women suffer from hair loss, for a variety of reasons. If you notice your hair falling out in small round patches, though, you could be suffering from alopecia areata. This can be caused by diabetes, and in some cases leads to hair loss all over the body. If you are losing hair from your eyebrows or eyelashes too, it’s well worth having a check-up. Cortisone injections on the scalp, where the hair is being lost, can help prevent further hair loss.

If you think your hair troubles might be caused by a health condition, a visit to the doctor may well help you solve the problem.

Tags: hair care, hair styles, healthy hair