5 Clues Your Hair Reveals About Your Health

Health Issues · May 22, 2023

6 Clues Your Hair Reveals About Your Health

We all want luscious, healthy hair that shines and bounces with vitality. But did you know that your hair can actually be a window into your overall health? That's right! Your hair can provide clues about what's going on inside your body. So, let's take a closer look at six things your hair may be trying to tell you about your health.

Dry Hair: Is Your Body Under Excess Heat or Stress?

If your hair feels dry and brittle, it could be a sign of excess heat or stress in your body. Heat from excessive sun exposure, hot styling tools, or chemical treatments can strip your hair of its natural oils, leaving it dry and damaged. Additionally, high stress levels can disrupt the balance of hormones in your body, leading to dry hair. Hypothyroidism, a condition where your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough thyroid hormones, can also cause dry hair as it affects the overall metabolism of your body. Just because your doctor said your thyroid was ok does not mean it is optimal. Remember, they have different ranges and markers compared to functional medicine.

Oily Hair: Is Your Body Too Acidic?

On the other end of the spectrum, if your hair tends to get greasy quickly, it could be a sign of excess body acidity and trans fats. When your body becomes too acidic, it can lead to a buildup of toxins and inflammation, which can affect the health of your scalp and hair follicles. Dairy and red meat are the biggest contributors to an acidic environment. Consuming a diet high in trans fats, found in processed foods and some fast foods, can also contribute to oily hair. So, it's important to pay attention to your diet and make sure you're eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to help balance your body's pH levels. Check out the alkalising smoothie bowl in our membership platform!

Excessive Hair Loss: Are Your Hormones Imbalanced?

Hair loss is a common concern for many people, and it can have various underlying causes. Hyperthyroidism, a condition where your thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, can cause excessive hair loss. Imbalanced estrogen levels, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), fungal infections, low calorie diet, and excessive exercising can also contribute to hair loss. In addition, stress and imbalanced hormones, including low thyroid function and vitamin deficiencies such as biotin, zinc, or copper, can all play a role in hair loss. How to find out? Well, a hair tissue test will look at all of your mineral imbalances in detail.

Dandruff: Could It Be Linked to Liver Problems or Excess Heat?

If you notice flakes on your scalp or in your hair, it could be a sign of dandruff. While dandruff is a common scalp condition, it can also be an indicator of other health issues. Liver problems, such as fatty liver disease, can affect the health of your scalp and contribute to dandruff. Excess heat in your body, as mentioned earlier, can also disrupt the natural balance of your scalp, leading to dandruff. I have also seen this in clients with food sensitivities so a good quality and reliable food sensitivity test here will help massively! Keeping your scalp clean, hydrated, and balanced with gentle shampoos and natural remedies may help improve dandruff and its underlying causes.

Premature Greying: Is It Related to Nutrient Deficiencies or Extreme Stress?

Finding a stray grey hair can be a shock, especially if you're still young. Premature greying can be a sign of nutrient deficiencies, such as vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), zinc, or copper, which play a role in melanin production, the pigment that gives colour to your hair. Extreme stress, both physical and emotional, can also contribute to premature greying. It's important to manage stress levels through relaxation techniques, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle to support your overall well-being, including the health of your hair. An organic acid test can identify vitamin deficiencies and a hair tissue test will identify mineral imbalance. No more guesswork!

Do these descriptions match your hair type?

The best way to get to the bottom of what is happening inside your body is to run a simple at-home functional medicine lab test. If your hair isn’t giving you the whole picture, why don’t you take this quick 3 minute quiz to see what lab test would be best for your specific health concerns?