WHETHER it's up in a pony tail at the gym or a curly blow out at the weekend, our hair can say a lot about us.
But experts have now revealed that your luscious locks could actually determine whether or not you have a serious health condition.
Research shows that changes in your hair's appearance, texture, or thickness can indicate underlying health issues.
Dandruff, early greying and thinning are often nuisances that aren't causing any harm.
But sometimes, they are a warning flag that something is wrong – and often, treatable.
Severe stress, for example, can often wreak havoc on your locks.
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1. Thyroid problems
Dr Charlotte Woodward, clinical director at River Aesthetics said people who have a thyroid issue could experience hair loss and a change in hair appearance.
The medic, who is working with RegenLab said this could be down tohypothyroidism – a disorder in which the thyroid gland does not create enough thyroid hormones.
She said: "It can lead to hair loss as well as other symptoms including fatigue, cold sensitivity, joint discomfort, muscular pain, a swollen face, and weight gain.
"Thyroid medication is used to treat the illness, which is diagnosed by a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test."
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Dr Woodward added that in addition to losing hair, many thyroid issues put you at risk for alopecia areata, an autoimmune hair loss syndrome.
"This form of hair loss is caused by the immune system attacking the hair follicles, resulting in circular patches of unexpected hair loss.
"It occurs as circular bald spots anywhere on the scalp in men, women, and even toddlers.
"It usually appears out of nowhere, even within a few days. While the aetiology of alopecia is uncertain, the disorder develops when white blood cells assault the cells in hair follicles, causing them to shrink and hair development to drop substantially," she added.
2. Cushing’s syndrome
If your hair is brittle then you could be suffering from Cushing Syndrome.
This is an uncommon disorder characterised by too much cortisol, the body's principal stress hormone.
Brittle hair is just one of the symptoms and people who have the condition can also experience elevated blood pressure, weariness, and back discomfort.
3. Anaemia
Many people will have to pick hair out of their brush or comb, but if you're seeing an unusual amount then it could be down to anaemia.
This could be an indicator that your body is short on iron levels.
Hair loss can also occur (temporarily) in response to rapid increases in oestrogen levels, as seen following pregnancy or the discontinuation of birth control tablets.
4. Irritation
Mari Price, a certified hairdresser in Derby said many patients often complain about the harm caused by over-colouring and heat-treating their hair.
According to Mari, too much heat, such as from daily flat iron use or daily blowouts, can damage your hair, making it dry, brittle, and difficult to manage.
Mari suggests always using products with protective components while applying heat to your hair.
"When utilising direct and indirect heat, serums and shine drops tend to have properties that maintain the hair," she adds.
5. Protein deficiency
Protein is necessary for hair growth and health and a lack of protein has been linked to hair thinning and loss.
Protein digestion may be problematic for those who have gastrointestinal disorders or who have recently had gastric bypass surgery.
These unique circumstances will require the assistance of your doctor.
However, even in women, the majority of hair loss is likely related to heredity.
6. Stress
Many people who had coronavirus reported hair loss and medics previously said this could be down to the stress it puts on the body.
Dr Woodward said chronic stress has been hypothesised to play a role in greying hair by generating DNA damage and decreasing the quantity of pigment-producing cells in hair follicles.
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Oxidative stress, another sort of stress, may also play a role in grey hair.
Dr Victoria Manning, Co-Clinical Director at River Aesthetics working with RegenLab adds that your genes have a factor in when your hair greys – ask your parents how old they were when they first noticed a strand of silver, and you could follow in their footsteps.
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