The 6 Top Causes of Dry Hair (4 of Them Potentially Serious)
by www.SixWise.com
Dry hair lacks the oil and moisture it needs to give it sheen
and a soft texture. As a result, hair that's dry will be brittle
and dull and have a straw-like texture. Most of us will get
dry hair at one point or another--either due to over-processing
or exposing it to sun, wind and chlorinated swimming pools.
Dry hair that comes and goes from these external causes is
an annoyance. Chronic dry hair that comes from an internal
source, however, can be a sign of an underlying health problem.
That's why, if your hair is dry, it's important to take a
look through these six top causes and try to pinpoint yours.
If conditioning treatments do not improve your hair's moisture
level, it may be time to contact a health care provider.
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Dry hair? It may be a sign of malnutrition.
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1. Excessive Washing and Blow-Drying, Harsh Detergents
Washing your hair too often, especially with a harsh shampoo,
is a surefire way to strip moisture away. Heat from blow dryers,
curling irons and electric curlers will also contribute to
dryness.
"It's in vogue these days to shampoo every day, but
shampooing doesn't only wash away dirt, it washes out the
hair's protective oils," says Thomas Goodman, Jr., M.D.,
a dermatologist from Memphis, Tennessee, and assistant professor
at the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences.
If your hair is dry, try washing it just two or three times
a week using a mild shampoo and a quality conditioner like
Giovanni
Nutrafix Hair Reconstructor, which uses vegetable proteins
to reconstruct extremely dry and damaged hair.
Like home remedies? "Mayonnaise makes an excellent conditioner,"
says Steven Docherty, senior art director at New York City's
Vidal Sassoon Salon. Leave it on for five minutes to an hour
before washing out.
2. Environmental Dryness
The climate you live in can also dry out your hair. Areas
with lots of sun, dry heat and little humidity, for instance,
will definitely make your hair drier than tropical, humid
locales. Likewise, if you're an outdoorsy person who likes
to spend time in the sun, wind, ocean or pool, your hair also
risks being dry. You can cut down on the damage to your hair
from the elements by wearing a hat while outdoors and always
using a swim cap when swimming in chlorinated water.
3. Anorexia
Because people with anorexia
engage in self-starving to stay dangerously thin, their bodies
are denied the nutrients they need to function. This includes
the nutrients necessary to maintain luster, shine and softness
in their hair. Dry hair (along with dry skin and hair loss)
is a common side effect of anorexia, and one that may manifest
early on.
4. Malnutrition
Similar to anorexia, a person who is malnourished does not
take in the nutrients necessary for the body to maintain healthy
hair. As a result, the hair becomes dry, brittle and damaged.
In particular, dry hair can be a sign that your diet is lacking
in omega-3 essential fatty acids, which can be found in salmon
and fish oil, walnuts
and flax seeds.
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Nutrafix Hair Reconstructor is formulated with certified
organic botanicals, grown free of chemicals and harvested
by hand. Why Giovanni Nutrafix?
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Reconstructs extremely damaged
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-
Giovanni products utilize vegetable
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-
A deep conditioner that adds volume and health
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Nutrafix is excellent for hair that has been exposed
to harsh weather conditions, oxidation, heat styling,
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5. Hypothyroidism
This is a condition in which the body produces too little
of the thyroid hormone. Dry, brittle and thin hair is an early
symptom of hypothyroidism, along with weakness, fatigue, depression
and joint or muscle pain. If left untreated, the condition
causes the body to slow its functions, leading to mental and
physical sluggishness and other symptoms that can range from
mild to severe.
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If conditioning treatments and less processing don't
improve your dry hair, an underlying medical condition
may be to blame.
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6. Hypoparathyroidism
Hypoparthyroidism is having too little parathyroid hormone,
which causes blood levels of calcium to fall and phosphorus
to rise. This can lead to dry hair, scaly skin, cataracts,
muscles cramps and spasms, seizures and more. The most common
cause of hypoparathyroidism is injury to the parathyroid glands
during head and neck surgery.
Recommended Reading
The
11 Signals Your Nails are Giving You About Your Health
"Healthy
Hair"--You've Heard the Phrase 10,000 Times, but What
Exactly IS Healthy Hair?
Sources
Medline
Plus Medical Encyclopedia
The
Doctor's Book of Home Remedies: Dry Hair
The
World's Healthiest Foods