Hair loss, excess hair… This is what your hair says about your state of health

Condition of our skin, our hair… Did you know that our health problems can sometimes be seen with the naked eye? It would then be enough to pay attention to their appearance to know what needs to be resolved. So, these concerns can manifest themselves in several ways. Whether we tend to lose it, or have excess hair, that often means something.

What is hair really for?

Before discussing the health problems that our hair can reflect, let’s first review its usefulness. Their main role is to protect our head, and especially the scalp, from external aggressions such as UV rays and heat. Another less glamorous, but essential role: they also help absorb perspiration. In other words, they generally play a protective role, and this is why it is essential to take care of them.

Remember that hair can only grow where the follicles are located. The growth of a hair then goes through several phases, as recalled The Conversation. It then begins with active growth (anagen phase), then stops (catagen phase). Then, we can lose the hair or the follicle can fall (telogen phase).

What does excess hair mean for our health?

Often, excess hair affects all parts of the body. “In most cases, it is a reaction to taking a new medication, such as phenytoin used to treat epilepsy. But it can also be caused by illnesses such as anorexia and HIV”explain The Conversation. According to Health Insurance, women who suffer from excess hair are invited to have a medical check-up.

Other pathologies can be the cause of excess hair growth. For example, in newborns, a patch of hair on the spine may mean that the lower vertebrae are not formed properly.

In women, special attention is paid to hirsutism. This then means that excessive amounts of hair are located in areas that are generally male. In this case, this is explained by too high a testosterone level. This phenomenon may in particular be due to polycystic ovary syndrome.

What about hair loss?

Often, hair loss worries more than just high production. It is then generally called alopecia, which can develop for several reasons. “The causes of alopecia are multiple and include fungal infections (caused by fungi, editor’s note), anemia due to iron deficiency, low thyroid hormone levels and medication (including chemotherapy). ) »indicates the media.

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Hair loss can also be explained by age, gender or even genetics. Men are then particularly exposed to baldness, which appears at the roots of the hair and at the top of the head. Testosterone levels then drop over time and shorten hair growth. Even if it is less common, female baldness is also of hormonal origin, after menopause.