Hair and Scalp Problem

The condition of your hair and scalp is a clear pointer to your general well-being. Almost any illness or emotional stress can cause dull and lifeless hair, and your hair can therefore act as an early warning sign when you are out of sorts, or perhaps lacking in certain vitamins and minerals. But hair problems are also frequently caused by overexposure to chemicals (dyes, tints, and perms being the main culprits), heat from electrical styling appliances and the wear and tear of too much combing and brushing.

Greasy Hair

Healthy hair gets its shine from a thin coating of sebum – an oily substance secreted by the scalp’s sebaceous glands near the root of each hair. If the sebaceous glands become overactive and produce too much sebum, the result is lank, greasy hair.

You should choose the mildest shampoo possible, and wash your hair as often as necessary. Frequent washing does not affect sebaceous secretion.

Dry Scalp and Dandruff

These problems may signal a zinc deficiency, so one should include zinc-rich foods such as oysters, red meat and pumpkin seeds in the diet.

Essential fatty acids also help to prevent dry skin and a flaking scalp. If dandruff and scalp problems do not respond to shampoos, one should consult a doctor as they can sometimes reflect more serious underlying health problems.

Hair loss

Some hair is quite normal. A hair drops out because a new one has developed and grown underneath it, and healthy adults shed between 50 and 100 hairs each day.

However, hair loss may also be caused by a variety of other conditions such as pregnancy, anemia, circulatory problems and thyroid disorders. People suffering from stress are often found to be short of B vitamins, which are essential for healthy hair. A deficiency in vitamin A may also cause dull hair.

Ensure that your diet includes

• Eggs and liver, for Vitamin A

• Dark green leafy vegetables, carrots and sweet potatoes for beta carotene

• Vegetable oils, nuts and oily fish for essential fatty acids

• Shellfish, red meat and pumpkin seeds for zinc.