In addition to specific hair care, to have healthy hair, it is essential to take care of health in general. Therefore, it is necessary to think about “practicing regular physical activity, avoiding stress, having a good night’s sleep, maintaining a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water, among other precautions for a healthy life”, warns Robson Carlos Lopes, professor of the Aesthetics at Unopar – University of North Paraná.
Nutrients obtained from food are important
Adequate nutrition is one of the main allies to obtain hair beautiful and shiny. “Food provides essential nutrients for the body to function well. When there is a deficiency, the organism prioritizes the vital organs. Thus, the hair is the first to suffer. In deficiency anemia, for example, hair is more prone to falling out and becomes more brittle”, emphasizes dermatologist Mario Chaves.
Scalp Diseases
Many individuals undergo several routine examinations with doctors of various specialties, but when it comes to hair, they try to treat it themselves with products available in cosmetic stores. However, some visible hair problems may be the result of diseases that affect the scalp.
Dandruff, for example, usually doesn’t get the attention it should. “Dandruff is the popular term to designate the seborrheic dermatitis which affects the scalp, causing scaling and itching. The disease occurs due to a familial predisposition. Heat, humidity and the use of synthetic clothing favor the development of seborrheic dermatitis”, explains Mario Chaves.
Still according to the dermatologist, some factors predispose the aggravation of dandruff, “such as emotional stress, obesity, low temperatures and the ingestion of some types of food, especially the very spicy ones”. Seborrheic dermatitis is not contagious, and treatment consists of controlling the lesions using topical medications, warns Mario Chaves.
alopecia
Other common diseases are alopecia, which mean a decrease in hair or hair and derive from various causes. They can be congenital and acquired. Congenital ones are very rare and occur with absence or atrophy of the hair follicle. Meanwhile, acquired ones can be cicatricial or non-scarring, defines the dermatologist.
The main one is male and female androgenetic alopecia, popularly called baldness. It is so common that, in most cases, it should be seen more as a physical feature than a disease. It is hereditary and dependent on male hormones.
Other types of hair loss
In addition to diseases, some attitudes can cause loss of hair, such as the continuous use of very tight braids or devices such as flat irons and hair straighteners. Initially, hair loss is temporary and can be reversed. However, if traction is maintained for years, the damage can become permanent.
To find out if you have a scalp disease, it is important to observe the natural fall of the hair. “There is no magic number, and this is very variable”, guarantees Mario Chaves. The dermatologist indicates that the patient observes whether there has been an increase in the average amount of hair falling per day. “If there are changes in this amount, you should look for a dermatologist in search of a cause for the increase in hair loss”, he concludes.
Source: Maxima
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