Hair Color Indicates Illness: 4 Hair Colors and Their Health Implications
Introduction: Hair health concerns many people these days. As hair becomes increasingly fragile, it not only affects appearance but also serves as an indicator of potential health issues. Traditional Chinese Medicine reveals that hair color can signal disease. Do you know what major illnesses are indicated by 4 different hair colors?
Dull Yellow
Certain diseases can cause hair to turn a dull yellow. For instance, in systemic scleroderma or systemic lupus erythematosus, hair not only yellows but also falls out in large quantities.
In children, sparse, withered, and yellow hair is often due to congenital developmental deficiencies and may be accompanied by the "five delays": delayed sitting, standing, walking, speaking, and teething. For teenage girls, yellow hair might indicate calcium deficiency. Calcium deficiency in adolescence is mainly characterized by night sweats (sweating during sleep); sparse, dull, and straw-like hair; and calf muscle (gastrocnemius) cramps at night. Additionally, frequent perming, washing with alkaline water, or using laundry detergent can also damage hair, causing it to turn yellow.
Gray or White
Normally, people begin to get gray hair after the age of 40. This is because as one ages, the vital energy of the kidneys gradually declines and liver blood becomes insufficient, failing to nourish the hair, leading to graying. This is a natural phenomenon and does not require treatment.
If hair suddenly turns white over a short period, it is often due to internal qi (vital energy) disorder. In such cases, treating the underlying cause can often restore the hair's original color. Premature graying in young adults and even teenagers, known as "premature canities," has many causes. Malnutrition, such as a lack of protein and vitamins, as well as anxiety and stress, can cause hair to lose its pigment. Furthermore, thyroid dysfunction can also lead to grayish-white hair.
Yellowish-Brown or Pale Yellow
Conditions such as hypothyroidism, severe malnutrition, severe iron-deficiency anemia, or recovery from a serious illness can lead to a decrease in melanin in the body. This lack of the essential substance for black hair causes it to gradually turn yellowish-brown or pale yellow.
So, is your hair healthy? Is its color normal? Traditional Chinese Medicine reveals: hair color can indicate disease. Knowing the major health implications associated with these four hair colors early on can help with early prevention.