Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 11-2-18

Health
YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH IRON
Iron helps keep your hair healthy. When levels drop, so can your hair. You’ll likely have other clues that low iron is to blame for your hair loss, like brittle nails, yellow or pale skin, shortness of breath, weak- ness, and a fast heartbeat.
YOU’RE ON BIRTH CONTROL
Hormonal birth control like oral contraceptives, im- plants, injections, vaginal rings, and patches can trig- ger hair loss if you have a history of it in your family. Your doctor might be able to recommend a non-hor- monal option that may help you keep more of your locks.
YOU’RE ON CERTAIN MEDS
Take another look at the side effects of the drugs you’re taking -- hair loss may be on the list. Examples of such meds include blood thinners, acne medications high in vitamin A, anabolic steroids, or medications for arthritis, depression, gout, heart problems, or high blood pressure.
YOU USE HEAT AND SCIENCE ON IT
Daily use of blow-dryers, flat irons, and curling irons dries out your locks and makes it easier for them to break and fall out. Bleach, dye, relaxers, and hair sprays can do the same thing.
YOU SMOKE
Your hair isn’t immune to the damage smoking can cause. Toxins in cigarette smoke can mess with your hair follicles and keep hair from growing and staying on your head.
YOU DON’T GET ENOUGH PROTEIN
A body low on protein finds a way to conserve where it can, and that in- cludes halting hair growth. About 2 to 3 months after that, hair starts to fall out. Adding more meat, eggs, fish, nuts, seeds, and beans to your meals can pack more protein into your diet.
YOU’RE STRESSED
Sometimes, large doses of stress can make your body’s immune system turn on itself and attack your hair follicles. Lots of worry and anxiety can also pause your hair growth, which makes hair more likely to fall out when you brush.
YOU PULL IT OUT
Hair-pulling disorder, or trichotillomania, is a mental health condition that makes you feel like pulling out your hair from your scalp. It can be hard to stop, even when you start to get bald patches. When you have it, you may want to pull out your eyelashes or eyebrows, too.
YOU’RE HARD ON YOUR HAIR
Sometimes it’s your styling routine that’s to blame when your hair starts to break or fall out. Using too much shampoo, brushing or combing your hair when it’s wet, rubbing hair dry with a towel, or brushing too hard or too often can all strain your strands and make them break.
PAGE 8-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2018