- There are many people who suffer from hair loss due to aging or genetics.
- But hair loss can also be a symptom of a health problem, such as hypothyroidism or lupus.
- Here’s how to check if your hair loss is a symptom of something more serious.
- Discover more stories at Business Insider Spain.
Hair loss is often unavoidable. In most cases, it occurs due to aging and depends largely on genetics.
This type of hair loss is called androgenetic alopecia, and it affects both men and women.
However, sometimes hair loss can also be a symptom of a more serious health problem. Medication or a systemic disease can sometimes be the cause, Dr. Jerry Shapiro explained to INSIDER in an interview.
In these cases, hair loss occurs along with other symptoms, such as skin irritation, lack of energy or muscle pain that persists for long periods of time.
These are the symptoms that could reveal that your hair loss is caused by something more serious than aging or a genetic predisposition.
Your eyebrows and eyelashes are also falling out.
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“If you notice that you’re also losing hair on other parts of your body (besides your scalp), there’s something more serious going on,” Shapiro explained.
If you also lose hair from your eyebrows or eyelashes, it could mean you have an autoimmune disease. Unlike androgenetic alopecia, other types of the disease such as alopecia areata or universalis can cause hair to fall out in greater amounts and in areas of the body other than the scalp, according to Healthline.
This happens because the body mistakenly detects hair follicles as dangerous and attacks them, causing hair to fall out in various parts of the body.
Other autoimmune diseases that may cause hair loss in other parts of the scalp include thyroid problems and lupus. Doctors can test your blood to find out the exact cause of your hair loss.
You feel tired all the time.
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Hair loss coupled with a lack of energy could mean you are malnourished.
If a person doesn’t have enough zinc, for example, they may have diarrhea, severe weight loss and hair loss as side effects, as well as feeling tired. But a general lack of nutrients can also lead to hair loss.
The best way to ensure you’re getting the nutrients you need is to maintain a balanced diet, with plenty of fresh produce, healthy fats like nuts and protein, and water, according to Healthline.
You have muscle pain.
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When your hair falls out and your muscles ache, you may have hypothyroidism, a type of autoimmune hormonal imbalance.
At first, a person with hypothyroidism may not have any symptoms, but as their body deals with the hormonal imbalance, they may notice fatigue, weight gain, muscle pain and hair loss, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Hypothyroidism can be treated. If you are diagnosed with the autoimmune disease, you may be given medication to replace the hormones your body cannot produce on its own.
You have brittle nails.
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Iron deficiency, considered a type of anemia, occurs when the body can’t produce enough healthy red blood cells. This deficiency causes side effects such as brittle nails or hair loss, Shapiro said.
Iron deficiency also causes fatigue and weakness. Other symptoms include chest pain and cold hands and feet, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Iron supplements may help treat it, but your doctor may also ask you what medications you are taking since some antibiotics interfere with iron absorption.
You have high blood pressure or cholesterol and you are taking medication for it.
Sarah Schmalbruch/INSIDER
Cholesterol-lowering drugs can cause hair loss, according to Shapiro. The chances of this happening are low, with only 1% of people taking these drugs experiencing hair loss as a side effect, according to Harvard Medical School.
Blood pressure medications may also have the same effect, although doctors are still unsure of the exact mechanism.
It is up to you and your doctor to discuss your options before starting or beginning any medication that could be closely related to your hair loss.
“People have to go to the doctor to see if their hair loss is due to the medications, and they may or may not want to stop,” Shapiro said.
You have a rash on your face or body.
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Lupus, like hypothyroidism or iron deficiency, is an autoimmune disease, and hair loss is a common symptom. Additionally, lupus can cause rashes all over the body as organs become inflamed, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Often these rashes come and go. Other symptoms of lupus include dry eyes and joint pain, so if you notice any of these effects you should see a doctor.
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