HEALTHCHECKO
Hair
Hairturned fri
If your hair's not doing the big.
bouncy thing, forget binning
your blow-g eror switchin
Because a change in
its condition could be a symptom
of anaemia, thyroid problems,
extreme stress and more. And you
r lank
a
0141
can't get that fixed with a blow-dry.
anaemia
•Thinning hair can be linked to anaemia,•
says nutritionist Dr Sarah Brewer.
Hair diettip: Do the anaemia •eye test'
by gently pulling down your lower lid.
'If it looks pale rather than pinkish red
inside, you may be lacking iron,' says
Sarah. 'Eat more red meat, apricots and
watercress. Vitamin C helps your body
absorb iron but cut down on tea - tannic
acids can undo the good that OJ does.'
'Hair loss may be a sign of polycystic ovaries (PCOS)
as folliclesare sensitiveto hormone levels.' says
Glenn Lyons of the Philip Kingsley Trichologicat Clinic.
Hair diet tip:Abalanced diet helps keep hairfolticles
strong. 'Try a hair. skin and nail supplement,' says
.arah. 'PCOS is also a sign your body can't metabolise
excess sugar. so cut back on the sweet snacks.'
Hypochondriacs' corner!
%bout your health
Ory and frizzy
dehydration
•your ha r should contain ten per cent
water: says Marilyn Sherlock of the
Institute of Trichologists. If it's overly
frizzy it may be lacking in l'eau. Your
diet may also beto blame. 'Dry hair
could be due to a lack of essential fatty
acids in your diet— they're found in
nuts, seeds and Oily fish,' says Sarah.
Hair diet tip: •An evening primrose Oil
supplement will boost the quality of
your hair in three months; Sarah adds.
unhealthy diet
'Eating fatty food can lead to greasy hair depending.
0k how your body handlesfat,• says Sarah. • The fats
found in fish and nuts are all good but hydrogenated
fats in meat and margarine can cause greasier hair:
Hair diet tip: •Eating more fruit and vegetables-
, five portions a day — can reduce the amount of oil
your body produces,' says Sarah. 'Followa low fat
diet ang try swapping milk for soya milk. •
Dull and lank =
thyroid problems
•Lank hair can be a sign of an
underactive thyroid that slows down
your metabolism, meaning fewer new
cells are made and your hair becomes
brittle and lank, says Sarah. If you're
also gaining weight and feeling lethargic
— other symptoms Of thyroid problems —
see your doctor as the problem can be
easily treated with medication.
Hair diet tip: Stock up on foods rich in
iodine which boost thyroid activity — go
for fish, kelp and seaweed. Vitamins
and minerals designed for hair health
will also help — try Dr Brewer's Trilogy
range, €7.99 from Boots and Tesco.
NEWWOMAN I NOVEMBER 2003
psoriasis
Flaky scalp
'A flaky scalp Ed be due
to inflammation}- dandruff
eczema or psorbsi$,• says
Sarah. 'Dand
cau#ed
o use
a shampoo containing
the antifungat:agent
ketoconazoL&Such
Nizoral. If there's np
improvement See
for furtheryatrneo(
Ha jet u can't tackle.
theepccessye"t with your
diét, but cah reduce
by eating fruit,
eta they
ave a
Offe$,' x lain Sa
VeiåpFOdt
qtsli Banana
Patchy hair loss
= stress
'Over eightmillion UKwomen suffer
from hair loss.•.says Mark Sharp Of
Mark Glenn Hair Enhancement,
specialists in cosmetically disguising
hair loss. •Sudden, patchyhair loss is
often a result of stressful situations that
come as a shock to your body such as
family loss or work issues, adds Glenn
Lyons. A trichologist will be able to help.
Hair diet tip: •Fruit and vegetables
boost hair follicle health and reduce
hair loss; says Sarah. Cutting out
caffeine will also reduce anxiety levels.
Mark Glenn also has an instant hair-
loss solution - synthetic extensions
matched to your hair's colour and
texture. Contact 020-7495 6969 or
www.markglenn.com for more info.
E5.99for
FOR THE INSTITUTE
Boob wilt also
OF TRICHOLOGISTS. CALL
help t6sb0the tt*scalp.• _ .
08706-070602 OR LOG ON TO
WWW.TRICHOLOGISTS.ORG.UK
markglenn.com