Don't Ignore, Hair Changes Can Reveal Health Conditions

JAKARTA - Hair is not only to protect the head and beautify the appearance. Hair can also be a reminder of health disorders in the body with various changes.

Here are some health disorders that can be known from changes in hair, quoted from Huffpost, Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

1. Problems with the thyroid

The thyroid is a small gland in the front of the neck that is vital for regulating metabolism, body temperature, and heart rate. If your hair often falls out, it could indicate a thyroid problem.

Hair loss that may indicate thyroid problems usually occurs when you wash your hair or when you wake up. Hair growth also becomes slower, very dry or rough.

"When there is a problem with your thyroid, your hair is often one of the first things to show it," says certified dermatologist, Dr. Hamdan Abdullah Hamed.

2. Iron in the body is less

Hair loss is usually also an early sign of iron deficiency. Lack of iron makes the body not have enough iron to produce hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin is in charge of carrying oxygen to body cells, including hair follicles. Lack of oxygen supply makes hair follicles not nourished, inhibits growth, and accelerates the shedding phase.

"Low iron levels are one of the causes of hair loss that is often overlooked, especially in women," said dermatologist, Dr. Vanita Rattan.

3. Stress level

Changes in hair, especially hair loss, which is increasingly abundant, can also indicate a high level of stress in a person. Stress can cause telogen effluvium.

This is a pattern in which stress hormones push a large number of hairs into the shedding phase simultaneously.

"This is very common after a triggering event, physical stress on the body or a period of low mood," concluded Rattan.