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Home > Skin & Beauty > Hair & Scalp > Dry Hair: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

Dry Hair: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

January 12, 2021 - Updated on August 18, 2021
6 min read
By Akanksha Shah Sanghvi, MD, Clinical Dermatology

In this article:

  • Causes of Dry Hair
  • Medical Treatment for Dry Hair
  • Diagnosing the Cause of Dry Hair
  • Risk Factors for Dry Hair
  • Complications of Dry Hair
  • When to See a Doctor
  • Final Word

Your hair follicles contain oil glands or sebaceous glands that are responsible for the secretion of sebum. Sebum coats the hair to help lock in moisture and protects the hair from photooxidation caused by UV rays. This oil also helps nourish the scalp and hair.

treating dry hair

Many factors can interfere with sebum release or can strip the natural oils from the hair, which can lead to rough, lifeless hair. This may even lead to hair loss and damage.

Hair dryness is a common problem that affects people of all ages, sex, and ethnicity.

Causes of Dry Hair

The outer layer of the hair, coated with sebum, helps protect the inside layers from damage. However, various factors that can strip the oil from the hair, turning it dry, including:

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1. Nutritional deficiencies

Nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, proteins, folate, biotin, zinc, selenium, calcium, copper, and vitamins A, B12, C, D, and E are essential for hair health. (1)(2) Therefore, a lack of any of these nutrients due to improper food intake or medical conditions such as bulimia, anorexia, and hypoparathyroidism can render your hair dry. (3)

2. Hypothyroidism

A reduced thyroid secretion in the body can contribute to hair dryness and brittleness. (4)

3. Genetic disorders

Common examples include Menkes kinky hair syndrome and Cockayne syndrome. (5)

4. Other medical conditions

Dry hair is a common symptom of various medical conditions, including keratosis plantaris, hypotrichosis, trichodysplasia xeroderma, and Cushing’s syndrome. (6)

5. Improper blood circulation

improper blood circulation can lead to dry hair

Proper blood flow to the scalp ensures a constant supply of nutrients and oxygen to the hair. Therefore, when blood flow is obstructed, the hair doesn’t receive enough nutrients and turns dry and damaged.

6. Psychological stress

High levels of stress stimulate the production of cortisol in the body, which can have a negative impact on hair growth (7) and health.

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7. Hormonal changes

Hormonal fluctuations associated with periods, pregnancy, menopause, or any hormonal disorders can also cause hair dryness.

8. Medications

Certain medicinal drugs such as cortisol can cause hair dryness.

9. Improper conditioning

Not using conditioner after shampooing the hair can lead to moisture loss from the hair. It also increases friction between the hair strands. (8)

10. Use of hot water

Washing your hair often with hot water can damage the hair. (8)

11. Use of harsh chemicals

Using hair products such as bleach, mousse, hair dyes, and gels that contain harmful chemicals can dry out the hair. These chemicals include propyl alcohol, isopropyl, silicones, parabens, and sulfates. (9) Washing the hair with high-mineral-content water can also be harmful.

12. Heating tools

hair styling tools can damage and dry the hair

Frequently styling the hair using perming tools, hair relaxers, curling irons, straighteners, and hair dryers can damage the hair. (10)

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13. Frequent shampooing

Excessive shampooing of the hair can strip the oil from the hair, leaving it rough and dry.

14. Rough handling of the hair

Practices such as drying the hair by rubbing with a towel, excessive tugging of the hair, or harsh combing can contribute to hair dryness.

Medical Treatment for Dry Hair

Hair dryness generally occurs due to environmental pollution, use of harsh chemicals, excessive heat styling, or improper hair care. In such a case, simple self-care measures can help improve the health of hair and prevent dryness.

However, if the hair dryness is caused by medical conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome, appropriate medical treatment is necessary, i.e., chemotherapy in this case.

If the hair dullness is resulting from malnutrition, the doctor may prescribe supplements such as biotin. You can also consult your doctor to review and change the dosage of your existing medications if necessary.

Diagnosing the Cause of Dry Hair

diagnosing the causes of dry hair

To diagnose the cause of your dry hair, your doctor will ask for your medical history and conduct a physical examination of the scalp and hair. He may also order the following tests:

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  • Hair and scalp biopsy
  • Blood test
  • Urine test
  • Blood pressure test

Risk Factors for Dry Hair

The following factors can increase the chances of developing hair dryness:

  • Chlorinated or excessively salted water
  • Dry, hot weather
  • Excessive indoor heating
  • Sun-induced damage
  • Smoking (1)

Complications of Dry Hair

complications of dry hair

Since dry hair is usually caused by the improper functioning of the sebaceous glands, the scalp also becomes dry. Prolonged scalp dryness can lead to the following complications if not treated early:

  • Dandruff
  • Peeling and shedding of the scalp
  • Brittle hair
  • Hair loss
  • Photooxidation, leading to premature aging and discoloration (11)(12)

When to See a Doctor

It is suggested to make changes to your lifestyle and hair care routine to help manage hair dryness. If such measures do not show results in a couple of weeks, hair dryness could be indicative of an underlying problem, which requires medical attention.

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You should also consult a doctor if you experience:

  • Hair thinning
  • Hair loss or alopecia
  • Infection in the scalp
  • Quick drying of the hair
  • Inability to tolerate cold
  • Fatigue
What you may ask your doctor
  • What changes should I make to my hair care routine to help improve my hair health?
  • Do I need to get any blood tests?
  • Are any of my medications causing the hair dryness?
  • What kind of oils and shampoos should I use?
What your doctor may ask you
  • Did the hair dryness develop suddenly?
  • What does your daily diet consist of?
  • How often do you wash your hair?
  • Do you have any other symptoms?

Final Word

Hair dryness is a common problem among people, which generally develops due to improper hair care and, rarely, due to an underlying medical condition.

It is essential to treat your dry hair to prevent any complications such as scalp infection and alopecia. The treatment involves simple self-care measures and home remedies that help improve hair health. Visit your doctor if the hair dryness doesn’t improve despite proper care.

Continue Reading Continue ReadingHome Remedies for Dry Hair and Preventive Tips
References
  1. RM; T. Effect of ultraviolet radiation, smoking and nutrition on hair. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26370649/. Published 2015.
  2. Y; GLJL. Nutrition and hair. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20620758/. Published 2010.
  3. Abate EG, Clarke BL. Review of Hypoparathyroidism. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5237638/. Published January 16, 2017.
  4. Safer JD. Thyroid hormone action on skin. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3219173/. Published July 2011.
  5. Karikkineth AC, Scheibye-Knudsen M, Fivenson E, Croteau DL, Bohr VA. Cockayne syndrome: Clinical features, model systems and pathways. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5195851/. Published January 2017.
  6. Hodes A; Lodish MB; Tirosh A; Meyer J; Belyavskaya E; Lyssikatos C; Rosenberg K; Demidowich A; Swan J; Jonas N; Stratakis CA; Zilbermint M; Hair cortisol in the evaluation of Cushing syndrome. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28194652/. Published 2017.
  7. E; T. Stress and the Hair Growth Cycle: Cortisol-Induced Hair Growth Disruption. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27538002/. Published 2016.
  8. Gavazzoni Dias MFR. Hair cosmetics: an overview. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4387693/. Published 2015.
  9. D’Souza P, Rathi SK. Shampoo and Conditioners: What a Dermatologist Should Know? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458934/. Published 2015.
  10. Lee Y, Kim Y-D, Hyun H-J, Pi L-Q, Jin X, Lee W-S. Hair shaft damage from heat and drying time of hair dryer. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3229938/. Published November 2011.
  11. Sebetić K; Sjerobabski Masnec I; Cavka V; Biljan D; Krolo I; UV damage of the hair. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19138021/. Published 2008.
  12. Lee W-S. Photoaggravation of hair aging. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2938585/. Published July 2009.
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