BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuDry hairHair - dryDry hair is hair that does not have enough moisture and oil to maintain its normal sheen and texture. Causes Some causes of dry hair are:Excessive hair washing, or using harsh soaps or alcohols Excessive blow-drying Dry air due to the climate Malnutrition Anorexia AnorexiaAnorexia is an eating disorder that causes people to weigh less than is considered healthy for their age and height, usually by excessive weight loss...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Underactive parathyroid (hypoparathyroidism) HypoparathyroidismHypoparathyroidism is a disorder in which the parathyroid glands in the neck do not produce enough parathyroid hormone (PTH).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) HypothyroidismHypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other hormone abnormalities Menkes kinky hair syndromeMenkes kinky hair syndromeMenkes disease is a genetic disorder in which the body has a problem absorbing and distributing copper to bodily organs. The disease affects develop...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Home Care At home you should:Shampoo less frequently, perhaps only once or twice a week Use gentle shampoos that are sulfate free Add conditioners Avoid blow drying and harsh styling products When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if:Your hair does not improve with gentle treatment You have hair loss or breaking hairs You have any other unexplained symptoms What to Expect at Your Office Visit Your doctor will perform a physical examination and may ask the following questions:Has your hair always been slightly dry? When did the unusual hair dryness first start? Is it always present, or is it off and on? What are your eating habits? What kind of shampoo do you use? How often do you wash your hair? Do you use a conditioner? What type? How do you normally style your hair? Do you use a hair dryer? What type? How often? What other symptoms are also present? Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:Examination of the hair under a microscope Blood tests Scalp biopsy Open ReferencesReferencesAmerican Academy of Dermatology website. Tips for healthy hair. www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/hair-scalp-care/hair/healthy-hair-tips. Accessed December 13, 2022.Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW. Skin, hair, and nails. In: Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW, eds. Seidel's Guide to Physical Examination. 10th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 9.Dinulos JGH. Hair diseases. In: Dinulos JGH, ed. Habif's Clinical Dermatology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 24.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Kwashiorkor(Condition)Hypothyroidism(Condition)Menkes disease(Condition)Hypothyroidism - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 11/30/2022 Reviewed By: Ramin Fathi, MD, FAAD, Director, Phoenix Surgical Dermatology Group, Phoenix, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Dry hairHair - dryDry hair is hair that does not have enough moisture and oil to maintain its normal sheen and texture. Causes Some causes of dry hair are:Excessive hair washing, or using harsh soaps or alcohols Excessive blow-drying Dry air due to the climate Malnutrition Anorexia AnorexiaAnorexia is an eating disorder that causes people to weigh less than is considered healthy for their age and height, usually by excessive weight loss...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Underactive parathyroid (hypoparathyroidism) HypoparathyroidismHypoparathyroidism is a disorder in which the parathyroid glands in the neck do not produce enough parathyroid hormone (PTH).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) HypothyroidismHypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other hormone abnormalities Menkes kinky hair syndromeMenkes kinky hair syndromeMenkes disease is a genetic disorder in which the body has a problem absorbing and distributing copper to bodily organs. The disease affects develop...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Home Care At home you should:Shampoo less frequently, perhaps only once or twice a week Use gentle shampoos that are sulfate free Add conditioners Avoid blow drying and harsh styling products When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if:Your hair does not improve with gentle treatment You have hair loss or breaking hairs You have any other unexplained symptoms What to Expect at Your Office Visit Your doctor will perform a physical examination and may ask the following questions:Has your hair always been slightly dry? When did the unusual hair dryness first start? Is it always present, or is it off and on? What are your eating habits? What kind of shampoo do you use? How often do you wash your hair? Do you use a conditioner? What type? How do you normally style your hair? Do you use a hair dryer? What type? How often? What other symptoms are also present? Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:Examination of the hair under a microscope Blood tests Scalp biopsy Open ReferencesReferencesAmerican Academy of Dermatology website. Tips for healthy hair. www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/hair-scalp-care/hair/healthy-hair-tips. Accessed December 13, 2022.Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW. Skin, hair, and nails. In: Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW, eds. Seidel's Guide to Physical Examination. 10th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 9.Dinulos JGH. Hair diseases. In: Dinulos JGH, ed. Habif's Clinical Dermatology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 24.