Sure, beauty concerns like breakouts, thinning hair and broken nails are annoying to deal with, but is there more to these issues than meets the eye? In a word, probably. Turns out, what's happening with your hair, skin and nails is often related to other health issues — and lifestyle choices. Here, top derms weigh in on six different beauty problems that may be worth paying a little closer attention to.
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Dull Hair
If no amount of shine spray is giving you the sheen you crave, it's time to get to the root of the matter (pun intended). Dull hair can be associated with iron deficiency and dehydration, points out New York City dermatologist Rosemarie Ingleton, MD, medical director of Ingleton Dermatology. Sometimes something as simple as a healthier diet can make a difference — especially if your diet isn't the healthiest to begin with — like eating more iron-rich foods, such as black beans and spinach. Make a conscious effort to drink those eight glasses of H2O daily too and see if you notice a change in your strands.
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Forehead Breakouts
In related news, persistent pimples on your forehead may mean it's time to rethink your hair product M.O. Many hair products, particularly those meant to enhance shine, contain pore-clogging oils, says Ingleton. And even though you're applying said products to your hair, as you sweat they can end up on your forehead and around your temples. If that's where your breakouts tend to keep cropping up, consider nixing shine-enhancing hair products for a few weeks.
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Itchy Skin
Most often, itchy skin is just a matter of dryness or related to a skin condition such as eczema. Still, some underlying illnesses can also cause itchy skin, says New York City cosmetic dermatologist Sejal Shah, founder of Smarter Skin Dermatology. "Conditions that can cause itchy skin are varied and include liver diseases, kidney failure, iron deficiency anemia, thyroid disease and even some cancers," she says. A scary thought, yes, but there's no need to panic. The point is that if you can't stop itching, no matter what, it's worth seeing your doctor.
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Broken Nails
We've all been there: You make a conscious effort to grow out your nails, they finally get to the length you want them and then the day before your manicure, they all start to break. Majorly annoying, yes, but also a sign that you might need to eat more protein. "Weak nails can indicate inadequate protein intake as well as vitamin deficiencies," says Ingleton. Along with upping the amount of protein in your diet, a biotin supplement will help strengthen your tips, she says (though obviously be sure to check with your doc before starting any kind of supplement).
