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Hair problems can be a symptom of hidden or silent gluten intolerance.
Sure, many people may tell you that hair loss is “pattern baldness”. That won’t help you if your hair loss is pathogenic. Many Celiac Research articles report associations between certain types of hair loss and Celiac Disease. People with hair loss, especially if it is like the Alopecia hair loss described below, should give consideration to gluten intolerance.
Contents:
Alopecia/Alopecia Areata (autoimmune
hair loss).
Snow-white hair or thin, brittle hair is suggestive of nutritional deficiency, particularly iron in the case of snow-white hair. Malabsorption of iron is a well-known symptom of gluten intolerance and Celiac Disease. Therefore, snow-white hair or thin, brittle hair should be suggestive of gluten intolerance and Celiac Disease.
Thyroid problems can cause hair symptoms. Hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone) causes hair to become thin and fine. Hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) thickens both hair and skin. Celiac Disease is strongly associated with thyroid problems. (More to come.)
Alopecia Areata (AA) is a dermatosis involving the sudden occurrence of bald patches on the scalp. AA is not caused by infection, but because the autoimmune tissue damage may create an opening for opportunistic infections some infection may be present leading to misdiagnosis.
The majority of patients are under 40 years old and report the rapid onset of one or several defined, usually round, 1 to 4 cm areas of scalp hair loss. ...
A common feature is the presence of “exclamation-mark” hairs that may be present at the margins of the bald patch. “Exclamation-mark” hairs are broken, short hairs that taper proximally. Some patients with alopecia areata also exhibit nail pitting. The disease may affect any hair-bearing area, but most commonly affects the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and beard. Hair loss may be patchy or extensive In extreme cases, the disease may result in total loss of scalp hair (alopecia totalis) or scalp and body hair (alopecia universalis).” [5]
“Although the etiology of alopecia
areata is unknown, most evidence supports the hypothesis that the disease is
immunologically mediated. .”[6] (emphasis added) ...
The good news is that a Gluten Free Diet can stop and reverse some cases of Alopecia Areata [2] [3] with the benefit of reducing the likelihood of future health problems[4], like Autoimmune Thyroid Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis. ...
“Alopecia Areata is a disease characterized by hair cycle dysfunction and the presence of peribulbar and perifollicular mononuclear cell infiltrates. ...
[1] “Celiac disease and alopecia areata: report of a new
association.”, Corazza
GR, Andreani ML, Venturo N, Bernardi M, Tosti A, Gasbarrini G.,
Gastroenterology. 1995 Oct;109(4):1333-7.
[2] Ibid.