6. Hair Loss: The Tresses Tell Tales
When you think of celiac disease, hair probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But for many women, a decrease in hair density or even noticeable hair loss can be a disconcerting sign. Hair often mirrors our health, and its behavior can be a silent indicator of internal disharmonies.
Take a stroll down a supermarket aisle, and you’ll be bombarded with hair products claiming to treat hair loss. But when the root of the problem, pun intended, is a condition like celiac, external solutions barely scratch the surface. The hair shedding that some women with celiac experience isn’t patterned like typical baldness. Instead, it’s more generalized, often described as “hair thinning.”
Now, hair has its growth cycles. It grows, rests, and eventually falls out. But with malabsorption issues related to celiac, essential nutrients required for hair growth, like iron and vitamin D, might be in short supply. This shortage can disrupt the hair’s regular cycle, pushing more into the ‘rest’ phase and eventually the shedding phase. (6)
