Lanugo hair: Fine, downy hair may develop on the body due to chronic malnutrition. The body's adaptive mechanism aims to conserve body heat due to low body fat levels.
Protein-energy malnutrition
The hair may be fine or brittle, and alopecia can occur due to telogen effluvium. An increase in lanugo hairs can be seen, similar to patients with anorexia nervosa.
There are certain signs of lifeless and under-nourished hair, such as: Breakage prone and brittle hair: Extreme oiliness or dryness, shedding, thinning, etc.
Symptoms. Malnourished children may be short for their age, thin or bloated, listless and have weakened immune systems. Nutritional disorders can affect any system in the body and the senses of sight, taste and smell. They may also produce anxiety, changes in mood and other psychiatric symptoms.
Vitamin D deficiency can manifest as dry, brittle hair that breaks easily. Moderate to excessive shedding and thinning hair may also occur. Studies have even proven that low levels of vitamin D are also responsible for premature graying. Diagnosing vitamin D deficiency involves a simple blood test to check levels.
Hair looks limp and stringy.
Dull and limp hair is a sign of protein deficiency.
Fat-soluble vitamin deficiency (al. S. M., 2011) – Deficiencies specifically in vitamins A, D, E, and K typically will cause nails to be softer, termed hapalonychia. Yellow discoloration of the nails, not to be confused with onychomycosis, can occur with vitamin E deficiencies.
Symptoms of malnutrition in a child can include: not growing or putting on weight at the expected rate (faltering growth) changes in behaviour, such as being unusually irritable, slow or anxious. low energy levels and tiring more easily than other children.
Nails will stop growing and may “look odd-shaped, be very brittle and crack a lot,” Planells says. Hair may thin and lose its shine; some people also start losing hair. Malnutrition also changes the skin, making it dry, flaky and less elastic. In addition, skin will bruise and tear easily.
Many nutritional deficiencies lead to poor hair health and include changes to hair structure, texture, and viability.
The skin may be erythematous and shiny, mainly in edematous regions. Areas of dryness, hyperkeratosis, and hyperpigmentation have a tendency to confluence. Large scales expose underlying tissues, which are easily infected. Hair is sparse, dry, lusterless, and brittle, with a reddish tinge.
Low-density hair means fewer hair strands per square inch. In some instances, the scalp may be visible even without parting the hair. This delicate hair type tends to be thin and easily overwhelmed by heavy products. Choosing lightweight haircare products is key here.
Malnutrition hair loss is reversible. You can opt for certain strategies to ensure optimal nutrient supply and revive the growth of your hair.
How is malnutrition diagnosed? Physical observation and a history of your diet and health conditions are often enough to diagnose protein-energy undernutrition or overnutrition. Healthcare providers may measure your BMI or measure a child's arm circumference to help understand the extent of the problem.
Disease and malnutrition
Unsafe water and sanitation can lead to malnutrition or make it worse. “No matter how much food a malnourished child eats, he or she will not get better if the water they are drinking is not safe,” says Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF Director of Emergency Programmes.
The median time to recovery from severe acute malnutrition was 15 days (95% CI 14, 15). The highest incidence of recovery was observed at 15–20 days (20.06 per 100 child days' observations) followed by 20–25 days (13.63 per 100 child days' observations).
Nail changes in vitamin B12 deficiency present as hyperpigmentation of nails like bluish discoloration of nails, blue-black pigmentation with dark longitudinal streaks, and longitudinal and reticulate darkened streaks. The nail pigmentation associated with B12 deficiency is more frequent in patients with dark skin.
Vitamin D is crucial for many aspects of human health, including the health and growth of your hair. If your body isn't getting enough vitamin D, it might negatively affect your hair and cause you to see more strands falling out.
It's rare to be deficient in biotin. Symptoms include hair loss, dry scaly skin, cracking in the corners of the mouth (called cheilitis), swollen and painful tongue that is magenta in color (glossitis), dry eyes, loss of appetite, fatigue, insomnia, and depression.