Possible Causes for brittle hair Chronic Alcoholism hair and nails from the dehydrating effects of alcohol, which can result in an increased appearance of aging and wrinkles Broken capillaries on your face and nose Yellow [verywellmind.com] hair and fingernails A flushed appearance Evidence of aging more rapidly than usual such as a sudden increase in wrinkles and age spots Alcohol damages the body. [michaelshouse.com] The frequent smell of alcohol on the breath, which can continue for hours after heavy drinking Weight loss due to the neglect of eating in favor of drinking Dry skin and brittle [verywellmind.com] Inadequate Diet Brittle and Dry Hair Hair, which is made up mostly of protein, serves as a useful diagnostic marker for nutritional deficiencies. [webmd.com] Brittle hair can signal a deficit of essential fatty acids, protein, iron, and other nutrients. Some hair loss is usual with age, of course. [webmd.com] “When an older person’s hair looks brittle, dry, and sparse, it’s often a sign that their diet is inadequate,” says Kathleen Niedert, RD, director of clinical nutrition and [webmd.com] Hypothyroidism The exam may also reveal: Thin brittle hair Coarse features of the face Pale or dry skin, which may be cool to the touch Reflexes that are abnormal Swelling of the arms and [mountsinai.org] When symptoms do appear, they may be quite varied and can include: tiredness being unable to tolderate the cold weight gain puffy and pale face brittle hair and nails, thinning [healthdirect.gov.au] hair or fingernails Weakness Weight gain Late symptoms, if untreated: Decreased taste and smell Hoarseness Puffy face, hands, and feet Slow speech Thickening of the skin [mountsinai.org] Bjornstad Syndrome Pili torti is recognized in early childhood and is characterised by twisted hair shafts and brittle hair.[5]The hearing loss usually becomes evident very early in life, often [en.wikipedia.org] Pili torti, a condition in which the hair shaft is flattened and twisted, makes the hair very brittle and patients develop hair loss in the first two years of life. [rarediseases.info.nih.gov] The hair is brittle and breaks easily, leading to short hair that grows slowly. [malacards.org] Hyperthyroidism Symptoms may include nervousness, irritability, extra sweating (perspiration), and fine, brittle hair. [hopkinsmedicine.org] hair difficulty sleeping See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms. [healthdirect.gov.au] Here are the most common ones: Nervousness Irritability Sweating more than normal Thinning of the skin Fine, brittle hair Weak muscles, especially in the upper arms and thighs [hopkinsmedicine.org] Marasmus Dry skin and brittle hair are also symptoms of marasmus. Marasmus can also make children short-tempered and irritable. [en.wikipedia.org] Other symptoms may include diarrhea; dehydration; behavioral changes; dry, loose skin; and dry, brittle hair. [britannica.com] Dry skin and brittle hair are also symptoms of marasmus. [healthline.com] Biotin Deficiency hair Hair loss or total alopecia Mild depression, which may progress to profound lassitude and, eventually, to somnolence Changes in mental status Generalized muscular pains [medicowesome.com] Rashes including red, patchy ones near the mouth (erythematous periorofacial macular rash) Fine and brittle hair Hair loss or total baldness (alopecia) Anemia Birth defects [en.wikipedia.org] Symptoms include dry skin, recurrent fungal infections of the skin, a rash, dry or brittle hair, or hair loss. Nails may also become brittle. [vitamins.lovetoknow.com] Argininosuccinic Aciduria Progressive liver damage, skin lesions, and brittle hair may also be seen. [en.wikipedia.org] hair), intellectual disability, and developmental delay. [visualdx.com] Hypotonia Apnea If argininosuccinic aciduria is not treated right away it may cause: Delays in physical developmental Intellectual disability Ataxia Liver damage Skin lesions Brittle [stlouischildrens.org] Mitochondrial Complex 3 Deficiency Nuclear Type 1 Abstract A 34-year-old man affected by exercise intolerance, mild proximal weakness and severe lactic acidosis is described. Muscle biopsy revealed mitochondrial abnormalities and an increase of cytochrome c oxidase histochemical reaction. Biochemical investigations on isolated muscle mitochondria as well as[…] [unboundmedicine.com] Hidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia Other symptoms include brittle hair, loss of hair in the armpits or on the face, nails that appear white, and clubbing of the fingers. [diseaseinfosearch.org] […] eczema periorbital wrinkling periorbital hyperpigmentation hypoplastic-absent sebaceous glands hypoplastic-absent eccrine sweat glands spoon-shaped nails hypotrichosis fine, brittle [humpath.com] 0002221 Absent pubic hair 0002555 Alopecia totalis 0007418 Autosomal dominant inheritance 0000006 Blepharitis Inflammation of eyelids 0000498 Brittle hair 0002299 Conjunctivitis [rarediseases.info.nih.gov] Anorexia Nervosa Physical effects of anorexia Some of the physical effects of anorexia nervosa may include: brittle hair and nails dry or yellowing skin feeling cold easily a soft downy hair [au.reachout.com] Physical symptoms that develop over time, including: low tolerance of cold weather, brittle hair and nails, dry or yellowing skin, anemia, constipation, swollen joints and [my.clevelandclinic.org] Netherton Syndrome The patient was presented to our clinic with sparse and brittle hair along with pruritic, erythematous and scaling cutaneous lesions. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov] Hair anomalies usually become apparent after infancy, with sparse and brittle hair caused by TI (bamboo hair viewed by light microscopy) and other hair shaft anomalies (pili [orpha.net] Patients have dry and brittle hair that break easily. [immunodeficiencysearch.com] Monilethrix […] trichodystrophy in which brittle hairs show a series of constrictions, usually without a medulla. [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com] A 4-year-old girl presented with sparse, brittle hair on her entire scalp and keratosis pilaris on the nape of her neck. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov] […] a beading effect, and are very brittle. monilethrix [mōnil′əthriks] Etymology: L. monile necklace; Gk, thrix, hair an autosomal-dominant condition in which the hairs exhibit [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com] Anorexia Physical effects of anorexia Some of the physical effects of anorexia nervosa may include: brittle hair and nails dry or yellowing skin feeling cold easily a soft downy hair [au.reachout.com] Physical symptoms that develop over time, including: low tolerance of cold weather, brittle hair and nails, dry or yellowing skin, anemia, constipation, swollen joints and [my.clevelandclinic.org] Rapp-Hodgkin Syndrome The main features include dry, brittle hair with alopecia in adulthood, dental anomalies (hypodontia, microdontia with delayed eruption, fissured tongue, and retruded maxilla [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov] Very little hair -- on both head and face -- and dry or brittle hair. [webmd.com] Autosomal Recessive Nail Dysplasia (B) Patients V:2 (panels i, ii), V:3 (panels iii, iv) and V:7 (panels v, vi) show hypotrichosis with brittle hair of the scalp and dystrophic, slightly spoon-shaped nails [commons.wikimedia.org] […] ectodermal dysplasia (HNED; OMIM 602032) constitutes a rare subgroup of ectodermal dysplasias characterised by onychodystrophy, hypotrichosis and brittle hair. [jle.com] Very little hair -- on both head and face -- and dry or brittle hair. [webmd.com] Ringed Hair Disease Case Report A 22-year-old Caucasian woman complained of thin and brittle hair since puberty. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov] hair, Intellectual impairment, Decreased fertility, Short stature) (Amish brittle hair syndrome) (Trichothiodystrophy) 234050 Bjornstad syndrome Pili torti and nerve deafness [keratin.com] […] increased hair fragility. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov] Iron Deficiency Nail changes, eg, koilonychia (spoon-shaped nails ) Dry and brittle hair Increased hair shedding may be noticed. [dermnetnz.org] Symptoms include weakness, fatigue, and sometimes pallor, shortness of breath, coldness of extremities, changeable appetite, sore tongue, loss of hair, brittle fingernails [britannica.com] The symptoms of iron deficiency include fatigue, shortness of breath, frequent infections, pica (craving non-food items such as chalk or ice), brittle nails and hair loss. [blog.viviscal.com] Clastothrix Hair shaft fracture; Brittle hair; Fragile hair; Hair breakage James WD, Berger TG, Elston DM. Diseases of the skin appendages. In: James WD, Berger TG, Elston DM, eds. [medlineplus.gov] […] results in low arginine levels and brittle hair. [emedicine.medscape.com] Hair shaft fracture; Brittle hair; Fragile hair; Hair breakage Trichorrhexis nodosa is a common hair problem in which thickened or weak points (nodes) along the hair shaft [leehealth.org] Thyroid Gland Disorder Initially: Fatigue, constipation, cold intolerance, slowing of mental and physical performance Late: weight gain, forgetfulness, dry and brittle hair, slow reflexes, deep [quizlet.com] Most patients complain of slow metabolism, slow heartbeat, weight gain, puffy skin, brittle hair, constipation and fatigue.[3] [5] [6] Once hypothyroidism has been diagnosed [merckgroup.com] Other symptoms include a rapid or irregular heartbeat, brittle hair, weight loss despite normal food intake and an increase in the number of bowel movements experienced each [livestrong.com] Pili Torti […] characterized by short and brittle hairs that appear flattened and twisted when viewed through a microscope.[1]:638[2]:764[3] This phenotype is noted in Menkes disease. [en.wikipedia.org] Clinical examination showed dry, lustreless, fragile, and brittle hair of scalp and sparse hairs involving eyebrows [Figure 1]. [ijtrichology.com] Lusterless, opaque, scarce blond hair. Pili torti. Thick, coarse and brittle hair in the left occipitotemporal region. Pili torti. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov] Selenosis Excessive selenium causes brittle hair, hair loss, deformed nails, brittle nails, sloughing off of nails, tooth discoloration, tooth decay and mottled or discolored skin. [livestrong.com] Low levels of selenium can cause nervous system problems, brittle hair and deformed nails in humans while chronic, long-term exposure to selenium can cause liver, kidney and [appvoices.org] Next, you might notice hair and nail loss and brittleness, as well as both gastrointestinal and neurological issues. [healthyeating.sfgate.com] Malnutrition […] changes: Thin, sparse, brittle hair that is easily pulled out and that turns a dull brown or reddish color See Clinical Presentation for more detail. [emedicine.com] […] secondary to fatty infiltration Skin changes: Dry, peeling skin with raw, exposed areas; hyperpigmented plaques over areas of trauma Nail changes: Fissured or ridged nails Hair [emedicine.com] Acquired Kinky Hair Syndrome Loose anagen ( hair ) syndrome results in short, brittle hair. Although both sexes may be affected, it most often presents in young girls over the age of 2 years. [dermnetnz.org] Trichorrhexis invaginata is caused by brittle hairs and is characteristic of hair shaft change in Netherton syndrome. It appears as “ball-and-socket” under trichoscopy. [idoj.in] The brittle hair easily breaks once it is exposed above the skin and the fibers rarely grow very long as a result. [webmd.com] Tinea Barbae The masses surround the hairs, which become brittle; hairs may be penetrated by fungus and thus split. [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com] Superficial findings are marked by scaling, slight itching, reddish or grayish patches, and dry, brittle hair that is easily extracted with the hair shaft. [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com] Generally it is characterized by one or more small, round, elevated patches, scaling of the scalp, and dry and brittle hair. tinea cor poris a fungal infection of the glabrous [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com] Menkes Disease Symptoms of the disorder include weakened bones, brittle hair and unusual skin and hair pigmentation. [medicalxpress.com] The clinical spectrum of Menkes disease includes progressive neuro-degeneration, connective tissue abnormalities and wiry brittle hair. [themedicalbiochemistrypage.org] The development of hair, bones and arteries also depend on copper and are impaired in Menkes disease. [medicalxpress.com] Anemia […] regrowth), the following skin, hair, and nail changes are seen in hypothyroidism: Pale, cool, and thick or "doughy" skin Dry, brittle hair, and hair loss, especially near [verywell.com] Anemia can produce other symptoms, such as: paleness shortness of breath cold hands and feet headaches dizziness fast, slow, or uneven heartbeat brittle nails or hair loss [familydoctor.org] […] nails or hair loss How Is Iron-Deficiency Anemia Diagnosed? [hematology.org] Thyroiditis […] loss or thinning, brittle hair Irregular or heavy menstrual periods Depression Slowed heart rate Because the symptoms of Hashimoto's thyroid may be similar to those for other [webmd.com] […] loss or thinning, brittle hair irregular or heavy menstrual periods depression slowed heart rate Because the symptoms of Hashimoto's thyroid may be similar to those for other [m.webmd.com] […] due to Hashimoto's may include: Weight gain Fatigue Paleness or puffiness of the face Joint and muscle pain Constipation Inability to get warm Difficulty getting pregnant Hair [webmd.com] Congenital Non-Goitrous Hypothyroidism Type 4 Other possible symptoms include: pain in your joints or muscles constipation brittle hair or nails voice hoarseness puffiness in your face As the disease progresses, these [healthline.com] hair, which comes out in handfuls Loss of hair in the outer third of eyebrows Slow growing, ridged and brittle nails Myxoedema, resulting in puffy face, eyelids, hands and [dermnetnz.org] […] skin Eczema craquelé – a form of dermatitis in which there is crazy paving splitting of the skin surface A yellowish hue to the skin secondary to carotenaemia Sparse and brittle [dermnetnz.org] Constipation brittle fingernails impaired memory a puffy face A blood test known as a thyroid function test can help assess the function of your thyroid. [healthline.com] […] you have an underactive thyroid, you may also experience: fatigue increased sensitivity to cold dry skin weight gain irregular menstrual periods if you’re a woman thinning hair [healthline.com]
