Question
Newborns are born with black hair, but around 40 days later, the tips of the hair start to turn yellow, and now the hair on the top of the head is all yellow. Other aspects are normal. The doctor said it might be phenylketonuria. I want to ask if hair turning yellow could be due to other factors or conditions? Which hospital is good for diagnosing this disease?
Answer
The symptoms of zinc deficiency mainly include: loss of appetite. When zinc is deficient, taste bud function decreases, taste function is reduced, appetite is diminished, and food intake decreases; digestion is also weakened; growth and development lag behind. Hair becomes sparse and yellow. More susceptible to catching colds. Zinc-deficient individuals have a decreased immune function, prone to various infectious diseases, including diarrhea; colds, etc. Dietary supplements are the best way to replenish zinc. Eat more foods rich in zinc such as fish, lean meat, animal liver and kidneys, egg yolks, dairy products, and also eat more seafood shells like oysters, meat, and dried scallops. Eating hard-shelled foods like chestnuts, walnuts, and peanuts is also beneficial. Traditional Chinese medicine for replenishing zinc can also have a good effect. The Chinese herb Polygonum multiflorum contains a high amount of zinc.