Imagine dining at your favorite restaurant, eagerly spooning into a steaming bowl of soup, only to spot a single hair floating in it. You might consider sending it back, removing the hair, or eating the soup anyway. But what happens if you swallow that hair? According to a 2021 article, a single strand is unlikely to cause harm, but consuming larger amounts could pose health risks.
Hair is composed of keratin, a tough protein that the human digestive system cannot break down. Digesting keratin requires extreme conditions highly acidic and alkaline environments at temperatures exceeding 100°C for extended periods conditions not present in the human body. As a result, small amounts of hair typically pass through the digestive tract without issue, similar to other indigestible materials.
However, ingesting a significant quantity of hair over time can lead to complications. In rare cases, it may form a trichobezoar, a dense hairball in the stomach, which can cause severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and weight loss. The source references a case, where an 18-year-old girl suffered from stomach pain, vomiting, and a loss of 18 kg over five months due to a trichobezoar. Unlike cats, which often vomit hairballs to expel accumulated fur, humans lack this ability, making large hair accumulations potentially dangerous.
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The study notes that hair is not biodegradable, as evidenced by the intact hair found on Egyptian mummies. While a single strand in your soup is harmless, habitual consumption of hair could lead to serious health issues. So, the next time you find a hair in your meal, it’s likely safe to remove it and continue eating but swallowing clumps is best avoided.