Why Is Thyroid Function Important To Your Hair
Having either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism can limit your bodys production of hair cells, which can cause hair loss, hair thinning or reduced hair growth. Thyroid dysfunction can also be associated with low iron levels, which in turn can also adversely affect hair growth .
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are easily diagnosed by low or high thyroid readings in blood test results. However, readings just within the normal range should also be looked at if you are experiencing hair loss. Please consult with both your doctor and a Philip Kingsley Trichologist if you are concerned.
Thyroid And Hair Loss: Reasons Remedies And More
All of us experience some degree of hair loss. In fact, it happens to all of us each day. Usually, we all lose 50 to 100 strands a day but hair loss is different if you have an inflamed thyroid gland. Yes, thyroid conditions cause hair loss if left unchecked.
A lot of people dont know about the connection between thyroid and hair loss. In this blog, Lordhair will tell you everything about thyroid hair fall and damage. From meaning to reasons and symptoms to remedies, we will cover all important aspects.
Lets understand the meaning of thyroid first!
Dont Miss: How To Stop Hair Loss Home Remedies
Q: Could My Thyroid Condition Be Causing My Hair Loss
A: Yes, it could. A lot of people with thyroid dysfunction shed hair.
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.Policy
Common thyroid conditions such as Hashimotos thyroiditis and Graves disease are autoimmune disorders, which can sometimes result in hair loss.
The hair loss is typically reversed after your thyroid hormone levels are normalized. But this may take some time.
Its important to point out that hair loss may not just be caused by your thyroid, however.
Having one autoimmune disorder also increases your risk for having others, some of which produce hair loss:
- Celiac disease can be associated with iron deficiency, which triggers hair loss.
- Alopecia areata, a skin condition, causes hair to fall out, typically leaving round spots without hair.
And for women, menopause creates a low estrogen state that can thin the hair follicles, giving the appearance of overall hair loss.
If youre shedding hair, I would definitely tell your physician, who can determine the reason. Doctors can sometimes prescribe treatments to minimize or reverse hair loss.
Also Check: Thyroid Cancer 20 Year Survival Rate
Complications Of Hashimotos Disease
Thyroid hormones are crucial for the normal functioning of body systems. If Hashimotoâs disease is not treated, it may result in some complications such as:
Heart problems
Hypothyroidism may lead to poor heart function. It could also result in an enlarged heart or irregular heartbeat. In severe cases, the disease could trigger high levels of bad cholesterol that substantially increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and heart failure.
Myxedema
Undiagnosed or untreated severe hypothyroidism can cause myxedema. The symptoms of this condition manifest through skin changes, such as swelling of the face including lips, eyelids, and tongue, and swelling and thickening of skin anywhere on the body, especially the lower legs.
Severe hypothyroidism, when left untreated, can lead to myxedema coma, a rare but life-threatening condition.
Signs of myxedema coma can include extreme fatigue, reduced consciousness, fever, or a drop in body temperature, particularly during the colder months.
If you think you or someone you know could be experiencing signs of myxedema coma, you must seek urgent medical care.
Goiter
Enlargement of your thyroid gland is referred to as a goiter. When thyroid hormone production reduces because of Hashimotoâs disease, the thyroid gets signals from the pituitary gland to make more. This cycle results in a goiter that could affect your appearance and interfere with swallowing or breathing.
Mental health issues
Poor pregnancy outcomes
Thyroid Hair Loss Will My Hair Grow Back
Cosmedica Team
Thyroid hair loss is a medical condition that has become increasingly common among teenagers, young adults, and older adults. It arises due to severe hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
Most people arent even aware that they have thyroid-related issues that need treatment. The problem only becomes visible when hair grows slowly, or they experience thyroid-related hair loss. However, some subtle signs like the following can give it away.
Don’t Miss: Stage 6 Thyroid Cancer Life Expectancy
How To Cope With Side Effects Of Thyroid Cancer Treatment
Keep in mind that every patients experience is unique. With that said, here are some common thyroid cancer treatments, their potential side effects and some ways in which those side effects can be managed:
If youd like to learn more about managing the side effects of thyroid cancer treatments, you can speak with an oncologist in the Thyroid Clinic at Moffitt Cancer Center with or without a referral. To request an appointment, call or complete a new patient registration form online.
Hair Loss And Your Thyroid
Thyroid conditions such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause a diverse range of symptoms, from reduced or increased energy levels to changes in your body composition and weight. Its also possible for these conditions to affect your hair.
Because your thyroid plays a vital role in regulating so many bodily functions, any disruption to the production of thyroid hormones such as triiodothyronine and thyroxine can affect numerous important bodily processes.
This includes the healthy growth of your hair. If your thyroid function is impaired, your hair might not grow as quickly as it normally would. This means that as old hairs reach the end of their hair growth cycle, they arent adequately replaced by new ones.
Also Check: Armour Thyroid 90 Mg Cost
What Can You Do If Youre Experiencing Thinning Hair
Its not just a thyroid condition that can trigger serious thinning hair. If youve noticed your hairs growth cycle stunting and your doctor or endocrinologist has cleared you of any thyroid disease or other medical concerns, you could try a nourishing diet and some targeted hair products, such asGRO+ Advanced Hair Serum, to promote healthy hair. The CBD terpenes in the formula penetrate the upper layer on the dermis and reach the hair follicles right at the root, giving your locks a glossy boost.
Additionally, consider taking hair supplements, such as GRO+ Advanced Hair Care Gummies. The 100% vegan formula, which is made without artificial flavors, harnesses broad-spectrum hemps therapeutic power to help support thicker and fuller-looking hair. Folic acid, biotin, zinc and various other vitamins can help hair maintain a luscious, shiny look and feel.
Thyroid Hair Thinning And Anti
As a general rule, eating a balanced diet can help to promote growth and improve the condition of your hair. This also include autoimmune disorders, which under-active thyroid is.
Reduction of the inflammation in your body as a result of healthy gut microflora improves absorption of the nutrients from your body and can help stop or slow down your immune system attacking itself, which includes your thyroid gland, too. A healthful and balanced diet is one that contains protein, fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, and a moderate amount of fat.
Don’t Miss: Radiofrequency Ablation Thyroid Nodule Cost
Signs Of Thyroid Imbalance
It is difficult to clearly diagnose thyroid disease from symptoms alone.
But, knowing the signs can help you determine if you need to pursue testing.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
- Vision problems or eye irritation
- Goiter or enlarged thyroid gland
- Irregular menstrual periods
- Muscle weakness or uncontrollable tremors
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
- Fatigue or tiredness despite getting sleep
- Gaining weight despite healthy diet and exercise
- Forgetfulness or short term memory issues
- Cold temperature sensitivity
What Causes The Link Between Thyroid Issues And Hair Loss
The root causes for hair loss and thyroid problems are the same. In most cases, theyre caused by a lack of iodine in the diet.
Both hair loss and thyroid problems happen when theres not enough iodine in the body to meet all of our nutritional needs. That also means that fixing one will fix the other.
Treating your thyroid problem is often the best way to treat your hair loss as well, because it solves both problems at once! The thyroid controls how much hormone is produced in the body. When this hormone isnt regulated properly, it can create all kinds of health problems, like hair loss or thyroid issues.
You dont have to take any medication for these issues if you simply change your diet. Increasing your intake of iodine-rich foods can help you avoid these conditions altogether or fix them if youve already developed either problem.
Recommended Reading: Thyroid Cancer Lymph Node Metastasis
There Are Root Causes Behind Thyroid Hair Loss
Thankfully, after a long journey to restore my thyroid function, my hair returned to being as full and healthy as ever. However, when I first meet with thyroid patients, they are oftentimes struggling with thyroid hair loss even while being treated for their thyroid dysfunction.
As with many health issues, this is often because conventional medicine doctors fail to identify and address the root cause of thyroid symptoms. I discuss all of these environmental root causes in my book, The Thyroid Connection.
In this article, Ill share ten tips for addressing the root causes of thyroid hair loss and getting your hair back to being full, shiny, and healthy!
How To Stop Hair Loss Due To Thyroid Issues
In order to stop the hormonal interference that is preventing hair regrowth, you need to balance your thyroid levels.
Your TSH and T4, in particular, need to be at optimal levels .
It may help to also check your iron levels and boost your intake.
Low iron levels will cause a lack in Ferritinwhich is a blood protein that supports hair growth.
Your thyroid issues may cause low Ferritin levels, which can contribute to your hair loss symptoms.
Increase your protein intake and healthy fats in your diet since these are both important factors in supporting stronger and healthier hair.
Reduce your stress levels. Stress can disrupt your hormonal balance with a cortisol overload.
Even if your thyroid levels are improving, your stress can still impact your hair growth cycles.
Feeling stressed with the balance of life, the frustration of hair loss and the fatigue of thyroid disease can cause hair loss months later, so be patient in reducing your stress levels and watching for future improvements.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Diagnose Thyroid Problems
What Could Be The Cause
Hair loss is a common symptom of thyroid disease but it can also be caused by various other conditions including vitamin and mineral deficiencies and certain medical conditions.
Lets look at thyroid disease first. Hair loss may be associated with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism1. In hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism “a term used to describe an under-active thyroid gland” , hair loss is also found in other areas of the body such as the eyebrows , under the arms and the pubic area.
We have seen reports that hair loss can be a side effect of levothyroxine.2 However, it may be that the hair loss is actually a symptom of hypothyroidism that only showed as a symptom after the start of treatment with levothyroxine Levothyroxine “a synthetic thyroid hormone commonly given to treat an under-active thyroid. It is also known as L-thyroxine” . This may be because it can take months for hair loss to start due to the long hair growth cycle.
It may also be a sign that you are on too much levothyroxine, making you a little overactive and this may therefore be causing the hair loss.
We have read reports from patients, though, that they moved over to natural desiccated thyroid and their hair loss improved.
If your hair loss is due to thyroid disease once you have been treated with the correct thyroid medication for you and your levels are stable, the hair loss should improve.
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome / Tendinitis
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome and tendinitis are both indicators of a thyroid problem.
It is not just these problems if you are suffering from aches and pains in your muscles and joints, and if your arms are becoming weaker, you could well be suffering from a thyroid problem.
When coupled with hair loss, you have another reliable indicator.
Recommended Reading: Thyroid Is Cancer Or Not
How Thyroid Hormones Cause Hair Loss
Your hair follicles follow a natural cycle of hair growth and resting phases. At any given time, most of your hair is growing while only a small portion of it is resting. But when changes in the body throw off that cycle, too much hair rests at one time and not enough grows, resulting in excessive hair loss, thinning hair, or balding.
Many medical conditions can cause hair loss, with thyroid disease a common culprit. Thyroid problems include both an underactive thyroid gland and an overactive thyroid gland . Because hair growth depends on the proper functioning of the thyroid gland, abnormal levels of thyroid hormone produced by this gland can result in hair changes, along with many other side effects, if left untreated. When there is too much thyroid hormone, the hair on your head can become fine, with thinning hair all over the scalp. When there is too little of this hormone, there can be hair loss, not just on the scalp, but also anywhere on the body.
Ironically, taking the hormone levothyroxine to treat an underactive thyroid can contribute to some hair loss, among other side effects, but this seems to be more common within the first month of treatment and more often in children than adults. This hair loss is only temporary and will go away as treatment is continued and thyroid hormone levels stabilize.
Treatments For Hair Loss
If you have thyroid-related hair loss, youll likely see hair regrowth after treating the underlying thyroid disease. In some cases, though, your hair loss could also be from one of the other causes of hair loss.
Here are some common ways to treat hair loss from other causes:
- Minoxidil is a topical solution applied directly to the scalp, which may help stimulate hair growth.
- Finasteride is an oral prescription medication to treat male pattern baldness.
- Nutrition supplementsIf your hair loss is caused by a nutrient deficiency, like a lack of biotin, taking a supplement may resolve the hair loss. Speak with your healthcare provider about getting tested before starting a supplement regimen since only a small subset of people dont get enough of their daily vitamins from the food they eat.
You May Like: What Supplements To Take For Low Thyroid
Does Levothyroxine Cause Hair Loss
- Understanding the hair growth cycle
- How does hypothyroidism cause hair loss?
- Shouldnât levothyroxine treat my hair loss?
- How to slow or reverse hair loss
Off-kilter hormones can easily disrupt the delicate hair growth cycle. This disruption is especially true for thyroid hormones, which are responsible for regulating the cellular growth and metabolism of every cell in your body. Hair loss is a common side effect of hypothyroidism, but it is a treatable problem. However, many people wonder if levothyroxine, the most commonly prescribed treatment option for hypothyroidism also causes hair loss. Ahead, a look at if levothyroxine causes hair loss.
Recommended Reading: Is Vitamin C Good For Thyroid Patients
Thyroid Function And Hair Loss
A Brief ExplanationThyroid hormone accurately controls cellular metabolism and effects virtually every cell in the body, powerfully impacting multiple organ systems and precisely regulating metabolism and our Basal Metabolic Rate or BMR. BMR is the amount of energy, or calories, all of the cells in our body require, at rest, to support normal cellular function. Thyroid abnormalities can therefore cause, or make worse, a multitude of health problems.
Hair follicles are especially vulnerable. The rapidly replicating cells, located in each hair follicle require an extraordinary amount of energy, nutrients and ideal condidtions to function effectively. A minor change or disruption of these requirements can have profoundly detrimental effects on the delicate milieu required for normal healthy hair growth.
The hair follicle is therefore a sort of barometer of our overall health and well-being and, as such, our hair is especially vulnerable to the numerous metabolic, physiologic, and hormonal changes caused by thyroid disease.
Having optimal thyroid function is therefore essential for healthy hair growth. Sub-optimal thyroid function can cause hair shedding, hair loss, brittleness, frailness, as well as adverse changes in the overall morphology and appearance of the affected hair strands.
Thyroid Hormone ProductionThe thyroid produces two types of hormone, thyroxine and triiodothyronine . T4 is first produced and then converted to T3, the more active form of thyroid hormone.
You May Like: Best Diet Plan For Thyroid Patients
Thyroid Conditions And Alopecia Areata
Many people with thyroid conditions such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism suffer from autoimmune thyroid disease. People affected by autoimmune thyroid disease have a greater risk of developing other autoimmune conditions, such as alopecia areata.Alopecia areata is a type of autoimmune hair loss in which the bodys immune system targets and damages the hair follicles. Hair follicles that are targeted by the immune system can stop producing new hairs, resulting in hair loss.
Hair loss from alopecia areata usually occurs in small, often circular patches, rather than the receding hairline or crown hair loss of male pattern baldness or the diffuse thinning of thyroid hair loss. Some people with alopecia areata develop bands of bald skin, called ophiasis.
In severe cases, alopecia areata can also cause total hair loss on the scalp, as well as loss of hair in the eyebrows, eyelashes and beard area. Some people with alopecia areata may notice that their nails become slightly red, with a weak, rough and brittle texture or may have pitting in their nails.
If you have a thyroid condition and believe youre suffering from alopecia areata, contact your healthcare provider.. Several effective treatments can help you to manage the symptoms of alopecia areata, including corticosteroids.
Medications that stimulate hair growth, such as minoxidil, may also help to promote hair growth in people with alopecia areata.