What is Thyroid Hair Loss (Hypothyroidism)?
The thyroid glands are located in between our necks produces 2 hormones which is Thryonine and Thyroxine and are the primary tools for
- converting food into energy
- modulating carbohydrate, protein, fat and vitamins
- managing sexual reproductive health
All these activities can be address as our body's metabolism system.
Hypothyroidism is a medical condition where your thyroid glands are unable to produce enough hormones for your body's metabolism as oppose to Hyperthyroidism. This condition causes many problems and one of the more common ones is hair loss.
Medical Symptoms
If you are suffering from Hypothyroidism, the symptoms are actually quite mild and common. Most people won't realize that they have this condition until the problem gets worse or diagnosed by a doctor. The following symptoms are related to Hypothyroidism.
- Fatigue
- Mental Depression
- Slow and sluggishness
- Cold attacks
- Some weight gain
- Dry skin or hair
- Constipation
- Menstrual irregularities
When this condition is not treated early, it can lead to other problems like
- goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland)
- memory problems
- a more serious condition known as myxedema
If you notice that you have these symptoms for a while, it's best you do a body check up and blood test to see whether it's related to Hypothyroidism.
What Causes Hypothyroidism?
In adults, there are several factors that can lead you to this disease
- Hashimoto's Disease - this is the condition where your immune system attacks your thyroid glands.
- Pregnancy - some pregnancy can cause hormonal imbalances.
- Birth defect - lack of proper development of the thyroid glands.
- Taking Hyperthyroidism treatments - too much anti-thyroid medications can cause hypothyroidism.
- Undergoing radiation therapy - Radiation used to treat cancers of the head and neck can affect your thyroid gland.
Women in their 50s are more susceptible to get this disease compare to men. Hypothyroidism is unavoidable in most cases and leads to other health conditions like obesity, heart diseases and arthritis.
The Cause of Thyroid Hair Loss
If you are suffering from sudden hair loss together with the above symptoms, then you might be having thyroid hair loss. Thyroid hair loss is caused by the thyroid glands inability to provide the hormones for proper metabolism which is important for the growth of the hair follicles. Lack of proper metabolism causes our hair to
- lose necessary supply of proteins and amino acids
- lose the ability to absorb vital minerals and vitamins
- unable to grow properly
- energy needed for hair growth is diverted to other parts of the body to compensate
Available Treatments for Thyroid Hair Loss
As your hair loss is caused by the thyroid problem, your best bet is to find ways to treat your thyroid problems first. As many cases of thyroid problems goes undiagnosed, you might not know if you have that condition.
Do consult a doctor and mention about your hair loss and other symptoms. Most common treatments for hypothyroidism are synthetic hormone replacement known as Levothyroxine (Synthroid) which can cause hair loss as a side effect. Remember to talk to your doctor about medications that can cause hair loss too.
You can opt for some alternatives therapies that have been proven to alleviate hair loss such as
- Evening primrose oil
- Aromatherapy of Essential oils such as
- Thyme
- Cedar wood
- Lavender
- Rosemary
- Ayurveda therapies
Hair Transplants can be considered as an effective option against thyroid hair loss. However it's most important that you have to stabilize your thyroid problems first. It's important that you understand and treat your condition properly before opting for hair transplant surgery.
What Not to Try
If you are looking for DHT inhibitors like Propecia or growth stimulation like minoxidil, I do advise you to skip this. Research shows that both of this medications does not promote hair growth when you are having thyroid problems.
As the cause of the illness starts from the thyroid glands, stabilizing the hormone levels are the priority to regain back your hair.
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All information here are written by a hair loss sufferer based on experience and self research.
It's best to seek a medical professional regarding any health problems.
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