Thyroid hair loss can be the cause of your recent hair shedding

There are many reasons why you may be experiencing sudden hair loss. Everything from emotional stress to environmental factors can have a negative effect on your hair production. Sudden hair shedding may also be a sign that your thyroid hormones are not quite where they should be. Today we’ll learn a little about thyroid hair loss and talk about some of the best ways to deal with it.

Both Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism can cause hair to fall out suddenly and repeatedly. Hypothyroidism is a condition where the body lacks sufficient thyroid hormone while hyperthyroidism is more of an over active thyroid producing excessive amounts thyroid hormone. Both these imbalances can do a number on your body and include symptoms like fatigue, excess hunger, mood swings, increased heart rate, slowing or speeding up of your metabolism, and as you now know temporary hair loss.

Disclaimer: All content on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this website and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always consult with your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.

The natural hair growth cycle

It may come as a surprise to you but human hair does not grow continuously and stay on your scalp forever. It actually has a three stage life cycle. It grows in the Anagen Stage for up to a few years, then it enters the Catagen Stage where it transitions and stops growing, then it enters the Telogen Stage where the hair starts to die and fall out. While the hair is falling out that hair follicle is beginning its Anagen Stage again where the whole cycle repeats. Each hair strand is on its own life cycle, so you don’t have all your hair in the Telogen, dying stage, at the same time. Some animals are on a synchronized system so they shed all their hair at the same time of year, thankfully we humans do not share that trait. When the hair’s natural growth cycle is working it makes for full and beautiful hair, when it’s out of whack you start to get bald patches or thinning hair.

How does the natural hair cycle get thrown off

One of the many things that can throw off the natural growth cycle is severe illness. The stress of the severe illness causes telogen effluvium (TE) which causes temporary hair loss or hair shedding. Their is not much research to explain TE but it can be different in everyone. Some people experiencing TE will have symptoms that persist longer than others and are more severe. TE is the second most common form of hair loss that dermatologists see.

Thyroid diseases like hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and Hashimotos Disease may in some cases be accompanied by some form of hair loss. Because of the hair life cycle this hair loss can sometimes be associated with treatment of the disease and not the actual disease.

Hair Loss and Thyroid disease

For example a person who suffers from an autoimmune disease like Hashimotos will begin to feel symptoms but it may take months before a doctor actually figures out what is wrong. At that point the patient starts taking medication and coincidently the hair shedding begins. Because the hair is on its own life cycle the hair has actually been in Telogen for a while and just never went back into Anagen. So when the hair falls out it doesn’t start to regrow. This loss of hair is usually not due to the medication but a side effect of the problem that has been in your body for some time.

Hair loss due to thyroid issues are usually diffuse and effect the whole scalp instead of just patches. So over time your hair is thinning itself out all over not just in specific spots. It is important to realize that the hair loss is not an overnight thing, and to understand that the hair re-growth will not be an overnight thing either.

Please remember to consult with your doctor and listen to his/her advice and medical treatment plan. Do not just stop your medication if you think it is affecting your hair. Make sure you speak to qualified and compassionate health care providers to guide you.

Hair Loss Treatments for thyroid disease

Optimal Thyroid Treatment

Make sure that you not only see a doctor, but see a doctor that specializes in hormones, thyroid, and autoimmune diseases. Thyroid diseases are very tricky and are sometimes hard to diagnose. There are blood tests that measure things like your T3 and T4 or TSH, etc… but those with experience with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism will also run other blood tests like checking your iron, your reverse T3, progesterone, estrogen, and many others. They also have in-consultation tests that they perform on your reflexes and skin to see how your blood flow and reactions are. So first and foremost be seen by a doctor that takes the time to know you and know what you are going through. If your doctor does not have time to discuss alternative treatments or supplemental treatments to medication, they may not be a good fit for the struggles you face.

Once you are comfortable with your healthcare provider and he/she has you on a treatment plan, make sure that you follow the plan and track your progress. Autoimmune diseases have the tendency to spike with stress and other issues, so modifying treatment plans is not uncommon. So if you start not to feel well or more hair starts to fall out, see your doctor and discuss options.

Supplements

This is a list of supplements from The Hair Loss Master Plan book:

• Biotin
• Evening primrose oil
• Omega 3 fatty acids
• Arginine
• Cysteine
• Green Tea
• Polysorbate 80
• Progesterone
• Saw Palmetto
• Trichosaccaride
• Vitamin B6 Zinc
• Aloe Vera

Check out our Vegan and Natural remedies for hair loss article.

Prevention

Sulfate Free Shampoo: To reduce dryness and damage to the hair and scalp

Alcohol free styling products: To reduce dryness and build up

Hair color services that do not have ammonia or ppd: This will reduce the irritation to the scalp and damage to the hair when undergoing chemical color services

Leave In Therapy spray: to provide slip when combing through knots in your hair. This slip will help to not pull out so much hair when brushing.

Thyroid disease and hair loss can go hand in hand but hopefully with what you have learned in this post and from the linked resources you will have a better understanding on how to deal with the loss of hair. Remember that the proper medical treatment plan should be first priority, then supplemental products to enhance your hair growth followed by proper maintenance of your existing hair to protect your self from more damage and future unnecessary hair loss.

Disclaimer: All content on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this website and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always consult with your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.