Hair Loss? Check Your Thyroid!




female hair loss

Some people, especially women in their middle ages, can experience hair thinning due to a thyroid disease. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism cause hormonal imbalances and produce numerous unpleasant symptoms, with hair loss often being the most noticeable of them.

A healthy functioning of hair follicles and the skin is generally guided and controlled by a constant interplay of hormones, among which is the thyroid gland. The growth of hair especially depends on a proper work of thyroid hormone - one of master hormones involved in metabolism, growth, and repair of tissues. Numerous sebaceous (grease) glands, located on the scalp and other body areas, are directly affected by the health of the thyroid, too. If the gland is underactive, there is not enough sebum produced, and hair will look dull, dry, and fragile. If the thyroid is overactive, it will stimulate an increased production of oil, and hair will look too greasy, no matter how often it is shampooed. Both hair growth and actual thickness of hair directly depend on the healthy functioning of the thyroid gland.

The thyroid gland, the shape of which resembles a small butterfly with outstretched wings, is located in the front of the neck, just below the larynx. It secretes three important hormones: triiodothyronine, or T3, which controls metabolism and body temperature and helps regulate growth and development of the body; thyroxin, or T4, which maintains normal body metabolism; and calcitonin, which regulates the level of calcium in the blood.

When the thyroid gland becomes overactive and increases its hormonal production, hyperthyroidism, or Graves’ disease, is diagnosed. As a result, body metabolism becomes extremely high, which causes rapid heartbeat, nervousness, increased appetite, and increased sweating. Hair becomes greasy and starts falling out, which in time leads to noticeably thinned locks on different areas of the scalp.

Hypothyroidism is a more common condition, in which there is a shortage of thyroid hormone causing low body metabolism. Hypothyroidism has a sluggish onset with symptoms developing over months or even years. It often occurs in women between 30 and 60 years of age. People with hypothyroidism complain of slowed physical and mental function, constant fatigue, edema, difficulty breathing, constipation, depression, dry scaly skin, intolerance to cold, and considerable loss of hair. In addition to hair loss, patients with an underactive thyroid can develop dry scalp, dandruff, eczema, and coarse, dull hair.

Thyroid malfunction can also be associated with a number of other changes in the skin and hair. Most often, it causes Alopecia Areata, which is characterized by sudden hair loss on the scalp and sometimes other areas of the body, such as eyebrows and eyelashes.

People with poor thyroid function experience aggravation of their symptoms in the summer and winter, when the air is dry and either too hot or too cold. The symptoms, including hair loss, also tend to worsen with aging.

Treatment of thyroid-induced hair loss should, first of all, address basic treatment of the thyroid disease. This includes thyroid hormone replacement therapy, in case of hypothyroidism, or anti-thyroid medication if the thyroid gland is overactive. Note that thyroid problems, including hair loss, can be caused by iodine deficiency or / and an overconsumption of soy products.

Additional treatment to manage thyroid-related hair loss should include an adequate diet with liberal amounts of unprocessed sea salt (a good source of easy-to-absorb iodine) and complete avoidance of soy proteins; avoidance of harsh shampoos, hair colours, conditioners, and other irritating hair-care products; regular use of natural scalp oils, especially in case of hypothyroidism; and avoidance of frequent shampooing even with mild cleaning agents.

Liana Lipinski

Related Posts


Posted on March 12, 2008 
Filed Under Hair Loss, Hair Loss Reasons, Hair Loss Treatments

Comments

Leave a Reply