Thyroid Health and Hair Loss

Noticing more hair in our brushes or down the drain is certainly worrisome, but a part of being human. Hair growth is supported by an abundance of protein and other minerals in the body and blocked by deficiencies or inflammation in the body. Certain times in our lives and events can also trigger hormonal shifts that cause upsetting hair symptoms.

Hair fall in excess of 50-100 hairs a day or worsening hair fall should be examined. Thyroid health and hair loss are closely connected, as thyroid imbalances like hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and Hashimoto’s disease (an autoimmune condition) can disrupt the hair growth cycle and lead to chronic, excessive hair loss, frequently in women, and should be addressed and managed. Autoimmune issues can bring on other autoimmune conditions, including others that can target our hair follicles!

The thyroid supplies hormones that affect our hair in several ways. These hormones influence the anagen (growth) phase of the hair cycle, and lack of them can shorten it, leading to more shedding and thinning. The hair our bodies build will not be as strong if the hormones influencing its growth are unbalanced. Working with a doctor can help you figure out if you are experiencing a thyroiditis that is causing your hair issues.

I have a trichologist friend whose client came in with stubborn hair loss they couldn’t pinpoint. By ruling out potential causes from a list of over 50 possibilities, they eventually found that a thyroid test revealed an imbalance, which was the missing piece in their hair loss journey. Sometimes, a simple blood test can uncover underlying thyroid issues that may not be obvious at first.

Her hair loss client did not have tell-tale female pattern loss, a vitamin deficiency, or a pregnancy. Her test showed that she had a thyroid problem. They turned a corner in the hair loss tug of war. Once a doctor gets involved in the treatment, hair loss can become more manageable and hair growth increasing and prolific.

Hyperthyroidism can accelerate hair shedding and result in fine, brittle hair due to an increased rate in metabolism. It can be caused by Grave’s disease, an autoimmune condition creating antibodies attacking our thyroid. The body is producing too much thyroid and the metabolism is sped up, increasing the hair’s cycling through the growth phase, as other body systems are also speed up. Nutrients are also diverted away from the hair, depleted by the body’s activity. This condition causes quick diffuse hair loss, skinny hairs, and premature breakage. It’s treatable with a doctor’s visit to explore options like a permanent ablation, or medicines. Once the thyroid is treated hair loss should be easier to treat as well! This condition can also benefit from the addition of a topical into their routine while they support finding the balance with their thyroid challenge.

Another condition people can deal with is Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune condition that in 9 out of 10 cases leads to hypothyroidism. The immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland. It can destroy it and damage cells that over time stop producing thyroid hormones. This leads to the slower metabolic symptoms of hypothyroid. Our hair and skin can become dry, especially if dealing with nutrient deficiencies like a lack of zinc, which maintains skin health and our skin’s protective barrier.

Our skin is outside of us and feels the effect of lack of nourishment. Reading about it we may find a suggestion of eating more omega-3s to promote healthier skin and hair. Other nutrient deficiencies can affect the hair when it comes to hypothyroidism as well, like a lack of iron and B12. These are vital to the growth and health of our hair. The dry hair we see also falls out in a spread pattern, thinning all along the entire scalp. We may notice it more in the part and crown area on top of our head. Slow thyroid reduces the hair’s growth phase. In hypothyroidism, inflammation can block essential nutrients from reaching hair follicles, which results in weak, brittle hair.

Alopecia areata may be occurring as well, creating a patchy circular loss in one or more spots, indicating the immune system is in action. If this is happening it can be a progressive condition, so a trip to the dermatologist a is a great idea to work on ways to treat this. A Trichologist can help you monitor the loss and build healthy hair habits, as well as aid you in accessing holistic topicals that boost the speed and vigor of hair return and growth. The speediest turnaround I’ve seen is 5 weeks' improvement in a young lady with alopecia areata.

In hypothyroid, supplementing the missing thyroid hormones with a doctor is a key part of hair regrowth. Luckily, we have modern science and can do this. There are many different options for medications to try. We may find hair loss persisting even after balancing thyroid production issues. This can be further discussed with your Doctor and with your Trichologist to gain more information.

Thyroid hormones keep the follicles in the anagen phase, increasing the duration of growth before hair sheds. When these are depleted, not being produced or absorbed by the body, our hair growth can suffer. When other things have been addressed yet loss persists, it’s then we look to potential inside issues like thyroiditis as a cause of the loss.

We can feel the hair is dry and brittle, or that it is shedding rapidly. It may break off prematurely with little intervention, or not be as strong as it once was. We may be losing more than 100 hairs a day and notice it takes forever to grow our hair out after a haircut. Hair may be missing from the outer corner of the eyebrows or come along as a patchy spot on our scalps occurring behind the ear.

Though this may be something you end up discussing with your Trichologist for the first time, it is a health-related loss that should be addressed with the proper Doctor. This ensures optimal health and also provides a great base for us to solve the hair growth tug of war. In an ideal world, your body and your hair follicles will be happier for it!

Helping hair growth in this case are thyroid medications and solutions like topicals for growth, nutrition and proper supplementation when appropriate, and lifestyle improvements. Hair quality will be optimal when a gentle hair routine is adhered to, protecting the fragile hair from wear and tear and developing great hair habits for the best hair day.

It may be helpful to gain advice from a scalp care expert as extra immune system activity in the hair follicles can increase inflammation that may be hard to plan for when it comes to caring for our hair and scalp. Not all products are equal, and remember sometimes a lack of zinc, or omega-3s, seen in these cases can cause our hair and scalps to be dry, brittle, and angry. Excess care may need to be taken in topical selection and require a gentler approach than other types of hair loss that occur.

Our thyroids play a surprisingly big role in keeping our hair strong and healthy. If you’re dealing with hair loss that seems to go beyond the usual shedding and gets worse, it might be time to dig a little deeper. Consulting with a trichologist and a doctor can help identify thyroid imbalances or autoimmune conditions, like Hashimoto's or Graves' disease, that may be affecting your hair.

With the right care and support, including thyroid meds, nourishing topicals, balanced nutrition, and gentle routines, you’re setting up your hair (and your body) for success. Hair growth is a process, especially when thyroid health is involved, but a tailored approach can make all the difference. Stay patient, keep nurturing your body, and your hair will thank you for it!

Common Signs of Thyroid-Related Hair Loss:

• Fine, brittle hair that breaks easily

• Diffuse thinning across the scalp, especially at the crown and part line

• Shedding more than 50-100 hairs per day

• Slow regrowth after haircuts or shedding

• Dry, coarse hair texture, often accompanying dry skin

• Patchy hair loss, particularly with autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata

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    Ready to take control of your hair health? Whether you're dealing with hair thinning, scalp concerns, or looking for advanced regrowth treatments, I’m here to help. As a trichologist in Pittsfield, MA, I offer personalized solutions tailored to your unique needs, including scalp care, laser therapy, and growth factor treatments. Book your consultation today and start your journey toward healthier, stronger hair. Let’s work together to create a plan that works for you.

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