What Is Thyroid-Related Hair Loss?
Did you know that thyroid conditions can result in hair thinning and hair loss, but often go undiagnosed as the source of hair troubles? Don’t worry, though. With the right treatment and medication, thyroid-related hair loss is reversible. Here are some of our top tips and tricks to help you manage the condition.
What Is Your Thyroid?
Let’s start with the basics: what is your thyroid? The thyroid is a gland responsible for regulating your metabolism, digestive system and heartrate. Its correct functioning, however, can be interrupted by many factors, like diet, pregnancy and menopause.
Thyroid conditions can also be caused by medication, a genetic predisposition, and/or other underlying conditions.
Thyroid and Hair Loss
Hair loss can affect us all, but thyroid-related hair loss isn’t like other hair loss conditions (think alopecia areata or trichotillomania).
This hair loss condition affects the whole scalp and can impede the production of healthy hair cells. Rather than patches of hair loss, you’ll likely notice a reduction in hair volume.
Watermans Tip: Thyroid-related hair loss often takes a while to appear – largely because of the lengthy hair growth cycle. As such, hair loss often occurs after treatment for the thyroid condition has already begun, making it seem like it’s triggered by the thyroid medication. In reality, it’s actually caused by the original thyroid condition.
Thyroid Condition Symptoms
There are 2 common thyroid diseases: Grave’s (hyperthyroidism) and Hashimoto’s (hypothyroidism). Among their many symptoms is hair loss.
These are some of the other symptoms of hyperthyroidism worth noting:
- Bulging eyes
- Hair loss
- High blood pressure
- Increased bowel movements
- Increased sweating
- Insomnia
- Nervousness and anxiety
- Rapid heartbeat
- Weight loss
While symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
- Constipation
- Depression
- Dry skin
- Hair loss
- Hoarse voice
- Intolerance to cold
- Lethargy
- Slower pulse
- Weight gain
Please remember to seek a professional, medical opinion as well.
Is Thyroid-Related Hair Loss Reversible?
Luckily, thyroid-related hair loss is reversible (you can breathe a sigh of relief now). When treated with the right medication, the thyroid can start working properly again, hair loss can resolve itself, and the hair’s healthy growth cycles can resume.
Thyroid Treatment Options
If reading this has made you question whether your thyroid is responsible for your hair loss, we recommend speaking with to a GP or endocrinologist (hormone specialist). When the condition is diagnosed, medication will be prescribed to help resume a healthy hair cycle.
