Thyroid Hair Loss
If you are suffering from thyroid disease, you may be experiencing an increased loss of hair. And if you are losing hair and are not sure why, you should have your thyroid checked. Hair loss or change in the hair’s texture is one of the most easily detectable symptoms of a thyroid condition.
Some women have reported that a hairstylist was the first to suggest that they get their thyroid checked, due to changes in their hair. Hair loss can be a sign of both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. If you are beginning to lose your hair and are frightened or worried, you are not alone. The best thing you can do is to educate yourself about hair loss in general, especially thyroid hair loss.
Thyroid hair loss occurs because hairs become stalled in a dormant stage. Every hair on your head goes through stages of growth and stages of rest, or dormancy. When your thyroid is not functioning properly, this causes a hormonal imbalance, which traps hairs in dormancy. If an individual hair is stuck in that stage for long enough, it simply dies. Dead hair falls out, and the more hairs fall out, the more obvious the loss becomes.
Although thyroid problems can have some serious symptoms, hair loss is not medically threatening. However, any woman who has experienced hair loss knows that it can be embarrassing and emotionally taxing. A doctor should be sympathetic to this fact.
It is a good idea to read up on thyroid hair loss, and thyroid problems in general, before you going to the doctor. That way, you will know what tests are necessary for a proper diagnosis. The visit should be a conversation between you and your doctor, rather than a lecture from the doctor. If you do not feel confident after the visit, you may want to get a second opinion.
If you are already being treated for a thyroid problem, you should make sure the hair loss is not a side effect of the drug you are taking. Levothyroxine (or Synthroid) has been known to cause hair loss in some patients. Also, you should make sure that you do not need a second drug or a higher dose. If you are still losing hair, it could be that your treatment is not aggressive enough.
Once a thyroid problem has been diagnosed and the underlying cause of the hair loss is being treated, you can begin nourishing the hair you have and learning how to stimulate hair growth.
Many patients have found vitamins to be an effective way of restoring hair after thyroid hair loss. Vitamins B, C, and E all nourish the hair, skin and fingernails. You can take them in supplement form, and can also massage the scalp with oils containing these vitamins.
Harsh chemicals and aggressive styling techniques can be detrimental to the re-growth of your hair. You should not dye your hair if you have experience hair loss. Also, you should avoid curling irons, blow dryers and hot straightening combs, as the heat pulls the natural moisture from your hair. Do not use harsh combs or brushes, and choose hairstyles that do not pull the hair too tightly.
The most important thing to remember if you are suffering from thyroid hair loss is that you are not alone. If your condition is diagnosed and treated, you can restore your hair. With proper knowledge and action, the problem will be conquered.
