Careful How You Treat The Problem
Regrowing hair is usually quite successful for most people with hypothyroid. However, you should know that it can take a long time months even and the regrowth may not be absolutely complete.14
Do keep in mind, though, that certain Ayurvedic formulations and herbal remedies can cause blood to thin and are best avoided by anyone who is already using a blood-thinning medication like aspirin or warfarin. This could cause dangerous levels of bleeding in the event of an injury.
Also check with your doctor for any interactions with any medications you are already taking for your thyroid problems or any other condition like a cardiac problem. There could be adverse reactions to some combinations of drugs and remedies.15
References
Is Your Hair Loss Due To A Thyroid Disorder
Hair loss is a natural phenomenon that increases with age. However, how to identify if your hair loss is associated with a thyroid disorder? You may check for the following symptoms.
Symptoms of hair loss associated with thyroid disorders
- You have hair loss throughout the scalp and not in discrete areas. Uniformly sparse scalp hair is a symptom of thyroid dysfunction. Alopecia areata where patchy hair loss happens is usually associated with autoimmune thyroid disease.
- You experience slow and gradual thinning of hair. Since thyroid disorders, like hypothyroidism, develop over a period, the symptoms also take time to manifest.
- You observe dry, brittle hair or thinning hair on your scalp.
- You have hair loss throughout your body.
It is evident thyroid disorders can cause hair loss. But can this be reversed? What does the science say?
Symptoms Of Hair Loss Due To Hypothyroidism
The hair loss itself is something you will spot yourself. But knowing how to distinguish hair loss that is rooted in hypothyroidism as opposed to other causes is important, so you can get the right treatment. The British Thyroid Foundation points out some of the key features that include:2
- Hair loss is diffused.
- Hair loss at the edge of the eyebrows, beginning with thinning on the outer edges, is a noticeable feature.
- Loss happens across the scalp, not in discrete sections.
- Hair seems uniformly sparse.
- Hair loss appears many months after the thyroid disease itself has taken hold, so watch for symptoms of thyroid disease like weight gain, fatigue, puffy face, constipation, joint or muscle aches, difficulty with cold temperatures/weather, less sweating, dry skin, heavy/irregular periods, and slowed heart rate.3
If the hair loss is discrete or in patches, its probably caused by alopecia areata, not hypothyroidism. Use onion juice to cure hair fall due to alopecia areata.
Don’t Miss: Are There Shampoos That Prevent Hair Loss
How To Stop Hair Loss Due To Thyroid
The first step to control thyroid hair loss is to treat your thyroid problem itself. You can stop thyroid-related hair loss with the balance of fundamental bio-elements in your body. Ayurveda classifies your body constitution into three doshas.
1. Vata Dosha
2. Pitta Dosha
3. Kapha Dosha
Pitta, the dominant fire element, is energy that directs digestion and enhances metabolism. Agni, the fire principle, or cellular intelligence leads to the body’s physiological and psychological processes. It includes cellular metabolism and the regulation of hormones at the level of neurons.
The objective of Ayurvedic treatments is to address the root of your problem by decreasing inflammation and regulating the immune system. Coating of Kapha dosha and fat tissue prevents Agni at the cellular level, leading to the malfunction of the thyroid gland. The treatment aims to remove the layer and enhance the work of Agni in metabolism.
Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix, says, âHypothyroidism is predominantly a Kapha Vata disorder. The increased dampness of Kapha and the drying action of Vata over this Kapha plugs the channels, affecting the natural flow of hormones and metabolism. To put it simply, diet and lifestyle that is Kapha Vata-reducing, helps.â
Put a stop to your hair loss while trying to balance your thyroid hormones in four possible ways:
Guide On How To Stop Hair Loss From Hypothyroid
A low functioning thyroid can cause many symptoms. That is because the thyroid is involved in practically every aspect of your body. In this post, I am going to talk about ways to help hair loss from thyroid and other hormonal imbalances.
Hair loss from hypothyroid is from the root. You will find full-length pieces of hair everywhere. In hypothyroid you will find hair thinning all over but particularly the top and hairline. Also, the eyebrows really take a beating in hypothyroid. There will be patches of hair missing throughout the eyebrows and the tail ends will disappear. Even body hair will reduce in hypothyroid. I had a patient that hadnt shaved in years. And once we treated her hypothyroidism, she had to start shaving her legs again.
Other Common Symptoms of Hypothyroid:
- Fatigue
- Dry skin and terrible nails
- Irregular periods / bad PMS
- Mood issues: Thyroid slows everything down, even your mood. Many people report once their thyroid is treated their mood improves.
- Blood work out of range: Hypothyroid can disrupt blood sugar, raise cholesterol and increase inflammatory markers.
While having concerns over hair loss might seem superficial, it is not. It is disturbing to be losing hair and worrying if it will ever stop.
Ive had patients who:
Liver function: Your liver is the main converter of T4 to T3. If your liver is burdened or not functioning well, it cannot convert T4 to T3. Thereby reducing your T3 levels in your bloodstream.
A burdened liver can come from:
Don’t Miss: How To Treat Dry Thin Frizzy Hair
There Had Been Some Crazy Changes In Your Weight Lately
Again, this does not pertain to you gaining weight from too much emotional eating caused by your hair loss.
This only means that you suddenly lose or gain weight without any significant changes in your diet or exercise habits.
A sudden fluctuation in weight coupled with hair loss can be a sign of thyroid malfunction.
Treatment Options For Thyroid Hair Loss
Treating thyroid-related hair loss requires treating the thyroid problem. A doctor will usually prescribe a synthetic hormone containing levothyroxine to treat an underactive thyroid. Treatment for an overactive thyroid varies from person to person. Some of the most common methods include: antithyroid drugs, iodine intake, surgery. In this article we cover how to tackle the symptom of thyroid problems however bear in mind that the root cause needs to be treated as a priority, since the symptoms can only be alleviated to a limited extent. The best approach would be to get your blood tested and understand what is the optimal level of T3 / T4 hormones your hair will return to normal as a result of the treatment and over a course of time.
Meanwhile, home remedies and lifestyle changes available for sufferers of both conditions. Those can take a few weeks or months to work so it is important to approach it with a curious mind and willingness to learn about what works for your body, as opposed to expecting overnight results.
As a general rule, eating a balanced diet can help to promote growth and improve the condition of hair. A healthful and balanced diet is one that contains protein, fruits, vegetables, grains, and a moderate amount of fat.
Read Also: How To Prevent Hair Loss During Menopause
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome / Tendinitis
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome and tendinitis are both indicators of a thyroid problem.
It is not just these problems if you are suffering from aches and pains in your muscles and joints, and if your arms are becoming weaker, you could well be suffering from a thyroid problem.
When coupled with hair loss, you have another reliable indicator.
When Does Hair Stop Falling Out During Pregnancy
Many women have hair loss during pregnancy, and even during the postpartum period. It normally resolves itself over a period of six months to a year.
Even if there is an underlying issue, a doctor can help you determine and treat the source, and hair loss is unlikely to be permanent. Consult your doctor if you suspect your hair loss is severe or is accompanied by other chronic issues.
You May Like: What To Put On Thinning Hair
Shouldn’t Levothyroxine Treat Hair Loss
Levothyroxine is a thyroid medication prescribed to treat low thyroid hormone levels. It is a synthetic form of thyroid hormone that mimics human thyroid hormone. One would imagine that once you correct low thyroid hormone levels, you would see an improvement in your hypothyroid symptoms, including hair loss. However, some people find their hair loss worsens when they start levothyroxine.
While this may be concerning, especially if you are already struggling with hair loss, rest assured increased shedding after starting levothyroxine is usually short-lived. Most people who notice more hair loss after starting levothyroxine find that it lasts only a month or two.
Additional shedding sometimes happens because the hormones need time to stabilize. The hair growth cycle takes time to adjust to changes in your system.
Rest assured, once you are on the correct dose of medication, most hair loss will cease. You should return to having a normal hair growth cycle unless there is another cause of your hair loss, like androgenic alopecia, for instance.
Adjust Your Thyroid Medication
A primary root cause of hair loss is a deficiency in thyroid hormone. This could be because youre not getting a high enough dose of thyroid medications, or because youre not getting the right kind of thyroid medication.
When your TSH is on the outskirts of the normal range, you can continue to lose hair, and your hair may lack luster and shine. If your hair tangles easily, this is a sign that you may not be getting enough thyroid hormone.
In 2015, I conducted asurveyof 2232 people with Hashimotos that resulted in as many as 36 percent of patients reporting that optimizing their TSH helped with improving their hair. Optimizing the type of thyroid medications they were taking also helped many people restore hair growth. As many as 38 percent of people surveyed reported that Nature-Thyroid helped to improve their hair however, it is important that you find the thyroid medication that is right for you.
*Note: While Armour Thyroid does not have any gluten-containing ingredients, it is not tested for gluten content, and cannot be certified as gluten-free. Armour does contain sodium starch glycolate, which can be derived from wheat or corn.
To learn more about how to optimize your thyroid medications, download my free eBook on Optimizing Thyroid Medications below.
Don’t Miss: Does Blocking Dht Stop Hair Loss
Stop Hair Loss Caused By Thyroid Naturally With These 6 Tips
If youre a thyroid patient, you know it can bring with it a whole lot of issues, including hair loss. Thats because thyroid is a condition that occurs when your thyroid gland either doesnt produce enough hormones or produces hormones in large amounts. Some of its major symptoms include fatigue, dry skin, weight gain, constipation, and hair fall.
Remember these symptoms, including hair loss, can be reversed once your thyroid levels come back to normal. But what is the connection between your thyroid hormone and hair loss? And how do you know if thyroid is the cause for your hair loss? Well, we know you have many questions, and were here to answer all of them.
First of all, well tell you how to identify if your hair loss is triggered by thyroid. Heres how you can:
- Thyroid generally causes hair loss across your scalp
- You may also notice thinning of hair on your eyebrows
- Thyroid hair loss can develop slowly and leave bald spots
- Hair may grow but for a short period of time, and may begin to fall early
- Your hair may seem thinner all over.
Now, its time to find out how you can stop hair loss caused by thyroid:
1. Monitor the intake of iron in your diet
2. Apply essential oils
Its not that essential oils will magically help you to produce thyroid hormones, but they can certainly improve the symptoms of thyroid. Essential oils are known to enhance hair growth, therefore these oils can help you tackle the problem better!
3. Add anti-inflammatory foods
Natural Treatments For Hair Loss Due To Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism or having an underactive thyroid afflicts 5 out of every 100 people in the United States. It can leave you feeling perpetually fatigued and may cause weight gain, fertility problems, and even depression.
What you may not know is that it is also a cause for hair loss.1 Dry, thinning hair is, in fact, one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
But just how bad can it get? And are there ways to treat the problem naturally to restore your once lustrous mane?
Recommended Reading: Is There A Prescription For Hair Loss
How To Stop Losing Hair Due To Thyroid
- Understand the types of hair loss General shedding is experienced with compromised thyroid function. There is also male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness and alopecia areata seen, that can be caused by hormonal imbalances and genetics.
- Consult a dermatologist In combination with a general physician or an endocrinologist, a dermatologist can be an effective support for hair loss issues. They can focus on issues with hair loss and treat them independently with regular thyroid disease treatments.
- PRP treatment for hair loss Hyperthyroidism decreases overall blood flow reducing the supply to the hair follicles causing hair loss. PRP treatment is an advanced treatment for hair loss where blood is extracted from patients own body and is put to centrifuge. This is a US FDA approved machine to separate the activated platelets from plasma, which is then injected back into scanty areas of hair growth on the scalp. This adds growth factors into the hair follicles, stimulating them for restoration and regrowth of hair. Results have shown a decreased rate of hair loss and hair thinning. Hair shafts can also grow back thicker helping the overall aesthetic of the hair on your scalp.
Also Read: Cost Of PRP Hair Treatment
Thyroid Hair Loss Takeaways
While thyroid hair loss can be distressing, with proper treatment, your hair should experience regrowth.
“In order for the hair to return from the hair loss of hypothyroidism, thyroid levels of both T4 and T3 must be returned to normal, preferably with a TSH of 2.5 or less,” said Goode-Kanawati. “It’s also important to eat a diet high in minerals and protein, which are the building blocks for hair production. We often recommend a mineral supplement as it is difficult to get enough minerals from one’s diet.”
Whether you’re dealing with thyroid hair loss or another form of temporary hair loss, it’s essential to make your overall wellness a priority to help encourage hair regrowth. A 360° approach to hair wellness, a well-thought-out diet, keeping stress levels low and good sleep hygiene can help you get your body back to where you need it to be. And always talk to your doctor if you have any specific concerns.
More From VEGAMOUR
You May Like: Can Birth Control Help With Hair Loss