Causes Of Womens Hair Loss
1) Hereditary thinning, or androgenetic alopecia to give its medical name, is the most common cause of womens hair loss. The tendency to develop female pattern hair loss can be inherited from either side of the family.
Generally this leads to thinning of the hair in women rather than baldness and can start in the teens, twenties or thirties.
Unfortunately, there are no cures for hereditary female hair loss. However, there are treatments which may help some people such as minoxidil, which is a lotion applied twice daily to your scalp.
An alternative solution which women with thinning hair may consider is female hair transplantation. This procedure involves moving hair from areas of your head with normal hair growth to thinning areas.
As with all surgical procedures, you should only undertake this after taking advice from a specialist.
How Thyroid Causes Hair Loss
To understand the connection of the thyroid gland and hair loss, one must understand the hair cycle. The three stages of growth, resting, and shedding can take place over several months for each strand of hair. Most hair strands are in a state of growth or rest most of the time. When there is a thyroid hormone imbalance, the resting state of hair is extended, and the growth phase is interrupted leading to hair thinning, hair loss or balding in patches.
Hypo or hyperthyroidism is linked to hair loss of varying severity, it can be patchy hair loss such as alopecia areata or a generalized thinning of hair. This causes circular areas of transient hair loss.
The Basics Of Hair Loss
Hair loss can occur for a large variety of reasons. In men, the most common cause of hair loss is male pattern baldness a form of hormonal hair loss thats caused by a genetic sensitivity to the hormone dihydrotestosterone, or DHT.
This type of hair loss occurs when DHT gradually miniaturizes the hair follicles, stopping them from producing new hairs.
However, its also possible for your thyroid to contribute to hair loss by disrupting your bodys natural hair growth cycle.
As weve covered in our guide to the hair growth process, every single hair on your scalp goes through a four-stage growth process, with each stage corresponding to a different phase in the hairs development:
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During the anagen phase, the hair grows from the follicle
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During the catagen phase, the follicle shrinks and the hair detaches from your scalp
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During the telogen phase, a new hair starts to grow underneath the old hair
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During the exogen phase, the old hair falls out and is replaced by the new hair
As part of this process, old hairs that have reached the end of their growth cycle are constantly falling out from your scalp, causing you to lose about 50 to 100 hairs every day. Since your hair follicles dont all grow in sync, this daily loss doesnt have any impact on your appearance.
Understanding this simple process is key to understanding how thyroid disorders, as well as a range of other medical conditions, can affect your hair.
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Treatments That Can Help Stop Thyroid Related Hair Loss
Before we get into the treatments there are a few things that you should know.
The first is that some of these treatments are FDA approved and others are not.
But just because they are not FDA approved does not mean they arent effective.
Sometimes it doesnt make sense to seek out FDA approval if everyone sort of understands and knows that certain therapies are effective.
Obtaining FDA approval costs a lot of time and money and if treatments and therapies are used off-label for that purpose already, it often doesnt make sense for the manufacturer to spend the time to get that approval.
Second, all of these therapies have the potential to be effective but that doesnt guarantee that they will work for you!
You may find that you respond to one therapy better than another but the opposite may be true for someone else.
Because of this, you may need to spend some time experimenting with these treatments to figure out which works best for you!
And third, dont count on your doctor to be aware of the treatments we are about to talk about.
These treatments come from various fields of medicine including cosmetic dermatology, regular and off-label prescriptions, and even medical devices.
Its highly unlikely that your endocrinologist or regular family practice doctor knows about all of these therapies or will be comfortable recommending their use.
This also means that they probably wont be covered by insurance.
With that out of the way, lets talk about how to regrow your hair!
Ignoring Their Brain Health
The most common form of collateral damage in chronic Hashimotos patients is accelerated brain degeneration. Brain degeneration leads to identical symptoms of hypothyroidism, including fatigue and depression. I strongly suggest all thyroid patients become experts in identifying and supporting their brain health by referring to my second book, Why Isnt My Brain Working?
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Read Also: Who Should I See For Hair Loss
Discover Your Perfect Thyroid Hair Loss Treatment
Hair loss from thyroid issues can be a blow for self confidence and cause stress and anxiety. The good news is that hair loss from hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can be temporary, and there are steps you can take to ensure your hair grows back fast and healthy. Discover the right hair loss supplement specifically designed to encourage hair regrowth for men & women suffering from thyroid hair loss.Our Ginkgo Biloba B+ daily supplement has been expertly formulated to stimulate healthy hair regrowth but gentle enough not to cause any further damage or irritation to the scalp. With select nutrients itll work to improve blood circulation to the hair follicles to aid thyroid hair loss recovery. It is available in a monthly 30-day bottle or as part of our 3-step Ginkgo Hair Care Plan.The multi award-winning Simone Thomas Wellness everyday supplements have been designed to combat thyroid related hair loss and help take care of your body from the inside. Discover how Ginkgo Biloba B+ can encourage healthy hair regrowth. For more advice and support from the Simone Thomas Wellness team, contact us today.
When To See A Doctor
You should always see a doctor if you think you have symptoms of a thyroid problem. If needed, they will order some tests, so they can make a diagnosis and recommend the best treatment for you.
You should see a doctor as soon as possible if youre:
- losing weight without meaning to
You should see a doctor about your thyroid treatment if:
- medication isnt helping to control your symptoms after 2 months
- your symptoms are getting worse while taking medication
- you feel you cant cope with your symptoms and theyre affecting your daily life
Not sure whether you need to see a doctor? Use our
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How Common Is It To Experience Hair Loss From Thyroid Medication
It’s fairly common to see some hair loss due to thyroid medication. Usually, this is due to overmedication, which leads to hyperthyroidism, because hair loss is a symptom of both low and high levels of thyroid hormone. In most people, this is a short-lived side effect that occurs in the first month of treatment.
S To Grow Thick Strong Hair Get Glowing Skin And Grow Strong Nails
#1 Eat foods that have nutrients for hair growth
#2 Address any digestive issues
#3 Eat foods that help you sleep better
This may be a blessing in disguise
because before my hair started falling off, I felt like something else was wrong with my body
I felt so tired
I had a hard time falling and staying asleep
I kept gaining weight no matter what
Felt like an 84 year old in a 28 year old body
All I wanted was my old self back
When my hair started to fall off, thats when I started to take my health more serious
before my hair started falling off, I thought I was just aging but then I decided to look into why my hair was falling off
Everything was pointing to my thyroid and started to wonder
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Can Hypothyroidism Hair Loss Be Reversed
A: Yes, it could. A lot of people with thyroid dysfunction shed hair. Common thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease are autoimmune disorders, which can sometimes result in hair loss. The hair loss is typically reversed after your thyroid hormone levels are normalized.
Blood Flow And Hair Regrowth
Losing your hair can be distressing, but if it is caused by thyroid disease it is most likely reversible. To help you on the journey towards healthy hair, it is key to focus on blood flow to scalp as it directly impacts hair follicle. If one of the symptoms of thyroid gland you are experiencing is hair loss, scalp stimulation becomes even more important as your body naturally produces less hormones to stimulate your hair follicles, so dont skip on additional support to your scalp.
Also Check: What Can You Do To Stop Hair Loss
Do Thyroid Problems Cause Hair Loss
Having a thyroid condition can be worrying and you might be concerned about possible long term issues or ongoing problems.
Hair loss is a very common symptom of many illnesses, but the severity and location can depend on a range of factors.
Very severe or prolonged thyroid issues can eventually lead to hair loss, usually across the scalp rather than in a roundish patch , but this isnt a common or early symptom. Hair loss is far more likely with hypothyroidism, as it can cause your hair to become brittle.
If the problem is diagnosed and treated early, hair loss can be prevented. Its very unlikely that short-term thyroid problems or mild hypo or hyperthyroidism will cause hair loss.
So, hair loss isnt very common with thyroid conditions, but it can happen if the condition isnt treated. This is why it is crucial to know what the symptoms look like and to speak to your doctor if youre worried.
How To Treat Hair Loss Due To Thyroid Conditions
Many people worry that all of their hair will fall out, but the truth is that hair loss caused by thyroid disorders is usually temporary and can be reversed, especially if you work with your endocrinologist to get tested and on the right treatment for your condition.
Using thyroid medications to rebalance your hormones may help replace the lost hair, even though it could take some time before you see new growth.
According to Amy Myers, MD, an author and functional medicine expert, youre going to want to ask your doctor for a full thyroid panel to check your TSH, free T4, free T3, and reverse T3.
These levels should be optimal, not just normal. The difference? Normal results especially with TSH and T4 could still cause issues like hair loss. Youll then want to work with your doctor to find the right kind and dosage of thyroid medication for your specific thyroid hormone imbalance. Your endocrinologist will help you arrive at the right treatment for your symptoms.
Be sure to see a specialist who understands the nuances of thyroid conditions. Its important that you keep track of your symptoms, note how long youve been taking your medication, get regular thyroid checkups, and advocate for yourself at your doctors appointments. Ask about every possible treatment option and all the combinations that might work for you, especially if hair loss continues well after medical treatment.
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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
A Final Word About Hair Loss
Stress can make you shed hair like crazy. Im speaking from personal experience, as well as the experiences of hundreds of my clients. What can you do to reduce the stress in your own life that might be contributing to hair loss? Taking time to care for yourself with yoga, meditation, journaling, or light exercise are all great options to help reduce your stress load. Here are some of my favorite strategies, that you can save or print for easy reference:
You might also consider supporting your stress hormones with adaptogenic herbs, such as those in Rootcology Adrenal Support.
I want you to know that there is help for your hair loss! I know how crushing it can be to deal with a symptom as difficult to disguise as hair loss, but there are so many avenues for you to explore that can lead to a huge shift in your current hair growth. As I began to get to the root cause of my own thyroid condition and make changes that restored health and balance to my body, the hair loss I was experiencing stopped. Start with the solutions that resonate the most with you and are easiest to implement, and note that it may take several weeks to see noticeable changes with any supplement, medication, dietary, or topical changes that you make.
I wish you all the best on your journey toward recovering a healthy head of hair!
P.S. Be sure to sign up to receive my Thyroid Symptom Hacker for more tips on overcoming hair loss!
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Thyroid Hair Loss Will My Hair Grow Back
Cosmedica Team
Thyroid hair loss is a medical condition that has become increasingly common among teenagers, young adults, and older adults. It arises due to severe hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
Most people arent even aware that they have thyroid-related issues that need treatment. The problem only becomes visible when hair grows slowly, or they experience thyroid-related hair loss. However, some subtle signs like the following can give it away.
Role Of Thyroid Gland In Your Body
The thyroid gland is one of the most important endocrine glands in your body. It is located under your voice box at the front of the neck. It regulates body functions by continually releasing thyroxine hormones into your bloodstream. Thyroxine acts as a catalyst for maintaining the rate of oxidative metabolism in most tissues of your body.
If your body needs more energy in certain situations like pregnancy, recovering from illness, etc., the thyroid gland produces more hormones. The pituitary gland helps the thyroid gland to make the right amount of hormones.
Cells in your body receive their ‘cue’ from thyroxine. Thyroxine stimulates cells to perform their functions quickly and upregulates cellular utilization of energy. The thyroid gland’s functional defects result in
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism
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Can Such Hair Loss Be Reversed
Telogen effluvium can be reversed by removing the trigger factors . Hence, hair regrowth could be possible if the underlying thyroid disorder is corrected. Generally, thyroid supplementation helps correct the hormone levels in the body and may aid hair loss reversal.
Keep in mind this is a slow process. Results can take anywhere between six to eighteen months to show . Results also can vary from person to person.
In the following section, we discuss the various treatment options available for hair loss due to thyroid disease.
If Your Hair Feels Like This Get Your Thyroid Checked Experts Warn
The texture could be a sign of an issue with this key gland, according to doctors.
Your thyroid gland is one of the most important parts of how your body functions day to day. Itâs responsible for creating and producing hormones that control everything from your metabolism to the health of your heart, bones, and GI system. If things arenât right, your thyroid can be both over- and underactive, issues an estimated 20 million Americans experience, according to the American Thyroid Association. Unfortunately, women are up to eight times more likely than men to have some kind of thyroid disease.
If your body is creating too much thyroid hormone, you have hyperthyroidism too little and itâs hypothyroidism. The most commonly observed symptoms that come from an overactive thyroid are hypersensitivity to hot temperatures, weight loss, and a racing heart while an underactive thyroid leads to tiredness, weight gain, and a hypersensitivity to cold temperatures. However, the impact of too much or too little thyroid hormone on your body can be felt in many other areas too. If your thyroid isnât working right, even your hair can feel different, with experts warning that certain changes to your locks may be a sign that somethingâs amiss. For the full story of how your hair can function as an early warning sign of a thyroid issue, read on.
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