Hair loss and hyperthyroidism
Wondering why an overactive thyroid has led to your hair falling out? This is a common symptom of hyperthyroidism, and it can have a massive impact on your self-esteem.
Once you understand why an overactive thyroid causes hair loss, you can start to address the underlying causes and ease your symptoms.
Why does hair loss occur with hyperthyroidism?
Wondering why hair is so vulnerable to thyroid hormone imbalances? This comes down to the many links between hair health and thyroid function.
Thyroid hormones are involved in the development and maintenance of your hair follicles. When thyroid hormone levels skyrocket, it can affect the hair follicle and contribute to breaking, thinning, brittle hair.
It’s not just T3 and T4 that can affect your hair. Elevated thyroid antibodies in Graves’ can also contribute to an increase in hair loss. This combination can impede the rate of new hair growth.
If that wasn’t enough bad news, there are also the effects of medication. Anti-thyroid medications such as carbimazole and propylthiouracil have hair loss as a known side effect. So if you’re already experiencing hair loss from an overactive thyroid and you start on these medications, your hair loss may get worse before it gets better.
SIDE EFFECTS OF HYPERTHYROIDISM
Another significant factor in thyroid-related hair loss is the side effects & common factors involved with excess thyroid hormone. Some of the factors that can cause or exacerbate hair loss include:
Nutrient deficiencies - iron, zinc, iodine and essential fatty acids (EFAs) can all contribute to hair loss. As an overactive thyroid speeds up the body, it depletes many of these nutrients at a faster rate.
Chronic stress - as we know, chronic stress is a big trigger for both the development of hyperthyroidism and triggering flare-ups. It’s also a known contributor to hair loss
Impaired gut health - the resulting inflammation and low nutrient absorption of poor gut health is linked to both hyperthyroidism and hair loss
Related health conditions - alopecia, PCOS and lupus are associated with thyroid conditions such as Graves’ and they can also contribute to hair loss
Hair loss is not always a sign of an overactive thyroid. There are many potential factors that can play a role, including sex hormones, stress, genetics and other chronic conditions. . But if you are experiencing other symptoms of an overactive thyroid, you might need to investigate further.
HAIR-RELATED THYROID SYMPTOMS
Now that we know why hair is vulnerable to an overactive thyroid, what sort of symptoms should you be looking out for? Some common signs include:
Madarosis (loss of eyelash/eyebrow hair)
Coarse, dull, dry, and brittle hair that breaks easily
Soft and fine hair with lots of shedding
Thinning hair or balding patches
Rapid hair growth
Dry, itchy scalp and dandruff
Less hair on your legs, arms, and other body areas
How can I stop hyperthyroid hair loss?
Stay tuned for my next article, where I’ll share what you can do to help to nourish and nurture your hair back to health. But the number one step you need to take? Get your hyperthyroidism under control! This means:
A healthy TSH level
Low thyroid antibodies
If these aren’t addressed, your hair loss issues may continue. However, as medications can also play a role, you may still experience hair loss if you use hyperthyroid medications to control your condition.
Want to tackle your hyperthyroid hair issues at the root?
I cover what you need to know to manage an overactive thyroid naturally in my course, the Hyperthyroid and Graves’ Disease Recovery Program.
This comprehensive program includes:
6 modules covering the most important information you need to understand your overactive thyroid and how to support it naturally
Resources on thyroid testing and which tests will give you the best overview of your thyroid function
Steps to help you identify triggers and avoid thyroid flares
6 restorative Naturopathic Yoga sessions
Thyroid meditations
A BONUS 4 step gut healing protocol (because many of the triggers for your thyroid are found in the gut!)