Losing hair can be a symptom due to many factors. And, in many cases, when people start to notice hair thinning or hair shedding, they wonder if it has to do with their thyroid gland. This concern is valid in some way — thyroid conditions such as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s disease, and Graves’ disease can cause hair loss, after all.
To help you figure out if your hair loss is thyroid-related, we did the following research.
Connection between Thyroid disorders and hair loss
Thyroid disorders and excessive thyroid supplements can lead to abnormal hair shedding, also known as Telogen Effluvium (TE),” explains Paul M Green, Trichologist and Surgical Director at Evolved Hair Restoration Clinic. This is because the thyroid hormones are directly correlated with the functioning of the hair follicle, thus affecting hair strength and growth. If you have an overactive or underactive thyroid for any reason whatsoever, your thyroid hormone levels will be out of range and your hair loss will happen.
It’s worth noting that the condition of Telogen Effluvium can also happen when someone experiences extreme stress, rapid weight loss, or a severe illness (even a surgery). So, if you’re seeing signs of hair loss, you shouldn’t automatically assume something’s wrong with your thyroid. Paul further adds, “Even if you aren’t experiencing any of those other Telogen Effluvium inducing conditions, you shouldn’t blame your thyroid right away.
Thyroid issues are more associated with female hair loss
Yes, “a thyroid issue will cause a disparity that could lead to hair loss,” says Paul Green. “But it’s not as much common in men as it is in women. In fact, the likelihood of a female experiencing thyroid disorder is five to eight times higher than the likelihood for a male.”
Now, sometimes, males who are diagnosed with thyroid function develop male pattern hair loss after the issue’s treated, leading it to appear as if their thyroid caused the male pattern baldness. But that’s not the case.
“Telogen Effluvium often unmasks male pattern baldness or accelerates its progression as the hair that regrows after TE is thinner than it was before,” says Paul.
So how do you know if thyroid disorder caused hair loss?
“If you experience hair loss and aren’t sure if it’s male pattern baldness or a thyroid issue, try looking at where on your head you’re losing hair from. With male pattern hair loss, there’s a pattern,” explains Paul, and hence the name. “You will detect a receding hairline or a bald spot at the top of the crown. Thyroid-related hair loss can be seen all across the scalp.”
No matter what you find when you examine your head, you should consult with your hair loss specialist. If there is something wrong with your thyroid, it needs to be treated. And, if it turns out that you do have male pattern hair loss, there are other options available. There are two non-surgical FDA-approved, clinically proven medications that can help stop it viz. finasteride and minoxidil. But these do not help with hair regrowth. If you are someone who wants non-surgical hair growth, you should consider PRP Hair Treatment, Hair Mesotherapy or Laser Hair Therapy but these treatments must keep continuing. For those who want permanent hair correction, hair transplant is the only viable solution.
