That being said, hair loss is considered a normal part of the aging process. The average person has 100,000 to 150,000 hairs on their head. Most of us lose 50 to 100 hairs each day, and the growth rate is about a half inch per month.
The rate of hair growth is believed to slow down around the age of 40, and new hairs are not replaced as quickly. Several nutritional and hormonal factors are also thought to influence the speed of hair growth.
Thyroid Disease and the Hair Loss Connection
Although hair loss is not a life-threatening condition, it certainly shouldn’t be ignored. Like most diseases, there are several root causes of hair loss. For instance, hair loss has long been considered a common side effect of thyroid disease, which can be as harmless as an enlarged gland, or as life-threatening as thyroid cancer.
A 2011 retrospective study published in the journal Dermato-Endocrinology found an association between hair loss and thyroid abnormalities. Other studies suggest that thyroid disease can cause hair loss.
The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland that produces hormones that influence every metabolic process in the body. Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are the most common types of thyroid disease. Hashimoto’s disease is the most frequent cause of hypothyroidism, and Grave’s disease is considered the top cause of hyperthyroidism. Since hair growth depends on the proper function of the thyroid gland, abnormal thyroid hormone levels will lead to hair loss if the thyroid disease is not treated.
Hypothyroidism will show lower levels of the thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), in the blood. Too little thyroid hormones will produce hair loss on the head and other areas of the body. Hyperthyroidism will indicate higher levels of these thyroid hormones, and lead to thinning hair on the scalp.
Other hormones will also impact thyroid diseases. Higher levels of the hormone estrogen can negatively impact thyroid function in women with hypothyroidism. Elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol will suppress thyroid function. Lower levels of a stress hormone called dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is also thought to lead to hypothyroidism.
Various reasons can also cause hypothyroidism, including lithium medication, radiation cancer treatment, iodine deficiency, thyroiditis (thyroid inflammation), and surgery to remove the whole or part of the thyroid gland. People may experience hair loss as a result.
Hair Loss and Antithyroid Treatment
The main conventional treatment for hypothyroidism is the synthetic thyroid hormone called levothyroxine—also known as T4. It is ironic that hair loss is among the side effects associated with levothyroxine. Other side effects linked with levothyroxine include diarrhea, vomiting, appetite, weight changes, insomnia, sweating, fever, hot flashes, and an irregular or fast heart rate.
In some cases, other antithyroid treatments, such as propylthiouracil and carbimazole, can promote hair loss. It may be difficult to assess whether the impaired thyroid activity or antithyroid drugs caused the hair loss. Another possibility is that a patient’s thyroid medication is not effective and the thyroid problem is what is causing the hair loss.
When hair grows back, it is a sign of a successful thyroid disease treatment. Normal hormone levels will be a clear indication of healthy hair growth. In a thyroid panel blood test, the normal range for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels will be between 0.35 and 5.00 milli-international units per milliliter (mlU/L), normal free T4 is 9 to 23 picomole units per liter (pmol/L), and normal free T3 is 3.5 to 6.5 pmol/L.
Other Symptoms of Thyroid Disease
There are a variety of symptoms associated with thyroid disease. In addition to thinning hair, balding, and hair loss, other thyroid disease symptoms include:
- Mood changes such as depression, irritability, anxiety, and nervousness
- Thinning eyebrows, blurry vision, and dryness of hair or skin
- Carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis, and muscle pain or weakness
- Weight changes such as weight gain or weight loss, or water retention
- Insomnia, too much sleep, and lethargy
- Abnormal menstrual periods
- Cognitive impairment such as poor memory and concentration
- Problems tolerating cold and hot temperatures, tingling feet and hands
- Lowered immunity, recurring infections, and slow healing
- High cholesterol
- Infertility and low libido
- Constipation
How to Treat Thyroid Disease and Hair Loss?
As mentioned, there are several side effects associated with conventional thyroid treatments, which can also lead to hair loss. Luckily, there are natural treatments for hair loss and thyroid disease. Here are some important remedies that help treat both conditions.
- Vitamin B complex: Several B vitamins encourage hair growth and thyroid health. For instance, biotin (vitamin B7) promotes hair growth and scalp growth. Vitamin B6 and B12 are also important for normal thyroid hormone production and hair growth. Vitamin B12 is also thought to be at the root of hair loss.
- Nutrients: It is quite important to address hypothyroidism, especially when hair loss is an issue. It is a good idea to include several other nutrients for thyroid support such as iodine, zinc, L-tyrosine, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D3, and vitamin E.
- Essential fatty acids: Essential fatty acids are important for both hair loss and thyroid function. Evening primrose oil is an essential fatty acid often recommended for hair loss and hypothyroidism. It contains the essential fatty acid omega-6 called gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which helps with hair regrowth. GLA can also be found in borage oil. People with hypothyroidism also often have deficiencies in omega-3 and omega-6. Omega-3 sources such as fish oil and flaxseed oil can also help thyroid health and hair loss.
- Homeopathic remedies: The two best homeopathic remedies for hair loss and thyroid disease include lycopodium and sepia. Lycopodium is a great remedy for premature greying or balding, and it is also helpful to treat right-sided enlargement of the thyroid. Sepia is considered the best remedy when hair loss is due to hormonal changes, and it is especially useful for women with low thyroid hormones that are also chilly and irritable. Other homeopathic remedies for hypothyroidism include thyroidinum, calcarea carbonica, pulsatilla, and nux vomica. Other remedies for hair loss also include arsenicum album, ignatia, natrum muriaticum, phosphoric acidum, and silicea.
Other Natural Remedies for Thyroid Disease and Hair Loss
There are also other ways to treat hair loss and thyroid disease. Other natural remedies for hair loss include saw palmetto, polygonum multiflorum, silicon, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), rosemary essential oil, a natural progesterone cream, and a greens formula. Other natural remedies for thyroid disease include bladderwrack, guggul, ashwagandha, DHEA supplements, and a thyroid and pituitary glandular.
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