Thyroid Conditions and Hair Loss
Overview
Thyroid conditions are one of the most under-diagnosed culprits of hair loss, hair thinning and reduced hair growth. The good news is, hair loss resulting from a problem with your thyroid gland is not permanent, and can be reversed using the appropriate treatment and medications.
During a Consultation at a Philip Kingsley Clinic, our Trichologists will investigate all factors that could be affecting your hair. We often request blood tests. These will show up any thyroid issues, which we will then discuss with you. We can help your hair improve, alongside treatment from a relevant medical specialist, usually an endocrinologist (hormone specialist).
What is the Thyroid?
Your thyroid is a gland that regulates your metabolism, digestive system and heart-rate, among other things. Its functioning can be affected by many factors. These include, but are not limited to: nutritional deficiencies, pregnancy and menopause. Thyroid issues can also be caused by medications you are taking, or may be genetic and/or part of an underlying condition.
Why is Thyroid Function Important to Your Hair?
Having either hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid) or hyperthyroidism (over-active thyroid) can limit your body’s production of hair cells. This can cause hair loss, hair thinning or reduced hair growth.
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are easily diagnosed by low or high thyroid blood-test readings. However, readings just within the normal range (such as high-normals and low-normals) should also be looked at if you are experiencing hair loss. Please consult with both your doctor and a Philip Kingsley Trichologist if you are concerned.
Hair loss resulting from a thyroid condition is not permanent and can be reversed using the appropriate treatment and medications.
Thyroid Conditions
Two common thyroid diseases are Hashimoto’s (hypothyroidism) and Grave’s (hyperthyroidism). Hair loss is just one of the symptoms of these. You would expect to experience one or more of the other symptoms listed below if this is the cause of your hair loss.
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism:
High blood pressure
Rapid heartbeat
Increased sweating / heat intolerance
Insomnia
Nervousness, agitation, anxiety
Weight loss (despite increased appetite)
Increased bowel movements
Bulging eyes
Hair thinning
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism:
Slower pulse
Tiredness / lethargy
Depression
Hoarse voice
Intolerance to cold
Constipation
Weight gain
Dry skin
Some loss of eyebrow hair
Thinner and dryer hair
If you notice a combination of any of these symptoms, we suggest you consult with your doctor.
What are the Treatments for Hair Loss due to Thyroid Issues?
At Philip Kingsley, our experts have designed specialised, hand-made hair care products to help promote regrowth and combat hair loss due to thyroid issues.
If your Trichologist suspects that thyroid function is the reason behind your hair loss, we will refer you to your GP or endocrinologist. There are many medications that treat thyroid disorders, but they are prescription-only.
Once your thyroid is being treated by your doctor, we can help. We will also be able to consult with your other specialists in order to establish the best treatment route for both your body and your hair.
Philip Kingsley TRICHOTHERAPY®
It is always a good idea to visit a Trichologist if you are experiencing any form of hair loss, so that we may diagnose it correctly and help you identify the cause.
We know, however, that regrowth of hair can take time — so for people who wish to have immediately thicker-looking hair, our Trichologists developed the award-winning TRICHOTHERAPY® range. This highly effective regime targets thin hair, fine hair and shedding, while helping to strengthen your strands and reduce breakage.
Our customer results have been outstanding. In independent user trials, 79% of women found their hair looked and felt fuller after 12 weeks of using Trichotherapy. Watch our video here to learn more.
If you are worried about any form of hair loss, our Clinics in London and New York specialise in all aspects of hair and scalp health, and will be pleased to welcome you