Understanding The Relation Between Thyroid Disease And Hair Loss

Thyroid happens in two situations first is when thyroid glands don’t produce enough hormones and second is when they produce the hormones in excess.

An underactive thyroid causes weight gain. Many people do not have the symptoms of underactive thyroid until a long time. While the overactive thyroid causes weight gain or nervousness in the person.

Both conditions affect hair in a major way. The hair can be thin, or dry.  let us get to know the relation between thyroid and hair loss in a much better way, in this blog.

But first, let us see some symptoms which occur due to an overactive and underactive thyroid

Having an underactive thyroid leads to :

• Depression and feelings of being anxious.
• Changes in the cardiovascular system
• Weight gain
• Thyroid gland getting enlarged
• Feeling tired all the time
• Hair becoming very dry
• Cramping of muscles
• Difficulty in concentrating

Having overactive thyroid leads to :

• Weight loss
• Shaking hands
• Hair thinning or shedding
• Heartbeat getting very fast
• Eyes getting dry
• Insomnia
• Menstrual issues

Thyroid can cause hair loss in the person who is suffering from it.

Hair grows at the root of the hair follicle on the scalp. The scalps blood vessels provide food to the root of the hair. Thereby making new cells and also helping in hair growth.

Hair grows through the skin, it goes  through oil glands which help in keeping it soft and shiny. Hair does not grow for a long time but starts falling out when regrowth starts.

When hormone production is broken, it affects another body process. Hair begins to fall out and cannot be replaced by new growth. Many time the symptoms of hair loss go unnoticed, but hair starts thinning out.

Treating the cause of Hair Loss

Your doctor may have to check your thyroid levels and then give you medicine related to that. Many times doctors suggest the patients take hair transplant surgery.

Otherwise, making little lifestyle changes also help in treating the cause of hair loss:

Consumption of junk food is bad for the health of hair.  Red meat, sugar, fried foods play havoc on the health of hair. Coffee and alcohol are also not recommended,  because these things worsen the thyroid condition.

Final words

You should always speak to the doctor before treating anything on your own. Thyroid conditions only lead to hair loss when the condition is severe.

Hair loss can be due to any other underlying condition, also. You might need to cure the underlying condition before getting to treat hair loss.