What’S The Link Between Thyroid Health And Hair Loss?
Follicles are the small pockets under the skin from which hairs grow. Severe or prolonged hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism may result in hair loss. Hair roots usually rotate the work of making hair.
For example, hair roots on the head typically grow hair for a few years and then take a break. When the body has too much or not enough thyroid hormone, it can “shock the system” into a state of telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium is a scalp disorder where the hair roots enter the resting stage of the hair cycle too early.
As many as 70% of scalp hairs can fall out within about 2 months during a state of telogen effluvium.
1. Optimal Thyroid Treatment
Every part of the body requires thyroid hormone for proper functioning, and that includes the hair follicles. This research demonstrated that the thyroid hormones T4 and T3 modulate multiple hair biology parameters from cycling to pigmentation.
You’ll notice that I bolded the words thyroid hormones T4 and T3.
Why Is This So Important For Those Of Us With Hair Loss?
While these drugs work for some people, they fail for others. Levothyroxine drugs contain T4 thyroid hormone only. This is why many of us do better on a combination of T4 and T3 thyroid hormone replacement treatment.
I’m on the natural desiccated thyroid Nature-throid plus a compounded time-release T3. I personally feel terrible when my Free T3 is low or even middle of the range. There are many different thyroid medication options.
What Is Hashimoto’S Thyroiditis?
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, also known as autoimmune thyroid disease, can be caused by both genetic and environmental factors. According to the American Thyroid Association, it is an autoimmune disorder that causes long-term inflammation of the thyroid. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis occurs most commonly in middle-aged women, but it can appear at any age and sometimes affects men and children.