Thyroid Problems and Hair Fall: What's the Real Link?

Have you noticed yourself feeling extra tired recently, gaining weight or losing hair in large amounts but don't know why it's happening?

You must be feeling bad while looking into the mirror and realizing that even your own body does not work properly anymore.

If you see all your hair falling everywhere on the floor, clothes and brush, there must be something about some new shampoo or my nervousness which caused this problem. But maybe there is some other cause which could be your thyroid functioning.

Thyroid glands are two butterfly-shaped glands that are located on the top of our throat. But despite the size of the organ, it controls all the processes of our body functioning through the metabolic processes. But if this gland malfunctions, it can totally mess up the whole process of your body and usually starts with affecting your hair first.

However, many people spend their money on different types of shampoos, but they are completely unaware that there could be some health problems connected with this. So to make everything clear, in this blog you will be able to understand everything in detail about the connection between the hair and thyroid and hair problems caused by the thyroid.

What is the Thyroid Gland and How Does it Control Hair?

In order to solve your problem of hair loss, you need to first understand the thyroid gland behind your current hair condition.

1. Cell Engine

Thyroid works as the engine of our cells. It helps control the speed of cell growth by manufacturing special hormones for you.

2. Hair Circle 

Every hair follicle that you have requires consistent levels of thyroid hormone in order to go through its normal phase of development, rest, and life span.

3. Energy Supply 

When you have a properly functioning thyroid, it means that your hair follicles receive sufficient oxygen and nutrients for their growth.

4. System Shock 

If there is destruction in the working of your thyroid gland which could be either due to too low or too high level of a T3 or T4 or TSH which are the major hormones responsible for thyroid gland working. In such cases, there would not be enough energy left for your hair follicles which will lead to their follicular death during the process of their birth.

Types of Thyroid Issues

Most often, thyroid issues can be classified into two types when they result in excessive loss of hair.

Hypothyroidism

It is an underactive thyroid which means that hormones produced by it are not in enough quantity for proper cell function. Due to this, your metabolism slows down and causes constant feelings of coldness, fatigue, and bloating.

Hyperthyroidism 

Hyperactive Thyroid happens due to the increased rate of hormone production by the thyroid gland. Metabolism speeds up, resulting in increased blood pressure, stress, panic attacks, and weight loss.

Note: Regardless of whether you suffer from hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, both conditions will cause almost the same effect on the development of hair follicles.

How Thyroid Problems Directly Cause Hair Fall?

There are many causes behind hair loss from thyroid malfunction which are:

1. Mass Resting Phase:-In the usual scenario, 90% of your hair grows while 10% rests. In case of thyroid malfunction, the shock that it provides your body results in 30% or even more of your hair going into dormancy.

2. Telogen Flood:--As a result of many hair being at resting phase, they all will fall out at the same time leading to a massive hair loss over time.

3. Miniaturization process:--It means that hair does not get enough hormones to grow and develop their size properly. The growth of these hair is so poor which makes them weak, dry and fragile.

4. Slow regeneration:--As a result of having hypothyroidism, your hair follicles may remain dormant for long time periods which will cause delay in the phase of regeneration.

How to Spot Thyroid Hair Loss vs. Regular Hair Loss?

This will help you understand whether your condition is from regular hair loss or a hidden thyroid issue as:

1. Diffuse thinning

Thyroid hair loss does not cause an M-shaped receding of your hairline as is seen in inherited or genetic baldness. But in  this case there will be the equal thinning of hair all over your head.

2. Eyebrow Examination 

This is an uncommon sign for thyroid hair loss, whereby in case of thyroid being a cause, there is a gap on both the top and bottom edges of the eyebrows.

3. Hair Texture Changes

The hair is changing its texture although you have not noticed any falling off yet. This shampoo leaves the hair very dry, coarse, straw-like, and tangled easily.

Signs of an associated disease are hair loss that is not normally experienced. Hair loss due to the thyroid gland is accompanied by symptoms such as: 

• Extreme fatigue
• Brittle nails
• Weight gain/loss
• Dry skin

Thyroid Hair Loss vs. Regular Lifestyle Hair Loss

For this purpose, take a look at the following simple comparative chart:

How Your Daily Habits Make Thyroid Hair Loss Worse?

If there are certain bad habits like smoking and drinking, then these habits could lead to quick hair loss due to the existing thyroid problem.

1. Dieting With Severely Restricted Calories

Reducing the number of calories impacts negatively on thyroid health causing the drop in hormone production which in its turn causes increased hair loss.

2. Insufficient Consumption of Iron

Patients suffering from thyroid issues are usually deficient in ferritin, thus their bodies are short of iron reserves. If there is no iron in the body then thyroxine is not properly used in the hair growth process.

3. Overwashing and towel drying roughly

Hair in thyroid cases is extremely fragile and dry, therefore when you rub them with rough towels, the hair gets broken immediately.

4. Excessive consumption of caffeine

Caffeine consumption in coffee and energy drinks can excessively stimulate adrenal glands and negatively impact the absorption of thyroid medications.

How environmental factors Impacts Brittle Hair?

These external factors tend to inflict more harm when there is already a case of scaling because of the presence of thyroid problems.

1. The build-up of hardness scale on the hair because of washing with minerals tends to make the hair fragile and breakable while styling.
2. The cold and dry weather takes away all the hydration of the hair making its hair cuticle exposed which results in split ends and frizzy hair strands.
3. Too much moisture causes sweat which causes the development of fungus leading to dandruff on the hair follicle causing irritation.

How to Choose an Appropriate Shampoo for Healthy Hair?

However, you must ensure that your thyroid is taken care of medically under a doctor’s guidance, it is important to pick a suitable shampoo from outside so as to protect your remaining hair from any damage.

1. Avoid Harsh Detergents--Do not buy anything which is too costly because it contains many chemicals such as sulphates and parabens. The hair will become dry due to these chemicals.

2. Anti hair loss shampoo--Use a shampoo which is not harsh and provides good nutrients to your thin hair cuticles.

3. Stimulating Dormant Follicles--To encourage the growth of hair, it is good to add a good shampoo to your routine to have better hair growing results.

4. Target Root Weakness--Due to the presence of an ingredient in Tinfal Anti Hair Fall Shampoo, you will get nutrients directly to your scalp to anchor those weak hair.

5. Maintaining Proper Moisture Balance--It is necessary to pick a shampoo which prevents hair loss due to severe dehydration of the scalp due to poor thyroid production.

When to See a Doctor?

Thyroid Hair Loss Treatment and management are possible with appropriate methods. Consult your doctor and endocrinologist if the latter is available nearby if you feel:

1. Fatigue from hair loss including chronic fatigue, fast weight gain, and inability to tolerate cold.
2. If you are eating right, getting sufficient sleep and using hair fall shampoo regularly, then there would have been some improvement in your condition but you are not able to see any improvement.
3. Hair loss both on top and on the base of the eyebrow.
4. Abnormal TSH levels, some tests would have to be performed on your body.

Conclusion

There is an existing link between problems related to thyroid gland and hair fall but it is not very serious. Whenever there are any problems in your thyroid gland, the hair growth process becomes stagnant.

By coordinating with a professional to balance your hormones internally with the help of medication along with properly taking care of your scalp through the use of quality shampoos, such as hair fall specific ones or any others, you can restore hair growth easily.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Is there any possibility of a shampoo curing the baldness caused by thyroid issues?

No. Shampoos are chemicals that will adhere to the hair follicles and will stay there for a while until it is washed off by the flow of water from the shower head. However, even though there are good shampoos such as effective anti-hair loss shampoos or support shampoos like the Tinfal anti hairfall shampoo which will prevent breakage of your fragile hair and will help maintain your scalp health; they will not be able to address the hormonal issues inside you.

Q2. Is it true that your hair will grow again once you maintain healthy thyroid levels?

Yes, this is great news regarding the topic of thyroid hair loss, as it does not leave it damaged permanently. It is only taking a break for a while. As soon as your doctor prescribes you the correct dosage of the medicine so that your hormone levels become balanced again, your hair will resume its natural cycle within three to six months.

Q3. What are some of the products that have been proven to stimulate hair growth?

In order to get the most out of your search for a shampoo that will fight hair loss resulting from hypothyroidism, you should pick shampoos that have high content of moisturizing ingredients and stimulants. Biotin will help in making your hair strong, while the rosemary oil will ensure proper blood circulation in the tired hair follicles, as well as caffeine to increase oxygen delivery through the veins of sluggish plants.