Hypothyroidism and Hair Loss

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, in front of the larynx and just below the Adam's apple. It consists of two lobes, right and left, joined by a central portion called the isthmus, and each node (each wing of the butterfly) is located on the side of the trachea. The "recurrent laryngeal" nerve, responsible for the mobility of the vocal cords, passes through it and is surrounded by several ganglion chains. Two arteries are responsible for vascularizing it. From behind, attached to it, it has four small glands, the parathyroid glands, which participate in the metabolism of calcium.

In normal situations, its size is equivalent to that of the first joint of the thumb, so it goes unnoticed and is barely felt, except in those people with skinny necks. However, it is essential in all metabolic processes of the body. The gland's follicular cells take iodine from our body and use it to produce a protein called thyroglobulin, and both of the thyroid hormones, T3 and T4. As we can see, proper thyroid hormone synthesis requires sufficient dietary intake of iodine.

For our organism to function correctly, it is vital to have adequate concentrations of both of the thyroid hormones, T3 and T4. If the thyroid gland is underactive, and it does not produce the sufficient amount of thyroid hormones for the body to carry out the necessary metabolic processes of the body, then a condition known as hypothyroidism is said to exist.

Hypothyroidism is the most frequent disorder of the thyroid gland. The most frequent symptoms are: weakness, muscle cramps, tiredness, drowsiness, psychomotor retardation, decreased memory, poor concentration, forgetfulness, bad mood, irritability, deafness, depression, weight gain due to fluid retention, infertility, constipation, dysphonia, nervousness, alterations in menstrual cycles, abundant menstrual bleeding, decreased heart rate, intolerance to cold, rough skin, swelling of the eyelids, hoarseness, and hair loss.

There is a definite relationship between hypothyroidism and hair loss. The thyroid hormones stimulate hair follicles, regulate capillary cycles, and balance the activity of the sebaceous glands and the production of sebum. Patients with hypothyroidism present chronic and diffuse hair. Keratin becomes more fragile, and the appearance of the hair is usually rougher and drier. In short, we have a weaker and washed-out hair.

Treating thyroid disease can often end hypothyroidism induced hair loss. However, some medications for the treatment of thyroid disorders can, in fact, promote hair loss, in which case it may be necessary to change or adjust the dosage of the medication. Patients who are concerned about the loss of hair should broach the subject with their primary health care provider to ensure that issue of hair loss stays pertinent when analyzing and evaluating treatment options.

If you suspect that your hair loss is due to a problem with your thyroid gland, visit your primary health care provider and request a complete laboratory examination. With a full screening, you can easily verify the state of your thyroid gland and deduce how it might be provoking your hair loss. Keep in mind that, in addition to hair loss, you may have other symptoms and complications to deal with. Once it has been established that hypothyroidism is the cause of your sudden hair loss, then make sure you get the correct dose of thyroid hormone supplements.

The type of hormonal imbalance that is caused by hypothyroidism causes chronic and diffuse hair loss that is almost always difficult to control. Fortunately, there are a few recommendations we can make to help you with hypothyroidism hair loss.

Here are the best ones:

1. To begin with, avoid the use of heating elements. Heating elements such as the straightening iron, hair dryers, among others, are the number one enemy of hair that has been weakened by hypothyroidism. These products affect the structure of the hair strand, negatively impact their strength and, over time, cause damage and induce hair loss.
    
2. As weird as it might sound you should try adding gelatin to your shampoo. The proteins found in unflavored gelatin surprisingly provide many benefits to hair health and strength. Unlike other specialized commercial products, it does not cause any serious side effects and is very inexpensive. Regular use will help to stave off excessive hair loss and other problems such as brittleness and dryness that appear because of an underactive thyroid.
    
3. Consume foods that contain collagen. Collagen is the main structural protein hair. It is rich in amino acids, such as glycine, alanine, and glutamine. This nutrient provides strength and elasticity to hair fibers, which are essential to keep it in excellent condition. Although the body can produce collagen on its own, it is necessary to complement it with other dietary sources, especially since production decreases as we get older. It should be noted that its intake also benefits the bones and joints, and reduces the risk of chronic inflammatory diseases. You can find plenty of collagen in berries, citrus fruits, and shellfish.
    
4. Keep stress to a minimum. Stressful situations can significantly exacerbate hypothyroidism symptoms, including hair loss. It has been proven that this emotional state has adverse effects on capillary health and is outside of thyroid gland disorders one of the leading factors of hair loss.
    
5. As always, one of the best tips to heed is minding your nutrition. Although you shouldn't wait to have a thyroid disorder or other underlying health problems before attempting to improve your nutritional intake, it is necessary that patients with hypothyroidism do so as soon as possible. Since hormonal imbalances potentially diminish the body's ability to absorb nutrients correctly, it is essential to follow a balanced and complete diet. You must eliminate irritating and inflammatory foods that can worsen the symptoms caused by the defective thyroid gland. For example, dairy products, gluten, and genetically modified foods should be excluded. It is essential to increase the consumption of sources iodine, selenium, zinc, iron, copper, and vitamins A, B, and D.

Hypothyroidism induced hair loss will begin slowly, but it will worsen over time until the amount of hair being lost is abundant. To stop and reverse this insidious side effect you must work to balance the levels of thyroid hormones in your bloodstream. A balanced and cautious diet that consists of foods high in vitamins and nutrients crucial to thyroid function and hair health such as iodine and zinc will go a long way in helping you. Remember to think of these matters as a marathon and not a sprint; weeks will go by before you start getting any noticeable results, but stick with this plan, and you will see improvements.

References:

1. Freinkel, Ruth K., and Norbert Freinkel. "Hair growth and alopecia in hypothyroidism." Archives of Dermatology 106.3 (1972): 349-352.
    
2. Price, Vera H. "Treatment of hair loss." New England Journal of Medicine 341.13 (1999): 964-973.
    
3. Rushton, D. H. "Nutritional factors and hair loss." Clinical and experimental dermatology 27.5 (2002): 396-404.