Hair loss is one of the most frustrating symptoms many of my patients with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions experience. This is a problem with both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid conditions, and sometimes the hair loss can be very severe. In fact, it’s not uncommon for the patient to be most concerned about the hair loss, even if they are experiencing numerous other symptoms. As a result, many people who experience hair loss want to know what they can do to quickly stop this, and of course get their hair to grow back.
The good news is that most cases of thyroid hair loss are reversible. In other words, the hair loss will usually stop and eventually grow back. The bad news is that it can take a good amount of time for this to happen. When hair loss is a result of a thyroid hormone imbalance you would figure that the hair would stop falling out once the thyroid hormone levels have normalized. But unfortunately this usually isn’t the case, as while everyone is different, it commonly takes a number of months after the thyroid hormones have normalized for the hair loss to stop.
This understandably can be very stressful and frustrating, as someone might have normal thyroid function tests for a few months and still be experiencing hair loss. I receive emails all of the time from my patients asking when the hair loss will stop, and if there is anything they can take to slow it down and/or help it to grow back. Although there are supplements which can help with some cases of hair loss, in most cases these won’t help much if the cause of the hair loss is the thyroid hormone imbalance. In other words, if the main cause of your hair loss is the thyroid hormone fluctuations, then not surprisingly, addressing this problem is the best approach.
Other Factors Which Can Cause Hair Loss In Thyroid Patients
Although in most people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions the hair loss is a result of the thyroid hormone imbalance, there can be other factors which cause hair loss. So let’s go ahead and look at some of these other causes.
Nutrient Deficiencies. 30% of women before the age of 50 have hair loss due to some type of nutritional deficiency, with depleted iron stores being the most common cause (1). A suboptimal intake of the amino acid lysine can also be a factor (1). Getting back to iron, in women with hair loss, a ferritin level of 70 mcg/L is recommended (2). However, keep in mind that ferritin can elevate due to inflammation, and so one can’t rely on the ferritin alone to determine the iron status. In addition to iron and lysine, a few studies have shown that a zinc deficiency can play a key role in hair loss (3) (4). A biotin deficiency can also result in hair loss (5). Many women take evening primrose oil to help with hair loss, as this has gamma linolenic acid (as does borage oil and black currant seed oil), and supposedly a deficiency of GLA can be a factor in some cases of hair loss, although I wasn’t able to find any research studies confirming this.
Other Hormone Imbalances. In addition to having hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, other hormone imbalances can result in hair loss. One study showed that a low estrogen to androgen ratio (ratio of estradiol to free testosterone) might be responsible for triggering hair loss in women (6). Problems with the estrogen and progesterone receptors can also be a factor in some people (7). High levels of androgens in postmenopause can result in hair loss (8) (9). High levels of prolactin can also cause hair loss (10).
Stress. There is evidence that neurohormones, neurotransmitters, and pro-inflammatory cytokines released during the stress response may also significantly influence the hair cycle (11) (12) (13). In addition, acute emotional stress may cause alopecia areata by activating corticotropin-releasing hormone receptors around the hair follicles, leading to intense local inflammation (14). This isn’t to suggest that most people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions have hair loss due to stress, although since many people with these conditions deal with a lot of stress this shouldn’t be overlooked. Plus, there is also the possibility that the thyroid hormone imbalance is what initially causes the hair loss in some people, but the increased anxiety and stress due to the hair loss is a contributing factor. In other words, even when the thyroid hormone imbalance or another factor causes the hair loss, the anxiety and stress associated with the hair loss might worsen the problem in some people.
Drugs and Other Toxic Agents. Taking certain medications can also lead to hair loss (15) (16). This usually isn’t the reason behind hair loss in most of my patients, although during those rare cases when drugs are causing hair loss, it is almost always reversible by stopping the medication. Many patients with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease take beta blockers such as Propranolol and Metoprolol, and these also have the potential to increase hair loss in some people (17). I wasn’t able to find studies showing that environmental toxins such as heavy metals or xenoestrogens can cause hair loss, but it wouldn’t be shocking if these were factors.
How Can One Determine The Cause Of The Hair Loss?
If someone has been dealing with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition then there is a pretty good chance that this is what’s responsible for the hair loss. However, there is always a chance that one or more of the other factors I discussed can be responsible for the hair loss, or at least be a contributing factor. For example, someone could have had a nutrient deficiency or a sex hormone imbalance which directly or indirectly caused the thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition. In this case it might be necessary to correct all of these imbalances in order to completely stop the hair loss.
Obviously one can also do some additional testing to see if someone has an imbalance of the sex hormones, test some of the nutrients (i.e. conduct an iron panel), and/or run an adrenal panel to see if someone has imbalances in cortisol and/or DHEA. But even if someone has one or more of these other imbalances it doesn’t necessarily mean these are responsible for the hair loss. However, if someone does have a nutrient deficiency or a hormone imbalance, even if these aren’t the causes of the hair loss it of course still would be a good idea to correct these imbalances.
Can You Just Take Some Supplements To See If It Will Help?
It’s very common for people to take some supplements and see if this will help with their hair loss. If the hair loss is due to a thyroid hormone imbalance then taking supplements probably won’t help that much. However, taking certain nutrients such as biotin, evening primrose oil, and low doses of zinc for a month or two usually won’t cause any problems, even if someone doesn’t have a deficiency in these nutrients. On the other hand, taking iron supplements can be problematic if someone doesn’t have an iron deficiency.
I’m fine with most patients taking some nutrients such as biotin, zinc, and a form of GLA. But many times this won’t have much of an impact with regards to hair loss. There is also evidence that peppermint oil can help with hair growth (18). But in most cases, correcting the thyroid hormone imbalances and then waiting a few months for the hair to normalize is the best option, although I definitely would recommend getting an iron panel as well. While incorporating stress management techniques might not help much, it definitely won’t hurt, and most people can benefit from improving their stress handling skills.
In summary, hair loss is very common with both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid conditions. Although most cases of thyroid hair loss are reversible, it can take some time for the hair loss to stop and grow back. In addition to having a thyroid hormone imbalance, some other factors which can cause hair loss include nutrient deficiencies (i.e. iron, zinc, biotin, GLA), other hormone imbalances, stress, as well as drugs and other toxic agents. Please feel free to share your experience with hair loss in the comment section below.
acupuncture has helped me to stop hair loss, and slowly have some hair recovery.
Hi Edie,
Thank you for sharing this with everybody, as I’m a big fan of acupuncture, and I’m glad it helped with your hair loss.
Hey Dr. Eric. I’m very curious I lost part of my hair due to low metabolism in 2013 and started taking a hormone medicin called Eltroxin for it to stabilise my metabolism to a normal rate again in 2016. My question is how long will it take to reverse the parts of hair loss i experienced?.
Please writte back to this.
Mahdi, taking the Eltroxin (which is a brand of levothyroxine) will sometimes help with the hair loss, but if your hair hasn’t grown back since you started taking it in 2016, and if the TSH and thyroid hormones look fine, then it would seem that there is another type of imbalance you’re experiencing. It might be an imbalance of the sex hormones, or perhaps a nutrient deficiency, and so these are the areas where I’d look.
I’ve been having hair loss for years and have never had an endocrinologist take it seriously. What is the best approach? A dermatologist?
Hi Lisa,
Although you can see a dermatologist, I’m not sure how much they will help. If it’s endocrine related then of course balancing the hormones is the key, but if it is related to a nutrient deficiency then most conventional medical doctors won’t help much. So it might be best to contact a natural healthcare professional.
Hi i have a question i am experiencing Hair loss for the first time i have hashimotos.. have had it since 2010.. i had a thyroidectomy in February due to thyroid cancer didn’t need any radiation and my tsh is normal.1.4.
My doctor thinks its the telegen shedding phase from the stress of moving and it’s not my thyroid cause If it was it would of happened after my thyroid was removed …. never had a problem with hair and stress before don’t know why all of a sudden it’s happening. She thinks i blame everything on my thyroid. I take the emergency vitamins and on 112mcg levothyroxine… any suggestions? I currently moved to seattle If you recommend anyone
Hi Mary,
Although stress might be a factor, if it happened shortly after the thyroidectomy then it could be a factor, even though the TSH is looking good. Nutrient deficiencies and/or sex hormone imbalances can also be the culprit. There’s a practitioner in the Seattle area named Ronda Nelson who you might want to contact:
https://www.restorationhealth.net/
Thanks Dr. Eric, another very good article. From my own observations it does seem that I lose my hair when my thyroid dosage changes, not necessarily if it is too high or too low. This has occurred on the Levo I was first on and now the NDT that I am on. Yes, I think it is the change in dose, not the actual dose.
Hi Helen,
I’m glad you enjoyed the article. And thank you for sharing your experience with everyone about the change in dose causing the hair loss.
My young daughter’s hair loss subsided with a change in diet…going gluten free and dairy free. We’ve tested her periodically and antibodies have normalized. My concern is that while her hair grew back, it grew in curly where it once was straight. She doesn’t like having curly hair and misses her poker straight locks. Her grandmother told us that a friend also had the same issue but after taking thyroid hormone, her hair started to grow back in straight. Have others had that experience? My daughter doesn’t appear to need thyroid hormone. I don’t want to put her on meds just to achieve straight hair. Is there anything else that can be done nutritionally? (We can spend an hour mechanically straightening her hair and that’s a bummer as is the thought of having it chemically straightened.)
Hi Cindy,
I must admit that I haven’t come across anyone whose hair grew back curly after being straight upon getting into remission. And so I do agree with you about not having her take thyroid hormone medication if she doesn’t need it, and not to have her exposed to the chemicals used in mechanically straightening one’s hair. But I’m honestly not sure why this happened, or what the solution is.
Curly hair is better than no hair. Trust me, I’m going through server hair fall and I would trade beautiful curly hair for hair fall any day!
Strange enough, my hair loss started long after diagnosis.
I was diagnosed with hypothyriodism in 2000, Hashimoto’s in 2015. Never had problems with hair loss until end of December 2015.
It certainly is annoying, hair everywhere (except where they should be – on my head), my shoulders and arms (summer in the south, I feel the hair all day), in my plate… After I washed them – oh my!
Could it be that I have some deficiency due to the strict AIP I am following?
Hi Marelize,
Although an AIP diet is without question restrictive, it is nutrient dense, and if you were eating a variety of different vegetables then a nutrient deficiency is unlikely to happen. On the other hand, if you have been eating only a couple of different vegetables and not having much variety then it is possible that you developed a nutrient deficiency.
Great Article – I have notice over the past couple months my hair is thinning and does not grow.
I have Hash’s with very high thyroid antibodies – 525. My doctor never tells me how to lower the thyroid antibodies >25.
I do take Biotin, Lysine, Zinc, BHRT hormones but nothing seems to be helping. The only vitamin I am not taking is GLA.
I will have to research the RDA/ODA levels and start supplementing with that.
Can you tell me how much GLA I should be taking? My vitamin regiment is all single vitamins since I want to avoid Soy.
I need to find a naturopathic doctor around PA-18037 that will accept medical insurance. Any suggestions.
Thank you,
Coleen
Hi Coleen,
In most cases you would want to take at least 200 to 300mg of GLA, although some formulations have more than this.
Unfortunately I’m not familiar with any naturopathic doctors in your area. You might want to visit the website for the Institute for Functional Medicine and perform a search for a local doctor.
Hi great article. It is interesting to see how well vitamins and minerals as such as Kelp and/or Folic Acid can indeed help with hair loss. Although results are not always the same, for some this approach may not work. I have noticed a few people try this approach, usually taken in the form of a good multi vitamin. They have noticed hair loss slow down, and in some cases grow back in as short a time as a month. For others the process is a little longer. Certainly for some a change in diet as Cindy mentions in a previous post, is a good approach too. As we all react differently to different things IE diet, medication etc unfortunately it really is trial and error for us as we go down the path of discovery, to find what works for our thyroid and what does not.
Thanks for the article. My wife was just diagnosed with Hash a couple weeks ago. She’s also always been pretty iron-deficient. We’ve heard of a product called Thymuskin to reverse hair loss. Any use in trying this?
Thank you so much for this article. I have just been diagnosed with hyperthyroid and I am also hypoglycemic. I am losing mostly eyelashes and then eyebrows. The hair on my head isn’t falling out as much thank god, but I really really miss my thick eyelashes. I am supposed to get retested after taking all my b complex supplements and other vitamins, however I was wondering how long until my eyelashes start growing back? Will they grow back on their own, or can I do something to speed the process?
Thank you!
Thanks for the article. my hair started to falling out just 3 weeks after I started to take levothyroxine and now, after 3 years it doesn’t stop while my TSH,T4 and T3 is ok for long time!
what can I do to stop hair loss?
does NDT help?
I took Synthroid for my thyroid problems for 4 year approx, then I felt like I didn’t need the medication so I slowly dropped down from 7 day to not talking it at all over a 2 year span. since oct 2016 I have not been taking the medication and my thyroid levels been fine I am still get them check until the end of 2017. my doctor is surprised my levels is still fine but now I have loss hair in the middle of my head and would like to know is there any way I can help my hair grow back somehow. thank you
Hi am 28 years old women I hade totally thyroid removal and I losing extremely lots of hair and my hormone it’s normal it will grow back?or it will stop?what can I do please help :((thank u.
Szilvi, balancing the thyroid hormone levels are important, and in your situation you will need to take thyroid hormone replacement, which I assume you’re already taking. Also keep in mind that imbalances of the sex hormones (i.e. estrogen and progesterone) can also result in hair loss, as can nutrient deficiencies.
I contracted herpes from my boyfriend and was extremely stressed out about it. Then a couple of months later, I noticed my hair was falling out at the roots! It has been falling out at the roots for 2 years now and it has gotten me more stressed! My blood tests from about 9 months ago showed I have Hashimoto’s.
I have just started taking T3 and it seems 2 weeks after starting it, the hair loss is worse. Ugh, I am SO frustrated! I take a very good multi-vitamin mineral, selenium, kelp, iron, Vitamin D, fish oil. Could a high level of cortisol cause this? I’ve also heard that having a virus in the body can cause Hashimoto’s.
Annie, high cortisol probably isn’t causing your hair loss, as it usually is caused by other types of hormone imbalances (i.e. thyroid and/or sex hormones), and nutrient deficiencies can also be a factor.
Hi! Quick question. Does the hair loss take months to stop from when levels normalize and are stable or months from when they are in normal range? My levels have been in the normal range since early February but are still not stabilized yet. I am still losing hair but have hair regrowth.
I have been on synthroid for 2 years now. I went from 25 mg to now the last year taking 50 mg after the doctor checking it. The last 3-4 months out of no where my hair has drastically fallen out to the point of if it keeps up I will have to get a wig. It’s concerns me because I have always had a head full of thick hair up until a few months ago. My hair falls out by the handfuls without even brushing it just by like pulling it back or running my fingers thru it. I have a lump on my neck and am suppose to have a thyroid ultrasound done. What could this be from to drastiaclly change so fast and fall out so rapid? Has anyone had same problems? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! God bless!
I’ve been in Levothyroxine for well over 10 years and over the years I’ve lost so much hair in my sides that once my levels been normal for years it still won’t grow back can’t put my hair up cause I loss so much hair what other option can I do and do u think it’s the meds
Hi Jennifer,
It very well might be due to the levothyroxine, as perhaps you are taking too high of a dose, as this can cause a lot of hair loss. But there can be other factors as well, such as imbalances of the sex hormones and/or nutrient deficiencies. If you haven’t done so already I would recommend working with a natural healthcare practitioner, as you probably know by now that most conventional medical doctors won’t do anything else other than put you on levothyroxine.
Hello, I’ve been diagnosed with graves and taking medication (methimazole) to help control since January. My only symptom to date that is associated with graves is hair loss. When I started my medication the hair loss stopped and then about 3 months later it started again…and this is my present state – hair loss again. I’m taking biotin, evening primrose, selenium and a multivitamin along with my thyroid med. my labs are currently within normal range. so, I’m curious if there is another recommendation you could provide for exploring other reasons for the continued hair loss…should I speak to another doctor other than my endo?
Hello,
Hair loss is very common in hyperthyroidism, and sometimes it can take time for it to stop and grow back, even after the thyroid hormone levels are normal. In addition to nutrient deficiencies (I know you’re already supplementing with multiple nutrients), imbalances of the sex hormones can also be a factor:
https://www.naturalendocrinesolutions.com/articles/3-ways-stop-thyroid-hair-loss-graves-disease-hashimotos-thyroiditis/
Your endocrinologist probably won’t do much to help in this area, and so it might be worth speaking with a natural healthcare practitioner.
I have hashimoto’s dx in 2014 after my pregnancy of my 2nd child. I was 29 yrs old and never had any tsh in my life. I was put on Levo and have been taking it. My hair was normal.
This year, a stressful event happened in my life and for the past 3-4 months I have been losing hair like crazy. It has gotten so thin, I am so scared I am going bald. Since my tsh was normal last year, I have been slacking on the med which was only 25mcg anyways. My labs have been normal even though I did not take it on a daily basis. When I started losing the hair I started it again faithfully bc I do not want to go bald. I am trying to manage my stress level in any way I can, not always easy due to life in general.
For the last 2 months I started to take prenatal with dha just bc they are free with the pharmacy program and my nails are great. My hair is still falling out. I have bought a hair loss shampoo that cost me $19, started biotin 500 mcg I believe, hoping my hair will stop thinning!!
Also, last year we had a terrible lice situation and I treated myself 6 times w sklice… wondering if my hair is still recovering from that shock. I just don’t know. Derm said age, tsh, stress are factors. PCP tells me labs are normal, I domt know what to do anymore. I worry I am going bald! When I feel my hair I cannot.believe how thin it has gotten I just want to cry! Any recommendations or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!
Alisha, fluctuations in thyroid hormone levels is a common cause of hair loss. While your PCP told you that your thyroid panel is normal, sometimes “normal” lab findings are less than optimal. In other words, you can’t always go by the reference range, and so this very well might be the problem. Imbalances of the sex hormones can also be a factor in hair loss, as can nutrient deficiencies. Either way, I would highly suggest working with a natural healthcare practitioner to help you with this, as it sounds like your PCP isn’t going to be of much help.
Hi, I just got diagnoised this year with hypothroid. I started taking natur-throid in May. I feel my hair loss hasnt stopped. Should i consider changing my medications or taking another test to see how my thryroid looks? Usually how long does it take for it to stop after you start taking meds?
Javkie, I definitely would recommend getting another thyroid panel. It can take hair loss a few months to stop, even once your thyroid hormone levels are within the optimal ranges. But we can’t be sure that your thyroid hormone levels are optimal, which is why it’s a good idea to order another test.
Thank you for your time, and for providing this excellent information, and for answering reader’s questions. I am 65 yrs old. I had a hysterectomy and thyroidectomy some 20+ years ago. Long ago I switched from Endo to having my family doctor test my thyroid levels.
For a long time I’ve thought I should go back to a specialist, as I’ve been tormented by thinning hair and several other symptoms that indicate nutrient deficiency and/or hormone related embalance. Your information has inspired me to find specialized help. Here are my questions:
1) Since I’ve had a hysterectomy and thyroidectomy, would an endocrinologist OR a natural healthcare practitioner be the best way to go for me? Or should I do both??
2) I take generic levothyroxine. What is your experience with the efficacy of generic meds? Can generics be trusted or do different generic manufacturers produce different results?
3) Would a branded thyroid med provide better results?
Lynne, I don’t think an endocrinologist would do much, other than recommend thyroid hormone replacement. And so while I’m definitely biased, I really do think it would be best to consult with a natural healthcare practitioner. Don’t get me wrong, as you might need hormone replacement, but you can always find a medical doctor who practices functional medicine, as they won’t only prescribe hormones if necessary, but will also try to correct your underlying imbalances. As for your question on generic meds, I do think a generic form of levothyroxine can be effective. If someone is going to take synthetic thyroid hormone I prefer Tirosint, as it’s hypoallergenic when compared to most other forms.
Hi DR ERIC I WAS DIAGNOISE WITH HYPERTHYROIDISM , AND FOR YEARS I DIDNT KNOW I HAD IT BUT RECENTLY HAVE Notice hair loss, bald in the back and thin hair in the front , doctors gave me methimazole 5 mg to balance the thyroid problem , which is thyroid gland disease , will my hair grow back
Jorge, while the methimazole can help to lower the thyroid hormone levels, just remember that you also want to do things to address the underlying cause.
Hello, I have 2 questions to ask, I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism maybe like 3 months ago and the doc gave me methimazole 10MG and I’ve noticed that ever since I’ve been on that medication my hair hasn’t really grown anything? I dyed my hair blonde before I knew I had hyperthyroidism and I’ve noticed a very little growth and it doesn’t seem to grow anymore? It’s still super short.
And second question I would like to know if I can dye my hair now? If it’ll affect me in any type of way?
Hi Grace,
Even when on methimazole it can take time before your hair starts growing back, and so I would try not to be too concerned. As for coloring your hair, the main concern would be the chemicals that are in most hair dyes. While this might not cause overt symptoms, it’s still something I’d be cautious about.
I was on Nature’s Thyroid for years. Their prices increased. So I switched to Levothyroxine 4 months ago. At first it became too high. Consequently, it was lowered. It’s almost normal. About 1 1/2 months ago my hair started to fall out. Now it’s not quite as much, but there are little fine hairs sticking out. I hope my hair grows back fast. It’s my signature trait. So sad.
I have been taking levothyroxine for about 6 months and my levels are all good, but my hair wont stop falling out. I did not have a problem with hairloss until I started taking the medicine. I am having a hard time getting people to take me seriously because I have thick hair so they dont notice the thinning. But I have lost about half my hair. Should I inquire about testing for other possible causes? So frustrated.
Terry, I’m sorry about the hair loss. While you can look into testing the sex hormones and for certain nutrient deficiencies (i.e. iron), it wouldn’t be surprising if the hair loss is due to the levothyroxine. Don’t get me wrong, as this doesn’t happen to everyone who takes thyroid hormone replacement, but fluctuations in the thyroid hormone levels can result in hair loss. I see this not only with some of my hypothyroid/Hashimoto’s patients who take thyroid hormone, but it’s also common in my hyperthyroid/Graves’ disease patients who take antithyroid medication.
Hi.. I am likitha , my age is 20,my current weight is 87.6 and I have thyroid and pcod since an year
Recently I have gone through the some tests..the results are
Serum T3 – 1.3 range ( 0.8-2.8)
Serum T4 – 10 range (5.6-12)
Serum T.S.H 4.6. Range (2.0-7.3)
I will start doing workout from April…and will lose all my fat within 5 months by all means
I used to have thick hair before this problem..but now it became so so thin
My question is will I get back all my hair after losing all my weight at least reaching 65 and having balanced range..
And could you please tell me what range should I have in the above results so that I can feel that my thyroid levels are in balanced state….
And what kind of foods to eat and strictly to be prohibited for thyroid patients
…. please reply to me
Hi Likitha,
In most cases balancing the hormones and correcting any nutrient deficiencies will allow the hair to grow back. The reference ranges for the T3 and T4 are different than what I’m used to, but the TSH should ideally be between 1 and 2, as the units of measurement are usually consistent between different labs, although the reference range may differ.
My big question is will my hair grow back? The loss seemed to have stopped for a short couple months last fall, and then my tsh spiked up, we raised my naturethroid dose to bring it back down, but the hair loss has continued these past few months. We have made several dosage adjustments in the last few months. I am hoping once I get stable and stay stable the loss will stop. But my big question is will it grow back? And why isn’t it growing back even amidst the loss? Shouldn’t as soon as one follicle falls out, it be replaced by new growth? Or is this not happening because my body is in a state of fluctuation? I have hashimotos hypothyroid. Looking for some hope, thank you.
My wife was having tsh level 6.38. and facing hair fall. In fact from temple and side areas now having noticeable hair loss. She is taking medicine since 1.5 months. Tsh level is 4.56 now. Is this hair loss because of hypothyroidism? Will it be recovered?
Devit, a TSH of 4.56 is still high, but I would also recommend having her get the thyroid hormone levels tested (free T3 and free T4). But it wouldn’t be surprising if her hair loss is caused by a thyroid hormone imbalance, although this doesn’t mean that there can’t be other factors, such as imbalances of the sex hormones and/or nutrient deficiencies. In most cases, correcting these imbalances will stop the hair loss and the hair will usually grow back, although it probably will take some time for this to happen.
My tsh level is 0.001
T3 = greater than 8
T4 = 16.8
TPO= 423
TG = 183
Thyroid uptake = 31.3%
No iron deficiency
.
I’ve experienced sudden hair thinking and a bit of hair loss in a span of 15 days..
Will it be recovered even if it’s grave’s disease ?
I’ve also started medications to improve my B12 and Vitamin D deficiencies.
Please revert
Thank you.
Hello, I have recently developed symptoms believed to be related to low thyroid functioning and was placed on medication a couple months ago. One blood test indicated low functioning and another a week later was borderline. I have been experiencing leg cramps, hair loss, brain fog, inability to concentrate, fatigue, heart palpitations and pain and swelling in my feet and neck joints. At this point the symptoms have not begun to diminish. I do take supplements, premerin, and a host of other medications for IBS and bp…which I have been taking for at least 10 years. Should I stay the course or pursue other testing? I am now 55 and feel 65 at least.
Paula, this is probably best to discuss with a functional medicine practitioner, as it’s a bit challenging to discuss here in the comments section of a blog post. But it does sound like further testing might be indicated. You might also do better with taking a different type of thyroid hormone replacement, and so this is also something to consider.
Hello, I have had hypothyroid since the past 12 years and have been on medication that has always worked well for me. In the past whenever i have had some hair loss its either because of crash dieting ( which i do not do anymore) or my thyroid being under. Uptil last year i had a head of beautiful ( though never as thick as in my teens:( ) medium length curly hair. My thyroid levels have been stable. Just 4 months ago i started experiencing severe hair loss out of the blue which has sent me in distress, so much that i can hardly focus on anything else. Want to cry when i feel long strands falling out without even brushing. When i last got tested, my TSH was 9 and the doc said that it was under active. After adjusting my levothyroxine dose, my t3 t4 and TSH levels have sufficiently stabalized within 5 weeks, but i am still experiencing hair loss. Infact it has gotten even worse in the past 3 months. My question is when will it stop and regrow? Please note that i do not have any dietry deficiency ( as i eat a very good balanced diet) and my sex hormones are all normal too. Could it be the levo causing this as so many patients have mentioned levo to have caused hair loss too. If so, why now as i have been on levo since past 6 years and have never experiencee hair loss because of the med? Please help!
Hi Doctor,
Firstly, I wanted to say thank you for taking the time out to respond to everyone’s messages.
I’m a girl and I have been losing hair since I was about 17. I am 23 now and my hair still has not grown back. I have been taking levothyroxine for my hypothyroidism for a few years now and my thyroid levels are good right now. I also had iron deficiency which I took pills for last year and that is also fine now. But my hair still hasn’t grown back. It’s not shedding as much as it was when I was 17 but it still does shed and the main problem is that it won’t grow back. Thin hair does not run in my family. I had extremely thick hair in my early teens. This is something that only started when I was 17. A lot of it has shed and it won’t grow back. I’ve lost the most hair at the top of my head and temples. Both my parting and my hairline have been affected.
My doctor was supposed to refer me to a dermatologist but before she could do that, she has left for a maternity leave until August. The doctor that has been assisting me in place of her refuses to refer me to a dermatologist until I use Rogaine and see if it works. I do not want to try and use Rogaine until I find out what the problem actually is. So I am waiting for my doctor to return so that I can see a dermatologist. In the meantime, is there anything that you could recommend? Is this most definitely telogen effluvium caused by a deficiency? Or could this be something else?
Hello Dr!
I’ve been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and been having hair loss. I have noticed that my TSH levels every since i started birth control 5 years ago have gone up each year. Could this be indirectly the cause of my thyroid issues? Also i have heard that PRP is great for hair loss. If I’m taking thyroid medication and progesterone will PRP help stimulate hair growth?
Please help! Thank you!