Thyroid Hair Loss
Thyroid hair loss
Hair is often a very clear reflection of a person’s overall health. Dull, lifeless hair is usually an indication that a person is dealing with stress or some other type of difficulty. Shiny, healthy looking hair generally reflects that a person is living a happy and serene life.
Hair cells are one of the fastest growing cells in the human body. When the body is dealing with some kind of problem, the hair cells may stop growing in order to send energy to other parts of the body that need it. The results of this radical change can be seen when a person’s hair starts to fall out.
Though the leading cause of hair loss is hereditary condition known male/female pattern baldness, there are many physical ailments that can lead to early hair loss. One cause in particular is a problem with the thyroid.
The first step to take before assuming you are afflicted thyroid condition is to seek the advice of a trained dermatologist. There are many other reasons for hair loss, like stress or infection. The American Hair Loss Council has a list of hair specialist doctors that may be able to help determine the cause of your hair loss.
The thyroid is a gland that resides in the base of the neck on both sides of the lower section of the voice box (larynx). It works in conjunction with the pituitary gland to regulate the body’s metabolism.
There are four main categories of thyroid disease. The first one is called hyperthyroidism, where the body produces too much of the thyroid hormone. Second, hypothyroidism is a condition where the body produces too little of the thyroid hormone. Third is the benign, noncancerous thyroid disease. Lastly, there is thyroid cancer.
A thyroid disease is usually associated with large amounts of hair falling out. The hair usually does not only fall from the scalp, but there is a thinning of body hair and a loss of hair in the eyebrows, as well.
Fortunately, the treatment for hyper- and hypothyroidism is fairly simple. After being diagnosed, you are prescribed thyroid hormone supplements that regulate the amount of thyroid hormone in the system. The thyroid supplements must be carefully monitored and are usually given in small doses, so as not to put too much in the system. As time goes by, stronger and stronger dosages are prescribed until thyroid levels reach their correct state. Those being treated for thyroid disease are urged to be patient with the treatment as it may take as long as 3-6 months (one’s normal hair growth cycle) for the drug to yield results.
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