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How Thyroid Conditions Can Cause Hair Loss

  When patients visit Regeneris Medical, they can count on some of the finest hair restoration treatment in Virginia and the greater Boston area. Our team is pleased to offer surgical transplantation and non-surgical hair loss treatment, meeting the various needs of patients and addressing different kinds and causes of hair loss in the process.

One cause of hair loss to consider involves the thyroid gland and hormone imbalance issues. Let’s look at how thyroid problems can cause balding and hair thinning and what your best options are to address these matters.

What is the thyroid gland?

The thyroid gland is one of the key parts of the body responsible for the production of metabolism-regulating hormones. The thyroid itself is located in the frontal portion of a person’s neck. When a patient experiences a thyroid condition of some kind, this means that his or her hormone levels will be thrown off in some fashion, leading to a number of adverse responses by the body.

Thyroid conditions can be caused by a wide variety of matters, including diseases and systemic conditions (e.g., Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s disease), exposure to lithium, and exposure to iodine.

Why a Thyroid Problem Can Lead to Hair Loss

When your hormone levels are altered, it’s possible for these matters to result in changes to hair growth. Hair follicles have different phases, for instance, and hormone changes can cause the hair follicles to remain in a resting phase rather than a growth phase. This causes more pronounced hair loss and hair thinning to occur.

Other Symptoms Associated with Thyroid Problems

In addition to hair loss and hair thinning, other symptoms that are associated with thyroid problems include:

  • Changes in body weight
  • Frequent exhaustion or fatigue
  • Acute sensitivity to heat and cold
  • Insomnia and sleeping problems
  • Changes in menstrual cycle
  • Weak or sore muscles
  • Changes in mood
  • Anxiety and irritability
  • Issues with focus and concentration

Treatments for Thyroid Conditions

The ideal treatment option for a thyroid condition typically involves the use of various medications that assist in regulating and altering hormone levels in the body. These medications will address various imbalances, with positive effects showing up after a few weeks. The exact medications will be discussed during the consultation process with your general practitioner or endocrinologist.

Should I undergo hair restoration surgery for thyroid-related hair loss?

No.

Since the hair follicles are affected by hormonal changes, undergoing hair restoration surgery for a thyroid-related matter would be unnecessary and would lead to serious issues with regard to hair density and the appearance of the hairline.

Ideal Treatments for Thyroid-Related Hair Loss

Non-surgical options for thyroid-related hair loss tend to be most ideal, such as drugs like Rogaine and Propecia. These will improve the thickness of hair without surgery. Even then, these may not be necessary since the use of hormone medications will often result in improved hair growth after a little bit of time. This can be discussed with your hair restoration specialist or general practitioner in greater detail during your visit.

Learn More About Treating Hair Loss and Balding

To learn more about hair loss related to factors apart from pattern balding, it’s important that youcontact our hair restoration center today. The entire team at Regeneris Medical looks forward to discussing these matters with you in greater detail and helping you have a healthy and full head of hair.