Hormones secreted by the thyroid glands located on both sides of our throat are very effective in the overall functioning of the body. When the condition called thyroid disease is seen, changes in secreted hormone levels occur. This causes different health problems. Today, the number of people who have such problems is quite high. Does hair loss occur in people with thyroid disease? How does this affect hair growth? Let’s look at the answers to all these questions together in the rest of our article.
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What is Thyroid?
Thyroid is one of the hormone glands in the body. It releases hormones like other hormone glands. It provides different functions of the body to be performed without any problem. But the importance of thyroxine and other hormones secreted by this gland is very important in the body. It directly affects cell function. Therefore, the slightest problem in this gland causes the body to be alone with a different health problem. For example, such problems as hypothyroidism may occur if the thyroid secretes less thyroxine and hyperthyroidism may arise when the secreted thyroxine is too much.
The fact that the thyroid gland is so important suggests that the problems to be experienced here may cause hair loss.
How Does Thyroid Disease Affect Hair Growth Negatively?
Changes in the level of hormones secreted due to the problem in the thyroid glands may trigger hair loss. Hormonal changes may cause hair get thinner as well as hair loss. How severe the shedding will be depends on the condition of the person and how the hormone level changes.
It is not very easy to detect hair loss caused by thyroid glands. Thus, it is absolutely necessary to seek help from a specialist physician. Especially the hair loss starts 1 month after the negativity in the thyroid gland , which makes the diagnosis difficult. If unusual hair loss starts, you should see a doctor immediately. Thus, you will have the opportunity to start treatment early.
There are some widely-known misinformation here. Many people believe that the thyroid drugs used cause hair loss. Therefore, they stop taking the medications and, moreover, they often does this without informing their doctor. But this drug may result in does hair in very rare occasions.
The fact that the beginning of shedding within 1 month after the problem in thyroid and the use of the drug at this time causes people to have such a thought. But when they stop taking the drug, both the treatment will be halved, the problem in the thyroid gland will not be eliminated, and hair loss will increase even more. Therefore, drug intake should never be left without the doctor’s advice.
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Hair Loss Due to Thyroid
That the thyroid gland secrates active hormones may urge the problems here to result in hair loss. Hypothyroidism or discomfort known as low thyroid due to thyroxine hormone being secreted less than normal may cause hair loss. Hormones that are of great importance for hair follicles are not formed after the occurrence of this disease. The absence of these hormones causes the hair to stay in the resting (telogen) phase longer. The hair, whose sleep period is prolonged, cannot pass into the anagen phase of any kind and as a result it dies.
Changes in the hormonal level come alog with different metabolic problems. In such cases, hair follicles cannot be fully fed. Because a problem may occur both in the blood circulation and nutrients in the blood. Hair follicles that cannot be fully fed cause the hair to become thinner. This situation may result in hair loss after a while. The problems mentioned here may occur not only on the hair, but also on the bristles on different parts of the body.
Like hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism may also cause hair loss. Here too, the thyroid gland overworks and the hormone level changes accordingly. This may cause the hair to be negatively affected in different ways and as a result, hair may be shed.
How to Prevent Hair Loss Due to Thyroid Disease?
There are a number of important issues to be considered for the prevention of hair loss resulting from the disease in the thyroid gland. These issues can generally be listed as follows:
1. The Right Treatment
For the treatment of the problem you are experiencing, you need to take the medicines prescribed by your doctor correctly. You should consult your doctor for unexpected situations experienced at this stage and you should never stop taking medication without your doctor’s advice.
2. A Detailed Laboratory Test
Perhaps one of the first procedures to be done is a laboratory test. When you contact your doctor, he/she will inform you about the tests you should have. Thus, you will easily understand whether hair loss is really related to thyroid and act accordingly.
3. A Right Nutrition Plan
One of the most negative situations caused by thyroid disease is that it prevents the body from make use of high quality foods. Therefore, one of the first things patients should do is to re-plan their diet.
Foods with toxic properties make it obligatory for the symptoms of this disease to become worse and not to be included in the nutrition plan. You should avoid milk and dairy products, the foods that are and contain gluten. You can prefer natural foods instead. Foods containing iodine, selenium, iron, zinc, vitamins A, B and D should be preferred.
4. Hair Protection
Keep your hair away from heat emitting devices such as hair dryers and curlers. The heat applied by such devices to the hair strands, whose strength decreases after the disease, accelerates the hair loss. This is a situation you will never want.
5. Collagen Effect
Collagen, a nutrient rich in amino acids and glutamine, strengthens the hair. It affects the scalp positively and removes the negativities here. Normally, the body produces collagen, but its amount can be increased thanks to the nutrients to be taken externally. The foods containing collagen are generally as follows;
- Citrus
- Egg whites
- Sea products
- Legumes
- Gelatin
6. Shampoo Containing Gelatine
Proteins and collagen in gelatin have an important effect on the nourishment and strengthening of hair. Applying them to hair slows down hair loss and saves you time for treatment.
7. Abundant Water Consumption
Water consumption is extremely important for human health. A healthy person should consume at least 2 liters of water a day. This also helps the hair to become stronger and healthier.
8. Avoiding Stress
Stress is an element that triggers hair loss even in healthy people. People who have troubles with their hair due to thyroid disease should definitely avoid such a negativity. Because weak hair will easily fall out under stress.
If you want to learn the main source of hair loss problem and take precautions accordingly or if you want to have hair transplantation for your excess hair loss, you can consult our expert doctors by filling out the online consultation form.