Thyroid Health & Hair Loss: Everything You Need to Know

Many of us know that feeling – you run your fingers through your locks, and there it is, that subtle sense of thinning hair, a couple more strands left behind than usual. Hair loss can happen for a variety of reasons — genetics, hormonal health, and lifestyle factors like stress and diet, can all influence the density and vitality of our hair.

Today, we’ll focus on hormonal health — particularly thyroid hormones. Your thyroid is a tiny powerhouse gland located in your neck that plays a big role in a multitude of bodily functions. You might be surprised to learn that this unassuming gland is an essential part of keeping your hair healthy. On the flip side, when you’re experiencing thyroid dysfunction, your hair can suffer. Both an underactive thyroid and an overactive thyroid can lead to hair loss and brittle hair texture.

In this post, we’ll break down the connection between the thyroid gland and hair health, explain why hair loss by thyroid disorders happens, and recommend a few tips to promote hair growth.

What is a Thyroid, Anyways?

The endocrine system includes a complex network of glands that are constantly regulating your hormonal levels. Much of how you feel physically is determined by this system, but it’s still under discussed.

If you’re a newcomer to thyroid function, you’re not alone. Here are the basics.

A Small But Powerful Gland

Located at the base of your neck, the thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland. Despite its modest size, the thyroid acts as a regulatory hub for various bodily functions. It orchestrates metabolism, energy production, and hormone regulation, influencing everything from heart rate and body temperature to digestion and mood.

Breaking Down Thyroid Conditions

It’s no wonder then, that thyroid issues can have a major impact on the body. Hypothyroidism occurs when the gland produces too little thyroid hormone. Hyperthyroidism, too much. Many people with a thyroid disorder have an autoimmune thyroid disease, in which the body attacks the gland, disrupting its normal functions.

How is Thyroid Health Tied to Hair Loss?

So what does thyroid hair loss look like and why does it happen? Do hormones actually impact your hair’s growth cycle? The answer is a resounding yes.

Diffuse Hair Loss

For people with both prolonged hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, the standard hair growth cycle can be disrupted. For people with a healthy hair growth cycle, hair strands grow for long periods of time, then stop growing, then shed. Every day we lose between fifty and a hundred hair strands — that’s normal. But people with thyroid related hair loss may notice a gradual and uniform sparseness. Meaning unlike in the case of genetic balding, the hair loss happens all over the scalp instead of being concentrated in specific areas.

Thyroid issues impact the delicate balance of hormones essential for hair health, with repercussions that manifest visibly through changes in texture, density, and overall vibrancy.

Alopecia Areata

In the case of people who have an autoimmune condition tied to their thyroid problem, it’s also possible that they’ll develop a case of alopecia areata. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks hair follicles, preventing them from producing healthy hair strands. The result is targeted balding and patchy spots. Hair growth can seem frustratingly impossible.

How to Support Thyroid Health

The bottom line here is that thyroid conditions are treatable and hair loss related to thyroid issues is often reversible — but the key is to talk to your doctor and begin a treatment plan. Thyroid related hair loss most often coincides with other symptoms, so if you’ve been experiencing fatigue, temperature regulation issues, or sudden weight gain or weight loss, it’s important to talk to a medical provider as soon as possible.

In addition to medications, they may suggest ensuring you’re getting enough of the vitamins your thyroid relies on to function at its best like selenium, zinc, and iron.