View Full Version : Thyroid Problems and Hair Growth?
peronella
February 9th, 2010, 07:36 PM
So I have a form of Hypothyroidism, And my dr told me it can drastically affect your hair, making it very brittle and thin and prone to breakage.
I take medication for it and Vitamins and my hair seems healthy at the moment but I'm worried about the future of my hair. I would love to have long beautiful healthy hair and I'm worried it may not be possible.
Is There anyone on here who has thyroid problems who have been able to keep their hair healthy and long in spite of that? Did you have to do anything extra special to get it that way? Or does anyone just have any general suggestions?
Thanks I appreciate any advice
LensPainter
February 9th, 2010, 07:40 PM
I have hypothryroidism myself, actually. I've always kept up on my B vitamins as well as taken plenty of fish oils daily; so far my hair has been the only aspect of my overall health that hasn't really shown signs of suffering!
My hair's not long right now, but I only decided to grow it out again this summer. It was past my waist back in high school, though, and it was very healthy.
kwaniesiam
February 9th, 2010, 07:42 PM
I have Hashimoto's and my hair condition didn't change, but the thickness definitely did. I've had a lot of hair loss due to it and am still struggling with it even after a few years of dealing with this. I'll be watching this thread and I hope you don't experience any loss with your illness :flowers:
Some things that have helped me are overall gentle care, a good diet, regular vitamins, and remembering to take my medication. A good doctor that works with symptoms, not just lab results helps too. There is a threat about hypothyroidism in the health and body beautiful forum, I'd suggest checking that out as well.
peronella
February 9th, 2010, 07:42 PM
thank you, I'll check my multivitamin to make sure it has enough B in it. Fish oils I can buy as supplements, right? What does the fish oil do for your hair?
GuinevereMay
February 9th, 2010, 07:43 PM
So I have a form of Hypothyroidism, And my dr told me it can drastically affect your hair, making it very brittle and thin and prone to breakage.
I take medication for it and Vitamins and my hair seems healthy at the moment but I'm worried about the future of my hair. I would love to have long beautiful healthy hair and I'm worried it may not be possible.
Is There anyone on here who has thyroid problems who have been able to keep their hair healthy and long in spite of that? Did you have to do anything extra special to get it that way? Or does anyone just have any general suggestions?
Thanks I appreciate any advice
My mother has autoimmune thyroid issues. Her hair is very dry, delicate and brittle. She tries really hard to take care of it, but there's really little she can do. She can't grow it long, because it breaks off. It looks nice the way she styles it. She did say she take biotin and it really helps with her hair and nails (which also have issues with brittleness.)
I, on the other hands, have the beginnings of the same condition and my hair is still nice. I hope it stays that way, but I doubt it will. I will but cut it short when the autoimmune thyroiditis really kicks in.
I know that wasn't too positive, but everyone's experiences are different and your hair may be just fine, especially if they caught it earlier than Mom's. Her thyroid was effectively "dead" by the time they caught it.
peronella
February 9th, 2010, 07:46 PM
I have Hashimoto's and my hair condition didn't change, but the thickness definitely did. I've had a lot of hair loss due to it and am still struggling with it even after a few years of dealing with this. I'll be watching this thread and I hope you don't experience any loss with your illness :flowers:
Some things that have helped me are overall gentle care, a good diet, regular vitamins, and remembering to take my medication. A good doctor that works with symptoms, not just lab results helps too. There is a threat about hypothyroidism in the health and body beautiful forum, I'd suggest checking that out as well.
Hashimoto's is what I have too, and I have had hair loss, but my hair is coming back now. I'm switching dr's currently because my old dr just did lab results and she just wasnt very good, she never listened to me and always said I was fine and didn't believe me when I insisted that my hair was falling out.
HildeMV
February 9th, 2010, 07:49 PM
I have hypothyroidism and after I heard it can both affect your hair and your uptake of vitamins and minerals, I started taking B-vitamins. I haven't seen an effect on texture or thickness yet. The roots seem to be very healthy.
peronella
February 9th, 2010, 07:54 PM
Thanks guys, you've given me some hope. I'll also go check out that thread you mentioned kwaniesiam
Beesweet
February 9th, 2010, 08:04 PM
I have it too -- started as Hashi's. Now just hypo. My hair has always been kind of dry, so I don't see any real changes there. It hasn't really affected my hair too much because my hair is really thick. I may have lost some volume, but in my case it's not bad. I think it may have affected my curl, as I used to have actual ringlets around a lot of my head, and now it is just wavy.
I eat really well and am on a low dose.
PLEASE CHECK OUT www.stopthethyroidmadness.com and get on natural thyroid replacement to avoid adrenal fatigue, depression, fibromyalgia, and the other stuff that goes along with synthetic T4 only replacement.
lhangel9
February 9th, 2010, 08:15 PM
I'm switching dr's currently because my old dr just did lab results and she just wasnt very good, she never listened to me and always said I was fine and didn't believe me when I insisted that my hair was falling out.[/quote]
I "used to" suffer from hypothyroidism. I had gone to a couple of doctors who did tests and each told me that I was fine and that the tests results were "normal." I've read that what's considered normal doesn't mean that there isn't a problem. My doctors didn't believe me either, but I knew that there was something wrong i.e. my hair became very brittle / short / dry and my nails were very brittle and always splitting, etc. Anyway, I was told about Maca Root and how it is supposed to help cure thyroid problems (especially hypothyroidism). I tried it and guess what??? I no longer suffer from hypothyroidism. :cheese: I've been taking the Maca Root (in powder form/just my preference) for two months now. Also, I have an extremely high amount of energy. I purchased it from a local health store for $29.95 (you can also Google it and might be able to find cheaper prices). I was desperate so I just counted up my change and purchased it and have been using ever since. I use it every day for one week and then I skip two days straight and then I repeat. Why? I don't know. I guess I don't want my body to become used to it and not be as effective.
Also, I take all my B vitamins and cod liver oil capsules Everyday! Due to my experiences, doctors will tell you anything to keep you as a patient and/or write prescriptions to help the pharmacies. There are cures for lots of things, but certain things that may work for some may not work for others and vice versa. I've heard of other things to take for hypothyroidism, but so far Maca Root has worked best for me! Good luck and check it out.....you might want to Google ("Maca Root for hair" or "Maca Root for thyroid", etc.).
MandyBeth
February 9th, 2010, 08:31 PM
I've got Hashi's also - plus the other friendly autoimmune diseases. I didn't track my hair well before Hashi's, and I've been on so many other things that can give hair fits and been otherwise mean to my hair.
I will say my hair COLOR has been different since I got started on t4 and t3 supplements - I tended towards being a little darker, more of a milk chocolate color, and I've gone to a pretty meh ashy brown/blonde mid range neutral color. Which I don't like, and therefore I now henna my hair to red.
But I'm not a normal case - mine is just years of my immune system deciding it hates me and wants to misbehave. So any/all of my problems, I have no idea what is doing it and I don't know how any doctor could figure it out because to control the problems that literally will kill me means I have to take medication that does have side effects - they just aren't worse than the actual issue.
The worst part isn't anything my hair is doing - it's the flat out forgetting of words and how to pronouce them. Gak.
peronella
February 9th, 2010, 09:18 PM
Oh my goodness! I had no Idea that the synthroid could cause those things! I've been taking it since I was a child and no one, no Doctors, ever told me that.
I think If I had been older when I was diagnosed, I would have asked questions about that kind of thing but its just sort of been a part of my life and I never imagined that it could be so bad for me. I guess thats another thing to ask my doctor about.
But I guess you cant always trust doctors.
HildeMV
February 9th, 2010, 09:32 PM
Levaxin is dangerous? That's what most people here use, and it's really difficult to get a prescription on armour. I don't have hashimoto's though, I don't know yet what's causing it, but I didn't have any anti-TPO in my tests.
Mugili
February 10th, 2010, 04:00 AM
I have hashimoto too.
It takes long until any doctor takes me serious...so I have lots of hairloss and dry and brittle hair before I get my thyroxin.
I hope I stop the hairloss now and the condition of my hair will get fine...but I'm not really sure.
I will look at the link, I even get syntethic thyroxin and no one told me it could be dangerous.
I will read and than ask my doc, but I'm not very hopefull, that she will take care about an internet-article. :confused:
Keildra
February 10th, 2010, 05:53 AM
My doctors think I have the opposite, Hyperthyroidism, but since I'm pregnant they have to wait until I have the baby to actually test me and put me on medication. I've had hair loss and thinning since I was in high school so if my hair improves on the medicine I will know what caused it. I know if you take your medicine there will be improvement, or at least that is what my doctor told.
MandyBeth
February 10th, 2010, 07:31 AM
Not everything you read on the internet is 100% true. Armour is nearly impossible to get, and that made me VERY sick and made my Hashi's much worse. I do fine on my synethetics.
Beaglebuddy
February 10th, 2010, 09:10 AM
I too have hypothyroid and am on levothyroxine. I have been since about 1997. I still shed terribly. I do have dry hair but I am not sure it is caused by the thyroid problem or just stuff I have done to my hair.
I do take a B-complex, and Biotin on the side, and Omega 3-6-9 and am also going through a herbalist who gives me herbs to take along with my thyroid medication. I have only been on the herbalist stuff for a little over a month so it is too soon to tell what it might do for my hair. It has really really helped my tiredness though which is a big plus.
I do lots of deep treatments, mostly oiling but sometimes SMT or something like that. They really help to keep my hair more managable.
akka naeda
February 10th, 2010, 09:13 AM
My doctors think I have the opposite, Hyperthyroidism, but since I'm pregnant they have to wait until I have the baby to actually test me and put me on medication. I've had hair loss and thinning since I was in high school so if my hair improves on the medicine I will know what caused it. I know if you take your medicine there will be improvement, or at least that is what my doctor told.
I'm also hyperthyroid, no problems with my hair.
Beesweet
February 10th, 2010, 09:58 AM
Not everything you read on the internet is 100% true. Armour is nearly impossible to get, and that made me VERY sick and made my Hashi's much worse. I do fine on my synethetics.
It is true that not everything you read on the internet is true. It is also true that Armour is hard to get right now -- as is other dessicated thyroid products, but they are possible to get. A lot of people are also having trouble with the new Armour formulation -- which is not what it has been for the past hundred years or so. I was on it and I switched to Nature-throid, which I can still get.
It is possible, or probable in fact, that people who get sick when start Armour or other dessicated thyroid are doing so because their adrenals are involved and they may also have issues with B12 and ferritin. A lot of folks on synthetic T4 only cause their body to adapt to dealing largely with T4, which is the storage hormone. They may have trouble when switching to dessicated thyroid because their whole endocrine system has adapted to dealing with T4 only, including the adrenals.
Cortisol is needed to distribute thyroid hormones to your cells, and if you are not making enough cortisol due to sluggish adrenals, the T3 will not be able to get to your cells, and will hang around in your blood and give you symptoms. A lot of folks find that they need adrenal support. I did. A lot of docs don't know this and they say that dessicated thyroid replacement is "unreliable." I believe this keeps a lot of people from feeling their best, and we are often told we have to live with our symptoms. I also believe that a lot of these symptoms creep up on us and we don't really know how sub-optimally we are actually living, and that if the endocrinologists could spend a week in our bodies and see how we would live, it would cause a rush of thyroid research and funding. Kinda like what went on with Viagra. ;)
Also keep in mind that a lot of hypothyroid folks on Synthroid have bone density problems and eventually get osteoporosis. Healthy thyroids put out calcitonin, the hormone that keeps calcium in our bones. Dessicated thyroid not only gives us T4, but T3 -- the active form of the hormone, T2 (important for metabolism), T1, and calcitonin.
Here is one link that explains it a little bit --
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/natural-thyroid-101/
I am not trying to push anything on anybody. I am just trying to offer a different view of synthetic hormone replacement in case anyone is interested.
momtofour
February 13th, 2010, 09:28 AM
That is very INTERESTING about cortisol and T3! I did not know that and I used to work for an endochrinologist! That makes sense to me, too, from a personal stand point. I have hypothyroidism, asthma and pernicious anemia (the latter came on after I had mono). Auto-immune diseases run rampant through my family. My Mom had rheumatoid arthritis (as does my daughter), and Reynaud's. My daughter and I both have asthma and allergies to certain meds and foods. I also have osteo-arthritis that is a result of aging and having had Lyme disease. Occassionally, I have to take methyprednisolone for my aliments and when I do, I feel SO good! My joints don't ache, I have uber energy and my thinking is clearer. I should mention that I have been taking Synthroid (T4) and Cytomel (T3) for ten years. I just wish that cortisone drugs didn't have all of the nasty, long-term side effects. I am 61 and I feel twenty years younger while I am on that stuff.
AmericanWoman
February 13th, 2010, 12:16 PM
I've had hashimoto's since 1994. It hasn't really affected my hair. I think as long as you have the right dose for you, it'll be fine.
italianamama
February 24th, 2010, 07:44 PM
I'm hypothyroid and in the past couple of years since my diagnosis I've definitely noticed increased shedding and dryness. In fact, that's what lead me to the LHC boards :D. I've babied my hair for about a year now, and it makes a huge difference. The only real problem I have now is lack of natural shine, which does NOT thrill me :mad: I'll be trying the fish oil supplements though, I'm curious to see whether or not they make a difference.
nellreno
February 24th, 2010, 08:58 PM
I'm hypothyroid, due to a lump on my thyroid. At first my hair would not stop falling out, but once I got on the right dosage of Synthroid, and changed my diet, it stopped. My hair never got back to the thickness that it was before I developed it, but my hair is at least healthy. I'm making sure to find exactly what my hair needs to be as healthy as possible, I think that's what's worked the most.
Deborah
February 24th, 2010, 11:05 PM
I am hypothyroid too, but have not noticed it affecting my hair. It is not dry or brittle or falling out at all. I guess not everyone has hair problems with hypothyroid. :)
rubyann
February 27th, 2010, 09:05 PM
I am hypothyroid as well. I can tell that my already fine, thin hair has less volume. I'm reading Stop the Thyroid Madness right now, after checking out the website and the forums.
My Dr. put me on Armour without me asking. He does bio-identical hormone.replacement. If you want to do Armour and your current Dr. won't, call a BHRT practice and ask. Also, you can call a compounding pharmacy near you and ask about Dr.'s who prescribe it.
I'm freaked out about my hair thinning, as I've been growing it for several years now and enjoy having longer hair. I'll never have the wrist thick braid I've seen on some here, but I find my hair pretty in it's own way. I don't want it to get any thinner. I can see scalp when I put it up! Yikes!!:nono:
peronella
February 27th, 2010, 11:23 PM
I am hypothyroid as well. I can tell that my already fine, thin hair has less volume. I'm reading Stop the Thyroid Madness right now, after checking out the website and the forums.
My Dr. put me on Armour without me asking. He does bio-identical hormone.replacement. If you want to do Armour and your current Dr. won't, call a BHRT practice and ask. Also, you can call a compounding pharmacy near you and ask about Dr.'s who prescribe it.
I'm freaked out about my hair thinning, as I've been growing it for several years now and enjoy having longer hair. I'll never have the wrist thick braid I've seen on some here, but I find my hair pretty in it's own way. I don't want it to get any thinner. I can see scalp when I put it up! Yikes!!:nono:
I know how you feel, I'm trying to baby my hair (its awfully brittle) and trying to increase my thickness as it grows out, the ends need alot of trimming, they're straggly from when my hair was actively falling out last year. it doesnt seem to be falling out anymore, but i'm always wondering about how long i'll be able to have nice hair.
I'm pretty sure i've got no hope of armour anytime soon, so I'm hoping theres not quite as much thyroid madness as they say...
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