Hair loss due to thyroid disease
Hair loss can occur as a result of thyroid disease, which may present itself as either hyperthyroidism (hyperactivity of the thyroid gland) or as hypothyroidism (inadequate activity of the thyroid gland), both of which can cause hair loss.
Hair loss due to thyroid disease is not the only danger of an overactive, or underactive, thyroid gland, however. The thyroid gland resides in your neck and the hormones it produces are involved in many of your body’s functions, your metabolism in particular, making its proper functioning vital to your overall health.
In regards to thyroid disease and hair loss in particular, an example of the thyroid affecting hair growth can be seen in a condition referred to as ‘congenital hypothyroidism’ (the term ‘congenital’ means that the condition is present at, or since, birth). The condition includes a thinning of the hair on the scalp and total hair loss of the armpits and pubic area. The condition results from a lack of thyroxin, specifically, which is a hormone produced by the thyroid gland that regulates metabolism.
When hypothyroidism develops in a young person or adult, however, there is just a slight thinning of the hair on the scalp. Treatment will usually stimulate a re-growth of the hair unless there has been follicular atrophy or the hair loss has been accelerated by other causes.
Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, weakness, weight gain (or increased difficulty losing weight), dry skin, intolerance to the cold, muscle aches or cramps, constipation, irritability, depression, memory loss, abnormal menstrual cycles and/or a decreased libido. The presence, severity and combination of these symptoms for each individual is dependent on the severity of the hormone deficiency and the length of time that the body has gone without an adequate amount of the hormones.
An underactive thyroid gland may become enlarged due to a bombardment of thyroid-stimulating-hormone (TSH) produced by the pituitary gland, which is produced to try to entice the thyroid to produce hormones. The result is the creation of a ‘goiter’.
The most common cause of hypothyroidism is a previous (or ongoing) inflammation of the thyroid gland that leaves a large percentage of the gland’s cells damaged or dead, and therefore incapable of producing enough hormones for the proper functioning of the body. The most common cause of this kind of inflammation is autoimmune thyroiditis, which is caused by the patient’s own immune system. Hypothyroidism may also be a result of certain medical treatments that, indirectly or directly, affect the thyroid gland.
Hyperthyroidism may also cause thinning of the hair on the scalp, as well as the hair in the armpit. Other symptoms may include: palpitations, intolerance to heat, nervousness, insomnia, breathlessness, increased bowel movements, light or absent menstrual periods, fatigue, increased heart rate, weight loss, trembling hands, muscle weakness and warm, moist skin.
Hyperthyroidism may be caused by a condition called Graves’ disease, which is caused by an overactive thyroid gland as a result of antibodies produced by the patient's immune system which attach to specific activating sites on thyroid gland which in turn cause the thyroid to make more hormone. It is characterized by overactivity of the thyroid gland possibly manifesting in a goiter, swelling around the eyes due to inflammation and a thickening of the skin over the lower legs. These symptoms vary in severity. Hyperthyroidism may also be caused by a single, overactive nodule in the thyroid gland. It can be treated with drugs, radioactive iodine and surgery.
In either case of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, the symptoms of a malfunctioning thyroid gland are numerous and possibly dangerous. It is estimated that half of the people who have thyroid disease are unaware of the cause of their condition. It is worth the trip to the doctor to determine whether or not you have thyroid disease if you display any or all of the possible symptoms, including hair loss.