If you have been suffering from thinning hair, or other forms of hair loss, you need to be aware that there is a possible cause of your hair loss that needs to be considered, and that is the presence of a problematic thyroid condition. Most hair loss conditions are associated with genetic predisposition, certain hormonal changes, certain cancer treatments, or a thyroid problem.
The manifestation of hair loss can be due to hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. People with this type of thinning hair problem will notice a general thinning of the hair, without the usual balding patches characterized by male pattern hair loss.
How can you tell if hair thinning is due to thyroid problems?
Many people notice rapid hair loss as a symptom of either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Symptoms experienced are typically dry skin, tiredness, unusual sensitivity to cold, constipation and even depression. If you are experiencing several of these types of symptoms, and you’re also noticing that you are losing your hair, you need to talk to your doctor about getting tested for possible thyroid problems.
There are medications that can be prescribed for hypothyroidism; however, despite being effective on the hypothyroidism, they can have hair loss as a possible side effect. One particular alternative natural therapy is supplements containing evening primrose oil. Some people have found these help to reduce or limit hair loss induced by hyper- or hypothyroidism. Others have reported that aromatherapy can be effective, as well as having certain oils from thyme, cedarwood, lavender, and rosemary which when blended together and rubbed gently onto the scalp can help encourage new hair growth.
What are natural treatments for hair loss induced by thyroid disorders?
Some ayurvedic medicines (notably bhringaraj oil or brahmi oil) have historically been used as a treatment for hair loss associated with thyroid conditions. When these oils are applied to the scalp regularly over a 3-month period, they are believed to help assist with the regrowth of hair, whilst other specific ayurvedic herbs (amla and ashwagandha) are said to help hair growth when consumed.
Aside from the mentioned natural hair loss remedies, a truly effective remedy for thyroid-induced hair loss is hair transplantation surgery. This involves surgical procedures to remove follicular units from one part of the scalp (or other parts of the body) and then transplanted into the bald parts of the scalp where hair regrowth is desirable.
