Balance is the key to so many aspects of our well-being. Balancing work and family, eating a balanced diet, and maintaining our physical balance and strength can be difficult, but they are necessary for health and happiness. When it comes to the health of our hair and our happiness with our appearance, balance is also critical. Specifically, a balance in the number of hormones our thyroid gland produces. When the thyroid produces too much or too little of the hormones that play a critical role in hair growth and retention, hair loss is often the result.
What is the Thyroid Gland?
A small gland located in the neck, the thyroid is a factory that produces and distributes a hormone which regulates many vital bodily functions, including metabolism, involuntary muscle contractions, and the production of cellular energy.
What are Thyroid Imbalances?
Like any gland or organ, the thyroid can fail to work as it should. It does so in two main ways: it either produces too many thyroid hormones, a condition called hyperthyroidism, or it produces too few, a condition called hypothyroidism.
How Do Thyroid Imbalances Cause Hair Loss?
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause hair loss through its impact on the development of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). A synthesized version of the hormone testosterone, DHT plays a role in the development of sexual organs and secondary sexual characteristics, including physical appearance. Unlike testosterone, however, too much DHT disrupts the natural growth cycle of hair and can cause hair follicle shrinkage or elimination, resulting in shedding or thinning hair. balding occurs
For those suffering from hypothyroidism, or the production of insufficient amounts of thyroid hormone, medications often prescribed to treat the condition can themselves cause hair loss. For example, a standard treatment for hypothyroidism is levothyroxine sodium, a prescription medication available under brand names such as Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, and Unithroid. Long-term hair loss is a side effect of this medication for many thyroid patients, for those taking Synthroid in particular.
Solutions for Thyroid-Related Hair Loss
Many individuals who experience hair loss due to their thyroid medication regimen take additional medication to offset that hair loss. As with any medication changes, your physician needs to be involved and his or her recommendations should be followed.
Additionally, many of the treatments we offer at the Hair Transplant Institute of Miami to treat hair loss caused by other factors can be used to address hair loss caused by thyroid imbalances. These can include hair transplant surgery, low-level laser therapy (LLLT), or certain medications. But given the complications involved in thyroid disorders and their treatment, only a consultation and full evaluation with a trained hair loss physician can tell you what treatments you are a candidate for and which approach is best suited to help address your hair loss concerns.
Schedule an Appointment for a Hair Loss Evaluation Today
If your thyroid condition is contributing to hair loss, the Hair Transplant Institute of Miami can help. We offer a range of effective treatment options, customized to individual conditions, to alleviate this unfortunate side effect of thyroid dysfunction. To receive a personalized evaluation and treatment plan, contact us online or call our office directly at 305-925-0222.