Hair loss is a common symptom of hypothyroidism. Somewhat baffling is that the synthetic medication conventionally prescribed to treat hypothyroidism can many times initiate hair loss or even make it worse.
Hair is often considered an important element in a person’s appearance. It can significantly impact our self-esteem and overall confidence. However, hair health is not just about external maintenance, but also internal care. Just like our skin, the appearance and health of our hair can be largely affected by our internal wellness. If you are experiencing hair loss, it could be an indicator of underlying thyroid issues. But the good news is that with proper care and treatment, thyroid hair loss can be reversed, allowing you to restore your luscious locks and regain confidence.
What does it Take to Maintain Healthy Hair
When it comes to maintaining healthy hair, there are several factors that need to be taken into consideration. One of the most important, if not the most important, thing to keep in mind is ensuring that your body is receiving all of the necessary nutrients that it requires to function properly. Nutrient deficiencies can lead to hair becoming brittle and weak, making it more susceptible to breakage and fall. Additionally, ensuring that your iron levels are optimal is also important, as low levels of iron can lead to hair loss.
Diet is a significant factor in hair health, as a diet that is lacking in key nutrients can lead to dry and dull hair. Supplements only work when we are consuming natural, whole foods in our diet because supplements need something called cofactors and enzymes to actually work …and those are found in real food, not processed “food”.
Immediate Steps to Take to Stop Thyroid Hair Fall
Vitamins to help with Thyroid Hair Loss
Our systems are basically in survival mode when the thyroid is not functioning properly. Everything slows down from metabolism to digestion to nutrient absorption. Addressing the nutrients and vitamins needed to help with thyroid health and function is essential.This usually involves a combination of a methylated B complex vitamin, selenium, Vitamin D and magnesium. See Best Forms of Magnesium.
Digestive enzymes can also be hugely beneficial as they enhance the metabolism and absorption of vital nutrients from food. Many with hypothyroidism suffer from low stomach acid, which hinders the body’s ability to fully break down food into its usable components. This can lead to nutrient malabsorption and is the biggest contributing factor to hair loss in women with thyroid issues. Digestive enzymes aid in this process. You may want to start with a half dose. If you’re experiencing symptoms of acid reflux after starting a digestive enzyme, you might not be suffering from low stomach acid.
Try these Digestive Enzymes
Vitamins specifically for hair are Vitamin E, biotin and Vitamin A. Cod liver oil supplements can be hugely helpful too. However, as with all vitamins, correct dosing and the quality and bioavailability of the vitamin within a supplement is key. Too high doses of Selenium and Vitamin A can actually contribute to hair loss!
More about Vitamin E for Hair Health
This essential nutrient is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect the hair from damage caused by free radicals. It can improve the overall health and appearance of the hair, making it shinier and more manageable. Vitamin E can also help to promote circulation in the scalp, which can improve the delivery of nutrients to the hair follicles and encourage healthy growth. Some studies have even suggested that Vitamin E may help to reduce hair loss and thinning, making it a valuable addition to any haircare routine. You can find Vitamin E in a variety of hair products, or you can take it as a supplement to support your hair health from the inside out.
Not all Vitamin E is the same. The most active and best form of vitamin E for humans is d-alpha-tocopherol.
Try this Vitamin E
A One Stop Solution Multivitamin
O.N.E. by Pure Encapsulations has a great formulation for both thyroid and hair health. If lab tests reveal that you are deficient in Vitamin D, which many people with Hashimoto’s disease are, then you will most likely need to add more Vitamin D to your supplement routine than what is contained in the dose here. Adding magnesium to your routine is also a good idea as the formulation does not contain it.
You can find O.N.E. by Pure Encapsulations on Amazon via the link below. Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn a few pennies if you purchase through the link below.
Pure Encapsulations on Amazon
And here, separately are specific vitamins for hair health if you are already taking vitamins for thyroid health.
Check Your Iron and Ferritin Levels
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in the body, and releases iron when the body needs it. You can have normal levels of iron but low levels of ferritin, indicating that your body is making enough healthy red blood cells but the body is not using it properly. Low levels of ferritin can lead to hair loss and weakened hair shafts. Iron plays a crucial role in delivering oxygen to cells throughout the body, including hair follicles. When there isn’t enough iron in the blood, the hair follicles can become starved of oxygen, which can lead to hair loss and thinning.
It is essential to get your iron levels checked if you are experiencing hair loss or thinning. Low iron levels can be caused by a variety of factors, such as poor diet, lack of certain proteins, heavy menstrual cycles, and certain medical conditions. A doctor can perform blood tests to measure your ferritin and iron levels and determine if you need to take supplements or make changes to your diet to improve your iron intake. Recognizing the role that ferritin and iron play in hair health is an important step in maintaining healthy hair.
It is important to note that as an individual with hypothyroidism, your body undergoes a general metabolic slowdown that decreases the production of red blood cells. This decrease can lead to a condition called anemia, which could cause fatigue, dizziness or lightheadedness, and other symptoms. Additionally It is not uncommon for patients with Hashimoto’s disease, a common autoimmune thyroid disease, to experience iron deficiencies due to malabsorption issues of vital nutrients, like Iron.
Address Food Sensitivities/Intolerances
True story: my hair started regrowing only once I gave up gluten. I tried all the supplements that were touted as miracle workers for regrowing hair, but nothing worked. This was because I had a gluten sensitivity.
Eating gluten caused a lot of inflammation and resulted in nutrient malabsorption for me, despite taking supplements. The only real solution was to completely eliminate it. The truth is, most people with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis or any autoimmune disease find relief when they give up gluten. This is because they have leaky gut, and elimination of inflammatory foods like gluten, and likely dairy, is the first step in trying to heal a leaky gut or stop the inflammation of the intestinal lining. Leaky gut leads to nutrient malabsorption.
Did you know that Hashimoto’s disease is the leading cause of hypothyroidism? Many don’t even know they have autoimmune thyroid disease until they are in advanced stages of it due to elevated TSH. You can read my story about the onset of Hashimoto’s disease here… Steps to Put Hashimoto’s Disease into Remission Naturally.
Ditch the Hair Products
Just in case this is not already common sense, hair products have tons of chemicals that affect the health of your hair and scalp. And these chemicals are also detrimental to your thyroid. Get rid of them. You’ll also want to switch to a shampoo and/or conditioner that is free of phthalates, parabens and sulfates.
Chemical Free, Anti-thinning Hair and Conditioner Set.
Get a Water Filter
Do you live in an area with hard water? You’ll know because of the white residue left by the drops of water in your bathroom. This is due to limescale, caused by a combination of calcium, magnesium, and metals in your water. Hard water can dry out your skin and hair.
Frequent hair washing with hard water can make your scalp feel itchy as well as lead to hair loss. Invest in a water filter attachment for your shower head. They are not expensive. The other solution, however not so environmentally friendly, is to do your final rinse with a half liter bottle of spring water.
Water Filter for Hard Water on Amazon
Are Topical Treatments Effective for Thyroid Hair Loss?
I personally believe that nutrient deficiencies should be prioritized as a first line of defense when trying to stop thyroid hair fall naturally. This does not mean that there is no place for natural topical treatments in your overall approach. It is important to remember that topical treatments usually do not address the root cause of hair loss.
Be aware of what you put on your body, particularly when it comes to topical treatments. Certain treatments may contain chemicals that can have harmful effects on the body, but also in specific areas such as the thyroid gland. Since the thyroid gland plays a crucial role in regulating our metabolism and other body functions, it is important to be mindful of any treatments that can affect its health. Therefore, it is important to be cautious and choose treatments that are free of harmful chemicals.
Topical Application of Natural Oils
An important aspect of hair care is ensuring that your scalp and hair are well-nourished and moisturized. There is an effective solution that you can incorporate into your hair care routine. Extra virgin coconut oil. Olive oil is also a great substitute.
By applying this nourishing oil once a week, you can significantly improve the health and appearance of your scalp and hair. Coconut oil acts as a powerful moisturizing agent and can help to prevent dryness and irritation on your scalp. Additionally, the nutrients found in coconut oil are easily absorbed by hair strands, infusing them with essential vitamins and minerals that promote healthy growth and vitality.
Overall, using extra virgin coconut oil is a simple yet highly effective way to give your hair the nourishment it needs to shine and thrive.
Method/Application of Coconut Oil to Hair
Slather 2/3 tablespoons coconut oil into hair and scalp. Massage for a few minutes, from root to tip. Wrap in a towel for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour and then wash hair as usual. In fact, you should probably double wash to get all the oil out. I tend to leave my hair with the oil overnight and then wash it out in the morning. Just make sure to have a large towel covering your pillow to avoid oily bedding.
Longer Term Steps to Stop Thyroid Hair Loss
Optimize Thyroid Hormone Levels
Getting your thyroid on track can seem like a daunting task. Many times, it takes a combination of dietary changes, high quality supplementation, stress management, sleep management and medication if necessary. However, the standard blood test for thyroid health is TSH alone in conventional medical settings. It is important to test well beyond TSH levels to determine thyroid health.
My TSH came back normal every single time, even after my Hashimoto’s disease diagnosis. Your doctor should be testing your Free T3, Free T4, thyroid antibodies (TPOab and TGab) as well as hormone levels. A thyroid ultrasound can reveal even more.
Stress in the Role of Thyroid Hair Loss
Equally important is to keep stress levels in check. High levels of cortisol can contribute to hair loss by signaling the immune system to stay in flight or fight mode. This state essentially diverts the body’s attention away from what it considers secondary functions like hair and nail health, digestion and fertility. Consistently being in flight or fight mode makes the body habitually concerned with escaping or fighting the stressor and survival becomes the focus.
Deep breathing, even 5 minutes a day, can signal your body to relax and that it is safe.
Gut Health for Healthy Hair
Lastly, taking care of your gut health is essential. A healthy gut can improve nutrient absorption which in turn leads to healthy hair growth. If you’re ready to take back your health from thyroid issues and reestablish the thyroid gut connection, sign up for my 10 week course Thyroid Gut.
