Hair Loss Cycle

[KatyT88]

Hi all

I’ve recently been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid due to Hashimoto’s about 6 weeks ago. I’m currently going through the process of finding the right medication levels (just been upped from 50mg to 100mg of Levothyroxine) however over the past week my hair has started to shed at quite an alarming rate.

I understand from some Googling that it might be happening now due to hair cycles however can’t find anything to suggest how long it will continue for now I’m starting to get my levels sorted. Does anyone have any experience or thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

[silverfox7]

Welcome to the forum. Have you had Vit D, B12, folate and ferritin tested? They help your thyroid to work better but being low in any of these isn't helping and you may need to supplement. Losing hair is a problem but getting these levels up can help with symptoms.

If you look on the Thyroid Uk site-they run this forum-you will find lots of things that help on there. Doctors think that once on medication that jobs done but it's not always that simple. Shout out if anything you don't understand.

[KatyT88 in reply to silverfox7]

Hiya I haven’t had them specifically tested but have also thought I’ve had an iron deficiency so started on some hair nail & skin supplements a few days ago which includes all the above.

[silverfox7 in reply to KatyT88]

Usually if we have a problem we need to take more of whatever is low then what is added to other things. Also be aware that when having tests done to stop anything with biotin in it 5 days earlier as it can mess up results and hair and nails products and Vit B tablets tend to have biotin in them.

[KatyT88 in reply to silverfox7]

Great thanks! Will make sure I do

[Hashi-Monster]

Hi Katy,

I had this problem when I first started treatment. The hair shedding lasted about 3 months until I got to the right level of thyroid hormone.

I also found selenium supplements helped, but it is important to have good levels of ferritin as well.

I’m now six months into treatment and new hair is growing back.

[KatyT88 in reply to Hashi-Monster]

Thanks for the response! Was this 3 months since you noticed the shedding or 3 months since you got the right level? Thanks!

[Hashi-Monster in reply to KatyT88]

The shedding started on day 1 of treatment and lasted for about 3 months. I noticed that the hairs that were being shed were my thicker and darker strands. The worst affected area was above my ears and around my temples and it got as bad as me seeing my scalp in those areas.

It took 3 months for me to get up to my current dose which is when the shedding stopped.

[KatyT88 in reply to Hashi-Monster]

Pretty much exactly the same as me in terms of area. I think I’ve been shedding for a while but as I have very thick actual hair think I didn’t notice it too much until scalp started peeking through. Thanks for the response