Does Hypothyroidism cause premature grey hair?

Does anyone know from experience or research about hypothyroidism causing grey hair?

[trelemorele]

Yes, hypo cause premature greying

[SlowDragon Administrator]

In a round about way....possibly

It's very common when not correctly treated for hypothyroid to have very low vitamin D, B12, folate and/or ferritin

Low B12 can cause premature grey hair

gaizupath.com/vitamin-b12-d...

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Add your most recent blood test results and ranges if you have the,

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When on Levothyroxine, take last dose 24 hours prior to test, and take next dose straight after test. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

[Aurealis]

A lot of hypothyroidism is caused by an underlying autoimmune condition. They cause a broad streak of grey/white hair at the front of your head but are not specific to thyroid, also occur with other autoimmune conditions.

[Hidden in reply to Aurealis]

What other autoimmune conditions? Do you know any in particular?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Ask GP to test vitamin B12, folate, vitamin D and ferritin

Come back with new post once you have results and ranges

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Slowdragon I will do and thank you!

[Aurealis in reply to Hidden]

I think any of them - diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, to name three

[Aemdiate in reply to Aurealis]

I have a massive grey streak at the left front side, had it for 7 or 8 years and I’m 41. I also have five autoimmune conditions, diagnosed.

[Hidden in reply to Aemdiate]

Hey Aemdiate can you email your autoimmune conditions? If you have the time. My doctors have me taking some other medicines too now

[RedApple Administrator]

Yes. From personal experience - my hair re-gained some colour (sadly not all!) after a few months of being on replacement hormone.

Research - here's a PubMed abstract from 2008 : Thyroid hormones directly alter human hair follicle functions: anagen prolongation and stimulation of both hair matrix keratinocyte proliferation and hair pigmentation. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/187...

[sunsetalley]

Yes, unfortunately.

[Angel_of_the_North]

Not sure, but I went grey in my early 30s. But I thought that was my ex-husband

[Hidden in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Lol! 😂😂😂😂

[BootsOn]

I didn't colour my hair for an entire year and was surprised to discover I hadn't gone grey and only had a grey hair here and there. I'm 63.