I am trying to get my head around and make sense of the multitude of symptoms i am suffering with, apart from numerous other issues i am experiencing very significant shedding of head hair, eyebrows, chest hair, arm pit hair, pubic hair, some arm and leg hair and a noticeable lack of re growth for the aforementioned including my beard, however, my finger nails are growing very well at their usual rate, i just don't understand that at all ?
please excuse if i am being naive but i thought head and body hair and nails are as one and should all respond accordingly so if head and body hair sheds and regrowth slows you would expect nails to slow as well? Doesn't make any sense to me..
Has anyone had similar or could perhaps enlighten me as to why this possibly is. ?
Thank you.
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I would ask your GP to check if you have another autoimmune condition, i.e. alopecia. I have, several autoimmune conditions but I believe few doctors know that if we have one, that we can also develop others.
Thanks shaws, i will do. It's not ideal at the moment is it as i can only have a phone consultation with my GP and i feel as though i have so much to cover and would be so much better face to face rather than a snap shop chat on the phone, just feel a face to face is so much more effective but it is what it is i suppose. i'm definitely more apprehensive about having a discussion on phone than seeing GP face to face..
I don't think there is any product that can restore hair. Some experts can do injections into scalp and that may bring some hair but it might just drop out again a couple of months later (as happened to me). Husband couldn't bear to watch and said that would be the last time. I've lost hair every summer for the past ten years. I wish it dropped in the winter and begin to grow back for summer but that doesn't happen. It might do for some people.
Not sure if you know about my son who had hyperthyroidism. About a year or so ago his hair fell out. First it was a patch here and there and eventually he lost 99% of his hair. He was so low. Our GP prescribed creams which did not work, he lost faith in the GP and went to see another in a different practice they prescribed him a specialist cream. Within a short period of time his hair was restored to its former glory and maybe even thicker than before.
Today his hair is still thick and very healthy. When my hair started to fall recently i asked my GPS to prescribe but they wouldn't prescribe it.
The cream has done wonders for my son, i dont know if you have tried this cream or if you would be able to get hold of any but i will tell you what it is called anyway just in case. Dermovate.
Thanks for the information and it is worth a trial.
Mine has followed a cycle of lose hair and then baldness for a few months then hair began to grow again and I needed to get hair cut. Has done so for 10 years, especially losing it in the summer is the worst.
I had to buy a wig and if you go abroad (or even if the heatwave we've had in the UK) a wig can be too hot.
This year (I usually had to get one hair cut after hair grows back) I haven't needed to get one hair cut this year so it's slightly different to what happened before.
Ive only experienced extreme hair loss for a continued period since thyroid diagnosis twice. The first time was associated with gym balding were gym users can get balding after work outs which makes me think of you and your loss the connection being heat which I'm guessing is associated with over exertion which can result in lactic acid build up due to oxygen debt. Are your lungs in good shape? Maybe a root cause? Thats what i put mine down to i increased my vitamin c and it stopped thank good. Second time recently although i do not go gym anymore i did go for a strenuous bike ride but only the once so this one puzzled me a bit when even weeks after i was still losing a lot of hair. Same heat, sweating followed by burning and then hair loss is this how it is for you.
Im still getting loss but it has slowed down, i stopped my flaxseed, i stopped my HRT, i stopped using my RF facial device as all these were new to my usual lifestyle and one of them is the cause. I have re introduced my HRT but a different brand which does not have male pattern balding as a side effect so now just a wait to see if hair loss increases again as HRT is known to interfere with TBG so that was the obvious choice.
I hope the new method works out for you. My lungs seem to be fine. I do have energy and feel well otherwise.
I've been diagnosed as having Alopecia Areata - another autoimmune condition. I also have P.A. and vitiligo (have asked GP to refer me to a skin specialist to confirm vitiligo but, as usual, I doubt he will do so).
So i stopped taking flax because i was unsure if it was a culprit to my hair loss. I have taken flaxseed oil before with no problems but not whilst on HRT and not this version.
how much did you increase your Vit C by, what in particular were you eating, fruit ? drinking Juice?
I used to religiously take 2 Tablespoons of Linwoods Milled Organic Flaxseed, Sunflower and Pumpkin seed with my cereal at brekky, supposedly loads of nutrition however i read a couple of articles that Flaxseed oil can actually cause or worsen hair loss, i noted it was Flax Oil but even so i decided to stop, i've not noticed any difference in the hair fall but hesitant to start eating it again, shame as i think it probably is full of nutrition.
Hi, I was taking 250mg vitamin C and increased to 1000mg until shedding stopped also increase water intake.
I started to take flax for its phytoestrogens, tub was 1000mg capsules, upto two daily. I took two each day for a short while before hair loss. I had also been on HRT for approx seven months with no hair loss until seventh month. Later found out HRT increases TBG, maybe flax does too as its a photoestrogen.
So i stopped taking flax because i was unsure if it was a culprit to my hair loss. I have taken flaxseed oil before with no problems but not whilst on HRT and not this version.
Well, my nails certainly don't grow as normal. They are pathetic things and grow very slowly. But, we're all different, and react differently to lack of thyroid hormone.
When T3 is in short supply, the body choses which parts to prioritise, and which to allow to go to the wall, so to speak. It prioritises the heart, obviously, and the brain, to keep you alive. But, hair and nails really aren't essentials, so it's not much concerned with them. But, every body will chose differently. Your body chose to sacrifice the hair, but didn't think about the nails...
Have you had your testosterone levels checked? Sometimes loss of beard and body hair can mean low testosterone. This can happen to men of any age and I know someone in their 20's who now has to take testosterone because he had similar symptoms and was very depressed. Just to add I have just ordered my husband a test to check his levels because he is in his mid 60's and I think his might be low.
Here is a link to an American site which is quite informative.
Hi Lora, thanks for reply and the interesting link, i was wondering if it might possibly be low testosterone. i am going to have to speak with my GP and get some blood tests done, i have been putting it off because of being nervous that she will focus only on my TSH which is always around 0.01 - 0.03 and is constantly trying to get me to reduce Levo so i worry that she wont investigate thoroughly and just attempt to get me to reduce and using my symptoms as an extra reason for me to reduce. I will have to take the risk though as i cant continue the way i am.
Has your husband developed any hair / body hair loss issues if you don't mind me asking?
I have never had body hair loss issues before but i do remember certain times down the years whilst on Levo that i went through periods of head hair shedding but after a period it settled down again, but this is on a totally different level all together, to the extent that i fear i will be bald in the not too distant future, which is ludicrous given the volume of hair i have always been very lucky to have, i can tell the volume reduction by the week, its seems Extremely excessive even if my thyroid levels have become slightly unbalanced, i'm not even feeling particularly more tired or fatigued than usual either which i would have expected if my thyroid medication needed tweaking.. Then again it could very well be testosterone or something else, all very depressing and confusing.
He doesn't have much body hair because he is blonde well now greyish ... sorry if that is too much information lol. The reason I think he might have low testosterone is because he is becoming very depressed when he is usually a very up-beat person. I think he is turning into Victor Meldrew! because he is moaning all the time when he doesn't have anything to really complain about. His hair has thinned all over and he has developed man boobs and a bit of a tummy .... just reading this back makes me sound very critical which I am trying not to be. I have asked him to visit the GP for some blood tests but he has refused so I ordered a test from medichecks which hopefully he will do.
thanks for sharing that. I am incredibly irritable and on the verge of being really angry constantly, Very low in mood as well, but i'm sure a contributing factor to all of that is everything i have been through and struggling with symptom wise so i guess it's a bit like a vicious circle, i know thyroid issues can have dramatic affect on mood and emotions as well. It will be interesting to see what the Medi check test shows for your husband.
Interesting link, the hot flushes i have started experiencing are mentioned as being possibly due to low testosterone which can in turn be caused by pituitary issues or damage, i had a serious head impact playing 5 a side footy 2 years ago and then a very bad car accident, i was fine before those, i really do think its got something to do with one or both those incidents as i was absolutely fine before that.. it seems testosterone supplementation is not without possible risks.
Not sure if your husband has noticed this but when i'm sat watching TV at night i will be reasonably ok and then like clockwork around 9.30pm - 10pm all of a sudden i really struggle to keep my eyes open, i have to close them or drop off to sleep for 10-15 minutes or so and then i seem ok again, it's bizarre, never, ever had that issue before, it's not a natural tiredness at all.. it started about 6 months ago..
My husband is always tired because he has a very demanding job in a major city. He does want to retire in about a year but I think he will be bored to death. He had last week off and spent most of the time on his laptop emailing clients!! He even roped me into scanning stuff to send to his office which I wasn't really happy about. I don't know your age but as we get older you can become more tired. I don't need much sleep and usually sleep about 5 to 6 hours at the most but this heat is getting to me at the moment.
I'm 64, its really weird, i am absolutely fine with no tiredness at all prior to 9.30pm ish every night and then, wham, bam i just cant keep my eyes open, it comes right out of the blue, no gradual tiring, have to close eyes for 15 minutes or sleep and then i seem fine again, it's not a natural tiredness at all, thats why its so baffling, bizarre.
I think most people seem to be struggling with the heat and trying to sleep, its very uncomfortable indeed. No air or breeze at all..
My husband is a similar age to you and his hair has thinned all over. His father had a thick head of hair until he was in his eighties so I think there is something not quite right to cause this. He rarely sees a doctor and had no choice a couple of months ago when he fell off the fence and broke his elbow. He spent 3 days in hospital having a plate and pins put in but now has regained full use of his arm and is able to fish again unfortunately😉 I think you need further investigations to find out what is causing all your symptoms. Have you asked your GP to refer you?
I have always been really lucky and had a very good head of hair, no issues until i had the significant head impact 2 years ago followed by a serious car accident 4 months later, i was knocked unconscious momentarily with head impact and suffered with significant whiplash for 3 weeks and i also suffered whiplash for 2 weeks with the car accident, after a further 6 months i developed arm and leg tremors, leg weakness, palpitations, muscle twitching, alarming hair loss and these symptoms come and go and bizarrely if i supplement it triggers all the symptoms off immediately, i have seen 2 neurologists who dont think there is a functional issue.
My GP is on my case Big Time to reduce Levo but i had been on 150mcg a day for 15 years previously with no issues until those 2 incidents. I need to try and ensure that my GP is prepared to investigate properly rather than focusing directly on TSH level.
I think i may have damaged or unbalanced my Pituitary or possibly even thyroid with the impact and subsequent whiplash so that needs to be checked as well, one of the administrators on here has very kindly steered me in the right direction to check that out with a specialist but first i need to get my GP onside, fingers crossed. Nightmare.
Hopefully the Medi Checks you have ordered will identify what may be causing the hair issue with your hubby.
My head hair gradually thinned,and nothing really helps it to grow back.I have it highlighted which helps it look a bit thicker.I have no hair at all on my legs,arms or under my arms. Well saves me shaving them I suppose! My nails are good and long and I have to keep cutting them! Chris (female)
hi Chris, thanks for your reply. Are you on Levo only? did the hair loss start all over at the same time?
I find it a rather strange that everything i have ever seen or read regarding hair and nails is that they are intrinsically linked, you see hair and nail supplements/support etc, yet we can suffer loss all over without it affecting nails but as mentioned in earlier posts it seems it can affect us all in different ways.
I know a few people on here have tried Watermans Grow Me shampoo and seem to have had success, it has rave reviews on amazon but again i suppose thats down to how it works for a particular individual, i wanted to try and get to the bottom of the underlying issue(s) before going that route..
I had my thyroid removed over 20 years ago.My hair started getting thinner pretty much within weeks, and hasn't really recovered to how it was before. I am on Levo and T3,as the Levo alone didn't really make me better.I was just so tired, had a job to think straight and go to work.I saw an Endo who changed me to Levo 75mcg and T3 20mcg, which did help a bit, but it's been a long road.In those days they didn't worry about prescribing it, but now due to the cost you have to move heaven and earth to get it.I don't really know if the T3 made the hair situation better, maybe it did as along the way it did improve, but slowly.However, it has never got back to how it was before the op.I've also had the menopause, which didn't help! I had HRT,which maybe helped a bit, but I've had to come off it as I was on it for 8 years, then had a scare with a mammogram, and decided it was time to stop it. So maybe hormones may help you., if you have your testosterone checked and it is low.I think it's all linked, as it's all part of the endocrine system,which can become unbalanced.
I have tried certain shampoos that are supposed to help hair growth, but haven't found one that helps.I was using Plantur 39 for ages, but it didn't really help.
thanks for sharing that. There are so many lotions and potions out there that supposedly assist with hair but it would appear very few that actually work, a lot of people and companies have made fortunes on the back of people seeking the holy grail of hair regrowth.
I've done a little research on testosterone replacement and it seems as though it is not without risk and side effects, anyway, i need to identify if that is one of my issues first, amongst the many others.
Can I just add that the only thing that works for hair loss is regain. I was offered it about 12 years ago because I had lost over 50% of my hair. It is a life long commitment and once you start taking it you can't stop or your hair will drop out again. Luckily I discovered mine was caused by my thyroid levels being much too high and my hair did grow back.
yes i have read a lot about regain but wanted to leave that to the very, very last resort as it is a life long commitment and i didn't want to compromise my scalp and follicles by using it before i have explored trying to get to the bottom of whatever is going on and if i do and with a bit of luck i might be able to possibly regrow some of the lost hair.
Did you have hair loss elsewhere or just head when you went through it?
I lost my eyebrows and they are still a bit thin now. When you mentioned your nails were ok well mine actually lifted off their beds and some dropped off which was very painful. I think they call it plummers nail.
My eyelashes are thin all through but the part that is missing most is the inner quarter rather than the outer quarter which i think is more usual for thyroid issues.
Seems weird to me that my nails are growing as fast as they ever have given the hair loss issues elsewhere, doesnt seem logical. I have vertical ridges on all of them, mind you ive had those ever since i can remember.
Hi, I am suffering hair loss all over, including my eyelashes. I upped my levo by 25 mcg to see if that would help but had an unexpected blood test and was caught out!
One thing that did come from my full range of tests was that I am severely iron deficient, prompting several investigations. Whilst my GP is waiting for test results he has started me on ferrous fumerate which is giving me chronic diarrohea, but that is by the by.
Perhaps you could ask for a full blood screen.
It could be as simple as low iron levels, I hadn't realised the link between that and hair loss until I googled it.
Hi Kay, thanks for your reply. I hope it is the iron deficiency that is causing your hair loss, with a bit of luck supplementation should hopefully resolve it for you.
My ferritin is good apparently, measured by Medi Checks its 150 (range 30 - 400) to be honest it isn't even half way but i am reliably told by quite a few knowledgeable people that a result of 150 is fine.
My NHS Ferritin was 135 (range 22 - 322) a few months ago, again that looks low to me but NHS seem to think its fine
My general energy levels dont seem diminished either which again is a bit puzzling given everything thats going on with me.
I will ask for a full screen plus cortisol, testosterone etc as many things as possible.
How long have you been suffering hair loss? how long you been on Levo? What dose?
Don’t despair I went through this and had to wear a wig on our 60th anniversary cruise. It’s your thyroid. I have or had Hasimotos . Thank God after5 years of trial and error with the different thyroid meds I am finally normal! I had been taking 39 mg of armor thyroid. I Could never tolerate Synthroid or other synthetic brands even naturoid didn’t work. I tapered down from 30 mg to 15 mg Of armor thyroid, my hair grew back , and my tests came back “Everything normal“ just last week. I’m so excited I can’t tell you how happy I am. Hang in there and try armor if you can get it. You will have your hair back.
Hi, thanks for your reply. I'm really pleased for you that your so excited and your hair grew back after 5 years of experimentation so much of it is trial and error i guess, different things work for different people.
Hair has all gone into hiding here too. My hairdresser had a note on my file for years saying ‘thick hair’ as everything needed more time. Not so anymore, body hair pretty much non existent now too but those nails are growing fast and long!
I have one nail that does a sort of half moon split at the end which I think is when my thyroid levels drop - quite why only one nail I have no idea!
Hi there, thanks for reply. How long have you had a hair loss issue? Did it it just start out of the blue or was there anything that happened that may have triggered it? Are you on Levo only ? same dose prior to loss and all the way through?
I noticed my head hair first and then it slowly progressed to other areas, other areas not as bad as head though.
It came on gradually really and about the same time I was diagnosed and treated for thyroid. I’m never sure if the thyroid issues caused it or the medication as I’d probably had the thyroid problems creeping up for some years too.
I was on Levo to start with then Levo plus ndt and now ndt alone.
Nothing has brought the hair back sadly but I’m lucky in that I still have eyebrows and haven’t lost the outer third which I know is common with thyroid problems - a bit thinner but hanging in!
Taken loads of different supplements over the years with no effect on the hair loss, so no solution for you I’m afraid🙁
Did you ever try Biotin, it always seems to be mentioned in anything to do with stimulating hair growth and is usually a primary constituent in most hair growth supplements.
Better with ndt than without but still have energy issues, bad days, etc. Certainly nowhere near 100% or normal living - but not sure if the remainder is still a thyroid problem or other things.
Not tried biotin although having said that it might be in the B complex I take?
While I hate some of the hair loss I’ve concentrated more on trying to sort energy issues which limit my life more🙂
Yes Biotin is in B Complex but not at anything like the same level that seems to be required to make a difference. I know a couple of women who take 1000mcg a day pure biotin and they both have said it has helped with hair shedding and thickening their hair.
Biotin made not a jot of difference to my hair loss and I have tried a lot of different things including onion juice! Someone on a US site recommended it and believe me it was very smelly! I think when you are desperate to stop your hair from dropping out you will try anything. I paid £150 about 10 years ago to see a dermatologist who told me I had female pattern balding. I feel like going back and asking her for my money back because here I am still with all my hair. Mine was definitely caused by my thyroid levels being either too high or too low.
Yes, there is an imbalance with me as well which has been caused by the 2 incidents but its being able to get it balanced again and i dont think that will be easy, particularly if i have damaged pituitary. The strange thing is that it doesnt seem to have affected my energy levels too much, none of the overwhelming fatigue and tiredness i had prior to starting thyroxine. Sleep pattern is dreadful, drop off ok but then waking every morning at 5.30to 6am and can not get back to sleep even though.
Medically reviewed and written by Izabella Wentz, PharmD, FASCP on April 5, 2018
DR. IZABELLA WENTZ / APRIL 5, 2018
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For many of us women, hair loss can be a distressing symptom that we experience with Hashimoto’s. In many ways, our hair represents our femininity. When we experience hair loss, we feel that we are losing some of our sense of self. Every time we brush our hair or look in the mirror, we are met with a constant reminder that something is off in our bodies and we are not well.
Hair loss was one of the symptoms I experienced on my journey with Hashimoto’s, and one of the early clues I had that something was not right inside my body. I know first-hand how distressing it can be to wash your hair in the shower and watch huge clumps of hair clog the drain!
The good news is that there are many different strategies that have worked for me and many of the people I have worked with to overcome hair loss, by addressing the following questions:
What causes hair loss?
How can adjusting thyroid medications improve hair loss?
What supplements are helpful for hair growth?
Can hair growth be promoted by dietary changes?
Can topical treatments be beneficial to reduce hair loss?
In the case of Hashimoto’s, hair loss usually occurs when the body is shunting resources, such as nutrients, to be used elsewhere in the body.
But, just as there are many triggers, or root causes, for Hashimoto’s in the first place, there could be many different reasons why you are experiencing hair loss.
What Causes Hair Loss?
There are several types of hair loss, with a wide variety of causes, from inheritance, to stress, to autoimmune disease.
Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss. Usually, we see this as “male pattern baldness or even “female pattern baldness”, with thinning primarily at the front and top of the scalp. This type of hair loss affects an estimated 50 million men and 30 million women in the United States. Many patients with androgenetic alopecia have a family history of this condition. It can begin as early as during a person’s teen years, though risk does increase with age. In women, most hair loss of this form begins after menopause.
Alopecia areata is acute, patchy hair loss that is thought to occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles. It occurs in about 2.1 percent of the population and affects both men and women alike. Its cause is likely autoimmune, and it can have a single episode or remission and recurrence.
Telogen effluvium is the most common type of hair loss we see with Hashimoto’s. Its primary causes include high fevers, childbirth, severe infections, chronic illness, severe mental stress, surgery, an over or under active thyroid gland, protein deficiency, nutritional deficiencies, and some medications. It’s characterized by large clumps of hair falling out, usually while showering or brushing. It usually causes hair loss in a diffuse pattern, over the entire scalp.
Is Your Hair Thinning?
Have you experienced hair loss on your journey with Hashimoto’s? If so, there are so many things we can address to stop the hair loss and restore a sense of confidence and femininity. Sometimes, just one of these solutions will be effective in restoring hair growth; for others, it may be a multi-faceted approach. But be assured that there are options and hope for you. You can get your hair back!
Adaptive physiology is a concept that suggests that our bodies develop autoimmune conditions as a protective measure to conserve energy when resources are low. One example would be the body not getting the nutrition it needs, either from a compromised digestive tract or restricted calorie or nutrient intake, causing the thyroid gland to sense danger and down regulate the body’s metabolism to conserve resources.
You can read more about my safety theory in this article, but I think it’s a reasonable conclusion that addressing the nutrient deficiencies in the body and restoring a sense of “safety” that the body has all the resources it needs can have a huge effect on preventing hair loss.
1. Adjust Your Thyroid Medication
A primary root cause of hair loss is a deficiency in thyroid hormone. This could be because you’re not getting a high enough dose of thyroid medications, or because you’re not getting the right kind of thyroid medication.
When your TSH is on the outskirts of the normal range, you can continue to lose hair, and your hair may lack luster and shine. If your hair tangles easily, this is a sign that you may not be getting enough thyroid hormone.
In 2015, I conducted a survey of 2232 people with Hashimoto’s that resulted in as many as 36 percent of patients reporting that optimizing their TSH helped with improving their hair. Optimizing the type of thyroid medications they were taking also helped many people restore hair growth. As many as 38 percent of people surveyed reported that Nature-Thyroid helped to improve their hair; however, it is important that you find the thyroid medication that is right for you.
If you’re on thyroid medications and experiencing hair loss, the general rule of thumb is to check that you are on a T3 containing medication like WP Thyroid, Nature-Throid or Armour Thyroid* and that your TSH is between 0.5 and 2 μIU/mL. While most thyroid medications contain the T4 hormone, it’s the abundance and availability of T3 hormones that help your hair grow and keep it from falling out. On paper, T4 medications convert to T3, but this doesn’t always happen effectively in the body. Many people have reported finally getting their hair back after T3 levels were optimized.
*Note: While Armour Thyroid does not have any gluten-containing ingredients, it is not tested for gluten content, and cannot be certified as gluten-free. Armour does contain sodium starch glycolate, which can be derived from wheat or corn.
To learn more about how to optimize your thyroid medications, download my free eBook on Optimizing Thyroid Medications.
2. Consider Nutrient Depletions
A nutritional deficiency is often at the root of thyroid related hair loss. One of the most common culprits is a lack of iron, but a few other supplements may also prove effective in restoring hair growth.
Iron
Iron deficiency is the primary cause of hair loss in premenopausal women and is often the reason women with Hashimoto’s continue to lose hair despite taking thyroid medications. A study conducted in Iran of adolescent girls studied the effect of low iron on young women by collecting urine and serum samples of iron deficient girls. The results concluded that there was a significant correlation between the T4, TSH and ferritin levels studied in the subjects and an indication that iron deficiency may affect thyroid hormone status in adolescent girls.
In our survey of people with Hashimoto’s, 21 percent saw improvement in their hair condition by increasing their intake of iron or ferritin, so it’s definitely worth investigating.
Your doctor may test for anemia (low iron levels) by running a panel for red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and iron levels, and all of them may come up normal. However, you may still be low in iron. If not enough iron is available, the body may pull the iron from less important physiological processes, such as hair growth, to keep enough iron circulating in the blood.
Ferritin, the name given to the body’s iron reserve protein, is required for the transport of T3 to cell nuclei and the utilization of the T3 hormone. A decrease in ferritin can present as increased hair loss during shampooing and brushing, as well as overall thinning of hair without a specific pattern or bald spots.
Ferritin levels can also be measured and will be a better predictor of how much iron you have stored in your body and that are available for use. Ferritin should be checked in all women with Hashimoto’s and for anyone experiencing hair loss.
Normal ferritin levels for women are between 20 and 200 ng/mL. According to some experts, ferritin levels of at least 40 ng/ml are required to stop hair loss, while levels of at least 70 ng/ml are needed for hair regrowth. The optimal ferritin level for thyroid function is between 90-110 ng/ml.
You can check your ferritin levels easily with Ulta Lab Tests.
What causes iron depletion?
In addition to poor intake of dietary iron rich foods and a lack of hydrochloric acid which helps us absorb iron from foods, pregnancy (due to an increased need for iron) and heavy menstruation increase the risk of iron/ferritin deficiency. During each menstruation, a woman will lose 1-6 mg of iron while a pregnancy may cause a loss of 600–1000 mg of iron! Any bleeding, such as that present in nosebleeds, bleeding from the gut, as well as gut infections could also cause iron loss. Furthermore, malabsorption of iron can occur due to certain medications, dietary factors, SIBO, Celiac disease and food sensitivities.
A gluten free diet or elimination diet can help with addressing your iron levels and resolving many symptoms.
As iron needs an acid present to be absorbed, antacids and calcium supplements that are taken around mealtimes may reduce the absorption of iron from foods and supplements. Anyone with hair loss and taking PPI’s or acid-suppressing medications should immediately get their ferritin levels checked.
Dietary factors can also impact iron levels. Tannins in tea and coffee can inhibit iron absorption and should be spaced out by an hour from iron-containing meals. Phytic acid found in nuts, legumes, and grains, is known to be a food inhibitor and can prevent micronutrients, such as iron, from being absorbed by the human body. Even egg whites may also affect iron absorption.
Sometimes the simple act of eliminating these problematic foods can help restore iron levels, and thereby hair growth!
So, how can I increase iron levels?
If you are mildly iron deficient, or not consuming enough iron rich foods, food as medicine may be a key to increasing your iron levels.
Iron is present in both heme and non-heme versions in different foods. The heme version is the better-absorbed version and is found primarily in animal products.
The highest levels of iron are found in organ meats. I know what you may be thinking: Mmmm, liver! Beef, turkey, and chicken are the next best choices. In contrast, non-heme iron is found in nuts, beans, and spinach and is not usually absorbed as well.
To restore your iron and ferritin levels with food you can:
Eat cooked liver twice per week
Eat beef a few times per week
What if food isn’t enough?
If you continue to struggle with low ferritin levels, despite eating adequate red meat and liver, or if you just can’t look at liver without wanting to cry, supplements may help.
Here are some options for getting your iron levels up:
1. Digestive Enzymes and High-Dose Probiotics
We are what we absorb… absorption is dependent on digestion. Iron is best absorbed in an acidic environment, and if you’re not making enough stomach acid, you can boost your iron absorption by doing one of the following along with eating an iron-rich food: taking a vitamin C tablet, eating a vitamin C rich food such as cooked broccoli, or creating an acidic stomach environment by taking a Betaine with Pepsin supplement with meals. Here’s a comprehensive article on Betaine with Pepsin and low stomach acid, which commonly co-occurs with thyroid disease.
We often absorb nutrients from our food because of the type of bacteria we have within our digestive tract. Probiotics can increase our absorption of iron from foods. Lactobacillus Plantarum can help to increase iron absorption by 50 percent! Probiotic 50B contains L. Plantarum. For more information on probiotics, you can read this article on the best probiotics for Hashimoto’s.
2. “Liver Pills”
Taking encapsulated liver can be a fantastic option for boosting ferritin levels in people who are not liver lovers. 🙂 Paleovalley makes an encapsulated liver supplement that can help. Please note, liver is also high in other nutrients such as copper, so people with copper toxicity should avoid liver supplements.
3. Iron Supplements
Most iron supplements are in the non-heme form and may not be absorbed as well. Additionally, many people find that they get terrible stomach aches from the supplements, and they find them extremely constipating! Here are a few more gentle and effective ferritin boosting options to consider:
OptiFerin C contains ferritin and has helped numerous of my clients boost their ferritin levels. Ester-C, a natural, water soluble version of Vitamin C, is added to increase intestinal absorption.
Thorne Iron Bisglycinate is an iron supplement that is more gentle on the stomach and less likely to cause constipation.
If choosing to take iron supplements, do so with much caution as they are one of the leading causes of overdose for children and adults. An iron overdose can be deadly, so make sure you keep the iron out of reach of children and speak to your physician or pharmacist about a dose appropriate for you. Please note, I don’t recommend supplementing with iron unless you test positive for iron deficiency.
4. IV Iron
Another option, especially for those who have tried EVERYTHING, is to work with a functional medicine practitioner to obtain intravenous iron. Intravenous iron can restore your ferritin levels with a few IV’s that can be done in two weeks time, won’t give you constipation, and won’t require you to take a daily pill.
This is a great option for people who are not absorbing iron orally. While any doctors can prescribe or order iron IV’s, most clinics are not set up to offer it. The iron is usually infused over time in saline. Look for integrative, functional and naturopathic clinics that offer this service, or a medical specialist that is known as a hematologist.
Additional Nutrient Deficiencies
If you don’t have an iron deficiency or if you’re already addressing it, there are additional nutrient deficiencies that can lead to hair loss that you may consider testing for. While I always recommend testing for iron deficiency, most people can take the remaining supplements safely.
Biotin
Hashimoto’s always co-occurs with inflammation in the body. The inflammation puts the adrenals on overdrive, depleting our biotin stores. Biotin is an important vitamin for many bodily functions, and deficiencies have been found to cause hair loss.
Supplementing with Biotin at a dose of 5000 mcg-10,000 mcg (5-10mg per day) per day can help with hair loss. Biotin can also help with adrenal fatigue and Candida.
Please note, new reports are surfacing that 5-10 mg of Biotin per day can interfere with some thyroid labs, making it appear as though the person has Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism, when they do not. Case reports of people taking Biotin and having a low TSH test, high T4, high T3 and elevated TSH-receptor antibodies (in the absence of hyperthyroid or Graves’ symptoms) have been reported. The lab values do normalize after 7 days of being off Biotin. While Biotin doesn’t actually cause hyperthyroidism, it interacts with the lab reporting in a way that can cause a false appearance of hyperthyroidism. If you’re going in for a thyroid lab draw, please be sure to skip the Biotin for 1-7 days before your lab test to ensure that the supplement doesn’t interfere with the results.
Zinc
Zinc is an essential element to our well-being. It acts as a catalyst in about 100 different enzyme reactions required by our body, and is involved in DNA synthesis, immune function, protein synthesis, and cell division. It is required for proper sense of taste and smell, detoxification, wound healing, and thyroid function. And it’s critical for hair growth!
An analysis by the World Health Organization concluded that an estimated 17.4 percent of the world’s population may be zinc deficient, and most people with hypothyroidism are in fact zinc deficient. Thyroid hormones are essential for zinc to be absorbed, and a deficiency of thyroid hormones can result in zinc deficiency.
Zinc deficiency prevents the conversion of T4 into the active T3 version. This results in a slowed metabolism of proteins. Zinc is also needed to form TSH, and may become depleted in those with hypothyroidism who are constantly producing more TSH.
Where does zinc come from?
Zinc is not stored in the body, so a daily intake of zinc is required to maintain sufficient levels. Unfortunately, there are many problems with relying on food sources to give us the proper intake of zinc.
Oysters have the highest concentration of zinc, but they are not practical for most of us to eat every day. Beef, liver, pork, lobster, and chicken are the next best sources of zinc, as it is easiest to extract zinc from meat compared with non-meat sources. This means that vegetarians are also at an increased risk of developing a zinc deficiency.
Absorption of zinc may be impaired by damage from intestinal disease such as celiac disease and other malabsorption syndromes – common conditions for those with thyroid disorders. Additionally, phytates found in grains, legumes, nuts and seeds can bind zinc and prevent its absorption when eaten alongside zinc containing foods.
What about zinc supplements?
Zinc supplementation is often the best way to address a deficiency. In my survey of people with Hashimoto’s, 18 percent did report that adding a zinc supplement to their diet improved their hair growth. The recommended dose is no more than 30 mg per day. A word of caution: zinc doses over 40 mg may cause a depletion of copper, necessitating the use of a copper supplement.
Gelatin/Collagen
Hair grows out of follicles, which are essentially tiny sheaths formed out of collagen. The papilla, also made of collagen, is what links the follicle to the rest of the body.
Collagen is a protein that consists primarily of the amino acids glycine and proline. Gelatin is formed when collagen has been boiled-down, dried and pulverized into a powder.
People used to naturally eat a lot more collagen by consuming the bones and other parts of animals that are rich in collagen. These days, we mostly just eat muscle meat, which is high in amino acids, but low in collagen. This is not only bad news for our hair, but for our health in general.
By increasing the amount of collagen in your diet, you can support your hair follicles and papilla – the longer the and stronger they are, the healthier your hair will be!
There are many collagen and gelatin supplements on the market today. You can try the Pure Prescriptions Perfect Collagen or Bulletproof Collagen. Or, you can make your own cheap and easy bone broth that is also delicious! You can find a video with simple instructions for making your own bone broth HERE.
Biosil
Biosil is a supplement designed to improve hair, skin, nail and joint strength. Its primary ingredients are choline and silicon. Choline likely improves the appearance of hair by improving fat absorption into the body. A higher silicon content in the hair results in a lower rate of hair loss and increased brightness. Studies have suggested that silicon has an effect on the tensile strength of hair, making it more resistant to breakage.
3. Use Food to Boost Hair Growth
Blood Sugar
Blood sugar swings brought on by eating too many carbohydrates and not enough quality proteins and fats can wreak havoc on your health and hair! Blood sugar swings encourage the conversion of T4 to reverse T3. Reverse T3 is an inactive hormone that blocks the body’s utilization of T3, resulting in increased hair shedding.
For some, a Paleo style diet that emphasizes high quality proteins and fats and limits grains, processed sugar and starchy carbohydrates can keep blood sugars lowered and stable. My Hashimoto’s survey resulted in 27 percent reporting an increase in hair growth when following a Paleo diet, with 32.6 percent noticing improvement with a strict autoimmune Paleo diet! But any diet that reduces sugar and keeps carbohydrates at a moderate level can help bring blood sugar back into balance and reduce the likelihood of hair loss.
Healthy Fats
I first noticed the role of fats in hair when I was studying the effects of low fat and high fat diets on lab rats (this volunteer research assistant position sounded much better on paper). I’ll spare you the lab rat research stories for another time, but you should know that the rats fed a high fat diet had beautiful long and shiny rat hair. The low fat diet ones, not so much. This is because fatty acid deficiencies result in dry, dull, lifeless hair.
Another six-month long study conducted on 120 healthy women evaluated the changes in hair density after being given Omega-3 and -6 supplements. At the end of the treatment, superior hair growth improvement was demonstrated in the supplemented group, with 89.9 percent reporting a reduction in hair loss, 86.1 percent an improvement in hair diameter, and 87.3 percent an improvement in hair density.
Eating Omega-3 containing fish or taking a supplement can also help bring back the shine to your hair. As many as 26 percent of the people with Hashimoto’s that I surveyed concluded that adding an Omega-3 fatty acid supplement brought noticeable improvement to their hair!
Green Vegetables
There is some indication that increasing the amount of green vegetables in your diet could lead to improvements in hair growth. My survey indicated that 19 percent of participants reported increased hair growth by adding green smoothies into their diets, while further improvements were seen by adding in green juices and increasing vegetable intake. While I don’t recommend a vegan or vegetarian diet to people with Hashimoto’s disease, upping the number of vegetables, particularly greens, in your diet can certainly improve hair growth and lustre.
4. Explore Topical Treatments
If you’ve addressed your thyroid medication, adjusted your supplement intake and looked for any deficiencies in your diet but you’re still experiencing hair loss, there are several topical treatment options that you may find effective. Although I believe that healthy hair comes from within, external factors, such as the shampoo that you are using, might be exacerbating your hair loss.
Hair Products
Shampoos that contain toxic chemicals and gluten can be detrimental to your scalp, resulting in inflamed hair follicles. There are also a host of endocrine disrupting chemicals in most commercial hair care products that can wreak havoc on your thyroid. Opt instead for for an organic shampoo and conditioner that are free of toxic chemicals. I use the Acure Organics line, which I’ve found to be both safe and effective in giving me beautiful and shiny hair.
For people with tangled hair (often a first symptom of an underactive thyroid), I recommend Acure Leave In Conditioner and the Tangle Teezer brush. These two together did wonders for me when my hair was tangled, and I still like to keep my brush with me at all times, especially when I travel.
I’m also loving the new line of safe hair care products from Katie Wells (Wellness Mama), called Wellnesse.
Because fatty acids are so important for healthy hair growth, another topical treatment option is to massage olive oil into the scalp itself. The rich fat will nourish the hair right at the roots and can help to stimulate hair growth in dormant hair follicles.
Scalp Mites
Demodex hair mites – sounds gross right? But there are tiny mites that live in the hair follicles of 96 to 98 percent of people that may be responsible for your hair loss, and could cause your hair to be more greasy. You can wash your hair with a sulfur and tea tree oil containing shampoo like Ovante’s Demodex to kill the mites – just remember to let the shampoo sit on your scalp for 3-5 minutes to effectively kill the mites.
Growth Lasers
Recently, the use of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has shown promise as a treatment for hair loss and to stimulate hair regrowth. Laser combs and laser helmets, such as the Theradome, emit a low level of laser light that can stimulate hair growth. They can be purchased without a prescription and used in the comfort of your own home.
PRP
The latest in hair growth research is focused on stem cell therapies and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. Some dermatologists and anti-aging doctors are using PRP to inject a concentration of the patient’s own blood platelets into the scalp to help retain and regrow hair.
In a recent study, eleven patients suffering from androgenic alopecia hair loss who hadn’t responded to drug treatments were injected in the scalp with PRP four times over a period of 3 months. Results showed a significant reduction in hair loss, and their hair count increased from 71 hair follicular units to 93 hair follicular units.
A Final Word About Hair Loss…
Stress can make you shed hair like crazy. I’m speaking from personal experience, as well as the experiences of hundreds of my clients. What can you do to reduce the stress in your own life that might be contributing to hair loss? Taking time to care for yourself with yoga, meditation, journaling, or light exercise are all great options to help reduce your stress load. Here are some of my favorite strategies, that you can save or print for easy reference:
stress reduction strategies
You might also consider supporting your stress hormones with adaptogenic herbs, such as those in Rootcology Adrenal Support.
I want you to know that there is help for your hair loss! I know how crushing it can be to deal with a symptom as difficult to disguise as hair loss, but there are so many avenues for you to explore that can lead to a huge shift in your current hair growth. As I began to get to the root cause of my own thyroid condition and make changes that restored health and balance to my body, the hair loss I was experiencing stopped. Start with the solutions that resonate the most with you and are easiest to implement, and note that it may take several weeks to see noticeable changes with any supplement, medication, dietary, or topical changes that you make.
I wish you all the best on your journey toward recovering a healthy head of hair!
P.S. Be sure to sign up to receive my Thyroid Symptom Hacker for more tips on overcoming hair loss!
References
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Phillips T, Slomiany W, Allison R. Hair loss: Common causes and treatment. DO Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(6):371378.
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Bodó E, Kromminga A, Bíró T. Borbíró I, Gáspár E, Zmijewski MA, Paus R. Human female hair follicles are a direct, nonclassical target for thyroid-stimulating hormone. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2009;129(5), 1126-1139.
Eftekhari MH, Keshavarz SA, Jalali M, Elguero E, Eshraghian MR, Simondon KB. The relationship between iron status and thyroid hormone concentration in iron-deficient adolescent Iranian girls. Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition, 2006; 15(1), 50.
Hair loss? It may be iron deficiency. WebMD. webmd.com/skin-problems-and.... Published May 17, 2018. Accessed January 30, 2018.
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Note: Originally published in February 2015, this article has been revised and updated for accuracy and thoroughness.
I always wondered why most standard tests seem to be for Ferritin but little or no mention of Iron as well, what is the actual difference ?
I do try to eat as healthily as possible with lots of fruit and protein, probably don't eat as many vegetables as i should. Ive thought of ditching dairy and Gluten for a while but not got round to it yet, ive eaten those all my life and didnt have any hair issues before with them, mind you, we all change over time i suppose.
I supplement with B Complex, Magnesium, Omega 3, and zinc, and Vit D only low doses though as high strength triggers tremors and palpitations for some reason. am actually looking to test the other areas you mentioned..
Actually, correction, i meant i dont eat enough, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage but i eat loads of tomatoes, carrots, cucumber, radish, beetroot, spinach and kale, eat plenty of red onion as well which is supposedly quite nutritious
Ferritin measures iron stores. Good for tracking *after* you have had a full iron panel. Do a search here (on this forum) for “iron” - there have been lots of posts. Full panel includes iron, ferritin, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and Transferrin and is interpreted along with your hemoglobin, hematocrit and red blood cell indices (from a CBC).
When my ferritin was too low I ate pate twice a week and took spatone to bring the levels up. Just to add low vitamin D can cause hair loss as well. This might be contributing to your hair loss but I think it might be something to do with you pituitary gland so you really need your GP to give you a referral letter. I used to work for the NHS so if I was you I would find a Consultant who is an expert on this and then ask your GP for a referral letter. If you contact the Consultant's office or secretary about seeing him and he says yes he will see you, your GP cannot refuse to give you a referral. However if your GP decides not to give you the letter I would change GPs or even surgeries. GP are not experts on thyroid disease but some like to think they are. My own GP has actually admitted to me he knows nothing about thyroid disease so at least he is being honest.
Its something to do with the two very significant incidents i had, head impact and car accident, its too coincidental. Vit D is on the low side but it wouldn't be causing all the issues i have or hair loss to the extent i am experiencing.
I need to speak with GP, get full bloods done including testosterone, hopefully cortisol etc and if that doesnt identify something arrange to see a specialist. I think it's more likely pituitary, i was knocked out momentarily in the head impact, thats more than enough to have damaged pituitary, plus the whiplash and then the further whiplash with car accident.
Barry Peatfield mentioned in his book the impact and affect whiplash can have on thyroid.
My hypothyroidism actually got diagnosed because of my hair loss.
That was 22 years ago and now I am almost bald at the front. My nails are envied by all my friends though, lol.
No under arm hair, no eyebrows, sparse leg hair and thinner pubes.
Whether I have been on levo or NDT nothing has slowed my hair loss and I used to have waist length naturally blond hair, so to lose my crowning glory, hit me hard. I used to hide behind it in stressful situations.
Now I'm 64 and "invisible" like the way old people become, but I am still very embarrassed by being nearly bald.
Iron and other vits are all fine. Bought some Regaine but didn't like the sound of it causing more hair loss before any improvement and some of the reviews of Watermans said it didn't work. I realise nothing works for everybody.
Next stop for me, a wig.
Hope you get to the bottom of your hair loss. My OH wears a bandana to cover his bald head and he looks great, so maybe think of that?
Have you thought about getting some replacement hair? I did this last time I lost a lot of hair and I had hair extensions which were quite expensive because I went to Lucinda Ellery. There are hairdressers that do them a lot cheaper as well as hair weaves. When I used to have my hair extensions there were women who were practically bald having replacement hair and the end result was fabulous and you could not tell it wasn't their real hair. Some of the women were very young and I was just relieved mine happened later in life because I don't know how I would have coped then. I am 60 now and my hair has been growing back for over a year now and it looks ok but not as thick as it once was. No doubt I will suffer with hair loss in the future and I would not hesitate to have extensions or some kind of replacement hair again.
Funnily enough, I did have a consultation at Lucinda Ellery's Solihull branch, in January. It did leave me with confidence that I could be helped but I was utterly depressed by the maintenance. Having to go to the salon every 8 weeks or so. If there was a salon closer to my home, I would definitely be tempted but I would have to stay overnight each time and factor in the expense of that, as well as the cost of the salon.
The lady I saw told me that they even have clients who fly in from Dubai so how they would have coped with no maintenance due to Covid travel restrictions doesn't bear thinking about. Imagine all that regrowth? Not a good look.
I have googled extensively 😊but cannot find a hairdresser closer that does anything similar to what Lucinda Ellery offers. I'm in Norfolk and the closest I have found is in Ware, Hertfordshire. I hate travelling. Bit Aspergic on some things, 😒.
Great that your hair is growing back. Long may it last. ...x
Hi There, thanks for reply. Strange how i can be fine with no issues at all right up until the 2 significant incidents i suffered and then it's been all downhill, has to be those two occurrences that have triggered it all off, it isnt just the hair loss which is bad enough but it's the other symptoms as well which have developed, alot of which dont seem to be common with Hypo, arm and leg tremors, leg weakness etc, i dont know, i'm thoroughly down and really depressed with it all. A bandana is not for me, i just dont fancy it, some people do look good though in them.
Yes i spotted the negative reviews about Watermans as well, mind you the positives were seriously more.
I just found some blood results of my husbands from January of this year and his TSH is 0.97 ... how lucky is he not having any thyroid problems! Unfortunately they didn't test his testosterone.
I got my nails solidified after taking up collagen peptides powder once a day. But the hair loss continues. I was on spironolactone for a couple of weeks, but it made me very constipated. The hair loss makes me unhappy, but at least it isn't painful.
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