I started losing hair in my late 20s which most family and friends thought was strange considering there isn't any baldness at all on both sides of family. It was also in my late 20s when my constipation, brain fog, symptoms were really getting to me. I've never thought too much about it till I heard a woman in chemist saying her hair loss was due to her thyroid. I have been on levothyroxine for a year now and have noticed my hair is thicker than it was. Has anyone noticed this and does anyone know if there is any other treatment for thyroid hair loss?
Hair loss treatment: I started losing hair in my... - Thyroid UK
Hair loss treatment
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BlueKeith
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SeasideSusieRemembering
Certain vitamin deficiencies can lead to hair loss, ferritin in particular:
Hi
There are two scientifically proven hair restorers, Minoxidil, a topical lotion or foam you apply to the scalp, or a pill Finasteride. Which works by blocking the male hormone, testosterone, from attacking the hair follicles and causing hair loss.
If your hair loss is due to thyroid then getting optimally medicated and getting your vitamin and minerals via good quality supplements and diet should help. If its down to other things like, ageing, genetics etc then you might need to consider using one of the treatments outlined. You can't get them on the NHS. You will have to buy them. And both require continuous use.
Minoxidil is readily available online or in pharmacies. Finasteride, I'm afraid I don't know, but again you can probably order it online. However it does come with some significant side effects of an ahem intimate nature.
nature ahem.
Yeah just looked up the side effects and think id rather go bald ha ha. Thanks for reply.
Im sure you referred in all innocence but finasteride (in particular) should be avoided like the plague. Side effects (which I note you also referred) can be life-changing/ending!
Hi
I guess it's a balance, not everyone will get side effects, some will only be minor and others might decide they are a price worth paying to get their hair back. Every drug has side effects and people need to make an informed choice. Its how much hair loss bothers people.
Thats true except those that should protect innocent patients (who expect them to) dont - probably for financial reasons. With finasteride as a key example, that has been prooven to be the case over many years. Unfortunately most court cases have still not been settled although it would be of little comfort to the many that committed suicide as a result of using the drug!
No. I'm not bothered really ha but was just interested as I am the only person in the family with bald ish head. Was just curious more than anything thinking it could have been the hypothyroidism and with scalp getting hair back on it since taking levothyroxine. Thanks
SlowDragonAdministrator
Looking at previous post
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Are you still only on 75mcg levothyroxine
Are you always getting same brand levothyroxine at each prescription
Did you get your actual thyroid results from GP
Strongly recommend getting full thyroid and vitamin levels tested privately via Medichecks or Blue Horizon as detailed in previous post above
Come back with new post once you get results
ALWAYS test thyroid as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Yeah still on 75mcg of levothyroxine. My doctor said 100mcg would be over medicating and would do me more harm. Had vitamin checked and all was good. Most symptoms have gone but have odd day were my wife and daughter think I've got dementia.
Hi Stubbo46
Have a look on current NHS guidelines on treatment for hypothyroidism. Are you still getting any of YOUR symptoms - I kept a record of MINE (not just ones listed on NHS Site) when I was building up to full replacement dose. I was ‘in range’ at every request I put in for a dose increase because I was still symptomatic. I’m a big bird -5’8” and 15st (yeah need to work on that! 😂). I’m on 150 µg of levothyroxine and I have a friend who is 4’ 11” and she is about 6 1/2 st and she is firing on all cylinders on 75 µg.
We are all different just make sure you know what your different is and don’t be dictated by the lab results entirely, they are a guide only.
Also as far as vitamins go - it is important where your results sit in the range - scraping into the bottom is not adequate - lots of posts and info on here - SlowDragon and SeasideSuzie post regularly on this - a search will pull up relevant posts. Read my profile re ranges and that dreaded misused phrase ‘normal’ 🤣
The forum equipped me with the resources to learn and guided with advice. I read regularly on here to improve my depth of understanding and to enable myself to fight my corner when confronted with ignorance.
Don’t let Dr tell you how you feel based on lab results. Your symptoms and how You feel should be front and centre of all treatment.
😊👍
75mcg is only one step up from starter dose and possibly too low….especially for a bloke
What were your most recent thyroid results and ranges
Always test thyroid as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
What were actual results for vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Within range is not the same as optimal
How much do you weigh in kilo
guidelines on dose levothyroxine by weight
Even if we frequently don’t start on full replacement dose, most people need to increase levothyroxine dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps (retesting 6-8 weeks after each increase) until eventually on, or near full replacement dose
NICE guidelines on full replacement dose
nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145/...
1.3.6
Consider starting levothyroxine at a dosage of 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (rounded to the nearest 25 micrograms) for adults under 65 with primary hypothyroidism and no history of cardiovascular disease.
Also here
cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hypo...
gp-update.co.uk/Latest-Upda...
Traditionally we have tended to start patients on a low dose of levothyroxine and titrate it up over a period of months. RCT evidence suggests that for the majority of patients this is not necessary and may waste resources.
For patients aged >60y or with ischaemic heart disease, start levothyroxine at 25–50μg daily and titrate up every 3 to 6 weeks as tolerated.
For ALL other patients start at full replacement dose. For most this will equate to 1.6 μg/kg/day (approximately 100μg for a 60kg woman and 125μg for a 75kg man).
If you are starting treatment for subclinical hypothyroidism, this article advises starting at a dose close to the full treatment dose on the basis that it is difficult to assess symptom response unless a therapeutic dose has been trialled.
BMJ also clear on dose required
Have you had cholesterol levels tested or testosterone
High cholesterol linked to being under medicated thyroid wise
Low testosterone linked to being hypothyroid
At my gp surgery you have to call them at 8 to book an appointment on the day. You can't book for another day. If you do manage to get an appointment it's a all day triage appointment so you have to be available all day. One day when I finally got an appointment I told the doctor that I still had some symptoms so they did vitamin test and thyroid test. They got back to me and said vitamin and thyroid levels were optimal. I made another appointment and asked for results as I still had symptoms. The gp said it was most most probably the diabetes causing some symptoms as hba1c level was 49 but if I really need them then will get them for me and to ring in a week. I phoned receptionist and they said that all is well and I don't need to worry.
A) testing in afternoon is useless
B) you are legally entitled to copies of your blood test results and ranges
Strongly recommend getting FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done via Medichecks or Blue Horizon
TSH, Ft4 And FT3 plus both thyroid antibodies, vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
High HBA1c can be due to being hypothyroid
And/or high carb diet
Approx how much do you weigh in kilo
I'm 85 kg 5 foot 7 . I eat low carb generally well balanced diet . I personally think another 25mcg on levothyroxine would do it . I said this to the doctor but he advised strongly against it. The only symptom left is the brain fog. Even someone said at work said I can be more switched on than most people one day then can be totally vacant not taking in anything that people say to me.
85 x 1.6 = 136mcg as the probable daily dose required
We frequently have to increase slowly upwards in 25mcg steps
Median TSH graph
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
TSH daily variation - TSH highest in early morning
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
so very important when you test TSH ....
researchgate.net/publicatio...
“According to the current TSH reference interval, hypothyroidism was not diagnosed in about 50% of the cases in the afternoon.”
“Further analysis demonstrated inadequate compensation of hypothyroidism, which was defined in 45.5% of the morning samples and in 9% of the afternoon samples”
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/252...
TSH levels showed a statistically significant decline postprandially in comparison to fasting values. This may have clinical implications in the diagnosis and management of hypothyroidism, especially SCH.
IBS suggests you have autoimmune thyroid disease
Have you had coeliac blood test done yet
Low vitamin levels are extremely common with autoimmune thyroid disease
Strongly recommend getting hold of most recent results as first step
Then get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done privately
You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.
The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results
UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.
Link re access
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet
Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.
Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet
Far too often only TSH is tested and that’s completely inadequate
NHS England Liothyronine guidelines July 2019 clearly state on page 13 that TSH should be between 0.4-1.5 when OPTIMALLY treated with just Levothyroxine
Note that it says test should be in morning BEFORE taking levothyroxine
Also to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin
sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploa...
Come back with new post once you get results from Receptionist/online
Members can advise on next steps and what needs testing
Thanks for help and advice. Will try and get an appointment and go over it all properly and organanize another test and make sure I get results. If not satisfied will go private.
ALWAYS get full thyroid and vitamin testing done BEFORE considering booking any consultation
Frequently it’s just that been left woefully under medicated and/or low vitamin levels
Many GP’s just don’t seem to read guidelines on getting dose levothyroxine to approx guidelines of 1.6mcg per kilo
One other thing I forgot to mention is I mentioned about hashimotos disease to my GP and if they had tested me for that . She told me i could have some kind of autoimmune disorder but it wouldn't make any difference to my treatment so would be a waste of time. They make you feel like some kind of obsessive hypochondriac and should just get on with it.
That’s because they
A) only treat subsequent hypothyroidism caused by autoimmune thyroid disease
B) often don’t understand hypothyroidism or interconnection between gut and autoimmune thyroid disease
If your hypothyroidism is autoimmune you should have coeliac blood test at time of diagnosis …..but rarely happens
Similarly vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 need testing at least annually
Thousands upon thousands of U.K. members test privately to make progress
Hi
They really do make you feel like that and I mean this in the nicest possible way, but if you are female you get patronised even more, and they try and blame it on hormones or menopause. Or you're depressed.
At least you don't have a uterus they can blame it on. 🙂 It's reassuring to hear men are treated just as badly (sarc).
Personally I think they should test everyone who has a thyroid disorder because if it is autoimmune that can increase your risk of other autoimmune conditions. We have a number of members who have several autoimmune conditions. It's helpful to know as that can aid diagnosis of other conditions.
I agree. Also it is hard to argue back with a qualified doctor. The only thing we have is the fact we still have symptoms.
There’s strong genetic link for autoimmune disease…Do you have close family who have thyroid or other autoimmune diseases
No not unless they have and have been fobbed off by their doctor.
shawsAdministrator
Unfortunately, I developed Alopecia Areata about 15 years ago which means all of my hair dropped out. It slowly grew back (thinly) only to drop out again.
It is now a yearly 'event' and I used to get my 'first' haircut of the year around March - I don't even get that now.
Some times if we have one autoimmune condition we can develop others.
Did ur strands thin? I've had shedding for 6 years. Hair strands are all so fine now. And slow growing. All my body hair is the same. Eyebrows disappearing the strands are so thin.
My hair has been consistently shedding for 6 years with a few two week sessions when the shedding slowed.
I think I'm in one of those phases now. Slowed shed. My hair looks as bad as ever and there's no real growth.
I've been on levo for about 6 months. 100 mg this past 5 or 6 weeks.
I take iron d folate and b12 so my vitamins r okay/good.the vitamins haven't been the problem. I've spent a long time supplement ING them. Because drs never recognised my thyroid being the problem. The only thing I could do was supplement vitamins.
Just wondering if your strands thinned
my hair is falling out to. was allright on thai ndt but now on glandlars and its not woking.
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