I know I've posted so many times about my hair but the strands just keep getting thinner and thinner . That's how my eyebrows and every hair on ym body is disappearing now. At the start it was massive shedding now it's wholescale thinning and loss.
I went to work after long time off with covid wfh and two people said they didn't recognise me because of my hair.
Vitamins aren't the cause of my hair loss. But even with thyroid treatment the quality of the hair continues to worsen and disappear.
I'll be testing myself next week for first time in about 4 months now on 125 Dr prescribed only 50. Las time I tested I was only taking 50. I have been basing my meds on how I feel since then rather than bloods. As I can't afford continued testing private and gp won't test.
Symptoms wise I get some improvements and then nothing. Constipation has been one continuous one it's improving now. My hands still feel cold I still get fluid in hands and body at times. My hair not great and I get hip pain at night now and again some times three days in row and then none. I'm not sweating much.
This is all just so frustrating. I'll see what bloods say soon but I reckon I'll try another increase.
Written by
Jump1
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Is your hypothyroid due to autoimmune or Hashimotos, if it is then it's possible your hairloss is also autoimmune, ie alopecia areata. If you have one autoimmune condition you are more likely to get another. Then there's menopause or perimenopause, which can cause hair loss. Low ferritin is another cause. It's possible it's not your thyroid that's causing it but something else.
I've had ferritin tested so may times and tho low sometimes it isn't low the rest of times. More high and in good range than low. Supplement with iron. I've hashimotos at the beginning of this process long before hashi was realised a derm told me it could be areata based on a family member uncle having an autoimmune condition. But I haven't read anywhere that areata causes the thinning of hair.
Not menopausal. I've had all those hormones tested loads too. But I'm not discounting estrogen could be problem too. But every inch of hair on my body has been affected by this. Even nose hair fell out and thinner hair grew back. On legs there are oarts that the hair doesn't grow at all never mind thinner or slower.
I'm losing my eyebrows. They are shedding despite me supplementing iron, biotin, b complex magnesium AND taking T3.
I had already lost my hair (well I still have a bit, but it's mostly white, frail and wispy thin) in my early twenties and have worn wigs for well over a decade.
I found that taking t3 seemed to cause the hair to fall at a quicker rate, contrary to popular opinion that T3 makes hair grow...it isn't doing that for me.
Indeed times in the past when my tsh was extremely high, I was anaemic, and depleted in vitamin D and virtually bed bound from exhaustion on low dose mono-therapy...my eyebrows were thick and bushy.
Someone's having a laugh, because the hair in unwanted places (chin, legs) is nice and glossy.
I was reading - I think I've lost the webpage that hair growth is greatly affected by hormone changes and when it comes to thyroid hormones it's actually quite a complex mechanism including enzymes as to what triggers hair to just go into 'resting' phase. It would appear it's not just simply getting labs normal that means hair will respond.
Cortisol is also a factor. If the body feels it is in 'danger' the first thing that happens is cortisol winding down and energy output slowing then functions being 'prioritised' and hair is the first to go. Literally anything can be interpreted as 'danger'...air pollution, chemicals in food, not enough food, not enough vitamins, stress, being ill itself, etc.
At some point I would do the regenerus cortisol test - see if your adrenals are struggling and dhea levels are low.
Sorry none of that helps, I'm quite depressed at the thought of losing my brows too. I absolutely loathe thin drawn on brows. God knows what I'm going to do. Been trying rapid brow, but the hair just hates me and wants to leave. As I'm writing this another brow hair has fallen on my phone screen.😥
I'm at that stage with my brows. The ends are gone the end half way across and what's there is thin. I was never one for wearing makeup unless going out so for me to draw on brows wud be such a disaster. I know how u feel about them falling. Ive had cortisol tested through bloods and urine I think and spit. Only once was it low from memory in morning but fine later. However I know for a fact Ive had enormous amounts of stress in my.life before this started and since. I think dhew has been tested too but from memory nothing stood out.. I do appreciate Ur response though maybe they are things I need to look at again. I'll check if that well woman medichrcks test does.
Well you said your hands still get cold and you're not sweating properly so your thermostat is off, maybe an increase is due as you say, but it is suggestive for adrenals being off as well. With an increase they might struggle too.
I really hope you find a solution and it at least improves!
My blood cortisol was high up close to top of range. But I know I've been hughely stressed ai believe stress severe stress triggered everything for me. I also know the blood test for cortisol not as good or reliable as 24 HR spit which I've done twice second time came back fine
It appears your dhea is low however. And what is 'fine' for cortisol saliva? Medichecks said mine is fine, all but 3 degrees above the level at which the'd start investigating addisons in the morning, then shoots up in afternoon, is near the floor again in evening and high and dandy at night. But it's meant to be highest in the morning. Still test doctor said fine. Private doctor said not.
I am doing a dhea/saliva test again soon and if it's low I think I'll consider supplementing.
so sorry to hear of your hair plight. My hair has been falling out for the past 3 years and I have no idea why. I feel very distressed about this. I have tattooed eyebrows and don't mind this.
I have Alopecia areata and I hope you don't. My hair when it first fell out it used to grow back and I had the first haircut about 10 months after fallout.
This year it hasn't grown back at all but am always hopeful that hair will recover.
If we have one autoimmune condition we can develop others.
I also have pernicious anaemia and have monthly injections instead of three-monthly and it hasn't made a difference to hair.
I also have been diagnosed with a Polyglander Autoimmune Disease No.3.
My hair fall is diffuse all over head and everywhere on body. Though recently the keg growth seems strange it's more patchy. But my hair that is growing is getting finer each time.
Have you been able to maintain your ferritin at 125 for at least 6 months to be sure it is not iron? I would say it was something worth doing...you could check out the FB page 'The Iron Protocol (for Iron Deficiency with or without Anemia)' for full info, guides and chat. It is so tricky to find the root cause.
Yes that was the first thing I did whenever this all started. Discovered ferritin was low when went to derm and went on iron tablets and been on them pretty much since. No change
I did too but wasn't taking enough (as it is calculated by your weight) and wasn't taking a good enough brand when I started. Now I follow a tried and tested protocol but early days for me. My ferritin is still only 55 (was 17 on Dec 1st) but getting it up slowly. I have hair issues too but the condition has improved and I don't feel I have to wash it daily now which is something. Also have Hashimoto's and IBS/gut issues so having to work on all of these. I also take D and magnesium but neither are optimal yet. Gut is vital too I now know after researching and being diagnosed with Hashimoto's only recently. I wish you well and hope you can find your root cause.
Ya I take the vitamin d k and mag too as well as folate b12 and the iron. At this stage I wish I could rewind the clock. Because it feels like its impossible to fix
It is so frustrating isn't it. I had tests done in 2018 with Dr but he didn't do full thyroid then and I went to him for years and years about anxiety hair loss etc etc and he didn't put the puzzle together. It has taken me years of research to get this far and still I don't feel well yet. I really want to order a stool test to look at good and bad bacteria and work with that but cannot afford it at the moment. The more I read the more it goes back to the gut. I would also love to work with a naturopath/functional Dr or nutritionist but again it is about affordability. Instead, I just read and read and research and try different things. Gluten, dairy and soya are out for me now...we shall see what soya elimination does...I eliminated the other two some time ago and, yes I did improve but it isn't the whole story for me.
Oh it's been a horrendous 6 years. This all started with me because of severe stress which led to a throat illness which led to a stone and half of weight loss in 2 weeks. I was like a skely. 3 months later massive shedding didn't stop. Discovered ferritin as issue with derm. Go said no. go said thyroid fine for months and months and years and years. Even though I tested positive for antibodies tested privately. It's all been my private testing and own perseverance that has taken me this far. Drs and derma and endos not interested.
My improvements on thyroid med not been sudden more subtle slow improvements and one step forward and then steps back. But the hair is the only thing I really care about can live with all the other symptoms. And the hair is just getting worse not better. I'm worn out by it all to tell you the truth. Nothing is working and it's all costing me money and the hope is the worst because every time it gets dashed.
I've just ordered a medichecks test 230 will be testing next week probably. Only doing it in prep of drs testing. To make sure they don't take the 50mg off me. I'm supplemening 75 privately to get me to the 125.
I can't really say I've noticed the difference in taking the meds at all. I read people saying they have bad side effects from taking it sometimes but I don't honestly really feel it or notice it at all
I haven't managed to see my Dr yet...have a tel call this week with him! Should be interesting. Not sure they will even give me meds but I have been reliably told, from my blood tests, I have Hashimoto's!! I don't really want to go on any meds as I hear that can also give you hair loss and yes tbh I feel the same, I can put up with dizziness, low energy and other things if I can only have good hair! I totally get it. Yes it all costs a fortune. I think if optimal vit/mineral levels at optimal and pre and probiotics (yet to do/ fully read all about this yet), plus yoga (for adrenal) plus a liver detox I have been doing and diet changes don't solve things I will try a much more stricter elimination diet I think. Mine started with severe stress (dad in hospital in Greece on a holiday), came back with stomach issues, IBS for year then hair thinning started about 6 months after that and still battle with some IBS discomfort at times and hair still not right....6 years later...not worse but not better. If I do decide to take meds then I will source a NDT I think.
Looking back when I started the meds I think they might have increased it for a few weeks but to be fair I've had so many weeks of lots of hair fall that I couldn't 100 percent say the thyroid medication was definate cause of it.
I also had stomach issues discovered hpylori. Again diagnosed myself that was a year into the hair loss. For ages after got rid of it had sore stomach
So hard to know isn't it. I am sure anything like hpylori will be somehow connected to hair loss. I think you have to keep digging still if that has now been cleared up. It really is a puzzle with no approach suiting all sadly.
I think my next step, once I have got main vits and minerals up to optimal is take a benefical yeast for a time and then after that a probiotic. Try and give my gut a good over haul!!
Found the following info from Izabella Wentz Thyroid page....''Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) is a beneficial yeast that helps to clear out dysbiosis such as pathogenic bacteria, Candida, mold, and some parasites (including Blastocystis hominis). It also helps to clear out H. pylori, an infection that has been implicated in ulcers and has been linked to Hashimoto’s. S. boulardii does not colonize the gut wall, but instead, it causes an increase of secretory IgA, which supports our own body’s natural defense against infections and opportunistic gut bacteria''
Then I have read after that trying a probiotic like this one might be the next step. MegaSporeBiotic.
I must check that out I made sure after the hpylori to take loads of the good bacteria for a lonnng time....months... because the antibiotics I had to take for it everyone said killed the good bacteria as well as that bug
oh yes definitely that would have had a huge affect on your gut. Interestingly the year I started getting hair loss and had the stressful event I mentioned I also took an anti-fungal drug for toe fungus and I still have athletes foot (but not badly) so I definitely have this to deal with...we have to keep in mind that these are all messages from our body telling us there are imbalances. That is how I see it anyway. Looking back I have had lots of messages pointing to thyroid...including carpal tunnel in my wrist, Oedema in my leg calf and also breast cysts and low and behold all of this conditions are mentioned as linked to thyroid issues the more I delve deeper!
Yes, me too...I went for a mammogram and was diagnosed with breast cysts. I take evening primrose oil supplements and they really work. The specialist at the hospital suggested it as a natural approach. I cannot remember where I read it now as have read so many books! That is also how I discovered the weird indentation on my calf was oedema (obviously mild as it can be much worse) but still nevertheless a message from my body 6 years ago that all was not right. The Dr just said it was nothing to worry about but again they just don't make the connections and he didn't give me a name for it either so I actually never investigated it at the time. I just thought it was a varicose vein/age-related issue!
I don't believe so but actually I don't really know. I just get days when my breasts feel more sore than normal so I up the dosage of my evening primrose oil tablets and that seems to help. I went through a phase when it was really sore constantly but tbh it is not so bad currently now.
Please could you elaborate? It would be most helpful. I am researching a wide range of people so not stuck on her ideas as such but want to heal naturally if I can by finding my root cause. I find if I do a wide range of research I can see overlaps in ideas more clearly. I don't have lots of money to experiment so I have to be sure before committing to something too. I wouldn't opt for her brands either as I am sure they are higher priced and of course she is US based.
Hi, sorry to hear this, losing hair is very distressing. I am suffering from thinning hair but pretty sure mine is due to low ferritin. I just wanted to say, that I don’t know how old you are, but if over 45 (and sometimes younger) you can probably safely assume you are in peri menopause. This is irrespective of hormone bloods, as these are notoriously unreliable due to the fact that oestrogen in particular fluctuates wildly throughout the day (my hormone bloods say normal - but at 51 I have many peri symptoms and am now on HRT). My gynae told me hormone bloods were a waste of time. Good luck and keep pestering your GP too - or find another one who takes it seriously.
I keep checking all hormones. I haven't ruled out estrogen. I've so many other symptoms that are thyroid related I thought and all happened at same time. So I'm assuming for now it's thyroid focused. So sickening to go from thick strands to these spider web type hairs that won't lie down flat. Sickly looking and getting worse.
You have just described my hair. White spider web, lifeless, thinned. Almost no hair on arms or legs and thinned on pubis. But it's the least of my worries. Not having the energy in my legs to walk at various points of the day is a much bigger worry for me. And being way too fat, now that really upsets me.
Yip that's my hair, pathetic awful it's amazing how it has changed so much. Like I said earlier two people said to me last week they didn't recognise me and both said it was because of my hair. I was talking to one and he didn't realise for three mins or so who I was. Energy wise I haven't been affected ar all I don't think. Not noticed anyway really. Can still do everything. Weight as well no big issue. Had put on about a stone but it's gradually come off. But then umive always been quite small at 8,-9stone.
I know you think it's terrible, but I'd elect to shave all my hair off and keep it off if I could only have my energy back. I am unable to do anything I used to do. Just walking around the house is exhausting sometimes.
I have to admit I have the same issue have lost 3/4 of my hair due to medication and dose changes, hashimotos and thyroid.
ALL the research I do online says you need a t3 drug for the hair loss isssues .I am on a combination t3/t4 drug. The research also points to better growth on NDT rather than levo as it is only a t4 drug.
I did that, I only saw improved hair growth on Nature thyroid. No change with any of the others, actually worsened on Thyroid S although other things improved.
I hope you get a resolution soon as I know exactly how it feels to have no hair at all. I have been diagnosed as having alopecia areata - another autoimmune disease.
I take T3 alone too. I take 20mcg or 25mcg T3 daily and I feel well and have no symptoms, except that hair hasn't grown back.
Previously I used to get the first haircut of the year around March. It didn't grow back last year or this year at all.
I have bought a couple of wigs and unless someone knows me very well, no-one would guess they are wigs.
The following link may be helpful and if it works for a member who follows the method, I'm sure it will be a very popular post.
It's great your wigs suit you well. One saving grace at least.
I am struggling to find realistic looking wigs. Tons of wigs, but they often look a bit garish.My ethnicity and skin tone makes it a bit more tricky I think, and I'm ideologically opposed to human hair wigs so..deep sigh.
The company I use permits you to trial the wigs (just don't remove the tag which is attached to the wig). You pay for it but if you don't like it just send it back or you might wish to change the 'fitting' i.e. petite, normal, large. If tag has been removed your money wont be refunded.
p.s. I have tried other companies but these are the best and they are are in UK rather than 'somewhere abroad' which could mean you don't get a refund if you return wig. You can also speak to them on the phone.
I take T3 only and it hasn't enabled my hair to be restored. It is probably because I've been diagnosed as having Alopecia Areata and that's another autoimmune disease/
Hi Jump1I know everyone is different, but my experience of hair loss which started 15 years ago after I was diagnosed as hypothyroid, was that no amount of thyroxine would change the situation, so I have had to accept that I have no hair at all, no eyebrows, no eyelashes. It was a hard road to tread and accept but as time goes on I have learned to live with it. Your hair may return but mine didn’t and I am not sure I can lay that totally at the door of being hypothyroid.
Hypothyroid issues can’t always be blamed for everything in my view. I wish you well and hope your situation improves either way. Best of luck
There are different types of alopecia, one being alopecia universalis. Which affects body hair as well as head hair. Could you afford to see a Trichologist, make sure they are properly qualified and regulated. They are hair experts and might offer you some insight as to whether it's thyroid or something else.
I went to a doctor and husband was present. The doctor put injections into my scalp and my husband couldn't bear to watch and told me after consultation that I would not have this procedure again.
My hair did grow back and I got my first haircut about six months later but then - again - the routine began, i.e. hair fall etc etc.
Well, I now have a new perceptive and it is due to one of my colleagues who had been complaining about 'women's problems' for a few years. Despite visiting doctors etc she wasn't given any diagnoses.
Her mother died and left a little money, so colleague spent it on a specialist advice.
She was diagnosed, married and buried all within a couple of months. Terrible .......that she was not diagnosed a while before it was 'too late'.
To be honest I am still not optimal. I have been increasing doses then hyper and now messing around with doses trying to get level. So it is hard to say. But many people in the hair loss groups I am in say the only thyroid medication they have found useful for hair growth is NDT
In the UK NDT (despite its long interval of success for many) was withdrawn by 'supposed to be knowledgeable' experts. They have no clue that thousands recovered their health -worldwide when it ws the only replacement given from 1892 .
Your hair loss could also be related to you having Covid, As my daughter had a full head of beautiful hair and since she had Covid before Christmas she keeps loosing a lot of hair.
I haven't had covid, sorry meant returning to work after covid being at home for long time due to govt regs. Working from home. This Los been going on for 6 years now
In my case, I found that my hair is extremely sensitive to thyroid hormones and I wouldn’t be at all surprised that my hair won’t grow properly unless my T4 and T3 status is optimal for where my body would ‘naturally’ have had them before I developed Hashimotos. The trouble is, most of us are unlikely to know what our own bodies ‘normal’ levels sit at as we would not have been tested prior to thyroid conditions and therefore all we can do is try to optimise our nutrients, sleep and stress levels and experiment with thyroid hormones to see if we can hit on a sweet-spot where we feel best and our bodies are happiest. Some people also find trialling autoimmune diet protocols really helpful for some conditions. Amazingly, some people have put their autoimmune disease into complete remission using ‘the carnivore diet’ for instance, which is touted as the ultimate elimination diet and is now being used by a number of functional medicine practitioners.
My Mum has had hair issues since menopause and recently went to visit a holistic trichologist in West Sussex who was able to identify her hair issue. The trichologist cannot promise she will have hair like when she was a teenager again but did promise that with the protocol she has that she won’t lose anymore and hopefully still grow some of it back. For some, going to see a trichologist may be worth it as at least if they can identify the cause, one then knows what it is they are up against and might have a better idea how to approach treatment.🙂
Sounds like you’ve a lot going on here and possibly not all thyroid related, have you been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Reynards?I’ve awfully cold hand and feet and since hitting 40, I have to take a hot water bottle to bed for the foot cramps.
Hormones most of our life are all over the place, I lost hair when I lost my mum and my body then has been in a melt down. My gut cannot cope with stress in the slightest as my brain is overly triggered by stress.
Good healthy diet, no caffeine, gluten, dairy? I’ve eliminated all of these.
Taking zinc keeps my hair in place and has slowed my husbands hair loss considerably. I use Viridian zinc citrate, magnesium powder as it’s more easily absorbed.
Vitamin d maintenance dose, selenium.
I’ve found the solgar koji iron good though not had bloods done yet.
A good b complex can help with stress levels too.
Having a good diet and looking after yourself will certainly help your gut which can help other issues or at least reduce them.
If you know the source of your stress have you tried different ways to cope that might help your body?
I’m no expert but read your post and felt I’d share my basic knowledge.
Thanks, stress is a nightmare to handle no matter how hard we try I don't think it can be managed just have to wait for it to blow over.No I've not been diagnosed with either of those. Thanks for your information I don't know what hell going on
Stress can be managed, by that I mean how we react to it can be managed, of course life itself is stressful and crap comes along all the time. And there's nothing we can do about that, but how we cope with stress, the strategies we take and our response to it are the only things under our control.
Personally I found exercise has been a huge stress reliever for me, not only does it raise endorphins and make me happier but it helps me sleep much better. As someone with Fibro sleep is a huge issue for me and I know I feel a million times worse if I've had several poor sleeps. Others find meditation, a hot bath, a massage etc helpful. Or just watching tv, reading a book, whatever it is. I know a lot of people have found CBT helpful and there is plenty of online stuff out there about the tricks and techniques.
If all else fails there is medication or counselling. As I said there's nothing we can do about the level of stress in our lives and we do actually need a certain amount, but when stress levels get too high, that's when its damaging to our health and well being. Hair loss is very much linked with stress.
My personal experience. I've had huge levels and had to deal with it. Learned coping mechanisms but they don't really help well didn't for me. Have talked to people and it helped for short term but didn't remove the stress or feelings. As for medications there is no way I would personally take medications that are addictive for stress like antidepressants. I've seen what they do to people and I don't think they are the solution they aren't going to remove the stress. They just are pumping more damaging chemicals into the body. I am an extremely active person. Really active and exercise is good but it doesn't help with my stress
I know what you mean about antidepressants, I'm not a fan and have tried them several times for help with Fibro symptoms like sleep and nerve pain.
I've never found them particularly effective. There are natural alternatives, some swear by CBD oil, 5HTP, which has similar effects to to SSRI's. St John's Wort is helpful for some. I found when I did Yoga that helped. And breathing exercises can calm down the amygdala part of the brain that triggers flight or fight.
I've always found relaxing a real challenge, gardening is very therapeutic for me lol.
Have you considered using topical hair restorer like Minoxidil. Minoxidil is the only FDA approved topical hair restorer on the market. Its originally a blood pressure drug but scientists noticed people taking it grew more hair but obviously you can't give people without blood pressure issues oral tablets.
So they made it into a solution you apply to the scalp. It's a vasodilator and increases the blood supply to the hair follicles. It comes in 2 strengths, 2% and 5%. The 5% being the more effective. It's also sold as Rogaine. You can also buy it as a foam. It's very effective if used regularly.
Hi I was losing alot of hair. Found to have low Zinc (below range) Gp prescribed ' Solvazinc ' . I also increased my Ferritin intake. My hair has stopped falling out excessively but is still dry and wispy.
I don't think I've ever had zinc tested ever. Ive had copper but I don't think zinc. I even had a hair analysis done to see what was wrong. It told me I was a slow oxidiser which tells you your hypo. Years later I finally got Dr to give drugs for hashi
I take Thyromax from amazon and it has made a big difference to my hair. Used to be a big handful of hair fell out when I washed it and now there's hardly any
I would not surmise that your problem is caused by thyroid, but rather COVID. There are many reports of COVID causing hair loss. What remains to be seen is whether this is temporary; it's too soon to tell.
I didn't have covid. Sorry I meant that they said that to me after bein off work for a long time because of the working from home directive. This hair loss has been going on for 6 years now. Long before covid
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
HAIR LOSS AND UNDER ACTIVE THYROID 
Hair loss and skin rash
