Sudden eyebrow loss

[Maldeerum]

Has anyone else experienced sudden eyebrow loss since commencing treatment for hypothyroidism? I’ve been on NDT for six months and in the last month my (usually thick) eyebrows are incredibly sparse.

[pennyannie]

Hello Maldeerum and welcome to the forum :

Loss of eyebrows, especially the outer third, is a common symptom of hypothyroidism.

There is nothing on your profile so can you please share with us your diagnosis and a little bit about yourself.

I see you are taking NDT - maybe your dose needs adjusting - do you have any blood test results you can share with us and aware of any other symptoms ?

Did you start out on T4 monotherapy and switched to NDT - which brand are you taking ?

[Alanna012]

Yes, but I don't know why it happens. It also can happen when taking T3. Perhaps it's iron or ferritin being too low and the T3 'reveals' the problem. STTM website says that it can be due to low iron.

This is probably not you, but there's also a relationship between hypothyroidism and Seborrheic Dermatitis and Demodex/sensitivity/ demodex folliculorum (in the latter case there's something called soolantra also given for rosacea) which can both make eyebrow hair fall out. I had very small barely noticeable flaking around the skin of my nose, it then disappeared. Skin looked normal. Then my eyebrow hair started falling out and eventually I went to a different GP who l asked if I had had any flaky skin then said it's Seborrheic Dermatitis and prescribed Nizarol shampoo.

The Nizarol bottle is tiny and for it to work you need to use it very frequently. At least this is what I found. Frankly I think its a combo of several things that come along with hypothyroidism. My eyebrows are thin and the very ends are now gone. But I have managed to keep what remains.

[veecaa]

Hello Maldeerum hope you do get to the bottom of it. One endocrinologist I saw years ago mentioned thinning eyebrows can be related to adrenal fatigue.

[Graves1234]

Indeed - I have no outer third of my eyebrows unfortunately it’s quite common. I have also lost the hair on my legs, arms my under stem hair is also pretty non existent and other areas the same ! I’m 63 so it doesn’t really bother me anymore personally - my husband doesn’t even really notice the change or doesn’t say he does.. I’m quite pleased I don’t have to shave I never shaved my legs much even while much younger as it wasn’t really needed. I did think about micro blading for eyebrows but was put off at the price - however if I was much younger I may have conceded and had that done.. I just use eyebrow pencil on special occasions and embrace who I am - try not to let it get you down as most people I know don’t even notice when I have pointed it out in the past they look surprised and can then see what I mean but frankly they hadn’t noticed the change.

[Lily905]

Yes. The outer third edge of my eyebrows is only a few hairs. Now I notice eyebrows & I think it is an indication of Thyroid problems - diagnosed or undiagnosed

[limonene7]

Losing hair on eyebrows and body can also be a sign of 'frontal fibrosing alopecia' which is particularly common in those who are hypothyroid patients. The sooner this is diagnosed, the better so if it gets worse or doesn't correct by optimising medication, it might be worth getting it checked by a trichologist or dermatologist.

[serenfach]

I lost the outer third before being treated. One came back, the other decided to be just a few hairs that grow vertical to my face. I try to stick them down but they ping out with joy! As I am naturally a whiter shade of pale, I dont bother drawing them in again, just pluck any that may poke a passing stranger!