Alopecia Arearta

[Thyroid4Me]

I have had alopecia arearta off and on for years.

I have now discovered I have raised Thyroid anti-bodies. Does anyone else have this link>

Thank you,

[greygoose]

Hi Thyroid4Me, welcome to the forum.

I doubt it's the raised antibodies that are causing your alopecia arearta. But low thyroid hormone levels could. Have you had full thyroid testing: TSH, FT4, FT3? If so, post the results and ranges and let's have a look.

The raised antibodies - TPO antibodies? - mean that you have Autoimmune Thyroiditis, so your thyroid hormones could be low.

[Thyroid4Me in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for your reply.

My usual Thyroid markers look fine. It's the Anti-Tg and Anti TPO that are high.

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone

(TSH) 3.17 mIU/l 0.35 - 5.5 Optimal

Free Thyroxine (FT4) 16.2 pmol/l 11.9 - 21.6 Optimal

Free Tri-iodothyronine (FT3) 4.22 pmol/l 3.1 - 6.8 Optimal

Anti-Thyroglobulin Antibody

(Anti-Tg) 315 IU/ml ≤115.0 Optimal

>115.0 High

Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase

Antibody (Anti-TPO) 203 kU/l ≤34.0 Optimal

>34.0 High

Thyroxine-binding globulin

(TBG) 10.7 µg/ml 6.3 - 22.7 Optima

[greygoose in reply to Thyroid4Me]

Ummm..... One thing you should know, right from the start, is that the so-called 'optimal' range is not 'optimal' (it isn't even a range, but that's another story).

If we call it 'euthyroid' - i.e. without any thyroid problems - instead of 'optimal', a euthyroid TSH would be around 1, never over 2 and you are technically hypo when it reaches 3. So, yours is over 3 so it is not in the least bit 'fine', I'm afraid.

Free Thyroxine (FT4) 16.2 pmol/l (11.9 - 21.6) 44.33%

Free Tri-iodothyronine (FT3) 4.22 pmol/l (3.1 - 6.8) 30.27%

And, as you can see, your thyroid hormones are low. FT4 only 44.33% through the range, and FT3 even lower, when they should both be around 50% through the range.

What this means is that the Autoimmune Thyroiditis has already damaged your thyroid to the point where it can no-longer make sufficient thyroid hormone. So, not surprising that you have symptoms like hair loss. Unfortunately, before a doctor would diagnose, he would want to see two consecutive over-range TSH results, at least 3 months apart. Yes, they are really that dumb!

[Thyroid4Me in reply to greygoose]

Sorry, I'm very new to this platform. May I ask are you medically trained?

[greygoose in reply to Thyroid4Me]

No, I'm not. I'm just a patient like any other, that had to learn about my disease in order to save my own life, given the lack of knowledge of the average doctor. As far as we know, there are no medically trained members on this forum.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to the forum

Do you have any Thyroid results and ranges you can add

Presumably you are not yet on levothyroxine?

Or any other Thyroid replacement hormone?

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[Sparklingsunshine]

Autoimmune diseases often go together, if you have one you are more at risk of another unfortunately.

However its definitely worth checking your thyroid levels as hair loss can be due to low thyroid hormones, which in turn can lead to low vitamin/ mineral levels. Low ferritin can also cause hair loss.

[LKA-dot]

greygoose... is always the voice of wisdom.

For me personally, my alopecia kicked off following breast cancer treatment... when thyroid issue kicked in...I'll not go into tsh etc here as... its been some years.

I use Nioxin as shampoo/conditioner. Referred to dermatology - when I finally woke up to my hairband loss. After a year on a steroid solution and Regaine --- waste of time (just cheapest option) ... I'm now having scalp steroid injections on the NHS. Don't be brushed off... Society of Dermatology (uk) states that the injections are the best course of action ... to keep hair. Get referred from GP and push for the jabs .. asap.😁

[Thyroid4Me in reply to LKA-dot]

Thank you for taking the time to write