hair loss and subclinical underactive thyroid …

[awillis]

Hello,

I’m new here 😊 👋

I’m really enjoying all the posts and wealth of info on here …

Since spring my thyroid keeps wobbling between being ok and not ok (subclinical hypothyroid). I’ve had a few sets of tests and my TSH is above range (in the subclinical range ) and my Ft4 and Ft3 are reduced but still in range - my eyebrows are the real tell tale sign - like the canary in the mine - as they start falling out in the centre and towards the edges but then they’ll recover again. I’m also experiencing so much hair loss and my hair is really dry, brittle and so grey. I just cannot seem to keep a hair on my head - I lose thin , thick , really short and full length hairs.

My question is have other people seen their hair loss lessen once their thyroid is medicated adequately ?

I’ve seen many references to ferritin levels and hair loss but I’d really like to know about whether taking thyroid medication can help with hair loss ?

I’m currently waiting for results from a thyroid gold test (Blue Horizons) that included TSH FT4 FT3 TPO and the other antibody, Folate, Ferritin, VitD , B12 , Cortisol and Magnesium.

I’d love to hear if hair loss has improved for many people ?

Thankyou so much 😊

[Calceolaria]

If you look at the last post, title Very Dry Skin and Hair, you will see some recommendations.

I have not found my hair loss has improved after two and a bit months of levothyroxine but it may have slowed. The well-known ‘outer third’ of my eyebrows has all but disappeared. I supplement but mostly, it’s a cosmetic approach I now use - eyebrow pencil, hair products etc.

[FallingInReverse]

My hair loss and eyebrow regrowth happened when my thyroid hormones improved. My ferritin started at 7… and is now only mid 30’s… but my hair has stopped falling out entirely.

[awillis in reply to FallingInReverse]

That’s encouraging and great to hear - may I ask if you are on Levothyroxine or NDT ? How long did it take for the shedding to slow down ?

Yes I’ve been steadily building up my ferritin since the summer - I’m at 99 now. It can be a slow process … 7 was really low ? Thankyou 😊

[FallingInReverse in reply to awillis]

Somewhere in the timeframe of a year on Levo and T3.

Although ferritin is still low, other iron measures are optimal, so that has contributed.

I was undiagnosed for 8 years (light hair loss one of the first symptoms back then), diagnosed and under replaced on Levo 50 mcg from Aug 2022-July/Aug 2023. T3 was also added, at which point I found this board.

So in a little over a year I’ve tackled Ts, iron and vitamins to where I am mostly out of the woods. Now perimenopause is mixing it all up but that’s a different story !

[awillis in reply to FallingInReverse]

thankyou, that’s interesting to know that stabilising your thyroid has stabilised your hair loss too.

Did you start at a low dose of T3 and gradually add more ? 😊

[FallingInReverse in reply to awillis]

Unfortunately not. Went from 50 Levo … to 25 Levo + 10 t3.

The palpitations that resulted were what led me to find this board in the first place. I would never ever do that again. I’m sorry I never gave t4 mono a chance and sorry I didn’t know better back then to not start in 10 all at once. I had a well intentioned, but completely uninformed doctor.

That being said it’s been a great year following this boards overall advice and going from dysfunctional to functional. Can’t imagine where I’d be now without the smart people here!

[ICE187]

I've been on Levothyroxine for a little over 3 years. My hair loss has never been alarming, but I shed off and on regardless if my Levo is raised.

[Ozxpat]

I have to say that my hair loss (including eyebrows which took me a while to realise was related) was the most distressing symptom that led me to a naturopath in the US who diagnosed me with sub clinical hypothyroidism and put me on Armour. GP just tested TSH and said I was fine etc. and wanted to give me antidepressants. The hair loss didn’t immediately improve but it didn’t get worse. Then, a couple of years ago I started on Minoxidil which had just started being prescribed for hair loss after years as a high blood pressure medication. That’s when I saw real new growth and my eyebrows returned. Happy days. Until I moved to the UK and found they won’t prescribe it on the NHS - nor Armour. So, Im back to the drawing board and anxiously watching my hair thinning and falling out again. I finally convinced my GP to increase my Levothyroxine dose to 75mcg with a view to getting to 100mcg, and I’m hoping that will help. If not I will have to pay the big bucks and source Minoxidil privately. I have a bottle of the Weleda Revitalising Tonic that’s been mentioned on this forum but I’m not hopeful - smells nice though! Good luck.

[Ellie-Louise in reply to Ozxpat]

If it helps you, a while ago I was researching Rosemary oil and hair loss. It is said to be as good as Minoxidil for hair growth. There are quite a lot of Rosemary based products and oil for hair on Amazon.

I can’t say if it has worked on me yet because I am still waiting for my head to heal after an operation last February but I do have a bottle waiting for when I can use it.

[awillis in reply to Ozxpat]

that’s interesting - do you think the Armour NDT slowed down the shedding of hair then ? May I ask , how are you finding being on Levo compared to when you were on NDT ?

I’ve been avoiding minoxidil as I already have too much facial hair and for some people it can encourage more facial hair so I didn’t want to take that risk …

I hope you get sorted soon 😊

[Ozxpat in reply to awillis]

I don’t think Armour did anything for my hair loss but then again I didn’t know about vitamins back then - or understand much about the thyroid. I’ve learned so much since I got here a year ago and found this forum. I haven’t felt well since starting the Levo back in April and it’s been a struggle to get my GP to increase from 50mcg. Finally I put all my results (mainly from private testing) on a chart and gave it to her. Pointed out my poor conversion and rising TSH and she agreed to 75mcg with testing in 12 weeks. Of course that will only be TSH and she suggested I test privately again for T4, T3 and antibodies.

I did find I had a few extra chin hairs on the Minoxidil! And I had to dig out the tweezers again for my eyebrows - and wax my legs again - but so worth it to see real hair growth again. Good luck to you too! 🙂

[awillis in reply to Ozxpat]

Wow, you have to really fight your corner , it’s totally bonkers …

Good luck with your dose increase - I hope it’s just what you need 😊 many thanks x

[humanbean]

You might find the following links of interest :

Title : The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Hair Loss: A Review

Link : pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articl...

and on the same theme :

Title : 16 Vitamin Deficiencies that Lead to Hair Loss

Link : discover.hubpages.com/healt...

[awillis in reply to humanbean]

Thankyou for the links 😊

[connyankee]

My hair loss is due to my genetics (maternal grandmother did the comb over and wore wigs to church) and my Hashimoto's. I have Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia which means that I could take any of the male roles in a Charles Dickens play and would not have to wear a bald cap. Ha! I wear wigs when I need to look presentable, otherwise I wear a headband, scarf to hide my shiny, large, Victorian, forehead. Yes, I have been to the dermatologist and have been prescribed creams, Minoxodil (blood pressure meds-no thanks!) Nothing has helped. I use more natural shampoos and conditioners and currently I'm using Purador shampoo and conditioner, which is available on Amazon. It makes what I have left on my head more voluminous. My current dermatologist, who is female, says to stay away from oils for my face because it causes mini doughnuts around my pores (had them until I stopped using oils). She recommends CeraVe, LaRoche Posay and pure Shea Butter products for face and body because they "protect the skin's moisture barrier". My whole family (who suffer from Eczema) washes with Colloidal Silver soap bars available on Amazon. They say it makes their eczema more tolerable. Hair loss sucks big time for females. You're not alone.

[awillis in reply to connyankee]

Thankyou for the info on products - I’ll take a look at the Purador shampoo and conditioner … thankyou for the kind words too, yes losing hair is all consuming - good luck 😊

[connyankee]

Hang in there and don't fall for hair growth schemes. If you really want to know what's going on with your type of hair loss, please see a dermatologist. Prayers!