DHEA and hair loss

[Throid]

Anyone got any info on this? My hair loss has got worse, it began when I stopped thyroid meds but hasn't improved. I've been taking DHEA all year as I am very low in this - but could it be causing more problems for me?

[JoanofArc]

Hi Throid,

I haven't got any links for you but to answer your question,yes,I think DHEA could be contributing to your hair loss.Can I ask if you are getting it precribed?

I too was very low in DHEA and was prescribed it a few years back by Dr Hertoghe in Brussels.I was only taking 15 mg as I am so sensitive to everything.Within two days my hair started to shed incessantly and never stopped whilst I was taking the stuff. I tried the non prescription 7-Keto DHEA and that was exactly the same result so I stop taking it.

I think it does mention in the literature that it can cause hair loss,acne,and greasy skin if taken in too high a dose.Have you tried cutting your dose? Do you feel better in other ways whilst taking it?

Can I ask why you stopped your thyroid medication? Perhaps that is contributing to the problem too.

Regards Joan

[Throid in reply to JoanofArc]

Hi Joan

Thanks for getting back to me.

I started the DHEA because I've been so low in it for years, my endo wouldn't prescribe it so I buy the sublingual Douglas labs but only take 10mcgs a day. I had hair loss prior to it but am now very concerned it is making it worse. I just don't know what to do as I feel a bit better on it and it is helping me to get off HRT. I thought about switching to the 7-Keto too but from what you say this is not an option.

My GP has agreed to do tests on all my sex hormones to see if we can work out what is going on. I am hoping it will happen but have had experience of the labs refusing to do the tests before so have fingers crossed as it is so expensive to have these tests done privately.

I am back on thyroxine this year, I persuaded my endo to prescribe T3 and followed the Wilsons protocol. This was a disaster as the T3 made me feel very ill, me endo has always been unhelpful regarding my thyroid and said she doesn't think it is causing my problems. Because I got so ill on the T3 I decided to follow this up and tried to give it up, not wise and not something I will do again.

Did your hair get better when you stopped the DHEA? I am going to try cutting it down to 5mcgs a day, am very worried as I have been trying to get off HRT for years and been unable to due to the hot flushes, I believe the DHEA is helping significantly with this. The hair started shedding agin when thyroxine stopped, but it is still going on so I'm very, very worried to say the least.

Debs

[JoanofArc]

Hi Debs,

I suppose the logical thing to ask would be whether you experienced hair loss whilst taking Thyroxine? You said it started after you stopped the meds,so maybe this is what has partly contributed to your hair fall aswell.And the disastrous switchover to T3.

The difficulty is we are all different.I didn't do well on thyroxine at all.It definitely made my hair shedding terrible and I am now on T3 only.My hair shed is a lot better.It was around 5yrs ago that I tried DHEA and yes the horrible shedding improved as soon as I stopped it.

Did you manage to get time- released T3 prescribed from your Endo to try the Wilson's Protocol? Ordinary T3 (Liothyronine) isn't supposed to work with Wilson's apparently.

I really can't comment on the HRT because I've no experience of it.Perhaps somebody else will be along to share their experience and any tips on how to get off the stuff!

What I would say is, the only way to tell whether the DHEA is exacerbating your hair loss is to try coming off it a few weeks and see if the situation improves.I know it's hard as you feel it is helping you but it's the only way to be sure.Either that or try reducing to 5mg and see if that helps.

Have you heard of Nioxin? It's got very good reviews for hair loss.It might be worth a try.

Lastly,I hope I can reassure you a bit here.I've been dealing with this thyroid crap for 12yrs.There have been times where my hair has shed so much that I've been convinced I am going to end up bald.But I haven't.Thankfully the hair loss experienced with thyroid/hormone issues is usually diffuse with shedding occuring all over and no noticable bald patches.I know it's dreadful having to deal with it,picking globfuls of hair out the plughole, but rarely does one end up bald.Really hope you find some answers soon.

Good luck!

Joan

[Throid in reply to JoanofArc]

Hi Joan

The hair loss started after I was put on thyroxine and HRT, I may be wrong but I believe it is the HRT that has done it. I think it threw my hormones totally out of balance and I don't know how to rebalance. Hence why with the help of my GP I am hoping to get those tests so we can assess what to do next.

It was the ordinary T3 I used, the experience has put me off it totally.

I am going to drop the DHEA to 5mcgs a day and see if that helps and keeps the awful hot flushes at bay. Yes, I think I will try some Nioxin.

I've been dealing with the thyroid crap for 50 years and to be frank have reached the conclusion it cannot be beaten, I still hope it can be controlled but hope keeps flying out the window at the moment!

Thanks so much for your help

Debs