Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHair Life CycleSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentsFAQs
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Hair Life Cycle
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatments
FAQs
We all lose hair on a routine basis, shedding as many as 100 hairs per day from the scalp. Normally, these hairs are replaced with new ones over time. If you have thyroid disease, however, you may experience more hair loss than other people—so much so that your hair on the whole looks to be thinning.
Having autoimmune thyroid disease in particular also puts you at greater risk foralopecia areata—excessive and rapid hair loss in specific parts of the scalp that can advance to baldness and also affect other parts of the body, like the eyebrows. Fortunately, most cases of thyroid-related hair loss are temporary and treatable.
1:28Click Play to Learn All About Thyroid Hair Loss
1:28
Click Play to Learn All About Thyroid Hair Loss
The Life Cycle of Hair
To identify the difference between normal hair loss and that related to a thyroid condition, it’s important to understand the three phases of the hair life cycle. These include:
Verywell / Emily Roberts
How Hair Follicles Work
Thyroid-related hair loss and hair changes have some characteristic patterns, including:
Hair Loss Patterns Can DifferWhile overall thinning of hair is common in people with thyroid diseases, bald patches are specific to alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that often, but not always, appears in conjunction with thyroid disease.
Hair Loss Patterns Can Differ
While overall thinning of hair is common in people with thyroid diseases, bald patches are specific to alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that often, but not always, appears in conjunction with thyroid disease.
Thyroid diseases occur when the normal production of thyroid hormones is disrupted. The key hormones are triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Because the thyroid contributes to a range of processes throughout the body, impaired thyroid function can stall hair growth. Related causes of hair loss include:
Expect RegrowthWhile prolonged thyroid disease may cause diffuse hair loss, it’s important to note that with treatment of your thyroid dysfunction, regrowth will typically occur (although it may take months and it may be incomplete).
Expect Regrowth
While prolonged thyroid disease may cause diffuse hair loss, it’s important to note that with treatment of your thyroid dysfunction, regrowth will typically occur (although it may take months and it may be incomplete).
The Link Between Lupus and Hair Loss
If you have already been diagnosed with thyroid disease, your healthcare provider will likely suspect that this is what’s causing you to lose your hair. If you have not been diagnosed with thyroid disease or another autoimmune condition, your provider may use tests to diagnose potential underlying diseases (such as lupus).
Your healthcare provider may also want to rule out other possible causes of hair loss, including:
Verywell / James Bascara
Treatment for thyroid-related hair loss usually involves being properly medicated for the condition. In most cases, getting your thyroid hormones adjusted will reverse the hair loss,though it may take several months for the hair to grow back.
Your healthcare provider may also suggest you try one of the following medications to promote more rapid hair growth:
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly after treating my thyroid problem will my hair grow back?
Hair growth can be unpredictable and some people grow it back faster than others. It may take being on thyroid medication for several months before your hair starts to come back in. Also, be aware that the new hair may be a different color or texture.
How can I hide my thyroid disease-related hair loss until it grows back?
Hats, head scarves, and wigs can all help. You may also be able to style your hair strategically to cover thinning or bald patches. Be sure to talk to your hairstylist to see if a different cut or style would help. They may also know of products that can add body or make your hair appear fuller.
What does thyroid disease-related hair loss look like?
Unlike male pattern baldness, the hair loss of thyroid disease usually involves your whole scalp and not just certain areas. So rather than a receding hairline or bald spots, it’s typical for all of the hair to appear sparse or thin. The exception is alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that sometimes occurs with thyroid disease, which does cause bald patches.
How common is it to experience hair loss from thyroid medication?
It’s fairly common to see some hair loss due to thyroid medication. Usually, this is due to overmedication, which leads to hyperthyroidism, because hair loss is a symptom of both low and high levels of thyroid hormone. In most people, this is a short-lived side effect that occurs in the first month of treatment.
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A Word From Verywell
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wolff H, Fischer TW, Blume-Peytavi U.The diagnosis and treatment of hair and scalp diseases.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2016;113(21):377–386. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0377Safer JD.Thyroid hormone action on skin.Dermatoendocrinol. 2011;3(3):211–215. doi:10.4161/derm.3.3.17027Cleveland Clinic.Is my thyroid to blame for my hair loss?British Thyroid Foundation.Hair loss and thyroid disorders.U.S. Food and Drug Administration: FDA AccessData.Highlights of prescribing information and full prescribing information: Levo-T (levothyrosine sodium) tablets, for oral use.Additional ReadingAmerican Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss: tips for managing.UpToDate.Evaluation and diagnosis of hair loss.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wolff H, Fischer TW, Blume-Peytavi U.The diagnosis and treatment of hair and scalp diseases.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2016;113(21):377–386. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0377Safer JD.Thyroid hormone action on skin.Dermatoendocrinol. 2011;3(3):211–215. doi:10.4161/derm.3.3.17027Cleveland Clinic.Is my thyroid to blame for my hair loss?British Thyroid Foundation.Hair loss and thyroid disorders.U.S. Food and Drug Administration: FDA AccessData.Highlights of prescribing information and full prescribing information: Levo-T (levothyrosine sodium) tablets, for oral use.Additional ReadingAmerican Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss: tips for managing.UpToDate.Evaluation and diagnosis of hair loss.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Wolff H, Fischer TW, Blume-Peytavi U.The diagnosis and treatment of hair and scalp diseases.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2016;113(21):377–386. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0377Safer JD.Thyroid hormone action on skin.Dermatoendocrinol. 2011;3(3):211–215. doi:10.4161/derm.3.3.17027Cleveland Clinic.Is my thyroid to blame for my hair loss?British Thyroid Foundation.Hair loss and thyroid disorders.U.S. Food and Drug Administration: FDA AccessData.Highlights of prescribing information and full prescribing information: Levo-T (levothyrosine sodium) tablets, for oral use.
Wolff H, Fischer TW, Blume-Peytavi U.The diagnosis and treatment of hair and scalp diseases.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2016;113(21):377–386. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0377
Safer JD.Thyroid hormone action on skin.Dermatoendocrinol. 2011;3(3):211–215. doi:10.4161/derm.3.3.17027
Cleveland Clinic.Is my thyroid to blame for my hair loss?
British Thyroid Foundation.Hair loss and thyroid disorders.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: FDA AccessData.Highlights of prescribing information and full prescribing information: Levo-T (levothyrosine sodium) tablets, for oral use.
American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss: tips for managing.UpToDate.Evaluation and diagnosis of hair loss.
American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss: tips for managing.
UpToDate.Evaluation and diagnosis of hair loss.
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