Beauty, Hair
Located at the front of the throat, over the windpipe the thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland in the front of the neck. It is the source of hormones responsible for controlling the body’s metabolism, the system that helps the body use energy.
These hormones are responsible for numerous actions throughout the body, accelerating the heart’s rate, increasing the turnover of minerals in bones, producing red blood cells and also stimulating the activities of other hormones, such as adrenalin, growth and the body’s repair and regeneration hormones.
Thyroid disorders can slow down or rev up metabolism by disrupting the production of thyroid hormones. When hormone levels become too high or too low you may experience a wide range of symptoms.
Women are more likely to suffer from thyroid problems than men which stems from secreting too much or too little of the thyroids two main hormones, T3 and T4. These hormones are in turn dependant on stimulation by TSH, the thyroid stimulating hormone. Inadequate production is called hypothyroidism and excess production is called hyperthyroidism.
Hair loss can be a sign of thyroid hormones being out of balance. To establish whether your hair loss is due to an underactive thyroid it is essential to see your doctor for a medical diagnosis.
There may be other reasons for your hair loss and it’s worth keeping in mind that hair does not grow continuously, it grows in phases. The telogen phase is when hair is shed and replaced with new hair. Different follicles are at different stages of their growth cycle which results in some continuous hair loss but this is normally balanced by new hair growth. Medication can be a source of hair loss as well as a vitamin and nutrient deficient diet.
Most cases of scalp and eyebrow hair loss caused by thyroid disorders are temporary. You should ask your doctor to check your iron and ferritin levels if you are suffering substantial hair loss.
Supplement your diet with a good multivitamin, omega fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and magnesium. Evening primrose oil and cod liver oil will also help to protect skin and scalp which naturally becomes drier when we age. Eat a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables, lean protein and oily fish, as well as nuts, seeds and eggs.
Our beauty expert Nikki Taylor asked Ian Carmichael, Royal Warrant holder and long-standing stylist to Her Majesty the Queen, how to treat hair if you have an underactive thyroid. Watch the video below for Ian’s answers.
Ian Carmichael is a Senior Top Stylist, and key member of the Trevor Sorbie team. You can find out more about the Trevor Sorbie Salons here and purchase the Trevor Sorbie products from Boots
Related article: How to treat fine, thinning and ageing hair
