Thyroid & Hair Loss Tips

The thyroid organ is part of the endocrine system that works to regulate the body's hormones, and when the thyroid is not working properly it can cause hair loss and other symptoms. Hair loss can often be attributed to a variety of disorders that are related to the thyroid, including hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, benign thyroid disease and thyroid cancer. Drugs that are used to treat thyroid disorders can upset the body's hormonal balance and lead to hair loss as well.

Get Tested

• If you are experiencing hair loss, get to the doctor to have tests for thyroid disorders. According to health.harvard.edu, a thyroid scan will help to show any abnormalities that may be contributing to irregularities in thyroid regulation. A scan is usually performed after a doctor's examination has shown enlargement or other malformation of the gland. Thyroid function also can be tested with antibody, blood, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) tests to determine if the gland is functioning properly.

Check Medications

• If you are taking medications for thyroid disorder and are experiencing hair loss, talk to your doctor about possibly changing medications or regulating dosage. For instance, Synthroid is a medication that is used to treat hypothyroidism and has been shown to cause temporary hair loss in some patients. Some patients have reported prolonged hair loss when taking certain thyroid medications.

Be Proactive

• Thyroid regulation is an ongoing process, and what may have worked for you in the past may not work as well now to regulate the thyroid gland. If you begin to experience hair loss after having been on your medication for some time, talk to your doctor about changing dosages or switching medications. You might also want to have your thyroid gland retested to ensure you are getting the proper treatment, in order to avoid any side effects due to an overdosage or underdosage of thyroid medication.