Hair is an unique character for all mammals but not on other animals. It has several functions: protection of the skin, sensory function: sexual and social communication.
Human hair could be classified as:
– androgen-independent hair (i.e., eyebrows and lashes);
– hair on hormone-dependent body regions (e.g. scalp, beard, chest, axilla, and pubic region), which consist of terminal hair shafts.
Hair shaft can be used for diagnostic purpose and, in particular, for testing psychoactive drugs and for determining the concentration of metals in relation to sex and age. The condition of the hair is used forensically to provide information on the identity and lifestyle of the hair’s owner. Moreover, the condition of hair cuticles has the potential to assist in the diagnosis of health disorders.
Many Hashimoto’s have problems with hair loss. There can be many reasons for hair loss by Hashimoto’s. The top 5 are:
- Unbalanced thyroid hormones: The fact that you are already on a thyroid hormone therapy is not a guarantee that your thyroid hormones are in balance. Ask your physician about the values of your thyroid test, check what is the values he/she uses as a reference range, make sure that you get your thyroid hormone levels to the optimal level. Make sure that your thyroid hormones are balanced.
- Most often medication consists of T4 hormone only. T4 has to be converted to T3 in the body, which is a problem by many Hashimoto’s. Ask for a reverse test to check if your body has a problem with converting T4 to T3. If yes, consider checking for adrenal fatigue, unresolved traumas, and addressing them. You can also discuss with your physician the possibility to take your medication instead of on the morning, before going to bed. Additionally, consider with your physician the opportunity to introduce T3 form, thus to have a combined T4 and T3 medication.
- Balance your blood sugar level! Blood sugar changes boost the conversion of T4 to reverse T3, which blocks the utilisation of T3.
- Check for deficiencies: Zink and iron deficiencies can be a reason for your hair loss.
- Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune condition expressing by damaging the hair follicles, commonly found in people with autoimmune thyroid conditions. Medical professional can diagnose this disease. You can make use of Hair pull test if you want to pre-check yourself.
References:
Buffoli, B., Rinaldi, F., Labanca, M., Sorbellini, E., Trink, A., Guanziroli, E., . . . Rodella, L. F. (2014). The human hair: from anatomy to physiology. International Journal of Dermatology, 53(3), 331-341. doi:10.1111/ijd.12362
Floc’h, C. L., Cheniti, A., Connétable, S., Piccardi, N., Vincenzi, C., & Tosti, A. (2015). Effect of a nutritional supplement on hair loss in women. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 14(1), 76-82. doi:10.1111/jocd.12127
Ito, T. (2013). Recent Advances in the Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Hair Loss Disease Alopecia Areata. Clinical and Developmental Immunology, 2013. doi:10.1155/2013/348546
