Save Your Hair by Improving Your Thyroid Health

While hair loss and poor hair conditions can occur from a number of problems, a leading cause of hair troubles are caused by poor thyroid health. The thyroid is a small gland that is located in the lower section of your throat. This tiny gland secrets a number of different hormones which are used to provide energy to various cells in the body.

Unfortunately, there are many conditions which can effect how the thyroid functions. The two most commonly heard of thyroid conditions are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. However, a person can also develop a goiter, which is a thyroid that has become enlarged, thyroid nodules, thyroiditis or thyroid cancer. All of these conditions cause the thyroid to not function properly, which leads to a variety of medical conditions, one of which is hair loss.

Your Thyroid and Hair Loss

The most common symptom that occurs from any of these thyroid conditions is hair loss. In fact, I have often heard many people say that it was the poor condition of their hair and hair loss that caused them to have a thyroid test performed in the first place. They have experienced issues such as having large amounts of hair falling out, thinning and breaking hair and noticeable changes in their hair's overall appearance. These changes have led them to research what may be causing these issues, and have helped them to discover they may have a thyroid problem.

The primary cause of hair loss from a thyroid condition is an increased speed at which your body converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, often referred to as DHT. When this happens, the DHT will cause the hair follicle to shrink, and in some cases cause it to completely disappear. This results in hair loss, or general poor hair quality. In many cases, you will not only experience this from the hair on your head, but from the hair on the rest of your body as well.

How to Save Your Hair From a Thyroid Condition

Fortunately, there are some things that you can do to help save your hair by improving your thyroid health. If you suspect that you have a thyroid condition, it is important to have a test performed as soon as possible so that you can begin proper treatment. If you are already receiving treatment and still suffering from hair issues, you should first determine if your medication is the culprit for the problems. Many medications that are used to treat thyroid problems can actually increase the amount of hair loss you experience. Check the side effects of the medication you are on, and if hair loss is one of them, speak with your doctor about trying a different thyroid medication.

Another popular treatment that is used for dealing with hair loss caused by a thyroid condition is Propecia. Propecia is a prescription medication that is used to stop hair loss in both men and women. Many people are put off by Propecia cost, but if you are desperate it is worth the price you pay due to it's effectiveness.

Propecia works by interfering with the DHT that is causing damage to your hair follicles. While effective, there are some limitations on who can use it for treating hair loss. For starters, as with many drugs, there are side effects, both long term and short. Also, it is generally not given to women that are of a child-bearing age, given that it is not safe to use while a woman is pregnant. Another downside to using Propecia is that it can take quite some time, often close to a year, before you will actually begin to see any results from use.

Dealing with a thyroid problem is bad enough, but having to deal with the hair loss that almost always results from this condition is in many opinions even worse. If you are diligent in seeking and maintaining treatment for your thyroid problem, you may be able to keep the worst of the hair issues at bay. Just don't get discouraged if none of the treatments you try for hair loss work. Remember, in this day and age any cosmetic issue can be remedied, even if it is only with a hair transplant or a snazzy new hair weave!

This article was written by HealthyNewAge website.