Re: Can hypothyroid cause grey hairs?

 As soon as I got the symptoms of hypothyroidism 2 years ago I had a sudden onset of grey hairs. I had a full head of black hair before being hypo, not 1 white hair.

I still haven't been given meds for the hypo as the doctors say the blood test results are slightly abnormal only but I have many symptoms of being hypo so I am seeing a private doctor in January.

My main question is, if the hypothyroid is corrected, will the grey hairs become black again? I have about 25 white hairs now over the course of 2 years of being hypo.

Thyroid hormones require the amino acid tyrosine for their production.  So low levels of tyrosine can lead to hypothyroidism.  Tyrosine is also required for the production of melanin, which is used to pigment hair and skin.  So a lack of tyrosine can also lead to premature graying.

The other possibility is that the hypothyroidism is autoimmune in nature.  If a person has an autoimmune condition they are more prone to other autoimmune conditions.  And pigment cells can be destroyed in some autoimmune conditions.