Thyroid Imbalances & Hair Loss: What You Need to Know
If your hair is shedding more than usual and you also feel tired, cold, or moody, your thyroid may be the missing link. The thyroid gland acts like the body’s thermostat, regulating energy, metabolism, and even the growth cycle of your hair. When it’s not functioning properly, your hair is often one of the first places to show the strain.
How the Thyroid Affects Hair
Thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) control the rate at which cells renew themselves. Your hair follicles depend on this steady turnover to stay active and healthy. When the thyroid slows down (hypothyroidism), hair often becomes dry, brittle, and sheds more than normal. When it speeds up (hyperthyroidism), hair may thin diffusely across the scalp. A tell-tale sign for many people is thinning at the outer edges of the eyebrows.
Common Signs of Thyroid Imbalances
Hair loss rarely shows up alone. Some other red flags to watch for include:
- Fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest
- Unexplained weight gain or loss
- Feeling unusually cold or overheated
- Mood swings, brain fog, or anxiety
- Dry skin, brittle nails, and ongoing shedding
If several of these sound familiar, it’s worth looking deeper into your thyroid function.
Why Standard Bloodwork Often Misses It
In conventional medicine, doctors usually test only TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). While TSH is important, it doesn’t tell the whole story. As a Functional Trichologist, I look at a full thyroid panel (including Free T3, Free T4, and thyroid antibodies) and compare those results to optimal ranges, not just what’s considered “normal.”
Many clients are told their labs are fine, yet they’re still struggling with shedding, fatigue, and other symptoms. When we shift the lens from “normal” to “optimal,” the real picture becomes clearer.
A Functional Trichologist’s Approach
My role is to connect the dots between your symptoms, lifestyle, and bloodwork so we can identify what your hair is really trying to tell you. Supporting thyroid health often includes:
- Restoring key nutrients such as iodine, selenium, and zinc
- Improving digestion and gut health so the body can actually absorb what it needs
- Addressing stress and lifestyle factors that keep the thyroid under strain
When the body is balanced, hair follicles have the foundation they need to grow strong and resilient again.
Final Thoughts
Hair loss is never just about your scalp. If you’ve been struggling with shedding and suspect your thyroid may be part of the puzzle, you don’t have to guess alone. With the right support, balance is possible, and so is regrowth.
Call to schedule a Hair & Health Assessment today to find out what your body is really telling you and begin your path to restoration.
