There are numerous factors that contribute to the loss of hair. The most common cause among both men and women is heredity, other common factors are the changes in hormonal levels, nutritional deficiencies, stress – both mental and physical, and different types of medically related conditions. One of the major causes of hair loss is problems involving the thyroid glands.

The thyroid gland is one of the largest endocrine glands in your body. It is found in the neck below the larynx and is shaped like a bowtie. The thyroid controls bodily functions such as how the body burns energy, how it makes proteins, and how sensitive the body should be to hormones. The thyroid gland creates hormones to regulate these functions.

As with other parts of our body, the thyroid gland can be affected by diseases. The most common disease of the thyroid is over-activity and under activity. The over-activity of the thyroid is known as hyperthyroidism or Grave’s diseases; whereas the under activity of the gland is known as hypothyroidism. Both of these diseases contribute to hair loss for both men and women.

Hair normally grows in three phases – the anagen phase, the catagen phase, and the dormant phase. When a person suffers from hypothyroidism, the mechanism that controls the hair growth process loses its balance and eventually shuts down. A malfunctioning thyroid can force the hair follicles to remain in the dormant phase for extended periods of time leading to delayed hair growth and eventual loss of hair.

Hair loss due to hypothyroidism or any other hormonal abnormality is quite serious. If you suspect you have any of these conditions, it is recommended that you take the necessary steps to be properly diagnosed and start treatment immediately. Here are a few things you can do to prevent or lessen the effects of hair loss if you think you have hypothyroidism:

Get yourself evaluated by a dermatologist. A dermatologist can do a complete evaluation to asses the various causes of your hair loss. Tests may be conducted to determine other autoimmune conditions besides hypothyroidism that has contributed to your hair loss. If you are taking thyroid drugs as a thyroid hormone replacement, and are still losing hair, you need to do something about it. Excessive loss of hair is a side effect of medications for most people.

Make sure you do are not undertreated as hair loss can result from being undertreated. Consult your physician – he can probably give you the right drugs to treat your hypothyroidism and eventually get rid of the hair loss. Determine if you need other types of medication, some people have better effects if they use different combinations of drugs instead of using just one.

You should also consider alternative forms of treatment. If you started treatment, be patient about your hair loss as effects do not come overnight. Look at other ways to improve your hair loss treatment. You can add natural herbs and supplements to your diet to make your treatment more efficient. Some natural ways to alleviate hair loss include using green tea, arginine, cysteine, saw palmetto, and getting supplements for vitamin B6 Zinc.

And lastly, but definitely the best thing you can do is consult a physician to get a prescribed treatment. Your dermatologist can recommend drugs for treating hair loss such as Rogaine, Minoxidil, and Propecia. As for your thyroid problem, a doctor can prescribe medication as a form of treatment to get your thyroid back on track.