Condition of your hair is a good indicator of your health in general. When hair loss occurs it could be a signal that there's something wrong in the body. Losing hair may be induced by processes such as hormonal balance changes, bad hair nutrition, surgery after effects, medication side effects and specifically thyroid issues.

Hair loss is quite a common problem in America. It is estimated that nearly half of all adults in the US are suffering from different forms of hair loss by the age of 40. However, when there are problems with the thyroid gland, hair loss issues were observed to manifest earlier and faster than in other circumstances.

Thyroid problems are usually divided into three main categories:

1. Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland)

2. Hypothyroidism (low activity of the thyroid gland)

3. Benign thyroid disease and thyroid cancer

When discussing hair loss problems from the thyroid perspective, they are usually caused by either hyperactive or hypoactive thyroid gland that leads to hair thinning and balding.

Locating the thyroid gland

The thyroid gland is located in the base of the neck just below the thyroid cartilage (Adam's Apple).

What should I do if thyroid problems are causing hair loss?

Go for a medical checkup

If you experience hair loss problems you should first go to your doctor and run through a series of medical tests. It might turn out that your hair loss is due to other conditions, such as infections or hormonal imbalance. Nevertheless, checking your thyroid is also highly recommended.

Check your drugs

Certain drugs and treatments can lead to hair loss, If you are taking drugs such as levothyroxine or have gone through radiation or chemotherapy for cancer then you have a risk of prolonged and excessive hair loss problems. It's recommended to consult with your doctor concerning this issue.

Choose the treatment options

Once the actual causes of hair loss have been identified it will be much easier for your physician to select the right treatment course for you. If thyroid hormone production is imbalanced, setting it to the right condition might be just enough to eliminate or reduce hair loss. The thyroid gland is the largest and one of the most important parts of the endocrine system, regulating the work of all other hormones in the body. So if there's something wrong with it, you should get appropriate treatment as soon as possible. Otherwise, hair loss might be one of the lesser health problems you will encounter in the future.

If your thyroid is not the main factor contributing to hair loss then you can try conventional hair loss medications such as Propecia and Rogaine. However, bear in mind that Propecia is to be used by men only, and usually helps in cases when male hormone imbalance is the root of the problem. That's why it certainly pays to spend some time and go through a hormonal test in order to make sure that drugs like Propecia will do in your situation. In case there are any other health problems, you might want to treat them first in order to eliminate the factors contributing to hair thinning and balding.