Do you feel like you’re dragging yourself down day after day? Do you have symptoms such as brain fog, weight gain, cold, or thinning hair? Or do you experience the polar opposite: are you frequently energized, sweating, or anxious? Your thyroid gland may be the reason. This powerful regulator of the body and the intellect can occasionally go awry, particularly in women. To feel your best and avoid significant health concerns, you must receive the proper medical treatment.
Learn The Effects Of Thyroid Disease On Your Hair, Skin, And Nails, as well as what to do if you continue to have related symptoms despite condition or lather.
The Effects Of Thyroid Disease On Your Hair, Skin, And Nails
Throat contains thyroid glands that are located in front of the throat. It creates hormones that regulate the rate at which your metabolism operates — the system that assists your body in utilizing energy. Thyroid diseases, which cause the synthesis of thyroid hormones to be disrupted, can either slow down or speed up metabolism. When your hormone levels become abnormally low or excessively high, you may suffer a variety of symptoms.
Thyroid impact on Hair
Hair follicles often regenerate themselves, passing through periods of development, regression, resting, shedding, and growth again. On the other hand, low thyroid hormone levels can cause changes in the structure and function of the hair and skin. Thyroid hormones have been shown in studies to have a direct impact on the hair follicle cycle. As a result, insufficient thyroid hormone delays the hair growth cycle.
Hair loss caused by hypothyroidism affects the entire scalp rather than specific places (as with alopecia). If you notice that your hair is coarse, thinning, breaking, or even absent, it may be due to a thyroid issue. You may also notice that the outer part of your brows begins to weaken, which indicates hypothyroidism.
Thyroid impact on Skin
Thyroid disorders can also affect skin tissues. Thyroid hormones play a role in the regeneration of skin cells. Consequently, when the thyroid is underactive, the skin regeneration cycle is underactive, resulting in dry and flaky skin.
If you see changes in your skin that are not caused by allergies or new products, it could signify a thyroid problem. Thyroid imbalances can manifest themselves in the form of itchy, dry, and flaky skin, among other symptoms. When people begin taking thyroid hormone therapy, these symptoms almost always disappear.
Thyroid impact on Nails
Thyroid problems can also impact your nails, causing abnormalities in nail shape, colour, or adhesion to the nail bed. Keep an eye out if you have hangnails, ridges in your nails, cracking, peeling, or even dry cuticles.
These hair, skin, and nails changes do not always indicate that you have an underactive thyroid. However, if you experience these symptoms regularly, it may be good to book an appointment with an Encronolgist to test your thyroid to determine the next best steps and suitable therapy.
While many laboratories detect thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), we believe it is necessary also to assess free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), and TPO antibodies. These four markers can help you comprehend the big picture of what’s going on with your thyroid function and where you can make specific improvements.
How to treat these thyroid-related Issues?
Try to Eat Healthily
The more dietary stress you place on yourself, the more probable you may develop inflammation, which can interfere with thyroid function. To maintain your hair, skin, and nails from the inside, eat a nutrient-rich diet and minimize processed foods, caffeine, and alcohol. Peptides and lipids are natural oils that are essential for maintaining healthy hair, skin, and nails. They are available in the form of eggs, almonds, and avocados.
Antioxidants, when consumed in addition to being applied topically, can provide a lift to your skin. Anti-inflammatory foods like ginger and turmeric may help your endocrine system provide adequate development signals to your glands.
Take Vitamins and Minerals
Collagen, antioxidants, biotin, and calcium are some supplements that can help with new cell formation and reinforce your hair, skin, and nails. We urge that you consult with your doctor before starting a new supplement regimen.
Keep in mind that taking a biotin supplement may interfere with some thyroid tests results, so check with your lab to see if you should avoid taking biotin before testing your thyroid.
Treat the Source
If your tests reveal that your thyroid is underactive, this is a fixable problem. Improving symptoms such as skin, hair, and nail problems usually begins with optimizing thyroid levels with thyroid hormone replacement medicine. When discussing thyroid medication with your thyroid specialist, keep in mind that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
1-Does thyroid affect your hair and nails?
Thyroid problems can also impact your nails, causing abnormalities in nail shape, color, or adhesion to the nail bed. Keep an eye out if you have hangnails, ridges in your nails, cracking, peeling, or even dry cuticles.
2-Does hypothyroidism cause brittle nails?
Hypothyroidism can cause dry, brittle, and coarse hair, as well as dull, thin nails that break easily. When people start taking thyroid hormones, these symptoms usually go away.
3-At what age do thyroid problems start?
As a result, the gland may overproduce the hormone that regulates metabolism. The disease is hereditary and can occur at any age in men and women, but it is much more common in women aged 20 to 30.