Is my hair loss due to Thyroid issues?

With over 60 million Americans suspected of having thyroid issues, it’s no surprise that many people suspect their thyroid as the cause of their hair loss. But could this really be the main issue, or is it more likely to be something else?

Well, the answer is; it depends. If you’re a guy and you’re older than 18, you’re far more likely to be experiencing male pattern baldness than any other form of hair loss. For women, thyroid as a cause if more likely, though there are many other factors that are more like to be causing your hair loss.

Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, is an increasingly big issue for people to deal with – though it’s expected that this is partially due to more people being diagnosed. To put it simply, hypothyroidism is when your thyroid isn’t producing enough thyroid hormone, which can result in an array of health complications. Here are a few of the main symptoms of an underactive thyroid;

• Depression – Depression can have it’s effect on the best of us, and it comes without warning. It’s actually one of the more undiagnosed reasons for depression, as doctors often overlook an underactive thyroid as the cause. In some cases, if the thyroid is the cause of your depression, then thyroid hormone replacements will of course work better for you than antidepressants. Remember, you can ask your doctor for a thyroid test if you feel like you’re experiencing more than one of these symptoms!
• Fatigue/Laziness – How many times have you considered yourself lazy, but never really understood why? Well, there are a few possible reasons for your laziness, with a underactive thyroid being one of them. More than 80% of people with hypothyroidism experience fatigue and it can also be a sign of type 2 diabetes, so be careful.
• Cold sensitivity – Ever snuggle up in the evening with the heating on and still find that you’re chilly? Well, this can also be a sign of an underactive thyroid. The thyroid sort of works like a temperature gauge for your whole body, so if it’s not working properly then you’re going to experience different body temperatures.
• Weight gain – Weight gain is one of the more common side effects of hypothyroidism that you’re likely to deal with. Although your thyroid may have an effect on your weight, you should consider other reasons why you may be gaining weight too. If you’re a smoker, you actually make yourself 6-7 times more likely to develop hypothyroidism, according to some studies.
• Hair Loss – Of course, hair loss is another major side effect that can be caused by hypothyroidism. This is because alopecia is a common occurrence if you have an underactive thyroid.

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms, it’s important to remember that this doesn’t necessarily mean you have hypothyroidism! You can always check with your doctor to find out – it could be life saving (in extreme cases)!

What causes hypothyroidism?

The cause of hypothyroidism? Well whilst it can have several different causes. One of the main causes of hypothyroidism is an iodine deficiency. It’s estimated that over a billion people worldwide are deficient in iodine (not all results in hypothyroidism), so it’s not surprise that many people are now wondering whether they have an underactive thyroid. However if you’re in the US or Europe, then an iodine deficiency is pretty unlikely.

One of the more common causes of hypothyroidism in Western culture is Hashimotos Disease. This is essentially where your immune system attacks your thyroid, with the occurring inflammation ending up with hypothyroidism. You’re more likely to be affected by hypothyroidism if you’re a woman, but it does occur for some men too. If you’re wondering why this occurs – no one really knows. Some experts say that this is caused by a bacterial infection, whilst others believe it to just be your genetics.

Am I likely to have hypothyroidism?

In all honesty, no. True hypothyroidism effects less than 1% of people in the US, so it is very unlikely you’re going to be effected by this. It’s even less likely to have an effect on you if you’re a young person, as hypothyroidism is more prevalent as you get older (over 60s have the highest rate of hypothyroidism).

Now, there is something else which is called subclinical hypothyroidism. This is far more common than normal hypothyroidism, and effects up to 8% of the population. This is also sometimes know as mild thyroid failure. The symptoms for this are the same, but less intense than the symptoms that you’ll experience with hypothyroidism.

If you’re young and relatively healthy, you’re unlikely to have hypothyroidism and it is probably not the cause of your hair loss. If you’re a guy, it’s more likely to be male pattern baldness. If you’re a woman, then stress and other factors are a more likely scenario. It is however, very easy for your doctor to check if you have a underactive thyroid. If you think you may have this, then there’s really no harm going to your doctor and asking them for a thyroid function test.

How does hypothyroidism cause hair loss?

Whilst it’s easy to see how your thyroid is important for your hair, it’s not always easy to connect it to hair loss. Alopecia is actually one of the main symptoms of dealing with hypothyroidism, which explains why hair loss is such a common side effect of hypothyroidism.

A more depth explanation is that hypothyroidism is where your thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones for your body to function normally. The food that you eat won’t be metabolized properly, which will sometimes result in hair loss and protein is an important nutrient for a healthy scalp. For this reason, hair loss is sometimes a side effect of an underactive thyroid.

If you want to start ensuring you do what you can to maintain a healthy thyroid, you should follow a balanced diet and exercise regime. This will help you not only to maintain a healthy thyroid, but a healthy body entirely.

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What to do if you’re balding at a young age

Balding sucks. There’s no two ways about it, if you’ve just started balding you’re undoubtedly thinking about why this is happening. The truth of the matter is, that balding happens to over two thirds of men at different points in their lifetime – though this is more likely to happen as you’re getting older. But what can you do if you start balding at a young age?

Well, the first thing that you need to do if you’re a young guy who’s balding is find out the cause. If it’s male pattern baldness, which the likelihood is that it is, then you need to accept that you are balding and work out what you’re going to do about it.

For the majority of guys, male pattern baldness is a big deal, though they’re unlikely to admit it easily to themselves and others. Don’t worry, you’re not alone in feeling this way. Going bald will eventually drastically change the way that you look, and in a world which is so focussed on aesthetics, it’s understandable that this is a pretty big deal.

There are a few things that you can do if you’re starting to bald at a young age.

Accept it and shave

This is undoubtedly my favorite option; I personally went fully bald at a super young age (20) and shaved my head. Of course, when I first started balding it was a massive deal to me, like it would be to most guys. But after a few months to a year, I found myself a good grooming routine and since then, I haven’t looked back.

The majority of guys think that you’ll be treated differently if you’re a bald guy. You won’t. Aside from the occasional jibes from your friends, you’re not really going to notice a difference in the way that people treat you. If anything, I’ve found that people actually treat me with much more respect now than they did when I had hair. This is likely because baldness is associated with dominance and authority. This is probably due to a mixture of mainstream medias stars affecting the way that bald men are percieved (thanks, Bruce Willis). In my opinion, there’s also the addition that successful bald men are more focussed on improving other areas of life that they do have control over; their body, their occupation and their wealth.

So, the first option that you have if you’re losing your hair is to just shave it all off and learn to accept it. Whilst it might take you a while to get used to, you will get used to it eventually and as time goes on, you’ll think about it less and less as an issue.

Start a Minoxidil/Finasteride plan

For me, I accepted balding as I wasn’t willing to use chemicals and other substances to try and make my hair grow. I don’t judge anyone who chooses to do this however, and it can be an option for you – if you start taking it early enough.

If you’re a full on baldy, then taking finasteride or minoxidil is not going to make any difference for you. It’s not going to make you magically go from Vin Diesel to Paul Walker. But if you realise that you’re balding early enough and want to hop on one of these hair growth schemes, then it’s undoubtedly an ‘earlier the better’ type of situation.

It should definitely be said that neither of these are going to work in the short term; you need to dedicate yourself for a minimum of 6+ months to really see any results, though some people say they’ve seen results earlier than this.

Finasteride

Finasteride works by blocking the internal conversion of testosterone to DHT. Research has shown that DHT is a major component in baldness, as well as a whole host of other health problems too.

I always decided to totally avoid finasteride, also known as Propecia, because of guys reporting that it resulted in a plummeting libido and erectile dysfunction. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have no hair and a working wang than an afro and a penis that didn’t properly.

So, although there are massive side effects that can come with finasteride, you could consider it if you’re looking for an option to help you keep your hair for longer. Just be fully aware of the side effects beforehand.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil, also known by the brand name Rogaine, was originally uses to help people with high blood pressure. In using it to treat blood pressure, research showed that it actually was great for stimulating hair growth too. Although research still doesn’t know specifically how Minoxidil works properly, it’s said that it stimulates hair growth by increasing the blood and nutrient supply for hair follicles.

Minoxidil will work best for those who aren’t totally bald yet, and if you can catch it before your MPB really progresses, you’re likely to find best results this way. Whilst it doesn’t have the same scary side effects that Propecia has, it can still commonly cause irritation in your skin.

Either way, with both of these treatments you should consult your doctors or a specialist before taking matters into your own hands.

Conclusion

 

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Can bald people get lice?

A common question amongst those who are bald or balding is whether they’re going to have to deal with lice any more. If you’ve had lice in the past, it’s understandable that this is a concern; lice can be pretty disgusting!

If you’re asking yourself whether bald people can get lice, then the answer is no. A totally bald headed man is not going to get lice on his, as they need something to cling on to.

Now, this definitely doesn’t mean that you’re totally safe from lice if you’re a bald guy. The majority of bald guys choose not to shave their head entirely. This means that there is still some hair on your head to cling on to, which gives you the opportunity to still get lice.

Now, aside from your head, there are other regions on your body that you can get lice, even if you’re a bald guy. Here’s a few examples of what I mean.

Eyebrow Lice

Eyebrow lice is actually more common than you might think. If you have itchy eyebrows, then there’s a chance that you’re experiencing some form of eyebrow lice.

Many people think that the itchiness comes from the lice itself – this isn’t true. You’re actually itching to tiny bites that the lice are making into your skin, which will cause an allergic reaction, resulting in you itching your face. I know, I’ve made it sound a million times worse than you originally thought! Whilst eyebrow lice are more common in those with hair, it is possible for bald men to get eyebrow lice too.

Beard Lice

Lice can cling onto pretty much any hair that’s on your body, although it’s much easier for lice to grip onto head hair than it is hair on your beard. This is because the hair on your head is easier for the claws of the lice to grip on to.

It’s pretty common to get beard lice, especially if you have young kids who come home from work and share their lice with you!

Chest Hair Lice

Much like beard lice, another common place for bald men to experience lice is in their chest hair. Of course, you would think an easy fix for this is to shave it all off! But, there’s really little need to go to such drastic lengths to get rid of lice.

With pubic and hair lice, you can usually visit a doctor or even find some good over the counter treatments for lice which are extremely effective.

Pubic Lice (Crabs)

Pubic lice are much shorter than head lice and body lice, but that doesn’t mean that they’re any less worrying.

Typically, pubic lice are transferred through sexual contact, but there are other ways that you can catch pubic lice without contact with another individual. This is an unlikely scenario, but it is possible to get pubic lice from sharing a towel or even clothes and bedsheets. For this reason, it’s extremely important to keep your materials regularly clean, so that you can avoid getting any of these sorts of lice.

Getting rid of pub lice is more difficult than getting rid of head lice, but it’s not impossible.

All these other forms of lice can be ways that bald men can still get lice – so if you’re bald, you’re not totally out of the woods yet when it comes to lice.

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Should you invest in a Minoxidil Shampoo if you’re going bald?

One of the most common questions I’m asked by my balding pals is whether they should invest in a minoxidil shampoo to help slow down the balding process.

My answer; kind of, but not really. Research shows that Minoxidil is most effective when applied and lieft on your scalp for a longer period of time – I’m talking hours, here. The likelihood is that you’re not going to be spending several hours every day in the shower washing your hair, so it’s likely that Minoxidil is not truly effective as a shampoo.

I say ‘kind of’, because there is really no harm is using a Minoxidil shampoo if you’re a guy. But, the likelihood is that any positive effects you’re seeing on your hair won’t be from the Minoxidil; they’re likely from the other ingredients that are in the shampoo.

Whilst there’s no scientific proof that minoxidil shampoo really works for your hair, several other ingredients may actually have an impact on your hair loss. Let’s have a look at some of these ingredients, and review whether you should invest your hard earned cash into them.

So, is Minoxidil Shampoo a scam?

Well, kinda (in my opinion) – often, companies will just use an expensive and luxury shampoo, add the label ‘minoxidil’ to it and hey presto! You’re automatically going to grow your hair back.

Now, minoxidil does work for hair loss and it’s a great option if you’re willing to accept the potential side effects that you may encounter. But, generally the minoxidil needs to be applied for longer than the length of your shower for it to really work. So whilst it’s not necessarily a scam, it’s not really allowing the minoxidil to work as well as it could.

If you’re using the Minoxidil Shampoo in the shower, then you’re likely going to wash off the formula before it really has a chance to work for you. This means that you’re not getting the full effect of the minoxidil – you’d be better off looking at other minoxidil products like Rogaine, which usually comes in a spray or liquid format.

There are other ingredients in the Minoxidil shampoo that are more likely to be effective than the minoxidil itself. Here’s a few of those ingredients with some research suggesting that they help to prevent hair loss.

1. Saw Palmetto

 

 

 

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How the Balding Gene really works

“Is your dad bald? Because if he is, that explains why you’re bald too”. Most bald men have undoubtedly heard something similar to this, or even in the opposite way. “Did you know that you actually get your balding gene from your Mom’s dad?” Both of these theories can’t be true.. or can they?

The answer? Both the genes from your mother and your father will have an input as to whether you’re going to be affected by balding.

Whilst scientists are still unsure of which side is more impactful (if you read different studies and reports, you’ll find different verdicts), it can be undoubtedly said that you’re more likely to go bald if your father is bald, or the baldness genes are on your mother’s side too.

 

The Case for Maternal Genetic Baldness

One of the more well known studies that seemingly proved that seemingly proved that your hair loss is mainly inherited from your mother is this one. It was performed in Germany back in 2005, so many years have passed since this study was undertaken and developments have been made in Science since then. It does however, still stand as one of the more prominent researches in the field.

Essentially, the research shows that men start to go bald because of the x chromosome. The Androgen receptor, which is on the X chromosome, is the primary reason that men start to bald. Men get their X chromosome from their mother and their Y chromosome from their mother, which is the reason that this study concluded that men get their balding genetics from their mother.

 

The Case for Paternal Genetic Baldness

Whilst it’s correct that men get the X chromosome from their mothers side and this is important, there’s more to it than that. Different research studies also show that men who have bald fathers are more likely to go bald too, which means that it isn’t just down to your mom.

It is correct that your mothers hereditary genes are more dominant, but that doesn’t mean to say that your dads side has no impact. It’s a combination of both sides. If your moms father is bald, then you’re more likely to be bald than if your dad is bad. But, if your moms father is bald and your dad is bald, then you’re even more likely to go bald yourself!

 

The Truth

Balding is slightly complex, and it’s likely that it’s a mixture of both your fathers side and your mothers side which may cause your baldness. Now, this doesn’t mean to say that it has to be directly from your parents generation; balding can be passed down from many generations. So, if your parents and their parents aren’t bald, that doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t going to go bald – you could get it from your great uncle, or even further back.

This is how it’s perfectly normal for one sibling to be bald as a badger, but another sibling to have a full head of hair. There’s really nothing you can do about having the balding chromosome, so it’s up to you whether you’d like to try and combat the issue with things like a Minoxidil Shampoo or just accept the fact you’re going to gradually go bald as you age (I’d recommend the latter, but that’s just me!).

How to combat balding

As I said, there is really notthing you can do to change your genetics. You can however, mitigate any hair loss that you’re expecting to experience in the future. The best way to do this is to consider using some type of over the counter synthetic drug like Minoxidil or Propecia. Whilst they are unlikely to help you enable you to have any hair grow back, they can undoubtedly mitigate any loss you’re experiencing and slow down the process.

It must be said however, that both of these drugs are not without their own risks. You literally have to apply minoxidil twice a day, which might not sound like much now; but it’ll get annoying. Along with that, if you try Propecia then it has been linked to erectile dysfunction. What would you rather have, your hair or your virility? I know what I’d prefer!

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Bald with Big Ears – What to do about it

If you’re bald or balding, then this is definitely going to relate to you. You’ve undoubtedly heard or read people saying that “some people just suit a bald head” or that some guys just look good bald. They then proceed to give you a list of people who look good bald – usually The Rock, Jason Statham, Vin Diesel.. you know, all guys with perfect bodies and great facial aesthetics. But what about if you’re not these guys; what about if you’re bald with big ears?

Well, the number one thing that you can do if you’re going bald and you have large ears is to accept it. There’s not much that you can do about going bald, and whilst there are things that you can do to slow down the process, it’s an inevitability in the long run.

Here are a few of the options that you have if you’re going bald, but you’re slightly worried because you have big ears.

Accept it

My main pieces of advice would be to literally accept that you have big ears, and own it. You are you – and this is the way that you were created.

I understand when people talk about wanting to lose weight, or wanting to get whiter teeth and stuff like that. These are things that you easily have the power to change, and are a circumstance of your lifestyle. For guys, your body is just the way that you was born – and it’s best to accept yourself as you are. This goes for your big ears, or your nose, or your penis or whatever. Without surgery, those things aren’t going to change, so it’s probably best for you to accept yourself as you are. The same way that some women are obsessed about their breasts or their butt.. does it really matter that much in the grand scheme of things?

The likelihood is that you’re worried about your big ears affecting your attractiveness. Well, although a bald head with big ears is quite striking at first, there’s a ton of other things people will rate more important than your big ears. Appearance is only skin deep,

Improve other areas of your physical appearance

Whilst you shouldn’t be concerned too much about what you was born with, you can alter other areas of your appearance. Your physical appearance does give an indication of who you are – and whilst you can’t change your ears without surgery, you can change other areas of your appearance.

Get in shape

One of the main things that you’ll want to do if you’re going bald (big ears, small ears, no ears – any baldy should take this advice!) is to get into better shape. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to hit the gym three times a day and take a ton of juice – no, getting into better shape can just be shifting those extra Christmas lbs.

If you’re a bit podgy, losing weight will change your facial aesthetics completely. A double chin is never, ever going to be attractive! Getting rid of those extra pounds is undoubtedly your first step on the way to looking, and more importantly feeling, better.

Take more care of your other features

Like I’ve said, you don’t have much control over some of your physical features. But there are certain physical features that you do have control over.

For example, your teeth. Having clean teeth is almost a must for any bald guy, as a woman is going to be instantly drawn to your face. Your teeth are one of the first things that your potential partner will look at anyway, so making sure their clean and white is a great way to attract others.

It goes without saying that you should take good care of other areas on your face. Keeping your nose hairs plucked and your eyebrows on point – no unibrows, please!

Anyway, the point is that you should take more control of the things that you can, and accept the things that you cannot.

Facial Hair

For most bald guys, you’ll have the option to grow yourself some facial hair. This can help contrast between your shiny head and the rest of your body, so considering a beard is a great option for a baldy.

If you’re bald with big ears, then you could consider growing yourself out a thicker beard. Doing this can draw attention away from your ears, and make them look more in proportion with the rest of your body. The best example of this is undoubtedly Will Smith as Deadshot in the film Suicide Squad;

Will Smith, a guy famed for having massive ears throughout his entire career, manages to pull the bald head look off with ease. How? Well, the well groomed beard helps attract attention away from the ears and towards his handsome face. Using a beard in the same way is a good option for those big ears like the Fresh Prince.

Ear Correction Surgery

For all that I babble on about accepting yourself as you are, I won’t get through to everybody. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

If you really can’t accept your ears and it’s causing you extreme psychological distress, then you can consider getting ear surgery.

This can be done in two ways. One option is that they can actually take cartilage out of your ears to make them smaller. This is a pretty extreme length to go to, so you need to be sure that this is genuinely something that you want. Any type of surgery like this occurs risks, so you should do some thorough research before partaking in this kind of surgery.

Another option is to get your ears pinned back. This is actually a pretty common thing for children and younger people to have done, and it is done using the same method as a full surgery. You can have a more in depth look at the method used here, but essentially it involves making a small incision into the ear and reshaping it.

This can be a good way to deal with large ears, whether you’re balding or not.

 

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