If you're dealing with an underactive thyroid, you might have noticed changes to your hair – including it going grey earlier than expected.
It turns out there's a fascinating connection between thyroid function and the cells responsible for giving your hair its colour.
Professor Jagdish Khubchandani from New Mexico State University explained to GB News that melanocytes and their stem cells in hair follicles rely on thyroid hormones to work properly.
These hormones send direct signals to the pigment-producing cells, help maintain proper nutrition levels, and reduce oxidative stress – all of which keep these cells alive and functioning well.
Melanocytes and their stem cells in hair follicles rely on thyroid hormones
|GETTY
What should you do if hypothyroidism is affecting your hair?
Professor Khubchandani is clear that getting your thyroid back to normal should be your number one focus.
"Given the origin of the problem, the number 1 priority is to bring thyroid function back to normal (e.g. medications that work as thyroid supplements) - this is the root cause and should be addressed as a priority to fix multiple problems, including skin and hair issues," he explained.
Rather than chasing quick fixes, tackling the underlying cause means you're addressing not just hair troubles but other symptoms too.
But even with the best treatment, there's no promise that your hair will bounce back to how it was before.
Professor Khubchandani noted that even aggressive management through medication won't guarantee a reversal of hair-related problems.
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You can, however, be confident that proper treatment will stop things from getting worse.
As for other lifestyle changes that might help, the evidence is a bit of a mixed bag.
The professor pointed out that these measures aren't unique to people with thyroid conditions – they're things that can benefit everyone's hair health.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that sits above the collarbone
| GETTYWhen it comes to giving your hair a helping hand, Professor Khubchandani recommends loading up on vitamins B, C, and E, which can do wonders for hair quality.
Minerals matter too – copper, zinc, and iron are all worth adding to your diet or taking as supplements.
Then there's what he calls "reducing the S" – cutting back on smoking, stress, spirits, excess salt or sugar, sleeplessness, and shampoos packed with harsh or toxic chemicals.
While anyone can benefit from these changes, the professor stressed that people with thyroid conditions still need proper medical treatment alongside these lifestyle tweaks.
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