Thinning Eyebrows? It Might Be a Thyroid Issue

Of course, not everyone is blessed with full, fluffy eyebrows, and that's OK. However, unusual eyebrow hair loss is a reason for concern, and talking to a dermatologist, trichologist or hair expert can help you get to the root cause. And when it comes to diagnosing eyebrow hair loss, the cause could be one of many, including an underactive or overactive thyroid.

While you wait for your doctor's appointment, check out what VEGAMOUR found out from the experts about thyroid-related hair loss, plus learn more a about the best products you should use to boost your brows naturally.

 

What Type of Thyroid Disease Causes Eyebrow Hair Loss?

Having healthy thyroid plays a more significant part in your overall health than you might think. Dr. Pouya Shafipour, a board-certified physician with Paloma Health, an online medical practice focused exclusively on treating hypothyroidism, told us, "Thyroid hormones are essential for the development and creation of hair follicles. When the body is functioning correctly, hair follicles can regenerate themselves, going through the phases of growth, regression, shedding, then growth again."

Essentially there are two types of thyroid dysfunction, and they can both trigger hair loss:

• Hyperthyroidism is when the gland works overtime. This type of thyroid disease can cause sleep issues, dramatic weight loss, increased anxiety, weakened muscles, irregular periods, sensitivity and hair growth problems — especially if the condition goes unnoticed for an extended period.
• Hypothyroidism signals an underactive thyroid gland. When the thyroid function slows down, someone might experience severe fatigue, weight gain, pale skin, coarse or dry hair, very heavy periods, hair loss and in particular, thinning eyebrow hair.

It's important you see a doctor because thyroid disorders aren't the only thing that causes hair loss problems. To find out for sure, ask your health care practitioner for a full thyroid panel, which will reveal your overall thyroid health.

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What You Can Do if Your Eyebrows Are Thinning

If a tricky thyroid function is affecting your beautiful brows, here are some natural alternatives you can try to help stop your eyebrow hairs from shedding and promote hair growth.

Lower Your Stress Levels

We know, we know, it's easier said than done, but chronic stress can cause you to lose hair all over your body. Hair follicles lacking oxygen combined with fluctuating hormone levels could result in serious hair fall.

Eat Calcium-Rich Foods or Take Supplements

Think figs, leafy greens and kefir. Khoshaba explained, "There is no magical cure for regrowth other than taking the prescribed medication and having a healthy diet with calcium-rich foods and/or supplements taken four hours apart from your levothyroxine dose."

Take Your Vitamins

Look for supplements that feature vitamins B-5, 6 and 12, which work to support your body's natural keratin and collagen production. The GRO Biotin Gummies feature an abundance of minerals and vitamins that help keep your hair glossy and full-looking.

Put Down the Tweezers

This one might seem obvious, but as your brows start to change shape, you might be tempted to give them a tidy. Rather than pluck away at them and risk permanent bald patches, use makeup to fill in the gaps.

Stock Up on Fatty Acids

Nuts, seeds, flaxseed oil and canola oil are all full of healthy fats, including hair-boosting omega-3s.

Consider Cosmetic Procedures

"Any cosmetic procedure is completely up to the person and will not interfere with the treatment; however, for the time being, it may be better to use makeup rather than microblading, simply because the eyebrows that grow back may be of a different color or slightly different shape," said Khoshaba.

Fill in Your Brows With Pencils and Powders

Makeup is always an option, and you can work wonders with the right tools, such as an eyebrow pencil that matches your brows and some coordinating powder. 

Explore Eyebrow Transplant Restoration

If your eyebrow loss is permanent, thankfully, there's a procedure that can help frame your face once again. Restoration works in a similar way to a scalp hair replacement and occurs when a section of skin with lots of hair follicles is transplanted to the brow area.

What Are the Signs of Thinning Eyebrows Due to Thyroid Conditions?

An imbalance in the thyroid hormone can cause thinning eyebrows, which can look especially prominent toward the outer edges.

"When the thyroid is either overproducing or underproducing hormones, your hair follicles may not be stimulated as much they need to be, resulting in hair loss—including body hair or eyebrows," explained Shafipour. "One telltale sign of thyroid-related hair loss is losing eyebrow hair, starting on the outer third of your eyebrows, toward your ears."

Do Thyroid Medications Cause Hair Loss?

Unfortunately, eyebrow hair loss thyroid problems don't just occur because of the medical condition. Your thinning hair could also be triggered by the thyroid medication. It also could be that your thyroid medication dosage needs adjusting, or maybe you're simply reacting to the ingredients in the drugs. Always talk to your doctor before stopping or changing any medications.

Will Eyebrows Grow Back After Hypothyroidism?

Experiencing eyebrow hair loss is no fun, but the news isn't all bad. "In most cases, the thinning or loss of hair is temporary, but it may take a few months for the prescribed medication to incentivize hair growth phase again," said Khoshaba. "It's also important to be patient, as the regrown hair may be a different color (namely in case of eyebrows) or texture."

Being diagnosed with a thyroid condition will signal some big life changes. You can help yourself look and feel better by maintaining a nourishing diet, taking the right medication, cutting down on stress and using holistic products on your hair and skin. And as you deal with eyebrow hair regrowth, don't stress by trying to make them look perfectly symmetrical. After all, they're sisters — not twins.

Photo credit: Christian Diokno/Pexels