What gland controls hair loss?

Author: Mayra Wilkinson MD  |  Last update: Sunday, June 22, 2025

Thyroid Gland Hormones. Human skin, including the hair follicles, is greatly influenced by the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, which controls many metabolic processes.

What gland causes hair loss?

Severe and prolonged hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause loss of hair. The loss is diffuse and involves the entire scalp rather than discrete areas. The hair appears uniformly sparse. Regrowth is usual with successful treatment of the thyroid disorder, though it will take several months and may be incomplete.

What endocrine disorders cause hair loss?

Hair loss may accompany several endocrine disorders, including hypopituitarism, hypothyreosis, hyperthyreosis, hypoparathyroidism, diabetes mellitus, growth hormone deficiency, hyperprolactinaemia, polycystic ovary syndrome, SAHA syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Cushing syndrome, or virilising tumours.

What organ controls hair loss?

If you have a problem with your thyroid, you may see thinning hair. Some people notice that their hair comes out in clumps when they brush it. Is regrowth possible? Yes, treating the thyroid disease can reverse the hair loss.

Do adrenal glands affect hair loss?

Adrenal fatigue may cause hair loss due to problems with the production of the two hormones linked to hair loss, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Adrenal fatigue can lead to problems with processing DHEA and testosterone, which may lead to hair loss in men and women.

Thyroid and Its Effect on Hair Loss

What are the symptoms of your adrenal glands not working properly?

See a healthcare professional if you have common symptoms of Addison's disease, such as:
  • Long-lasting fatigue.
  • Muscle weakness.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Darkened areas of skin.
  • Weight loss that doesn't happen on purpose.
  • Serious upset stomach, vomiting or stomach pain.
  • Lightheadedness or fainting with standing.
  • Salt cravings.

What is your body lacking when you have hair loss?

Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is a component of two important coenzymes: flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) [22].

What emotion is linked to hair loss?

Hair loss may lead to depression, anxiety, and social phobia. Depression can lead to a feeling of low mood, lack of interest or pleasure in activities, loss of energy, and sleep deprivation.

How to reverse hormonal hair loss?

So before you can reverse hair thinning, you need to find out the cause with hair loss blood tests and other assessments.
  1. 12 ways to reverse hair thinning after menopause. ...
  2. Try hormone replacement therapy. ...
  3. Consider Finasteride. ...
  4. Apply Minoxidil. ...
  5. Take Spironolactone. ...
  6. Avoid heat styling. ...
  7. Massage your scalp. ...
  8. Get a hair transplant.

What underlying illness causes hair loss?

Bald spots, thinning, and breakage can be symptoms of a serious underlying health condition such as alopecia, lupus, thyroid issues, and other common types of disease that cause hair loss. If you have noticed a dramatic increase in shedding or other change in the appearance of your hair, Drs.

What is the most common female endocrine disorder?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy among women of reproductive age, impacting 5-10% of premenopausal American women. During the reproductive years, women with PCOS seek medical attention related to infertility, hirsutism, and acne.

What endocrine disorder causes hair loss?

Hair loss may accompany several endocrine disorders, including hypopituitarism, hypothyreosis, hyperthyreosis, hypoparathyroidism, diabetes mellitus, growth hormone deficiency, hyperprolactinaemia, polycystic ovary syndrome, SAHA syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Cushing syndrome, or virilising tumours.

What organ failure causes hair loss?

Many People With Kidney Disease Notice Hair Loss

One study of 101 people who were on dialysis for end-stage kidney disease (also called end-stage renal disease) reported that almost 10 percent experienced hair loss.

Can hair loss be reversed?

Effective treatments for some types of hair loss are available. You might be able to reverse hair loss, or at least slow it. With some conditions, such as patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), hair may regrow without treatment within a year. Treatments for hair loss include medications and surgery.

Why is my hair so thin I can see my scalp?

A visible scalp through your hair can be a sign that it's thinning (but not always). The factors that contribute to thinning hair (and thus a visible scalp) include stress, diet, vitamin deficiency and ageing.

Which hormone causes hair loss in females?

Androgenic alopecia is generally used to describe female pattern hair loss, it is the most common cause of hair loss in women. It usually occurs after menopause because of an excess of androgens (“male hormones”) such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) caused by rapidly decreasing estrogen.

What organ can cause hair loss?

Hormonal changes and medical conditions.

A variety of conditions can cause permanent or temporary hair loss, including hormonal changes due to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and thyroid problems.

What does thyroid hair loss look like?

Distinctive Signs of Thyroid-Related Hair Loss

Look out for sudden, excessive shedding that leaves noticeably less hair on your brush or shower drain. The hair loss may occur evenly all over your scalp. With an underactive thyroid, strands often lack lustre and become dry and brittle.

How to flush adrenal glands?

These “building blocks” are integral in the context of your body being in a position to naturally heal your overworked adrenal glands.
  1. Eat Meal Within an Hour After Waking. ...
  2. Skip Processed Foods. ...
  3. Say No to High Impact Exercise. ...
  4. Say Yes to Fresh Air. ...
  5. Take B Vitamins. ...
  6. Get Lots of Sleep. ...
  7. Include Protein. ...
  8. No Caffeine.

What is Cushing's disease?

(KUSH-ing dih-ZEEZ) A condition in which there is too much cortisol (a hormone made by the outer layer of the adrenal gland) in the body. In Cushing disease, this happens when an adenoma (benign tumor) in the pituitary gland makes too much adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).

What are the red flags of Addison's disease?

Addison disease can occur at any age but most often presents during the second or third decades of life. The initial presenting features include fatigue, generalized weakness, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, tachycardia, and hypotension.

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