Symptom 4. Hair Loss – An Unexpected Consequence of Iodine Deficiency
Experiencing hair loss can be distressing. It can affect your self-esteem, alter your self-image, and even impact your emotional well-being. While it’s normal to lose a few strands of hair every day, excessive hair loss could be a sign of an underlying health issue, including iodine deficiency.
Hair growth is a complex process involving various hormones, including thyroid hormones. As we’ve discussed earlier, iodine is crucial for the production of thyroid hormones. A deficiency of iodine can lead to reduced production of these hormones, disrupting the natural cycle of hair growth and leading to hair loss.
Each hair on your head goes through a growth cycle that includes a growth phase (anagen), a transitional phase (catagen), and a resting phase (telogen). Under normal circumstances, a hair strand spends about 90% of its life in the growth phase, which lasts for two to six years.
After this, it enters the transitional phase, which lasts for about two weeks. Finally, it enters the resting phase, which lasts for one to four months. At the end of the resting phase, the hair falls out, and a new hair starts growing in its place.
Thyroid hormones play a key role in maintaining this hair growth cycle. They stimulate the hair follicles, ensuring that hair strands are in the growth phase for the required duration. This hormonal stimulation is what ensures healthy, full hair growth.
However, when iodine levels are low, thyroid hormone production is affected. This means that there are fewer hormones to stimulate the hair follicles. As a result, hair strands might enter the resting phase sooner than they should, leading to early hair fall. If more hair strands than usual are in the resting phase at any given time, it results in noticeable hair loss.
Moreover, iodine deficiency can also lead to dry and brittle hair. That’s because thyroid hormones are crucial for maintaining the health of your scalp and hair. They ensure your scalp receives enough blood flow, which provides your hair follicles with the necessary nutrients. A deficiency in these hormones can therefore result in dry, brittle hair that’s more prone to breakage, further contributing to hair loss. (4)
