Does hypothyroidism cause itchy scalp?

Have you been scratching your head more often than a monkey does its fur? Have you also been diagnosed with hypothyroidism or wondered if the two may be connected? Well, look no further because we have got an article about it.

Understanding Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a condition where your thyroid gland fails to produce enough hormones to keep your body functioning optimally. It is quite common and occurs mostly in women over the age of 50 years old.

The Causes of Hypothyroidism

The causes can range from genetics, autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, radiation therapy, medications such as lithium, and iodine deficiency.

The Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

The symptoms can vary depending on how severe the case is but most commonly include:

  • Fatigue
  • Weight gain
  • Hair loss
  • Cold intolerance
  • Dry skin
  • Constipation

You’d think having all these listed down would make you feel better about yourself just knowing that there are valid reasons for every inconvenience.

Is There a Connection Between Hypothyroidism and Itchy Scalp?

While it sounds bizarre to link hypothyroidism with an itching scalp, several studies suggest that they could indeed be related.

How Thyroids Affect Your Skin Health?

When suffering from hypothyroidism, one could experience changes in their skin structure due to hormone imbalances affecting keratinocyte proliferation (yeah long words sound better) which can lead up to many skin problems including dryness (which we already know humans/dogs hate) itchiness (it’s like being poked by needles repeatedly ugh!), hives & dermatitis among others.

Put simply: Low thyroid leads to unbalanced hormones leading bad skin producing some really annoying feelings!

But Why Does Itchiness Appear on the Scalp Specifically?

While hormone imbalances have been linked to irritable skin, its focus in the scalp region could be due to various causes.

Dryness

Dryness is a common symptom of hypothyroidism, hence the lack of lubrication in the hair follicle that leads up irritation and itchiness (so it’s like trying to slide across ice when you’re dry-roasted — ouch!).

Skin Infections

Dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis are fungal infections that can thrive if one has an underactive thyroid gland. As a result, they present as flaky patches on your scalp accompanied with varying degrees of soreness & itching sensations plus embarrassing white flakes falling all around — gross!

How Can One Alleviate This Itching Feeling?

Well awesome readers (that’s right I’m talking about you), there are several ways out there which can help alleviate this pesky feeling:

Solutions Explanation
Oatmeal-Based Shampoos Its anti-inflammatory properties soothe irritated scalps while moisturizing them too
(our pet horses need their oats too)
CBD products Research shows active ingredients from cannabis plants may decrease inflammation levels, reducing sensitivities causing irritating responses
(toking’ ain’t just for fun no more folks)
Avoiding Over-Washing Try not washing daily because over-washing removes natural oils from our scalp leaving us dry-&-itchy
(Easy-peasy lemon squeezy)

Conclusion

Hypothyroidism if left untreated can cause dreadful symptoms such as itchy scalp among many others. Hence making sure you monitor your thyroid function regularly along with seeking expert care is crucial to prevent further complications that go beyond bald spots and flaky heads. So, only the bravest among us can survive this battle with hypothyroidism and it’s annoying symptoms!

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