“Does hyperthyroidism cause grey hair?”
I'm 35, and I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism 2 months ago. I think my hair is turning gray because of my condition. Is that possible?
2 Answers
Yes, that's possible, but not probable. Gray hair is common even in young men. Do other men in your family have early gray hair? If so, that tends to say it is a genetic or familial problem. If it is due to hyperthyroid (and I've never seen it from thyroid), then it should color up again when your hyperthyroid is controlled. Gray hair isn't bad. I have it and have had it since I was about 50. Gray hair is better than no hair, so don't worry too much about and get the hyperthyroid under control since it can cause a lot of problems with the heart and other organs. So, get it fixed and enjoy the gray hair.
Hyperthyroidism may have an effect on hair color. Most people with hyperthyroidism notice thinning or fragility of the hair, but occasionally an increased appearance of gray hairs can also occur. With proper treatment of the hyperthyroidism, the changes can be reversed. While some patients may find that they gray will resolve completely, many will still have some residual gray hairs although it should be improved. However, it needs to be emphasized that gray hair is generally an inherited trait, and by age 50, 50% of the population will have 50% gray hair, so it is possible that the color changes are unrelated. Nevertheless, no matter what the cause, the hyperthyroidism needs to be treated.
