Is thyroid dysfunction a common cause of telogen effluvium?: A retrospective study.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Telogen effluvium (TE) is a common form of hair loss.
• The relationship between thyroid dysfunction and TE remains under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between thyroid dysfunction and telogen effluvium.
• To determine if thyroid function impacts hair loss severity in TE patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 500 female patients diagnosed with TE.
• Analysis of thyroid function tests (euthyroid, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism) and Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) scores.
• Thyroid function was assessed within 3 months of TE diagnosis.

Main Results:

• Hypothyroidism was associated with significantly higher mean SALT scores compared to euthyroid and hyperthyroid groups.
• Patients with hypothyroidism exhibited a greater proportion of severe hair loss.
• No significant difference in SALT scores was observed between euthyroid and hyperthyroid groups.

Conclusions:

• Thyroid dysfunction, particularly hypothyroidism, is a significant factor contributing to severe hair loss in TE.
• Thyroid function testing should be a routine part of the diagnostic evaluation for patients presenting with TE.