Yvette Fielding’s Alopecia: A Thyroid Medication Side Effect?

TV presenter Yvette Fielding has revealed she has suffered from a variety of health problems, including partial Alopecia, throughout her career. Previously a Blue Peter presenter, she now continues to present Most Haunted, despite her health concerns.

Vitiligo and Graves’ Disease

Yvette was diagnosed with skin condition Vitiligo aged 11, and since then has developed a number of other conditions. She explains:

“In 2004, I started to put on weight and feel really lethargic... They did some blood tests and I was told my thyroid was under active. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease, an autoimmune condition, which causes the thyroid gland to produce excessive hormones. I’ve been told it is linked to both my thyroid problem and the vitiligo”.

Alopecia caused by thyroid medication?

More recently, Yvette has also been experiencing hair loss:

“For the past four years, I’ve also suffered from partial alopecia, where clumps of hair will occasionally fall out and then grow back again. The doctor thinks it may be a side effect of the Levothyroxine tablets I take for my thyroid problems.”

Although hair loss is listed as a rare a side effect of Levothyroxine, it may be more likely that the hair loss is caused by Yvette’s underlying health issues. Like Graves’ Disease, Alopecia falls into the category of autoimmune disorders and one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism, or an under active thyroid, is hair loss.

Alternatively, it may be that Yvette is genetically predisposed to Alopecia. Research has found that Alopecia Areata susceptibility is polygenic, and that there are a number of genes that, if present, make people more susceptible to developing alopecia than the general population.

Help with hair loss

As Yvette’s hair loss is intermittent, she currently manages her hair loss by covering patches: “I can hide it when I’m on screen by doing comb-overs”, she said in a recent interview.

Temporary hair loss is common for both men and women suffering from thyroid disorders, and normal growth often resumes once the condition is under control, which can take three to four months. Although hair growth may resume naturally, there are also a number of treatment options which have been found to be effective in encouraging regrowth and repairing any existing damage.

It’s vital to consult a hair loss expert before beginning hair loss treatment, especially when already taking medication for other conditions. For example, hair supplements containing kelp or iodine, could prevent the absorption of thyroid medication Levothyroxine.

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