My Eyebrows Are Falling Out!!!!

Updated on October 23, 2015
E.M. asks from Fort Worth, TX
7 answers

Just a question. I don't know if anyone has experienced this but my eyebrows are falling out and I don't know why! Other than I just had a baby and I don't even know that this may be the cause, I don't know what could be causing this. I've always had full eyebrows and here recently I would say within the last 3-4 months my eyebrows have been really scarce. I have like bald spots where they're falling out. Has anyone had this happen? Do you know why?

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So What Happened?

Thank you all for your quick responses. I will definitely get this looked at. I actually made an appointment with my doctor for tomorrow. Thanks again!

More Answers

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M.B.

answers from Dallas on

Please have your Thyroid checked - hair loss (including the outer edge of eyrbrows) is a hallmark symptom of hypothyroidism (Autoimmune - also called Hashimoto's). It is MOST often triggered by childbirth. This is because during pregnancy, your immune system is suppressed so that your body does not reject the fetus (which is comprised of foreign proteins - we're all biologically unique). Post-partum, your immune system revs back up and in so very many cases will over-rev and trigger autoimmune diseases.

Your doctor MUST test for thyroid antibodies and if you have them the standard TSH test is meaningless for diagnosis. Please insist that they consider your symptoms. Here's a basic list:
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/basics_starthere/a/10signs.htm

The tests you want (and NEED) are TPO, Anti-thyroglobulin, Free T3 and Free T4 - they MUST measure the "Free" and not the "Total" values - the Frees are the bioavailable hormone. And, TSH, but keep in mind that TSH is a pituitary hormone and thus only reflects thyroid function under normal conditions - organ failure vs. autoimmune AND if you also have pituitary problems. TSH is more reflective of organ failutre of pituitary it is of thyroid status, although pituitary problems will impact thyroid function (all our hormones are inter-dependent).

If the tests are negative, I would INSIST on a sonogram. The auto-immune destruction of your thyroid begins BEFORE there are any palbable nodules. If you follow the conventional medicine approach and only start treatment if TSH is out of range, you will be so very miserable by the time you are diagnosed and will likely first be prescribed anti-depressants or told that your symptoms are just normal and just get used to it.

I have learned all of this over the past 5 years of being treated for hypothyroidism and BOTH my sons have autoimmune thyroid disease - based on a sonogram and only my younger son had antibodies. My older son was previously diagnosed with depression (but I refused drugs for that) and my younger with ADHD - I refused drugs for that.

You might also want to check out the Texas Thyroid Yahoo group:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Texas_Thyroid_Groups/
There's lots of experience with these same things (started with the hair/eyebrow issue and then cascading into a myriad of health issues, in particular depression, extreme fatigue). Many folks that have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Lupus and many other auto-immune diseases have autoimmune thyroid disease but unfortunately, it's either undiagnosed or inadequately treated. Most docs treat patients only based on lab numbers (as if we're all the same) rather than symptoms.

If you do nothing else, please go to the health section of your library and check out one of the following books:
1) M. Shomon: Living Well with Hypothyroidism
2) Ridha Arem: The Thyroid solution
3) Mark Starr: Hypothyroidism Type II

These books helped me see that some very subtle lifelong health issues were due to borderline hypothyroidism that didn't become a life impacting issue until after the birth of my first child.

Thyroid disease is rampant in our society - one of the theories is that those of us with this predisposition (which has a negative impact on overall immune function) would have died before the advent of antibiotics. Since then, we folks with hypo/auto-immune genes are producing generations of hypo/auto-immune predisposed people - my family is an excellent example. Both my mom and sister are hypo and now my two sons. It is appearing earlier and earlier in our children.

1 mom found this helpful
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G.S.

answers from Dallas on

Hi E.,

First, don't be alarmed, it may not be as serious as others have made it out to be. Although I do have a previous thyroid condition, no biggie just a cold nodule that is benign for which I do have to take synthroid, part of my eyebrow fell out with my last pregnancy and my bottom eyelashes with the one before that. Both times my thyroid levels were well within normal limits and nothing had changed with my thyroid. My endocrinologist and nurse midwife were aware but not alarmed with my condition. I'm happy to say that my eyebrow and eyelashes have grown back with no intervention needed. I did, however, just have another baby and am curious to see what is going to fall out this time. With any luck it'll be somewhere in the bikini area! ;)
Get your thyroid checked but hopefully it'll be nothing.

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C.K.

answers from Richland on

Hi I'm having the same problem! What did you doctor say? Has it gone away yet?

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S.S.

answers from Wichita Falls on

I agree - sounds auto immune.

S.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.M.

answers from Dallas on

Certainly talk to your doctor, but another theory is it could just be from the stress and/or hormones of having your baby. After my first son, my hair came out in clumps... this time around, I am loosing some, but not as much. So it varies from pregnancy to pregnancy.
Good luck,
A.

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T.O.

answers from Dallas on

Thyroid. Go get it checked.

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A.P.

answers from Dallas on

I have been told by a Doctor that Throid problems can cause that.

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