Adrenal hyperactivity and thyroid

“The increasing popularity of baldness is one of the minor but most instructive expressions of nerve sensitiveness. Among savages in all parts of the earth baldness is unusual, except in extreme age, and gray hairs come much later than with us. So common is male baldness in our large cities that what was once a deformity and exception is now almost the rule, and an element of beauty. One may be bald without being very nervous; but the general prevalence of baldness comes from the general prevalence of nervousness. The beard and hair, accurately studied, are measures of nutrition of high delicacy and power.”[1]

“In many [pattern baldness patients], we encountered various types of ‘fixed smiles,’ and in a few, a rather striking, characteristic expression best described as a ‘toothy smile.’ Such rigid facial patterns are thought to reflect, psychologically speaking, defensive attitudes. Wilhelm Reich in his book, ‘Character Analysis,’ pointed out what he called ‘muscular armor’ as a frequently observed somatic reflection of ‘character armor.’ ‘Character armor’ refers to the psychologic defenses of a neurotic personality which serve as protection from feelings of insecurity and anxiety.”[2]

“Eighteen men aged 18 to 32 with rapidly progressive male pattern baldness had serum dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) sulfate and testosterone measured. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels were elevated in all patients, ranging from 340 to 730 micrograms/dl. The patients were otherwise healthy and serum testosterone levels were within normal limits. A control group of men of similar age without hair loss had lower dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels ranging from 124 to 300 micrograms/dl. The biochemistry of androgens, particularly dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, suggests that adrenal hyperactivity may initiate alopecia in young men who are genetically susceptible.”[3]

“Our dermatology practice, having a population bias due to its location in the historic ‘goitre belt’ of the Midwest United States, has placed special emphasis upon problems of hair growth for over 20 years. Our records have been totally computerized for about 8 years, facilitating a retrospective study of 500 consecutive cases presenting with a chief complaint of hair loss of any kind. The information entered into this analysis consisted in part of the results of a survey which we utilize in the evaluation of all hair loss patients. We have included within this survey the significant parameters of family history along with those of personal habits and health. Preliminary results of the study presented to the North American Clinical Dermatologic Society included two important findings:

• The first of these was the finding that hypothyroidism was present in the majority (65%) of all cases independent of all other factors.

• The second was a 23% incidence of unrecognized hypothyroidism in males over 30 years of age with typical pattern baldness.”[3]

1. American Nervousness : Its Causes and Consequences by George M. Beard (1881)

2. A theory of the pathogenesis of ordinary human baldness (1950)

3. Serum elevation of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate associated with male pattern baldness in young men (1987)

4. Thyroid Abnormality Associated with Hair Loss (1981)

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