Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris addressed speculations about her hair loss after being asked by curious netizens.
Speaking in a Tik Tok video which she later shared on her other social media accounts, Passaris explained that her hair was thinning because she doesn’t have a thyroid.
“So somebody mentioned yesterday ‘oh by the way I have just noticed on your video your hair is thinning’. Oh yeah my hair is thinning and the reason it is thinning is one; I don’t have a thyroid and sometimes my thyroxine levels get low and of cause my hair thins,” Passaris said.
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple.
The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate the body’s metabolic rate, growth and development. It plays a role in controlling heart, muscle and digestive function, brain development and bone maintenance.
Hair thinning is a symptom of hypothyroidism- a condition where the thyroid is underactive.
Hypothyroidism is a condition where there isn’t enough thyroid hormone in your bloodstream and your metabolism slows down. Hypothyroidism happens when your thyroid doesn’t create and release enough thyroid hormone into your body. This makes your metabolism slow down, affecting the entire body. [sic]
Old age
Passaris also noted that apart from her condition she was also losing hair because she is ageing, proudly stating that she would celebrate her 60th birthday next year.
“And also I am gonna be 60 next year. So if you gonna be 60 obviously you gonna lose some hair. But this is the thing, no matter what you going through in life, you gotta love yourself. You gotta look in the mirror every morning and just say to yourself ‘I love you’ no matter what coz once you love yourself then you can pick up any other pieces and move on,” the Nairobi Woman Rep said.
People generally lose hair as they age. Women, in particular, may start losing hair after menopause.
During and after menopause, hair might become finer (thinner) because hair follicles shrink. Hair grows more slowly and falls out more easily in these cases.
Hair loss around menopause is likely to be caused by changing hormone levels – and your body produces less oestrogen and progesterone. [sic]
