Struggling with Hair Loss?
Hair loss affects millions of Americans, with estimates suggesting that over 80 million people in the U.S. experience some form of hair loss. That is just about everybody at some point in their lifetime.
While most people think hair loss is a topical concern, news flash, it is not.
THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH YOUR SKIN; it’s often with what is happening UNDER your skin.
The most common causes of hair loss include:
male and female pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), which is influenced by genetics and hormonal changes
stress
poor nutrition/nutritional deficiencies/indigestion
medical conditions such as any thyroid disorder, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), iron deficiency, Lupus, and other autoimmune conditions
Certain medications, including beta blockers like metoprolol, atenolol, and propranolol, used for heart conditions and high blood pressure, ‘blood thinners’ such as warfarin and heparin, antidepressants such as fluoxetine and sertraline, and tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline.
Recently, topical natural therapies for hair loss, such as rosemary oil, topical melatonin, and low-level laser therapy, have gained popularity, especially on social media platforms.
While some people see positive results with these topical therapies, addressing the ROOT cause while supporting the physical follicle will produce the long-lasting changes you want to see.
As you can see from the list of possible causes, none involve hair or scalp testing. WHY? Again, it doesn’t have to do with your scalp or hair!
Sadly, most medical providers will not do much about that box you checked for “hair loss.” They will ignore it because determining the reason often takes too much time and effort, or they will assume you are stressed because ‘everyone is.’
I want you to have hair, so let’s discuss this further. (Confidence in how you feel you look is essential in health and healing, too!)
What to regrow your hair?
If your medical provider has written off your hair loss, it is time for you to start your own investigation!
Here are some questions for you to ask yourself and answer. I ask my patients these questions, which help us deduce where to investigate and support hair regrowth.
Do you have a family history of early balding or male or female pattern baldness?
When did you start to notice that your hair was falling out?
Think about any significant event/stressor/trauma, a medication dosage change or initiated, a change in your environment or diet, or a new medical diagnosis. Or did you get a specific hair treatment or dye added?
Where do you notice the most hair loss occurring?
Is it just on your scalp, or do you see thinning all over your whole body?
When you run your hand through your hair, how many hairs typically come out of your hand?
Does it only happen when you brush, or does it come out when you use your hands to comb through your hair?
Does your hair loss seem cyclical, or has it been the same amount over the last few months?
Are you a menstruating female and find it associated with your menses? Is it worse during certain seasons?
Is it falling out at the root or breaking and splitting off?
Do the hairs falling out appear thinner than they once were?
Have you seen any new growth?
You can see this as little hairs sticking up at the part when your hair is dry. More evident after blow-drying your hair.
Is your diet limited or highly processed?
Do you do any fasting? Do you skip meals? Do you restrict any certain foods?
What is your sleep like?
How many hours, on average, do you get per night? Do you have a hard time falling or staying asleep? Does it feel restful? Do you wake feeling rested? What is your pre-bed routine like?
Are you feeling stressed, anxious, or depressed? Tell me more.
Possible areas of your health to explore depending on your answers.
Testing Areas
Comprehensive Hormone Testing: for any MAN or WOMAN whether menstruating, perimenopausal, or postmenopausal, our sex hormones can tell us an immense amount of information about where our sex hormones are at at any stage of our life cycle.
Adrenal Testing: Checking your cortisol levels throughout the day and overall DHEA-s levels can help us determine your level of stress response.
Thyroid Testing: should include TSH, free T3, free T4, TPO antibody and Thyroglobulin Antibody
Routine labwork: particularly investigating your red and white blood cells, liver, cholesterol, inflammation, ferritin, and iron (this is not the only routine testing I order, but the important analytes to consider regarding hair loss)
Nutrient testing: particularly looking at Vitamin B12, folate, lipoic acid, Vitamin D, Zinc, Biotin (Vitamin B7), Omegas, Vitamin A and Vitamin E, Copper, Selenium, Magnesium, and Manganese
Heavy metals testing: Metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and thallium, when high in the body, are associated with hair loss.
Environmental Toxicants Testing: Chemicals such as pesticides, phthalates (in plastic), BPA, solvents, formaldehyde, toluene, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), and cigarette smoke all are connected to hair loss.
Stool Testing: While this is not a direct measure of hair loss, I find great value in knowing how our body is or is not digesting and absorbing foods. This can help us understand more about WHY someone may struggle with a nutrient deficiency if it doesn’t have to do with their diet. (our microbiome does far more than just take up shop in our gut)
Other: Autoimmune testing, mold testing, and Lyme disease testing, to name a few
Lifestyle Areas
Dietary support should include eating more whole foods, reducing restrictive eating, and discussing healthy ‘dieting’ or fasting habits.
Sleep support around bedtime routine and improving the quality of sleep
Stress/Anxiety/Depression support with therapy, mind-body techniques, or supplemental support.
Movement modifications or time outside in nature
Your medication (and supplement) list: While nutrient deficiencies can cause hair loss, some supplements are known to cause it, like high-dose Vitamin A. There is a very large list of medications that cause hair loss. Including the more common listed above, here is a more comprehensive list.
I admit that hair loss is one of the most challenging conditions to treat because we will not know if the changes we make are making an impact for over 3-6 months. Know that any treatment you start to help reduce your hair loss and regrow hair takes a LONG time to witness the change.
Be patient; you got this. If you need help, you know where to find me.
Here to empower you with the knowledge of health,
Dr. Meg
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This post is not meant to treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose conditions or diseases and is meant for educational purposes. As always, please consult your doctor before trying any new treatments or supplements.
