The majority of the women in my Practice who seek help for hair loss often have nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances and digestive issues. It is important to investigate all of these as possible causes and to address your individual needs.
As a woman I understand how devastating it can be to lose your hair. Being afraid to brush your hair for fear of pulling out more, or even scared to wash your hair seeing your precious strands wash down the drain. But you don’t have to let your fear take-over.
Let’s talk about some of the common causes of hair loss…
Why Your Hair is Falling Out
While a hair follicle is tiny, it’s still quite mighty! it is an extremely complex structure that needs nutrients to flourish and is capable of getting malnourished as well. Hormones and diet both can contribute to the hair follicle becoming “ill”.
Hair is prone to aging, much like the skin (and every other organ of the body). In women, hair follicles start to shrink from the mid 40’s, and so hair becomes finer with each year. The total number of hair follicles also decreases. This actually happens all over the body.
Thyroid Imbalances
Hair loss is often a symptom of thyroid issues and hormonal imbalances. It’s important to have a full thyroid panel done to determine how your thyroid dysfunction is contributing to your hair demise. When it comes to our hair, it’s not just about the products that we use, but it really is about what we are doing internally to support our hair.
Gut Dysfunction
Your gut can be the root of all evil. Meaning if it’s unhealthy it can cause a myriad of health issue resulting in malabsorption of nutrients from your food. This includes iron. This is actually one of the markers I check when trying to address hair loss in my patients. When ferritin (your storage level of iron) is low, this can cause your follicles to shed hundreds of hairs. This is because the iron in your blood helps to carry oxygen. If oxygen can’t get to your root hair follicles, then the follicles will shrivel up and die. So making sure that your gut is able to absorb vitamins and minerals from your diet becomes step one.
Step two, would be to measure the ferritin levels in your body to make sure they are within healthy “naturopathic” levels. In allopathic medicine, the ranges are often too large and therefore most people fall within the ‘normal’ range. As a Naturopathic Doctor, the lab values I require for my patients, provide the healthiest outcome for thriving health.
Step three requires that you make sure you are eating the proper diet that is ideal for your body. Focusing on regenerative health means discovering which foods your body likes best. For example, I have often seen that certain B-vitamins may be wonderful for one person, but may not be ideal for another. If you are low in nutrients that your body specifically requires to regenerate itself, then you will be doing more harm then good.
Getting Help
If you’re in need of more support for your hair loss, consider scheduling a visit with me. I want you to feel confident about your hair, less fearless about maintaining it, and get you back to your positive, healthy self.
Equally important, I’d like to help you stop worrying about your hair, so you can get back to enjoying your life!