Hair loss is an incredibly distressing symptom for women to have. It can affect your confidence, feeling of vitality and is fundamentally very concerning in terms of what it means for your overall health! The Cleveland Clinic states that upwards of 50% of women experience hair loss, with ⅓ of those being ‘female pattern hair loss’ on the crown or top of your head. That is 30 million women in the US alone! And the good news is that when it comes to most types of hair loss there is a lot that can be done from a holistic perspective to reduce loss and foster hair regrowth.
Hair loss can affect women at any age or stage of life, and for very different reasons discussed below. This means hair loss in your 20s, postpartum, perimenopausal, and menopausal hair loss have very different causes and need to be investigated and treated differently.
There are many causes of hair loss, the following are a list of the most commonly discussed:
- Poor nutrition, yoyo dieting
- Autoimmunity, alopecia
- Genetics – although much of this modifiable with the right diet and nutrients in place
- Postpartum hair loss
- Stress
- Certain medications
In addition to these, our team of Naturopathic Doctors has identified other causes of hair loss in the research that can be treated using natural methods.
- High levels of insulin and glucose
- Hormonal imbalances including altered levels of testosterone, DHT, estrogen and progesterone
- Poor thyroid function
- Various nutrient deficiencies
- Poor circulation
- Imbalances in the bacterial populations on your scalp – causing sebum build up, inflammation, seborrheic dermatitis/dandruff and much more.
Did you know…?
The growth and ‘resting’ cycle of hair, known as the anagen and telogen phases, is very long. This means that the hair you lose today could actually be from an event 3-6 months ago, and the treatments you begin today can take up to 3-6 months to show their full effects. This is not to discourage you but to help you to realize that there is hope, and you might be on the right track, it just takes some time!
The Advanced Women’s Health Hair Loss Program
At AWH we realize that you are unique and therefore you need a plan that is customized to your individual needs. That is why we will not only explain to you which causes of hair loss might be most relevant to your case, but we will also investigate all aspects to ensure that you are getting the most personalized, evidence based plan.
This program is offered both through telemedicine to all Ontario Residents, and in person at our Kingston Clinic.
Phase 1 – Understand and Customize
Research has made it clear that insulin and glucose dysregulation, hormonal imbalance, poor thyroid function and nutrient deficiencies must be ruled out in order to properly address your hair loss.
In the first appointment you can expect that your Naturopathic Doctor will take time to hear your unique symptoms. We will also help you to understand what is happening in your body so that you can understand what we will do to fix it. We will take a holistic look, not just at your hair loss but also investigate and support your energy levels, digestion, skin, hormonal health and much more!
At the end of this appointment you can expect to leave with:
- Basic diet and lifestyle recommendations
- Personalized herbal and nutrient recommendations
- Lab test recommendations may include insulin and glucose testing, androgens (testosterone and DHT), female sex hormones such as Estradiol and progesterone, a full thyroid assessment, inflammation investigations and nutrient testing. We use both functional tests and standard blood tests to come to understand your health better.
After we receive the results of your testing your ND will explain all of the findings. No blanket normal statements here, we want to ensure you understand what it all means. From that point we will customize a meal system and supplements to your specific needs.
Phase 2- Tweak and Monitor
After supporting primary factor, (for example, high or low androgens, insulin resistance etc) and using herbal medicines, nutrients and customized dietary plans to help set the stage for hair regrowth it is time to tackle residual symptoms. It is very common for women with hair loss to experience a variety of health concerns, these include:
- Thyroid hormone imbalances and Hashimotos
- Lack of stress resiliency, burn out, anxiety
- Inflammation
- Gut problems such as bloating, constipation, loose stools, pain
- Rashes and skin issues
Some or all of these concerns may have been taken care of by this phase but any remaining issues are tackled head on!
Three months after embarking on your plan we will also be retesting insulin, inflammation markers, nutrients and any other important tests. This allows us to make sure that you are improving as expected and making your way into Phase 3.
Phase 3- Flourish and Maintain
A healthy body never wants to sacrifice it’s hair, and let’s be honest, when your hair is regrowing and you are feeling hopeful, we want to keep it that way! Depending on your primary hair loss factors, the flourish and maintain phase functions to support you to continually stay on track with your nutrition plan, supports ongoing hormonal health changes, and allows us to tweak any small imbalances before they manifest in changes to your hair or health again.
References
American Hair Loss Council. . Accessed 9/21/2021.Female pattern hair loss (https://www.ahlc.org/female-hair-loss/)
Herman, A., & Herman, A. P. (2016). Mechanism of action of herbs and their active constituents used in hair loss treatment. Fitoterapia, 114, 18–25. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2016.08.008
American Academy of Dermatology Association. 9/21/2021. Thinning hair and hair loss: Could it be female pattern hair loss? (https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/hair-care/female-pattern-hair-loss)
Zeng, X., Xie, Y., Liu, Y., Long, S., & Mo, Z. (2020). Polycystic ovarian syndrome: Correlation between hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance and obesity. Clinica Chimica Acta, 502, 214–221. doi:10.1016/j.cca.2019.11.003
Matilainen, V., Laakso, M., Hirsso, P., Koskela, P., Rajala, U., & Keinanen-Kiukaanniemi, S. (2003). Hair Loss, Insulin Resistance, and Heredity in Middle-aged Women. a Population-based Study. European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation, 10(3), 227–231. doi:10.1097/01.hjr.0000070200.72977.c6
Van zuuren EJ, Fedorowicz Z, Schoones J. Interventions for female pattern hair loss. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;(5):CD007628. Accessed 2/3/2021.
