Tips for Female Hair Loss

Female hair loss is usually due to hormonal imbalance, thyroid conditions, nutritional deficiencies, post viral infection or high levels of stress leading to stress hormone imbalances.

I have helped many patients over the past 35 years who had hair loss but I didn’t realize how devastating it was until I lost half of my hair in 2014. I now have all of my hair back!

 If your doctor has told you that it’s a normal part of aging – don’t listen!  It is not normal – something is wrong.

By evaluating hormone status through specialty testing (TSH, Free T4, T3 uptake, TPO, Rt3), reducing your stress, making dietary improvements ,correcting nutritional deficiencies and addressing gut imbalances, your hair should grow back.

Causes of Female Hair Loss:

1. Imbalance of the thyroid hormones, T4 and T3.  Most doctors only address T4 levels.  If your body doesn’t properly covert T4 to the active form, T3, hair loss can result. Research has shown that hair follicles are direct targets of thyroid hormones.

2. Low levels of the ferritin, the stored form of iron, is one of the most common causes of female hair loss. Even if your iron levels are normal, you must have your levels of ferritin checked if you are suffering with hair loss.

3. Deficiencies in iodine, zinc, vitamin D, B12 and magnesium could be contributing to your hair loss.

4. Imbalances in Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone and DHT (Dihydroxy Testosterone) are very common causes of hair loss.

5. Many medications can cause hair loss.  Some of the most common medications known to cause hair loss are birth control pills, acne medications containing vitamin A, antidepressants, antibiotics, cholesterol lowering drugs, high blood pressure medications, thyroid medications, steroids and hormone replacement therapy.

6. Imbalance of the stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol) can present problems when attempting to correct thyroid imbalances. These hormones must be balanced in order to have proper thyroid function. Addressing stress hormone balance is essential for helping your hair loss.

7. Usually 2 to 3 months after having a high fever or recovering from an illness (viral or bacterial), many people see noticeable hair loss. While many people think of this as hair loss, it’s actually hair shedding. The medical name for this type of hair shedding is telogen effluvium.

What to Do:

1. Have a comprehensive thyroid test – make sure that your practitioner looks at your levels of TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3 and thyroid antibodies (TPO).

2. Check your ferritin levels, even if your iron levels are normal. Your level should be at least 80 ug/L.

3. Check vitamin and mineral status (NutriPro), digestive function (GI-MAP), metabolic function and amino acid status by doing a Genova Organic Acids Test (Comprehensive). 

4. Test hormone levels (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHT and cortisol)  by doing a DUTCH urine test. This test is currently the most accurate method for testing hormone levels.

5. Talk with your doctor and consider discontinuing medications that may be causing your hair loss.

6. Follow an anti-inflammatory diet – avoid fast foods, sugar, processed foods, gluten and dairy products. Gut inflammation can block the conversion of T4 to it’s active form, T3 and can lead to nutritional deficiencies and hormonal imbalances.

7. Take omega-3 fatty acids – these nutrients are very important for the integrity of your hair and for your hormonal balance.

8. Find stress relieving activities that you enjoy – box breathing, yoga, walking, exercise, HeartMath or meditation.

9. Please feel free to email me at drgaila@drgaila.com with any comments or questions.