Naturopathic Care
Hair Loss
Hair loss is rarely a mystery. The right testing reveals the drivers so we can address them at the root.
The opening conversation
Watching your hair fall out is distressing in a way that is hard to put into words. It affects how you see yourself, how you feel getting ready in the morning, and often how confident you feel moving through the world. If you are noticing more hair in the shower drain, thinning at your temples or crown, or a ponytail that feels noticeably thinner than it used to, you deserve more than being told it is just stress or just aging.
I say that as someone who has experienced stress-related hair loss myself. I know how unsettling it is, and I know how much it matters to actually find out why it is happening.
The good news is that hair loss is rarely a mystery. It is almost always multifactorial, meaning there are several contributing drivers working together, and identifying those drivers through the right testing gives us a clear path forward. Our focus is not just on slowing the shedding. It is on creating the internal environment that allows your hair to grow and stay healthy long term.
What I can help with
Types of Hair Loss I Work With
Diffuse thinning across the scalp, postpartum hair shedding, hormonal hair loss related to androgens or estrogen changes, female and male pattern hair loss, stress-related shedding, hair loss associated with thyroid dysfunction, and hair loss related to nutrient deficiencies or digestive concerns.
Common Drivers of Hair Loss
Hair loss is rarely caused by one thing. Through a thorough assessment and targeted testing I investigate the full picture of what may be contributing. Common drivers include sex hormone imbalances including elevated androgens, elevated DHT, low estrogen, and 5-alpha-reductase activity, thyroid dysfunction including both underactive and overactive thyroid as well as autoimmune thyroid conditions like Hashimoto's, autoimmune activity including alopecia areata, chronic stress and cortisol dysregulation, nutrient deficiencies including iron, ferritin, vitamin D, zinc, and B vitamins, poor nutrient absorption due to gut inflammation or food sensitivities, blood sugar dysregulation and insulin resistance, and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in hair, skin, and household products.
How I approach
Hair Loss
Using the Hormone Cornerstone Method I look at hair loss as a whole-body concern. The scalp and hair follicles are downstream of everything happening internally, which means the solution is rarely topical. We start with a comprehensive assessment and targeted blood work to identify your specific drivers, then build a personalized plan that may include dietary and nutritional strategies, targeted supplementation, hormone support, stress regulation, and topical support where appropriate.
It is important to know that results take time. Improvements in hair growth typically lag behind internal changes by several months, which is why consistency and commitment to the full plan matters so much.
What we might explore together
The full picture
Every patient's story is different but here's where we'll likely look:
FAQs
Don't see your question here? Reach out and I'll answer it directly.
Not necessarily. Supplementation is always based on what we find in your blood work and assessment. Random supplementation without knowing your specific deficiencies is rarely effective and can sometimes do more harm than good. We target exactly what your body needs based on your results.
Yes. Significant physical or emotional stress can trigger a type of diffuse shedding called telogen effluvium, where a large number of hair follicles simultaneously shift into a resting phase. This shedding typically becomes noticeable two to four months after the stressful event, which is why the connection is often missed. Chronic stress also drives cortisol dysregulation which has a direct effect on hair follicle function over time.
Not necessarily. Many forms of hair loss are reversible once the underlying drivers are identified and addressed. The earlier we intervene the better the outcome, but meaningful improvement is possible even in cases that have been ongoing for some time.
Yes. Elevated androgens including DHT, low estrogen, thyroid dysfunction, and postpartum hormonal shifts are among the most common hormonal drivers of hair loss. This is why a thorough hormonal assessment is such an important part of investigating hair loss, especially in women.
Hair growth is slow and results require patience. Even once the underlying drivers are addressed, improvements in shedding and new growth typically take three to six months to become noticeable. This is because hair follicles operate on their own cycle and internal changes need time to translate into visible hair growth. We track progress at each appointment and adjust the plan as needed.
Standard blood work panels often miss the markers most relevant to hair loss. Ferritin in particular is frequently within the "normal" reference range but below the optimal level needed for healthy hair growth. The same applies to thyroid markers, zinc, and vitamin D. As a Naturopathic Doctor I assess these against optimal ranges and look at a broader panel than a routine screen.
Connected concerns
