Not So Fast: Here’s Why You’re Not Doomed to Suffer from Hair Loss

So many people believe that they are destined to suffer from hair loss due to genetics, but it’s not the case. In 2023, there are options and alternatives.

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Hair loss can start to appear at any age and without much notice. It’s pretty easy to start to panic and look for answers immediately. Something that we hear frequently when people visit us for a consultation is: “this is genetic, right?” or “I don’t understand, both of my parents have full heads of hair!”

While genetics play an undeniable role in the predisposition to certain conditions in our lives, they aren’t necessarily the culprit when it comes to hair loss. In fact, we find that in most cases there are other, more prevalent factors contributing to the thinning and loss of hair. Again, this doesn’t speak to 100% of cases, but it’s certainly worth taking a look at some other key factors that could be at work.

Blaming Your Genes Right Away
When we’re looking for answers, it’s easy to jump to conclusions. This is especially true for hair loss, because it’s something that fully feels like it’s out of our control. One of the more astounding things about when this happens, is that there are some people who capitulate to the notions that this is in their genes and it’s just how it’s going to be.

Others want answers and they want them now. Unfortunately, hair loss is a complex issue and as such, simple answers just don’t cut it. Our goal is to get to the root of your hair loss (no pun intended), and here’s some of the things we look for before chalking it up to genetics.

Intolerances
When something doesn’t agree with our bodies, it’s usually pretty easy to tell, but that’s not always the case. Intolerances to certain foods, plants, animals, and metals can go undetected while still having an impact on the regular functionality of the body.

One of the most amazing things that happens in a hair analysis test is finding out those odd-ball things that you’re intolerant to. It can be surprising and very informative, not just about your hair, but also about your general wellbeing.

We see things like mango, red wine, brown rice, and so many more come up in the results, and while it can be a bit of a bummer to find out your body doesn’t agree with red wine, it’s still great information. Keep in mind that these are not necessarily things that you will physically or visibly react to, but that are causing imbalance in your gut and other areas of the body.

Deficiencies
On the topic of useful information, another key part of the hair analysis test is deficiencies. As we know, some folks have a knack for ingesting a healthy, balanced diet. Without putting too fine a point on it, some of us are not so inclined. However, even if you’re eating healthy and balanced meals every day, there can still be deficiencies in your body.

Keeping a sufficient level of crucial vitamins and minerals is important for your body, of course, but it’s even more critical for the health of your hair. Hair follicles need a consistent supply of nutrients like biotin, vitamin D, selenium, and iron. The kicker is that even if you’re supplying yourself with enough of these nutrients, your gut will ultimately decide how to distribute them.

In many cases that we see in the clinic, a slightly imbalanced gut biome can result in loss of key nutrients, simply because you’re not absorbing them as efficiently as you could be. Luckily, the analysis test also looks at your gut biome and reveals any shortcomings in your nutrient absorption.

Stress
We feel that stress could be the top contributor to hair loss, and this is especially true for rapid, acute hair loss. In society these days, there’s no shortage of stress-inducing things going on. Finances, family, increased tension around the world in politics and societal challenges are just a few things that contribute.

Stress is kind of like a snowball though when it comes to hair loss. Once you start to get an inkling that you might be losing hair, that suddenly adds a new (and very potent) source of stress. People tend to panic and want an answer right away, which is very valid, but it adds a lot of extra stress.

We always encourage our clients to look at their day-to-day lives and find ways that they can reduce their stress. It doesn’t always feel easy to adjust life in that way, but a few slight changes can go a long way. We aren’t normally fans of admitting the things causing stress in our lives, but we often know exactly what they are.

Diet and Exercise
Much like that old addage about Rome, your hair didn’t fall out in a day. So, it’s important to keep in mind that some methods of restoration are going to take time. Diet and exercise, for many folks, will fall comfortably into that category. It’s not the most fun aspect of hair health, but it’s quite critical.

Diet:
Consistency is key when it comes to supplying your hair with nutrients. Let’s break it down in the easiest way:

• You need good quality proteins for keratin production. Keratin is crucial for keeping your hair healthy and strong.
• Vitamins and minerals like iron, zinc, vitamin A, C, and all B vitamins help keep a healthy scalp environment and provide support for the health and strength of your hair.
• Biotin (which is technically vitamin B7 or vitamin H) is one of the most important nutrients for hair health. Biotin deficiencies are not uncommon and can slowly lead to hair thinning and loss.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids are commonly found in seeds and fish and help to balance the oil levels in your hair and on your scalp.

A diet consisting of trans and saturated fats and minimal fruits and veggies will slowly deteriorate the integrity of your hair. Consider making changes in your grocery cart or visiting the drive-thru a little less – hard as that is to do these days.

Exercise:
Regular exercise might be the most effective tool against continued hair loss, and that’s for two straightforward reasons.

Increased blood flow – Hair follicles can’t do much with nutrients if they’re not getting them. Exercise increases the blood flow in your body and allows nutrients to travel more effectively to your hair follicles. Needless to say, regular cardio exercise comes with many benefits outside the world of hair as well, so this is a win-win.

Reduced stress levels – Returning to correlation between stress and hair loss, exercise has proven to be a highly-effective method for reducing stress. As we mentioned earlier in the article, any way you can reduce the stress in your life is going to benefit the health of your hair.

Much like dietary choices, neglect regarding exercise can slowly but steadily contribute to further hair loss and thinning through stress and poor cardiovascular health. We hope that this has given you some food for thought when it comes to the health of your hair and how you can affect change!