Is Your Hair Loss Actually a Warning Sign?
Our Perspective on Hair Loss and What’s Actually Causing It
Let’s be honest. Losing your hair feels personal. You might notice it slowly, like your part is wider than it used to be, or all at once, like a handful of strands in the shower drain. Either way, it can be confusing, emotional, and frustrating when no one seems to take it seriously.
You’re told it’s stress. That it’s normal. It will probably grow back. But you’re not just looking for reassurance. You want real answers.
At Balanced Health, we view hair loss as a symptom with a story. That story often traces back to your hormones, stress response, and overall metabolic health.
Let’s break it down.
Hair Doesn’t Just Fall Out for No Reason
Hair grows in cycles:
- Growth phase (anagen)
- Transition phase (catagen)
- Resting and shedding phase (telogen)
Problems begin when more hair than usual enters the telogen phase. That’s often your body’s response to stress, and not just the emotional kind. Physical stress, like illness, childbirth, inflammation, or nutrient depletion, can all affect this cycle.
Hair loss is often a delayed reaction to something your body experienced months ago. Understanding that the timeline is key to uncovering the cause.
Telogen Effluvium: Hair Loss After a Shock
This is one of the most common types of hair loss and often the most misunderstood. It’s frequently triggered by:
- Major illness, including COVID
- Surgery or anesthesia
- Childbirth and postpartum recovery
- Rapid weight loss or restrictive dieting
- Emotional trauma or prolonged stress
This type of hair loss tends to appear diffusely across the scalp and shows up about two to three months after the initial stressor. It’s often temporary, but recovery depends on identifying and resolving what’s keeping your system on high alert.
Androgenic Hair Loss: The Hormonal Pattern That Gets Overlooked
Androgenic alopecia is slower and more gradual. It’s influenced by hormones, particularly excess androgens like DHT, a byproduct of testosterone.
You might notice:
- Thinning along the crown or a widening part (in women)
- Receding hairline or thinning at the temples (in men)
- Hair changes that worsen with PCOS, perimenopause, or postpartum shifts
While often labeled as genetic, androgenic hair loss is also influenced by insulin resistance, inflammation, and overall hormone balance.
These are all things we can evaluate and support.
Hair Health Starts With What You Eat and Absorb
Even if you’re eating well, hair loss can still happen if your body isn’t absorbing nutrients efficiently.
We commonly identify deficiencies in:
- Iron and ferritin
- Zinc
- B vitamins
- Protein
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Biotin
These nutrients are critical to hair growth. But the problem isn’t always low intake. Stress, gut inflammation, or poor digestion can reduce absorption and make it harder for your hair to thrive.
When Hair Loss is a Bigger Clue
Hair loss can be a red flag for deeper dysfunction.
We often find root causes like:
- Subclinical hypothyroidism
- Gut issues that affect absorption
- Scalp inflammation or microbiome imbalance
- Autoimmune conditions
- Chronic cortisol elevation
- Side effects from certain medications or birth control
That’s why we take a full-body approach. Your hair is often the first place to show signs of imbalance.
How We Approach Understanding Your Hair Loss at Balanced Health
Hair regrowth takes more than a topical product. Our approach is comprehensive, starting with the right testing.
This may include:
- Full hormone panels (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, thyroid)
- Micronutrient and inflammation markers
- Gut health assessments
- Scalp evaluations, if needed
From there, we build a tailored plan to address your specific root causes. Your treatment may include:
- Nutritional support and targeted supplements
- Hormone optimization, when appropriate
- Peptides to stimulate follicle repair
- Topical or in-office regenerative therapies
- Stress support and nervous system regulation
We focus on restoring internal balance because that’s what allows your hair to grow back in a lasting way.
This Isn’t About Vanity
Hair loss isn’t just about appearance. It’s about how you feel in your body and how connected you feel to your health.
If your hair has changed, there’s a reason. You deserve to understand why and feel supported while you heal.
We’re here to listen, test what matters, and guide you back to feeling like yourself again.
Book a consultation to get started. We’re here to help you get to the root of it.
– Susan and the Balanced Health Team
