Top 5 Labs for Patients Experiencing Hair Loss

Hair loss is a common event we all go through: every person loses, on average, 50 to 100 scalp hairs daily. However, when hair loss is greater than 50 to 100 hairs, or if hair growth has slowed, it may lead to conditions like alopecia or unwanted hair loss. This article will discuss how common unwanted hair loss is, the signs of hair loss, and possible causes. We'll then discuss functional medicine testing to explore the root of hair loss and different options that may help manage it.

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How Common is Unwanted Hair Loss?

Hair loss is, unfortunately, a common condition, affecting 50% of women at some point in their lifetime and 80% of men. Hair growth is a four-step cycle. The first step is the anagen or hair growth. The second step is catagen or hair recession. The third step is telogen or rest. And the fourth step is exogen or shedding.

Anagen Phase

The anagen phase is where the growth of an entire hair shaft grows from follicle to end. For scalp hairs, this phase lasts two to eight years; however, this length may decrease with age. The number of follicles in this phase may also decrease with age.

Catagen Phase

Catagen is the phase where the hair follicle regresses. This phase lasts about two weeks.

Telogen Phase

The telogen phase can last for two to three months. During this phase, there is no hair growth; instead, it lays dormant. Approximately 9% of scalp hairs are in this phase at any given time. New hair is beginning to develop in the follicle.

Exogen Phase

The exogen phase is marked by the continued growth of new hair that eventually pushes the old hair out of the follicle, leading to its shedding. Anagen then begins again.

Signs of Hair Loss

Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss. Alopecia can be separated into two major categories: scarring, a form that may lead to permanent hair loss, or non-scarring, which may be reversible. Nonscarring is the most common type of alopecia and includes focal, diffuse, and patterned hair loss.

Focal

Focal hair loss occurs when hair is lost in patches. It is most commonly seen on the head but can also occur in other areas of the body. The most common type of focal hair loss is alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that begins in childhood.

Diffuse

Diffuse hair loss occurs evenly throughout the scalp. The most common type of diffuse hair loss is telogen effluvium, which may cause over 200 scalp hairs per day to fall out.

Patterned Hair Loss

Patterned hair loss occurs when the hair loss begins as thinning hair but progresses to bald areas. This type of hair loss is symmetric and can be seen on the sides, top, and front of the head. While this type of hair loss can occur in both men and women, men may experience thinning and recession of the hairline more. The most common type of patterned hair loss is hereditary androgenetic alopecia.

Scarring Alopecia

Scarring alopecia, also called cicatricial alopecia, is a condition that may lead to permanent hair loss. There are different causes of scarring alopecia, including discoid lupus erythematosus (an autoimmune disease), folliculitis decalvans (an inflammatory disorder), dissecting cellulitis of the scalp (a rare scar-forming scalp disorder), frontal fibrosing alopecia (hair loss common in postmenopausal women), and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (a condition occurring as a result of hair styling products or styling techniques).

Can Hair Loss Be a Sign of Something Serious?

A practitioner should always evaluate hair loss to determine the cause, as autoimmune conditions, severe illnesses, malnutrition, and other serious conditions may be contributing factors.

What Causes Hair Loss?

Other common causes of hair loss include vitamin and mineral deficiencies, genetics, weight loss, hormonal changes (including thyroid issues), medications, stress, hairstyles, and hair treatments.

Top Five Functional Medicine Labs to Explore the Root of Hair Loss

Since there are various causes of hair loss, a functional medicine practitioner may order the following labs to get a clearer picture:

TrichoTest by GX Sciences

The TrichoTest is a genetic test that analyzes potential factors contributing to hair loss. This test assesses 48 genetic variations that may be associated with hair loss and also provides recommended prescription and nutraceutical products based on results. This test is a simple cheek swab, making it easy for patients to complete. Given that the most common cause of hair loss is hereditary, the TrichoTest can be helpful for many individuals experiencing hair loss.

Thyroid Panel

Thyroid hormones are produced by the thyroid gland and used by every cell in the body. Thyroid hormones can thus affect the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, nervous, and integumentary systems, including hair cycles. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormones, and hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid gland makes too many thyroid hormones. Both of these conditions may contribute to hair loss.

A full thyroid blood panel, such as the panel offered by Boston Heart Labs, will assess thyroid hormones, the pituitary hormone responsible for producing the thyroid hormones, antibodies that may be affecting the thyroid gland, and more.

Sex Hormone Panel

Sex hormones include estrogens, progesterone, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and more. The two most common sex hormones that may influence hair loss are testosterone metabolite, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and estradiol. DHT can affect the anagen, or hair growth, phase. Estradiol, the primary estrogen in cycling women, can also influence hair growth. Hair loss is a common symptom of women with low estradiol, such as postmenopausal women. When assessing hormones, it's always important to see a full panel, as many hormones can convert to each other, but also because many hormone levels can affect other hormones.

For both men and women, the DUTCH hormone panel by Precision Analytical is an excellent choice to assess the relationship between hair loss and hormones. The DUTCH test is a dried urine test that evaluates how hormones are broken down, including testosterone to DHT and estrogen metabolism.

Additionally, a serum FSH and LH panel, such as the panel offered by Access Medical Laboratories, can also be helpful. FSH and LH are two hormones produced by the brain that orchestrates the whole cycle for both men and women and thus can control the production of hormones, including testosterone which converts to DHT and estradiol.

Micronutrient Panel

Micronutrient panels assess vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that assess a person's nutritional status. These tests can show deficiencies and surpluses of various micronutrients, many of which may be associated with hair loss. The micronutrient test offered by Spectracell Laboratories assesses 31 different markers to give a comprehensive view of the patient's nutritional status, including a complete evaluation of micronutrients that may be contributing to hair loss.

Stress Testing

Stress is a process that we all experience. The stress cascade in the body results in a hormone released by the adrenal glands, cortisol. Cortisol, the body's primary stress hormone, can affect the body in many ways, from gastrointestinal functioning to blood sugar, the immune response, and more. Stress can be a factor in hair loss but also affects hormones, leading to an indirect pathway for hair loss.

The Adrenal Stress Profile, by ZRT Laboratory, assesses cortisol levels throughout the day and one DHEA reading. DHEA is another hormone the adrenal glands produce that plays a role in the stress response. It is also a precursor to testosterone, and thus DHT, possibly contributing to hair loss in multiple ways.

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Functional Medicine Approaches to Hair Loss for Men and Women

The following approaches may be helpful for holistically managing hair loss:

Microneedling For Hair Loss

Microneedling is a relatively new procedure introduced in the 1990s where tiny, fine needles create micro punctures in the skin. It is a minimally invasive procedure used for various dermatological conditions, including hair thinning, hair loss, and androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Due to the new treatment method, more studies on the procedure are needed. However, most studies show promising results in significantly increasing total hair count. This approach is commonly combined with a root cause exploration to address potential underlying factors of hair loss (i.e., micronutrient imbalance, thyroid conditions, etc.)

How Nutrition May Influence Hair Loss

The composition of our diets can affect numerous body systems and conditions, and hair loss is no different. Low protein intake has been associated with hair loss. Inflammation also plays a role in hair loss. A low-inflammatory diet, such as the Mediterranean Diet, may be beneficial. The Mediterranean diet focuses on healthy fats, fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs, beans, legumes, and minimally processed whole grains.

Supplements That May Support Hair Health

Supplements may be helpful in addition to a healthy diet. The following are particularly beneficial for hair health:

Supplements for Genetic Factors

Hereditary factors of hair loss can involve genes that affect circulation, DHT production, inflammation, and more. The TrichoTest evaluates an individual's genes and makes supplement recommendations around the genetic variations that may be associated with hair loss. Examples include L-Arginine, CoQ10, L-Carnitine, and more.

Supplements for Thyroid Health

As discussed above, hypothyroidism occurs when insufficient thyroid hormones are produced. Hypothyroidism should always be treated with thyroid replacement medication, as lack of treatment can lead to serious health issues. Various supplements, including iodine, magnesium, selenium, and probiotics, may help support thyroid health and thus can affect hair health. Hyperthyroidism is the result of too much thyroid hormone. Hyperthyroidism can also be managed with medications, as well as the supplements L-carnitine, selenium, and probiotics; thus, these may support hair health.  

Supplements for Sex Hormone Balance

The sex hormones dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol specifically play a role in hair health. Serenoa repens, commonly known as saw palmetto, is a botanical that may aid in supporting balanced DHT levels. It may influence the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase responsible for creating DHT and may affect the DHT receptor, making it less active.

Phytoestrogens may support estradiol. Phytoestrogens are plant compounds that may activate the estradiol receptor leading to similar effects of estradiol. Phytoestrogens include red clover, black cohosh, and hops.

Supplements for Micronutrient Balance

A variety of high and low micronutrient levels can influence hair health. Examples of micronutrient deficiencies that may be associated with hair loss include riboflavin (B2), biotin, zinc, vitamin D, and iron. Examples of excessive levels of micronutrients can also influence hair health, including selenium and iodine (low levels of these nutrients can affect hair health, too). Micronutrient testing can help determine if a micronutrient imbalance is contributing to hair health issues and can also help create the proper dosage.

Supplements for Stress Management

High stress can influence hair health. As discussed above, the primary hormone of the stress response is cortisol. High cortisol levels may be managed with adaptogen supplementation. Adaptogens are a group of botanicals that, as their name implies, help the body to adapt to stress. Ashwagandha, Holy Basil, and Rhodiola are examples of adaptogens that can aid in maintaining healthy cortisol levels.

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Summary

Hair loss can significantly affect the quality of life for both men and women. Thus, hair loss should always be evaluated, and potential contributing factors should be explored. Functional medicine testing, including genetic, thyroid, and sex hormones, micronutrients, and stress testing, can all be useful tools to assess the underlying factors of hair loss. The results can lead to the creation of a personalized approach, with various functional medicine options to consider.