Are you losing your hair and desperate for a solution?

The ladies (and some men) who come to me are devastated, demoralized and desperate. This makes them feel incredibly distressed and anxious and they turn to supplements and snake oil treatments. 

In the functional medicine space, understanding the intricacies of hair loss and its potential remedies is crucial, as it often signals underlying health issues. While hair loss can be distressing, identifying the root cause is key to effective treatment. In my practice I focus a lot on nutritional and hormone excesses or deficiencies as well as lifestyle. Many people turn to OTC supplements as a quick fix. 

Consumer Lab and I reviewed the studies on hair loss supplements. I also have a lot of experience evaluating women and men with hair loss. In this blog I shall explore some of what works and what doesn’t and why.

Do hair loss supplements work?

If you have nutritional deficiencies the answer is yes, and if you don’t have deficiencies, you may be wasting your money. 

Common deficiencies are:

• Iron-Among the women affected by excessive hair loss, a larger proportion of women (59%) had low iron stores. Ferritin is a measure of iron stores ¹ Measuring iron is not enough. 
• Zinc deficiency has been associated with hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) and hypothyroidism can cause hair loss. Hair loss may not improve with thyroid hormone replacement unless zinc deficiency is corrected. ²
• Biotin deficiency is associated with hair loss and is formed by intestinal bacteria and found in food. It works if you are truly deficient as it is used in the production of keratin for hair and nails. ³
• Vitamin D signals the pathways of growth and differentiation of hair follicles. Low levels can be found in several types of hair loss such as telogen effluvium, androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, and trichotillomania. ⁴ 

As you can see, many instances of hair loss are linked to nutrient deficiencies. If tests confirm a deficiency, using food and supplements to correct the deficiency can be an effective remedy. However, for individuals without such deficiencies, over-the-counter supplements might not provide the desired results. Have your levels measured so you can supplement what you are deficient in.

What about herbals?

Beyond nutrients, the market is flooded with products claiming to combat hair loss. These herbal treatments act by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is at least 10 times stronger than testosterone. All women have some testosterone, and some have more than others. High levels of either can cause masculinization – acne, oily skin and male patter hair loss. Male patter hair loss occurs at the temples and the top of the head.  

• Saw Palmetto is thought to work by blocking 5-alpha-reductase, an enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT, a molecule associated with hair loss. Some studies showed 60% percent improvement in overall hair quality, 27% improvement in total hair count, increased hair density in 83.3% of patients, and stabilized disease progression among 52% various topical and oral saw palmetto supplements. The studies however were not the highest quality, ⁵
• Pumpkin seed oil is used in some cultures for promoting hair growth, and contains nutrients thought to benefit hair health. Some studies suggest it might help by inhibiting DHT production similarly to saw palmetto. Some studies indicate that topical application of pumpkin seed oil may improve hair growth in men and women.^6,7

While some people may notice improvements, the scientific backing for many of these treatments is relatively weak. Many people take a shot gun approach and buy anything on the market to improve hair growth out of desperation.

It’s important to approach these solutions with a critical eye and discuss them with a functional medicine practitioner to understand your root cause. In functional medicine, the approach to treating hair loss extends beyond supplements. It involves a comprehensive assessment of diet, lifestyle, and health status. This holistic view can uncover potential hormonal imbalances or autoimmune conditions that might be contributing to hair loss, allowing for targeted interventions that address the actual cause rather than just the symptoms.

When it comes to supplements, quality matters as well as where you purchase them. There are many counterfeit supplements on the market so be sure to buy them from authorized distributors. Also, some supplements do not dissolve and do not have enough active ingredient to make a difference or have less than the amount stated on the label. Sign up for Supplement Savvy so you can learn about how and where to buy quality supplements from authorized distributors at a discount. Be safe, not sorry.