Harmony Hub Health
Functional Medicine, Hormone Health and Weight Loss with Michele Postol, CRNP
Harmony Hub Health
Follicles and Function: Hair Restoration Programs at Harmony Hub Health
Unlock the secrets to vibrant and healthy hair as we navigate the intricate landscape of hair growth and restoration. What if you could reverse hair thinning with just a few lifestyle changes? We unravel the different phases of the hair growth cycle—anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen—and explore how hormonal shifts and health factors can influence hair vitality. Delve into the mysteries of telogen effluvium, a stress-induced condition that might be the key to understanding your hair shedding woes.
Join us as we dissect the profound connection between hormones and hair health, focusing on the impact of androgen levels, insulin resistance, and thyroid function on hair thinning and loss. Discover how stress and its accompanying hormone, cortisol, play a pivotal role in hair shedding, and learn the importance of melatonin and prolactin in maintaining hair cycles. We offer practical dietary changes and lifestyle tweaks to help balance hormones, reduce inflammation, and support hair vitality from within.
Explore a variety of cutting-edge hair restoration techniques available at Monarch Beauty and Spa, from essential oil treatments to advanced therapies like low-level light therapy and microneedling. We uncover the crucial role of maintaining a healthy scalp microbiome and the potential disruptions caused by harsh shampoos and poor diets. Learn about personalized restoration programs and supplements specifically designed to tackle hair thinning due to hormonal changes and stress. Join us on this insightful journey as we offer solutions to help you achieve luscious locks and a vibrant scalp.
Welcome to Harmony Hub Health, where my mission is to provide comprehensive, affordable, integrative care that addresses the root cause of health issues. At the Hub, the focus is on individual patient journeys. I strive to optimize health, vitality and longevity, fostering a community where each person can thrive in body, mind and spirit. Welcome back to another episode. Today, I'm going to comb through the tangled web of health and wellness to bring you the best tips and tricks. I'm diving into a topic that's close to many hearts and scalps hair restoration. I'm so excited to bring you the best tips and tricks. I'm diving into a topic that's close to many hearts and scalps hair restoration. I'm so excited to bring some new hair restoration programs to Harmony Hub Health. If you've ever felt like your hair is staging a dramatic exit, don't you worry. I'm here to help you get to the root of the problem. Pun is fully intended. Whether you're experiencing a little thinning on top or just want to add some volume to your fabulous mane, I'll be shedding light on the latest functional medicine approaches that can help you regain that luscious look you've been dreaming of. I'm going to unravel the mysteries of hair health, explore the science behind why your locks might be leaving you high and dry and discuss some hair raising solutions that go beyond just shampoo and conditioner. We'll talk about nutrition, lifestyle changes and even some surprising remedies that can transform your tresses from lackluster to luxurious. So grab your hairbrush and get ready to style your way to a healthier scalp.
Speaker 1:Let's get tangled up in a world of hair restoration, because life's too short to have bad hair days. So we'll start off by just going over the hair growth cycle. You know your hair has a natural rhythm and the first phase is the growth phase. This is the antigen phase. It lasts about two to eight years. It is influenced by genetics, hormones and your overall health. This is when your hair grows actively as follicles produce keratin that's the protein that forms your hair strands, and longer antigen phases mean fuller, thicker hair. Hormonal changes related to estrogen, testosterone, cortisol and thyroid impacts this phase, which was resulting in thinner strands. Then we have the transition phase. This is the catagen phase. It lasts about two to three weeks. This is a brief period when your hair growth stops and the follicles begin to shrink. Even though it's brief, this phase sets the stage for the hair's natural rest and renew cycle.
Speaker 1:Our resting phase is known as the telogen phase. This lasts about two to three months. Your hair rests in place while the follicle prepares for new growth. Normally, about 9 to 14% of your hair is in this phase at any given time. Hair is more easily pulled out during this phase, even with the gentle traction of a hairbrush or a hair tie, for example.
Speaker 1:The shedding phase is the exogen phase. This is where old hairs are released, making room for new growth to emerge from the follicle. Losing 50 to 100 hairs per day during this phase is common. Excessive shedding of more than 100 hairs per day, though, is considered hair growth disruption and may represent an underlying medical condition, stress on the hair follicles or maybe insight into various nutritional and hormonal imbalances. So you want to think of your hair like a garden. The antigen phase is when flowers bloom, the telogen phase is the soil resting, and the exogen phase is like clearing the soil to plant new seeds.
Speaker 1:Next, I want to tell you about telogen effluvium, also known as TE. This is the stressed induced shed. This is a temporary condition where hair follicles are prematurely pushed into the telogen or that resting phase of the hair growth cycle. This disruption results in excessive hair shedding, typically noticeable two to three months after the triggering event, and while this does not cause permanent follicle damage, it can be distressing and significantly impact a person's confidence. Common triggers of TE are surgery, illness, accidents, even childbirth, can send the body into a state of disruption, triggering TE. Emotional distress, like the loss of a loved one or a pet, or a divorce, even chronic anxiety, can elevate cortisol levels and disrupt the hair growth cycle.
Speaker 1:You can have nutritional deficiencies. Low ferritin, which is the stored form of iron in the body, is a leading cause of TE, as iron is essential for hair follicle energy production. If you have insufficient protein, this dietary protein can impair keratin production, weakening the hair strands that's one of the reasons why I push protein on all of my weight loss patients and deficiencies in zinc and biotin can also further weaken hair follicles. Hormonal imbalances can cause TE. There can be postpartum changes because after childbirth, hormonal fluctuations often cause TE and is referred to as postpartum hair loss. Both hypothyroidism, when you have low thyroid levels, and hyperthyroidism, when you have high thyroid levels, disrupt the normal hair growth cycle and perimenopause and menopause they just ruin your hair. Right. Estrogen and progesterone declines can exacerbate TE, especially in women already predisposed to hair loss.
Speaker 1:Certain medications, like beta blockers, that you might take for your heart or your blood pressure, if you take an antidepressant or any type of anticoagulant or blood thinner, they can all interfere with follicle cycling, leading to shedding and, of course, acute illness or infections. We saw this so much when COVID-19 came around. Severe infections, high fevers or any type of systemic disease are known to trigger post-illness TE. Different characteristics of this telogen effluvium are diffuse shedding Hair falls out evenly across the scalp rather than in a localized patch. Shedding typically begins two to three months after the triggering event, as hair completes its transition to the telogen phase. Some patients report increased scalp tenderness, or I hear that they have itching, and it resolves naturally, usually around six to nine months, once the trigger is addressed, although chronic TE may persist if the underlying factors are not corrected. Chronic TE may persist if the underlying factors are not corrected.
Speaker 1:Next we have androgenic alopecia A-G-A. This is a genetic puzzle, so androgenic alopecia is commonly referred to as female pattern hair loss. It is a progressive condition caused by genetic and hormonal factors. By genetic and hormonal factors, it results in the gradual miniaturization of hair follicles due to increased sensitivity to DHT or dihydrotestosterone that's a byproduct of testosterone. Unlike telogen effluvium, aga involves permanent follicular changes, making early intervention essential for preserving hair density. Essential for preserving hair density. Common triggers of androgenic alopecia the most common is a genetic predisposition. So a family history of AGA significantly increases the likelihood of developing this condition.
Speaker 1:Next is hormonal imbalances, so DHT sensitivity. If you have elevated levels of DHT, they bind to androgen receptors in your hair follicles and cause them to shrink over time. When you're in menopause, the declining estrogen levels reduce the protective effects against androgens, which can worsen AGA. And while AGA can begin as early as in your 20s, it often becomes more noticeable after 40, and that coincides with perimenopausal hormonal changes. Systemic health factors that can trigger it are insulin resistance, pcos or metabolic syndrome can also worsen androgenic alopecia and the characteristics of this are a little different. Hair usually becomes thinner and shorter over time, particularly at the crown or along the middle part line, and, unlike the diffuse shedding of TE, aga typically presents as thinning at the temples or the crown, with the frontal hairline usually preserved. And without intervention AGA continues to worsen as miniaturized follicles eventually stop producing hair altogether.
Speaker 1:So the common root causes we have of hair loss, as you can see, are hormonal imbalances. If you have elevated testosterone, if you have hormone fluctuations during puberty, postpartum, perimenopause or menopause. If you have nutrient deficiencies, so iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12, magnesium, zinc and protein, maybe you have a lot of stress and inflammation, so related to systemic disease, injury, illness, high fever, surgery or dermatological conditions of the scalp, underlying medical conditions like thyroid problems, autoimmune conditions, maybe it's toxins of boric acid or arsenic or excess vitamin A. Heavy metal exposure, thallium, mercury, selenium, colchicine, copper, arsenic, mercury and lead are all common root causes of hair loss. This is one of the reasons why I love the HTMA, because it can show us if you have these exposures to heavy metals, if you've had chemotherapy or if you have any type of genetic and hereditary factors. These are all common root causes of hair loss.
Speaker 1:So first we're going to talk about the role of hormones in hair health. So first we'll talk about estrogen, which is our protective hormone For women. Estrogen supports the antigen, or the growth phase of the hair cycle, ensuring that follicles stay in their growth phase longer. It also has anti-inflammatory effects, shielding follicles from damage caused by stress and environmental factors. Remember, estrogen is our hormone of attraction, so we need beautiful hair so that someone is attracted to us and they want to mate with us, as estrogen does decline during perimenopause and menopause. That's when hair enters the telogen or the resting phase prematurely. So reduced estrogen also diminishes its protective effects against androgens like DHT, leaving hair more vulnerable to thinning. Women often notice hair thinning during perimenopause or postpartum, when estrogen levels drop significantly.
Speaker 1:Then we have testosterone, the DHT, the dihydrotestosterone. That can be hard to say sometimes. These are our androgenic hormones. Testosterone naturally converts into DHT. That's a hormone that, when you have an excess, can shrink your hair follicles and shorten the growth phase. Elevated testosterone in women, often associated with conditions like PCOS, exacerbates that conversion, leading to thinning at the temples or the crown. Increased DHT sensitivity causes progressive miniaturization of that hair follicles and that causes thinner, shorter hairs over time. So women with PCOS or a genetic predisposition to androgenic alopecia are more likely to experience DHT-driven hair loss.
Speaker 1:Another hormone is insulin. This is our metabolic hormone. Insulin regulates blood sugar levels by facilitating glucose uptake into your cells. However, chronically high insulin levels, often seen in insulin resistance, can disrupt this hormonal balance. High insulin levels promote androgen production in the ovaries, increasing testosterone and its conversion to DHT. This exacerbates hair thinning in women predisposed to androgenic alopecia. Insulin resistance also contributes to systemic inflammation, which damages your hair follicles and impairs its ability to regenerate. So the impact of insulin imbalance is hair thinning at the temple and crown. It's also associated with weight gain, sugar cravings and scalp inflammation. So insulin resistance often coexists with other conditions like PCOS or metabolic syndrome, making it a key factor to address for long-term hair health, and just not even for hair, but metabolic health. So that is why the hair program kind of does incorporate a lot of my metabolic health techniques and strategies to really help everything, not just your hair.
Speaker 1:Next we have thyroid health, which is your metabolic regulator. So thyroid hormones regulate cellular metabolism, which directly impacts the hair follicle energy and function. A healthy thyroid supports the duration and efficiency of the hair growth cycle. Hypothyroidism slow thyroid also slows your hair cycle, leading to diffuse thinning and brittle dry strands. Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune condition, can trigger inflammation that damages follicles and also accelerates hair loss. So any thyroid-related hair loss often appears as overall thinning and just poor hair texture.
Speaker 1:Then our stress hormone, which is cortisol. It's produced by the adrenal glands during times of stress and it plays a significant role in the body's fight or flight response. Plays a significant role in the body's fight or flight response. Chronic stress and elevated cortisol disrupt the hair growth cycle by prematurely pushing follicles into that resting telogen phase, leading to increased shedding. So high cortisol levels can also impair the immune system, increasing the likelihood of inflammatory conditions that can disrupt the hair growth cycle. Telogen effluvium that stress-induced hair shedding, increasing the likelihood of inflammatory conditions that can disrupt the hair growth cycle. Telogen effluvium that stress-induced hair shedding is often linked to cortisol spikes following major life events, illnesses or chronic emotional stress. Elevated cortisol contributes to systemic inflammation, which damages follicles and inhibits regrowth. So the key insight there is that chronic physical and emotional stress can lead to cortisol elevation. Practicing stress management techniques such as mindfulness, meditation or yoga on a consistent basis really helps you lower those cortisol levels.
Speaker 1:Next is melatonin, which has a role also in your hair health. This is known as the sleep and growth hormone. Most people know it because they might take it to sleep at night, but it also has antioxidant properties that protects hair follicles from oxidative stress and damage. You'll see a lot of research they've been doing recently about melatonin and anti-aging. It does play a role in extending the antigen or the growth phase of the hair cycle, particularly on the scalp. So topical melatonin treatments have shown promise in improving hair density by reducing follicular miniaturization and promoting healthy growth. When you have disrupted melatonin levels, often caused by poor sleep or irregular light exposure, this can shorten the growth phase, or antigen phase, and lead to hair thinning or shedding. So maintaining regular sleep patterns and limiting blue light exposure before bed not only helps you sleep, but it does optimize your melatonin production.
Speaker 1:The next hormone that can affect your hair is prolactin. This is your lactation and growth hormone. It is elevated during pregnancy and lactation and can influence the hair cycle by prolonging that resting phase or the telogen phase, and delays the return of the growth phase, the antigen phase. Chronically high prolactin levels, which is seen in conditions like hyperprolactinemia, may contribute to hair thinning or shedding, as well as hirsutism, which is abnormal hair growth on the face, the chest, the abdomen and the back in females. So women that have high prolactin levels may experience diffuse hair thinning, irregular periods and reduced libido. So if you do suspect elevated prolactin levels, you should come to me for a consultation so that we can discuss hormonal evaluation and get that straight.
Speaker 1:Next, the hidden culprit of hair is inflammation because, while inflammation is not a hormone, it is intrinsically linked to certain hormonal imbalances. Chronic inflammation disrupts follicle activity. It impairs the production of strong, healthy hair. Triggers of inflammation include hormonal imbalances, autoimmune disease, poor gut health or a pro-inflammatory diet. Inflammation weakens your hair follicles and contributes to shedding and slows regrowth. And reducing inflammation is a cornerstone of hair restoration, as it addresses both the symptoms and the underlying causes of hair thinning, improving estrogen metabolism, since estrogen plays a critical role in maintaining that antigen or growth phase of the hair cycle. But imbalances, whether it's too much or too little estrogen, can really disrupt follicle function.
Speaker 1:Supporting your body's ability to metabolize estrogen is very essential. So I always recommend cruciferous vegetables. That could be broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussel sprouts and cabbage. These vegetables do support liver detoxification and help to reduce excess estrogen. You want at least one to two servings a day to optimize estrogen clearance. Or you know, flax seeds rich in lignans. Flax seeds act as phytoestrogens to gently balance estrogen levels. They also provide omega-3 fatty acids, which helps reduce inflammation. Adding one to two tablespoons of ground flaxseeds to smoothies, oatmeal or yogurt is a good idea. But also fiber-rich foods like whole grains, legumes and fruits like berries, help support healthy digestion and assist the body in excreting excess estrogen via the gut. So 30 grams of fiber per day minimum is the best, and I do include some recipes in my hair restoration program. And then we want to reduce androgen excess, so androgens like testosterone and DHT that play a significant role in hair loss.
Speaker 1:Dietary strategies can reduce androgen levels and minimize their impact on your hair follicles. So eating low glycemic foods to help stabilize blood sugar and preventing insulin spikes that can trigger excess androgen production. You want to focus on non-starchy vegetables, whole grains, legumes and healthy fats. You want to replace white bread, pasta and sugary snacks with quinoa, lentils or sweet potatoes. Saw palmetto is a botanical extract derived from berries of a small palm tree, and studies have found that both oral and topical forms of saw palmetto that are in shampoos or serums can improve hair density and reduce shedding in women with androgenic alopecia. Saw palmetto also has anti-inflammatory effects, which may help reduce scalp inflammation that's associated with androgen-related hair loss.
Speaker 1:Let's see what else here. Also, spearmint tea that is one thing that I've seen clinical studies for. It shows that spearmint tea can lower androgen levels and reduce symptoms of hirsutism and hair thinning in women with high testosterone. So drinking one to two cups of spearmint tea a day can help regulate excess androgen levels. Also, zinc-rich foods help regulate androgens and support healthy follicles. Good sources include pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, lean meats you can always snack on a handful of pumpkin seeds or add them to your salad for an easy zinc boost Omega-3 fatty acids that are found in fatty fish like salmon, walnuts and flax seeds they all help support hormonal health and reduce inflammation. So replace trans fats with monounsaturated fats like avocado and olive oil to improve your insulin sensitivity.
Speaker 1:You always also want to support thyroid health, because your thyroid gland regulates metabolism and energy production, both of which are critical for healthy hair growth. Nutritional support for thyroid function includes minerals and foods that aid hormone production and reduce inflammation. So selenium is essential for converting inactive thyroid hormone, t4, into that active form, t3. Brazil nuts are one of the richest natural sources of selenium. You can eat one to two Brazil nuts a day to meet your selenium needs and iodine, which is essential for thyroid hormone production. It's found in seaweed and eggs and dairy products, but you want to avoid excessive supplementation as it can exacerbate thyroid dysfunction. So you can add a small amount of iodine-rich seaweed, like nori, to soups or salads, or use iodized salt in moderation as an alternative source.
Speaker 1:And then iron Iron deficiency can impair thyroid function and reduce hair follicle activity. You want to include iron-rich foods like spinach, lentils and grass-fed beef in your diet. So pair plant-based iron sources with vitamin C, like citrus or bell peppers and you will have better absorption. You want to make sure you're drinking enough water for detoxification 100 to 120 ounces of water a day. To support nutrient transport and detoxification, you can always add lemon or cucumber slices. That will add to the alkalizing benefits, and iron deficiency can impair thyroid function and reduce hair follicle activity. You want to include iron-rich foods like spinach, lentils and grass-fed beef in your diet. So you always want to pair plant-based iron sources with vitamin C to enhance that absorption. That was a lot of dietary factors.
Speaker 1:Now we can talk about lifestyle factors. One is stress management, because chronic stress elevates cortisol, which can suppress estrogen levels and exacerbate androgen dominance. Practicing mindfulness, doing yoga or meditation helps. Incorporating deep breathing exercises into your daily routine. I would dedicate at least 10 to 15 minutes a day to stress reducing activities. I hope everybody can find 10 minutes a day for that. You can also have regular exercise, because aerobic exercise improves insulin sensitivity. It reduces androgens and promotes healthy estrogen levels. You want to aim for 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week. That could be walking or riding a bike and then strength training. This enhances muscle mass and insulin regulation, which can indirectly help balance testosterone. You should do resistance training two to three times a week. Another lifestyle factor is your sleep hygiene, because poor sleep disrupts hormonal regulation, including estrogen and testosterone levels. You want to maintain a consistent sleep schedule. You want to limit screen time before bed to support melatonin production and try to get seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night. Okay, so those are more of the diet and lifestyles.
Speaker 1:Now we could talk about other techniques for hair loss, and a lot of these are incorporated into my hair restoration programs with Harmony Hub Health. And the first one is so easy to do it's just scalp massage. Scalp massage boosts circulation. Massaging the scalp increases blood flow to your hair follicles. It delivers oxygen and essential nutrients to support growth, but it also helps reduce scalp tightness, which can restrict blood supply and hinder follicle function. It facilitates deeper penetration of topical treatments such as oils or serums, and studies do show that the mechanical forces applied to the scalp during massage alters the expression of hair cycle-related genes, which may lead to increased hair thickness.
Speaker 1:I do give some good techniques for scalp massage in my programs. There even are some tools that come with the program. You know you can use a silicone brush or a handheld scalp massager. Some of you have used, or had me use, a scalp massager during your facials at Monarch Beauty and Spa, but it maintains consistent pressure and avoids hand fatigue. When you use these tools you just want to make sure that they're sanitized before and after each use, and at Monarch Beauty and Spa we do have the Head Spa which is part of some of my hair restoration programs.
Speaker 1:You can also combine scalp massage with essential oils. There's a few essential oils with proven benefits. One of the most popular is rosemary oil, because it improves circulation and stimulates follicles and has been shown to be as effective as minoxidil, which is an FDA approved medication for hair loss. Peppermint oil can promote blood flow and provides a cooling effect. Tea tree oil does reduce dandruff and soothe scalp irritation, and then pumpkin seed oil can reduce effects of excess androgens. You just want to mix two to three drops of an essential oil with a carrier oil like coconut or argan oil, and then you want to massage the mixture into the scalp. You can leave it on for about 30 minutes and then wash it out, but consistency is key. Regular scalp massage can yield noticeable improvements in scalp health and hair density over time.
Speaker 1:Another therapy that is in the hair restoration program is low-level light therapy, also known as LLLT. It's a clinically proven, fda approved treatment for hair thinning. It's really effective for androgenic alopecia. It uses red and near infrared light to rejuvenate hair follicles and stimulate growth. So the LLLT penetrates the scalp, increasing ATP production in the hair follicle cells, boosting energy for hair growth. It prolongs that antigen or growth phase and delays follicle miniaturization. It also reduces follicular inflammation, which can impede the hair growth. They also do make laser caps and helmets that I've seen. What I have at the office is a laser comb, so it's suitable for targeted areas, but it does require manual use. One of my hair restoration programs does come with one to use at home because typically you want to use it for six to 20 minutes. I think the one that I use has an eight minute timer, but you want to use it three to five times a week. So it's a great home treatment and results typically appear after four to six months of consistent use.
Speaker 1:Some people even use red light therapy because it uses specific wavelengths, usually 630 to 660 nanometers to penetrate the scalp and stimulate those follicles and reduce inflammation. And while it's similar to LLLT, red light therapy often focuses on overall scalp health rather than solely hair regrowth. So it improves energy production and follicle cells, it supports their growth and their function, it minimizes that oxidative stress which is a key contributor to follicle damage, and it creates an environment conducive to hair growth by reducing irritation and boosting circulation. Both therapies use light. I do find the LLLT they're typically more focused on follicular stimulation, while red light therapy is more of a broader anti-inflammatory benefit. So that's why I put the LLT comb in one of my hair restoration programs. But the red light can help with reduced itching and flaking if you have any type of dermatitis to the scalp, and it does enhance the effectiveness of other topical treatments by preparing the scalp.
Speaker 1:Next would be microneedling. This is something that I do offer in person at Monarch Beauty and Spa. It is minimally invasive. It creates controlled microinjuries on the scalp and the microinjuries trigger your body's natural healing processes, stimulating collagen production and improving the efficacy of topical treatments. So it does boost collagen, it enhances scalp elasticity and it strengthens that follicular environment. You create little channels for deeper penetration of treatments like minoxidil or PRP. Microneedling stimulates blood flow to those hair follicles and the microinjuries that are created during microneedling recruits some stem cells and growth factors to stimulate the hair growth cycle.
Speaker 1:Microneedling has been shown to be effective treatment for AGA and TE forms of hair loss and thinning. They do have some at-home devices. The needle length is typically shorter than professional treatments like I offer in the office. My microneedle can go two millimeters or deeper for a significant follicle activation. So you only need to do that treatment every four to six weeks, whereas the home devices usually like the nano needles, they go only 0.25. I think the highest I've seen is 0.5. So you can use that weekly. So it's ideal for improving product absorption and mild stimulation to the scalp. But you definitely don't want to use a home tool more than once a week and you want to make sure you really sanitize it before and after to prevent infection and avoid overuse. It can be something that you just get so excited to use, but if you irritate your scalp too much you can delay healing.
Speaker 1:Platelet-rich plasma therapy I offer that at Monarch Beauty and Spa as well. It really harnesses the regenerative power of platelets extracted from your own blood to rejuvenate hair follicles, so it's particularly effective for androgenic alopecia and early stage hair thinning. So platelets are rich in growth factors like vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor, insulin related growth factor and fibroblast growth factors that stimulate follicle activity, increase blood flow and improve hair density density. So what I do is I draw blood from your arm and then I separate the platelets using a centrifuge and the concentrated platelet-rich plasma is then injected with a small needle into the scalp. I can even combine this with the microneedling or I can just use a syringe with needle to inject this into your scalp. The initial phase is one session a month for three to four months and then maintenance is usually every four to six months.
Speaker 1:Other treatments that are being offered are minoxidil. This is an FDA approved treatment that stimulates hair regrowth and prevents further hair loss. It works by improving blood flow to your scalp, delivering essential nutrients and oxygen to hair follicles and prolonging that growth phase of the hair cycle, the antigen phase. So you can take it as an oral medication or I do use a solution and a foam for at home. You can either take the pill or you can apply it to your scalp once or twice a day, depending on the concentration. Usually you can see improvements after three to six months of consistent use, with full benefit seen after 12 months. What people don't usually like about Minoxidil is there is an initial shedding that can occur in the first four to eight weeks because older hairs are replaced with new growth and some users can experience a mild scalp irritation. Minoxidil does require ongoing use to maintain results, so if you stop it then it will result in a return to the pre-treatment state within a few months.
Speaker 1:Another pharmaceutical is finasteride. This is FDA-approved oral medication that targets hormonal causes of hair loss by reducing that production of DHT, that's the hormone linked to hair follicle miniaturization and androgenic alopecia. So this blocks the enzyme 5-alpha reductase to lower DHT levels and protect your hair follicles. You take it as a daily dose that is prescribed, and it slows hair loss and promotes regrowth and thinning areas, with noticeable improvements typically seen after three to six months. Some patients can experience decreased libido or breast tenderness, which usually reverses when you discontinue it. This is not suitable for pregnant women or those who may want to become pregnant, because it can cause birth defects, and it usually is most effective when combined with other treatments like minoxidil or having PRP. You can take saw palmetto. Again, this also inhibits 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT. It is the key hormone responsible for follicle miniaturization and androgenic alopecia, but studies show that it can reduce hair loss and improve density, with effects similar to finasteride, in some cases with fewer side effects. So it's really effective for individuals with DHT-related hair loss, and I have a whole list of different supplements for hair restoration, like Gotu Kola or Indian Gooseberry or Red Clover or Pumpkin Seed Oil. Pan-x Ginseng is good for hair restoration, even green tea, which I'm not going to go through all of them in horsetail, but these are ones that I talk about in my hair restoration assessments.
Speaker 1:Other key nutrients that you need for hair growth would be B7, also known as biotin. So this is vital for keratin production and strengthening hair strands and reducing brittleness. You can take that as a supplement. You can eat more eggs, nuts seeds you can take that as a supplement. You can eat more eggs, nuts seeds and sweet potatoes. I also have it available as an injection or as an IV infusion. Zinc facilitates DNA synthesis and follicle repair, preventing weak or brittle hair. You can get that in pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, lentils and oysters.
Speaker 1:Iron is what delivers oxygen to hair follicles and it's essential for maintaining your growth cycles. And then again, the omega-3 fatty acids help to reduce scalp inflammation and improve follicle hydration and elasticity. And don't forget the other vitamins, like vitamin D, which stimulates dormant hair follicles and promotes active hair cycling. All of the B vitamins B1, 2, 6, and 12, all improve red blood cell production and oxygen delivery to follicles. Vitamin E protects hair follicles from oxidative damage and improves circulation to the scalp. Selenium protects against oxidative stress and follicles and supports thyroid hormone production, critical for hair health. There also are amino acids that are the building blocks of hair, like L-proline, l-leucine, l-lysine, l-cysteine and methionine, which I talk about at my hair consultations, and then just antioxidants. So vitamin C helps protect hair follicles from oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals. Coq10 also promotes energy production at the cellular level, vital for follicle health.
Speaker 1:But I don't want you to go out and think you have to get all of these different things. This is why it's a good thing to have a hair restoration consultation, so that you don't just take random things. You take what is going to help you. The best. Alpha-lipoic acid is a very potent antioxidant that combats free radicals and reduces inflammation. It also supports mitochondrial function, which is needed for cellular energy and follicle cells. Acetyl L-carnitine I can go on and on. Resveratrol these are all things that I talk about when we go over your base nutrition and your supplements. Niacinamide or vitamin B3 is also very good for improving blood flow to hair follicles.
Speaker 1:Nac is a precursor to glutathione, which is one of the body's most powerful antioxidants. Nad, which is my number one favorite injectable right now. It does support cellular energy, essential for active hair follicles, and it combats follicle aging by reducing oxidative damage and inflammation. And then glutathione, like I said, is the master antioxidant that protects hair follicles from oxidative stress and environmental toxins. It does detoxify the scalp and support overall scalp health. You can get that from food like asparagus, spinach, avocados and walnuts. It is produced naturally in the body, but you need all of the amino acids to form that that most people lack and you stop making as you age. It can also be supplemented. I have liposomal glutathione spray at Monarch Beauty and Spa. I do have injectable and I do have infusion.
Speaker 1:Other things that can affect your hair health would be leaky gut syndrome. So the walls of your intestines are lined with tight junctions that act as a barrier, selectively allowing nutrients, water and beneficial compounds to pass into the bloodstream while blocking harmful substances like toxins, pathogens and undigested food. Particles Yuck. When these tight junctions become compromised, they leak, allowing those harmful substances to enter your bloodstream and this sets off a whole chain reaction of immune responses and inflammation. So when toxins and pathogens enter your bloodstream, the immune system launches this inflammatory response.
Speaker 1:Chronic inflammation damages your hair follicles and disrupts their ability to grow strong, healthy hair, and it may push your follicles into that telogen or resting phase prematurely, which leads to hair shedding. So when you have leaky gut, you do have nutrient deficiencies, because a compromised gut lining reduces the absorption of essential nutrients like that biotin, zinc, iron and amino acids, all vital for hair growth and follicle repair. And gut inflammation also disrupts hormone balance by increasing your cortisol levels and impairing estrogen metabolism, both which negatively impact your hair growth. You would know you have leaky gut because you might have digestive symptoms like bloating gas, diarrhea, constipation or abdominal discomfort. Like bloating gas, diarrhea, constipation or abdominal discomfort, you might have skin issues like eczema, acne, rosacea or psoriasis. You can have systemic symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, joint pain and frequent infections. Hair and scalp issues so that's the diffused hair thinning, increased shedding and an unhealthy scalp, environment, food sensitivities these are increased sensitivity or reactions to foods that were previously well tolerated.
Speaker 1:Usually, gluten or dairy are the big offenders, and other common causes of leaky gut are dietary factors. If you eat too much refined sugars, too much processed foods, too much gluten and dairy and then don't have enough fiber, fiber starves beneficial gut bacteria, reducing their protective effects. If you're insufficient with fiber, deficiencies in zinc, vitamin D and omega-3 weaken your gut lining and if you're using long-term medications like NSAIDs they damage your intestinal lining. Antibiotics kill off beneficial bacteria and steroids suppress your immune function and increase that leakiness of your gut. Common causes of leaky gut are chronic stress, overuse of alcohol and just having gut dysbiosis. That's the imbalance of gut bacteria often caused by poor diet, stress or medications, and it leads to reduced production of protective short-chain fatty acids like butyrate. Um the impact of on hair follicles from healthy gut because you're wondering why you're going through all of this stuff. I know you have another podcast on that um, but hair follicles are highly sensitive to inflammatory signals triggered by leaky gut, which can accelerate hair shedding and slow regrowth. And even if your diet is rich in nutrients and you say, oh, I eat, you know x, y and z.
Speaker 1:A leaky gut prevents optimal absorption and it starves hair follicles of the building blocks they need for growth. And most people don't know it. But your scalp has its own microbiome and the scalp microbiome is a unique and diverse community of microorganisms that live on the scalp surface. So, just like your gut microbiome, it forms a protective barrier and interacts with the body to maintain healthy functioning. So the functions of the scalp microbiome number one it's protection against harmful pathogens. Beneficial microbes prevent the overgrowth of harmful bacteria and fungi that can cause infections and inflammation. I have had to use, you know, ketoconazole for shampoos for people that do have a little bit of fungal overgrowth on the scalp that they had no idea. That's why I do a thorough scalp evaluation at your consultation and maintenance of pH balance and oil production. So the microbiome does regulate sebum production and helps maintain an acidic pH which prevents pathogenic growth. And a balanced microbiome nourishes hair follicles, reducing inflammation and supporting hair growth. So a healthy microbiome is equal to optimal hair growth.
Speaker 1:I wasn't going to. I could keep going on and on about inflammation, but signs of an imbalanced scalp microbiome could be dry, flaky scalp or persistent dandruff. White or yellow flakes might indicate an overgrowth of yeast or fungi, and that's when I would prescribe a medicated shampoo for you. If you have excessive oiliness or a scalp odor, that means you could have an imbalance in sebum production, which can lead to greasy hair that makes an unpleasant smell. Inflammation from the microbiome disruption also can cause discomfort and visible irritation and can give you itchiness, redness or just a lot of irritation, and chronic scalp inflammation does weaken your hair follicles, leading to accelerated shedding. Other ways that you can cause your scalp microbiome to be imbalanced would be over-washing your hair, because you're stripping natural oils that can weaken the scalp's barrier and disturb microbial balance. Or using a very harsh shampoo. There's a lot of shampoos out there with a lot of harmful chemicals. Frequent use of hair products, so products that have silicone, sulfates or parabens they can clog your pores and promote microbial imbalance. If you have a poor diet or nutrient deficiencies, like the zinc, biotin and omega-3, that can weaken your scalp's natural defenses. If your environment is full of pollution or hard water, or there's toxins that alter your scalp microbiome, and then again elevated cortisol levels and hormonal shifts can increase inflammation and disrupt that microbial diversity.
Speaker 1:Hair growth is dependent on a well-regulated cycle that includes active growth antigen and the transition phase, the catagen and the resting telogen phases. Chronic inflammation interferes with this cycle, causing hair follicles to spend less time in the antigen phase and more time in the telogen phase, where shedding occurs. Over time, inflammation damages the follicle environment, it weakens the hair shaft and it slows regrowth. Inflammatory scalp conditions can further exacerbate hair loss, including folliculitis. This is the inflammation of hair follicles, including, you know, folliculitis. This is the inflammation of hair follicles. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition of the skin and scalp resulting in thickened skin plaques and these conditions that with you know, seborrheic dermatitis, which is that redness and flaking. They just create a vicious cycle where inflammation damages the follicles, leading to shedding, which then perpetuates inflammation. And then there's non-celiac gluten sensitivity. It's a condition characterized by an immune reaction to gluten that does not involve the intestinal damage seen in celiac disease, but it can still trigger systemic inflammation impacting various systems in the body, including your scalp and the hair, your scalp and the hair.
Speaker 1:I'm just going to spare you guys, because I still had more notes here about nutrients that combat inflammation and foods that combat inflammation, lifestyle. I could go on for days and I feel like I've already talked your ear off. Um, this goes more about stress. I really made a list here of things to talk about, but at this point um, I know I've said a lot of that toxins I go over during the consultation, how to replace toxins, and when you sign up for a hair restoration program, you do get a 16-week course and all of these things that I'm saying is gonna come to you weekly so that you can follow along and kind of improve your hair health while we do different strategies that we pick, customize just for you. I do not have a one-size-fits-all hair restoration program. I do have multiple tiers, but each tier can be customized exactly to what your body needs. One of the things I'm most excited about is the Nutrafol Women's Balance that I have brought to Monarch Beauty and Spa.
Speaker 1:Nutrafol Women's Balance is a dietary supplement specifically formulated to support hair growth in women experiencing menopause or hormonal changes, and it addresses the underlying causes of hair thinning and loss associated with aging, hormonal fluctuations and environmental factors. It has botanical extracts. It has ashwagandha, which is an adaptogen that helps combat stress, which can negatively impact hair health. It has curcumin, which is derived from turmeric. It has anti-inflammatory properties that may improve scalp health. It does have that saw palmetto, which is known to inhibit the production of DHT. It has the biotin, the zinc, the vitamin E. It has collagen, the zinc, the vitamin E, it has collagen. This supplement for most people can be their main nutritional supplement, their vitamin for the day. And, you know, the supplement does target hormonal fluctuations that can lead to hair thinning and it helps create a favorable environment for hair growth. And it helps with stress reduction, with the ashwagandha, which may positively influence hair health. Other treatments that are in the programs I have many different scalp treatments.
Speaker 1:I have one that is a mixture of azelaic acid, estradi, progesterone, leothyronine. I have one that's biotin, biotin, minoxidil, tretinoin, vitamin E and fluacinolone. I have a minoxidil, finasteride, tretinoin. I mean I have so many different compounded, ready-to-go hair treatments that can meet every need.
Speaker 1:And this is where we change the game. You know, instead of that one size fits all approach, my new programs provide a comprehensive analysis and targeted treatment plan. So we'll start with advanced testing to get a full picture of what's going on in your body and from there we tailor a solution that might include the Nutrafol, the finasteride, the minoxidil, maybe even progesterone treatments. But we don't stop there. We also focus on internal healing, because your hair is a reflection of what's happening inside your body. So we can optimize your nutrition, regulate your hormones and detoxify your system for lasting results.
Speaker 1:So if you've been thinking about addressing your hair loss, now is the time to act. Hair regrowth is a gradual process and starting early gives you the best chance for success. By investing in your hair health now, you can see fuller, stronger hair in the months to come. And here's the best part these programs are tailored just for you. Whether you're dealing with postpartum shedding, age-related thinning, chronic hair loss, I'll create a plan that meets your unique needs. So if you're ready to take control of your hair health, let's ditch the frustration and get to the root cause of hair loss together. To learn more about my new holistic hair restoration programs, book a consultation today. You can visit wwwharmonyhubhealthcom or you can visit my Facebook page, harmony Hub Health. You can also come to Monarch Beauty and Spa and have an in-person consultation. Thank you for tuning into Harmony Hub Health. If you love this episode, be sure to subscribe and share it with your friends. Until next time, take care of yourself inside and out.