1

Continued on Page 2
Have you noticed an increas-
ing number of hairs in your sink
or hairbrush? Are you begin-
ning to see more of your scalp
when you look in the mirror? If
so, you are not alone! Millions
of men and women experience
hair loss as they age, sometimes
starting as early as their 20s or
30s. Depending on the reason
for your hair loss, you may be
able to reverse it or at least slow
it down.
First, lets recognize that some
hair loss is normal. Hair experts
estimate that a loss of approxi-
mately 50 to 150 strands of
hair per day represents normal
shedding for the human hair
growth cycle. So, some hair in
the sink or shower is nothing to
be alarmed about. Sudden hair
loss, or thinning hair over your
entire head (and possibly other
parts of your body), or clumps
of hair falling out are consid-
ered unusual, and should be
discussed with your healthcare
practitioner. Depending on the
severity of your symptoms, he
or she may recommend seeing a
dermatologist or a hair special-
ist, known as a trichologist.
The fear of losing more hair is
usually what prompts people
to seek medical attention. Al-
though some people may be
driven by vanity, for others
hair loss is devastating to their
health. Sudden or excessive hair
loss can indicate an underlying
problem, such as a vitamin or
mineral defciency, a hormone
imbalance, a toxicity brought on
by something in your environ-
ment, or too much stress in your
life.
Sometimes the cause for the hair
loss can be treated or eliminat-
ed, resulting in new hair growth
and healthier hair. Those in-
dividuals who have a genetic
predisposition for early or ex-
cessive hair loss may not be able
to fght it, but they can at least
try to slow it down by being
aware of factors that affect hair
health.
self-esteem. This seems espe-
cially true for women. In The
Hormone Solution: Stay Younger
Longer, Dr. Thierry Hertoghe
notes that a hormone imbalance
is just as likely to feed fear and
erode self-confdence as it is to
contribute to hair loss. He says,
Addressing any imbalance will
not only improve the situation
on top of your head, but within
it as well.
Possible Causes
Because hair cells are re-
plenished more quickly and
visibly than most other cells,
the condition of your hair is
like a barometer of your overall
Concerned about Hair Loss?
Hair loss can take a variety of forms, including thinning hair as a result
of excessive hair loss, or circular bald patches that appear where clumps
of hair have fallen out. Any excessive hair loss should be mentioned to
your healthcare practitioner, as it may be a sign of a medical condition
or nutritional deficiency.
Healthy Hair Thinning Hair Patchy Hair Loss
Continued on Page 3
2
Hair Conditions and Possible Factors
The follwoing conditions may precede or occur in conjunction with hair loss. Paying attention to
your hair condition and treating early symptoms may allow you to prevent or slow down hair loss.
Dry, brittle hair n Protein deficiency, possibly due to poor protein digestion
n Essential fatty acid deficiency
n Deficiencies in vitamin A, sulfur, silicon, or zinc
n Imbalance involving thyroid hormones
Oily hair n Essential fatty acid deficiency
n Deficiencies in zinc, vitamin B6, riboflavin, or folic acid
Coarse hair n Vitamin A deficiency and possible hypothyroidism (vitamin A
metabolism requires adequate levels of thyroid hormones)
n Protein deficiency
Split ends or untamed hair n Iron deficiency
n Deficiencies in vitamin B6, magnesium, or zinc
Loss of texture or shine n Essential fatty acid deficiency
n Deficiencies in vitamin B6, magnesium, or zinc
n Imbalance involving growth hormone
Premature graying n Usually related to stress
n Hormone imbalance (probably related to stress)
n Deficiencies in B vitamins, sulfur, copper, or folic acid
n Imbalance involving testosterone, growth hormone, or ACTH
(a pituitary hormone)
Scalp disorders n Fungal infection, accelerated by a high carbohydrate diet
(dandruff, seborrhea, psoriasis) n Disruption of local and systemic immunity
n Aggravated by stress
n Essential fatty acid deficiency
n Deficiencies in B vitamins, zinc, biotin, selenium, or copper
(especially if sensitive to the sun)
Excessive hair loss n Poor blood flow or poor circulation to the scalp
n Deficiencies in protein, essential fatty acids, B vitamins,
silicon, and zinc
n Imbalance involving thyroid, growth hormone
(especially if hair loss is all over), or ACTH
Patchy hair loss n Metal poisoning
n Deficiencies in folic acid and zinc
n Imbalance involving ACTH or cortisol
Pubic or armpit hair loss n Imbalance involving DHEA
Hair loss on top of head n Imbalance involving cortisol, estrogens, progesterone, or testosterone
Balding all over the head n Imbalance involving thyroid hormones, DHEA, or estrogens
Continued on Page 4
3
Different hair conditions such
as dandruff or breakage prior
to or in conjunction with hair
losscan be early warning sig-
nals for a variety of different
problems or defciencies (see
chart on page 2). For example,
coarse or brittle hair may indi-
cate low thyroid function. Scalp
disorders such as dandruff,
seborrhea, or psoriasis may in-
dicate a fungal infection that has
been accelerated by nutritional
defciencies.
In addition, environmental con-
ditions and harsh hair products
can damage healthy hair and
accelerate hair loss brought on
by other factors. For example,
heavy metals and toxic chemi-
cals can build up in your system
and interfere with your bodys
absorption of nutrients or pro-
duction of hormones. (In fact,
hair testing is one of the EPAs
means of testing for toxins.)
Many people also participate
in hobbies or have occupations
that expose them to toxins, in-
cluding painting, arts and crafts,
landscaping or gardening (un-
less you are careful to use only
organic products), electri-
cal work, soldering, radiation
therapy, and others. Limiting
or eliminating your exposure to
these toxins and harsh products
should be one of the frst things
to try if you have excessive hair
loss.
Many of the ingredients listed
in shampoos, conditioners, and
other hair treatments are known
allergenics. These ingredients
can cause dermatitis in some
people, and may even be toxic.
Medical Conditions
Various diseases and medi-
cal conditions can also lead to
thinning hair or bald patches.
Thyroid disease (discussed
below) is one of the most com-
mon explanations for hair loss.
It may also occur with diabetes
and autoimmune diseases such
as lupus and HIV. Sudden, se-
vere hair loss may indicate a
liver dysfunction or other seri-
ous illness, so it is wise to bring
it to the attention of your health-
care practitioner.
Parasites, such as ringworm,
and fungal or yeast infections
can also cause hair loss. If left
untreated, these conditions can
rob the body of nutrients by
preventing the proper absorp-
tion of proteins, vitamins, and
minerals necessary for healthy
hair. Recognizing and treating
an infection, especially a scalp
infection, is critical to prevent-
ing total hair loss.
People often lose some hair
about 2 to 4 months after the
start of a severe or prolonged
illness, or major surgery. This
type of hair loss is most likely
due to the stress of the illness or
surgery and is also temporary,
with hair returning as the body
heals and regains its balance.
Hair loss due to chemotherapy
is also usually temporary, with
new hair beginning to grow
once the treatment is stopped.
Women typically lose some of
their hair shortly after pregnan-
cy and during menopause, most
likely as a result of changing
hormone levels. Most healthcare
practitioners will frst explore
hormone imbalance as a pos-
sible cause for hair loss, if there
is no other obvious explanation.
Fortunately, when this proves to
be true, hormone treatments can
usually reverse the trend.
Prescription Drugs
Many different prescription
drugs identify hair loss as a po-
tential side-effect. If it is listed,
some people may be affect-
ed, while others are not, due
to subtle differences in body
chemistry.
Medications known to pro-
mote hair loss include many
commonly prescribed drugs, in-
cluding birth control pills, blood
thinners, those that lower cho-
lesterol, antidepressants,
Depending on the reason
for your hair loss, you may
be able to reverse it or at
least slow it down.
Continued on Page 5
4
anticonvulsants, and drugs
for high blood pressure, to
name just a few.
Nutrition and Digestion
Healthy hair requires good
nutrition, involving a wide
variety of vitamins, trace
minerals, amino acids, and
essential fatty acids (see chart
on page 2). As a result, poor
nutrition will have a fairly
immediate and obvious effect
on hair health. Starvation di-
eting, rapid weight loss, and
eating disorders often trigger
some hair breakage or hair
loss.
Sometimes just introducing
different foods into your diet,
such as eating a lot of fried
food over a period of days
when youre not used to it,
can change the appearance
and health of your hair.
Dr. Cass Ingram explains that
the vegetable oils commonly
used to fry foods can block
the absorption of compounds
critical to hair health. Dr. Jon-
athan Wright concurs, saying
that margarine and hydro-
genated fats are detrimental
to fatty acid metabolism and
should be strictly avoided.
Healthy hair requires the
proper combination of vi-
tamins, minerals, and trace
elements. For example, hair
loss can result from too much
vitamin A, not enough iron
(anemia), low levels of zinc,
and a host of other defcien-
cies or excesses. The diffculty
in providing proper nutri-
tional balance is hinted at by
the number of nutrients iden-
tifed in the chart on page 2.
Dr. Hertoghe provides more
specifc information in his
book regarding the vari-
ous nutrients required and
the recommended doses for
maintaining healthy hair.
Improper digestion is anoth-
er factor that can contribute
to hair loss. Dr. Wright ex-
plains that a lack of pepsin
(an enzyme essential for pro-
tein digestion) will interfere
with the absorption of key
nutrients. According to Dr.
Ingram, To have healthy
hair, all eight essential ami-
no acids are required. The
hair, being mostly protein,
will readily refect poor pro-
tein status. Many elderly
people have problems with
digestion, which can acceler-
ate age-related hair loss.
Hormones
Women often report hair
loss as a result of a change
in hormone balance, such as
occurs with pregnancy and
menopause.
People who lose hair during
a period of hormonal im-
balance may be particularly
sensitive to changes in their
hormone levels, even though
their hormone test results
may fall within the normal
range. This is especially true
of thyroid hormones.
Hair loss is often associated
with a thyroid problem and
is typically one of the frst
clues that your thyroid gland
may not be working prop-
erly. Ironically, hair loss is
associated with both an ex-
cess (hyperthyroidism) and a
defciency (hypothyroidism)
of thyroid hormones.
One of the possible explana-
tions for hair loss associated
with low thyroid function
has to do with the drop in
body temperature that is
typical of hypothyroidism.
Even a slightly lower body
temperature can slow or stop
body processes, including
the chemical reactions that
stimulate hair growth.
Healthy hair requires good
nutrition, involving a wide
variety of vitamins, trace
minerals, amino acids, and
essential fatty acids.
Continued on Page 6
5
Dr. Hertoghe reports that
women who experience
hair loss on the top of their
heads (a pattern that is usu-
ally more common in men),
tend to have defciencies in
estrogen hormones and pro-
gesterone. He also suggests
that low cortisol is another
factor to consider, because
that defciency can lead to
an excess in DHEA and tes-
tosterone, which suppresses
production of estrogens and
progesterone. He also notes
that it is often an imbalance
among the sex hormones
(testosterone, progesterone,
and the estrogens) that leads
to hair loss, rather than an
excess or defciency of one
specifc hormone.
Almost any hormone imbal-
ance can have an effect on
hair health because of the in-
tricate relationships that exist
among the various hormones
that regulate and control our
body functions.
Hormones affect the absorp-
tion of nutrients, the bodys
growth processes, and near-
ly all aspects of health, so it
is important to pursue and
maintain optimum hormone
balance to keep your hair
healthy. See the chart on
page 5 for a summary of ad-
ditional hormones known
to have an impact on hair
growth and loss.
Treatments
The hair loss treatment in-
dustry is booming, along
with the aging baby boom-
ers. Unfortunately, many of
the so-called treatments are
scams that simply do not
work. There is no quick fx
to natural hair recovery.
There are two FDA-
approved drugs for
treating hair loss. The frst is
Rogaine

(minoxidil), which
appears to work by increas-
ing circulation to the scalp.
It is available without a pre-
scription and can be used
by men and women. The
second is Propecia

(fnaste-
ride), which is a smaller dose
of a drug called Proscar

,
which is used for treating an
enlarged prostate.
Rogaine seems to work for
some people, but must be
used continuously to main-
tain results.
Propecia also seems to pro-
mote hair growth for some
men (it is not recommended
for women, and does not ap-
pear to work for women).
However, serious and irre-
versible side effects affecting
sexual function, emotional
well-being and memory loss
are coming to light, result-
ing in class action lawsuits in
Israel and Canada, so it is a
dangerous tradeoff.
Hormone Imbalances Related to Hair Health
(adapted from Hertoghe)
ACTH: Circular, patchy hair loss; balding, hair
turning gray or white
Cortisol: Patchy hair loss; in women, hair loss
on top of head; unwanted body hair
DHEA: Balding all over the head; in women,
hair loss in pubic area or armpits
Estrogens: Balding all over the head; in women,
hair loss on top of head; unwanted
body hair
Growth Hormone: Thin, wispy hair; hair that has lost its
wave, body, or shine; hair thinning on
top of head; hair loss around the ears;
graying hair
Progesterone: Balding on top of the head; in women,
hair loss on top of head; unwanted
body hair
Testosterone: Balding on top of the head; gray-
ing hair; in men, losing body hair on
abdomen, legs, chest, and having a
sparse beard
Thyroid Hormones: Dry, brittle, slow-growing hair; balding
all over the head
6
Connections is a publication of Womens International Pharmacy, which is dedicated to the education and manage-
ment of PMS, menopause, infertility, postpartum depression, and other hormone-related conditions and therapies.
This publication is distributed with the understanding that it does not constitute medical advice for individual problems.
Although material is intended to be accurate, please seek proper medical advice from a competent healthcare professional.
Publisher: Constance Kindschi Hegerfeld, Executive VP, Womens International Pharmacy
Co-Editors: Julie Johnson and Carol Petersen, RPh, CNP; Womens International Pharmacy
Writer: Kathleen McCormick, McCormick Communications Illustrator: Amelia Janes, Midwest Educational Graphics
Copyright October 2013, Womens International Pharmacy. This newsletter may not be reproduced or distributed
without the permission of Womens International Pharmacy.

For more information, please visit www.womensinternational.com or call (800) 279-5708.

Womens International Pharmacy | Madison, WI 53718 | Youngtown, AZ 85363
Topical hormone treatments show some prom-
ise for treating hair loss. Some practitioners
are now requesting pharmacies to add pro-
gesterone to shampoos, and there is research
suggesting that melatonin in shampoo may
also help reduce hair loss and foster new hair
growth. A European study suggests that topical
application of estrogen could also be a possible
treatment for pattern baldness in both men and
women.
Most treatments that deal with hair loss, espe-
cially hormone therapies, tend to work very
slowly. Although you may feel other benef-
cial effects from the treatment relatively soon,
new hair growth may take months. While you
are undergoing treatment, Dr. Hertoghe rec-
ommends against the temptation to wear a wig
because it slows down the blood fow to the
scalp, preventing full effectiveness of the help-
ful hormones.
Conclusion
Most hair loss can be corrected if the cause can
be identifedand the sooner, the betterbut
proper testing is essential. Guessing based on
symptoms can make matters worse or lead to
a misdiagnosis because an excess of a nutrient
or hormone can sometimes generate the same
symptoms as a defciency. Work with your
healthcare practitioner to determine the cause,
and you are more likely to fnd an effective
treatment.
References
n The Hormone Solution: Stay Younger Lon-
ger by Thierry Hertoghe, MD; Harmony
Books; New York, NY; 2002.
n How to Eat Right and Live Longer by Cass
Ingram, MD; Knowledge House Publish-
ers; Buffalo Grove, IL; 2001.
n Dr. Wrights Guide to Healing with Nutrition
by Jonathan V. Wright, MD; Keats Pub-
lishing; New Canaan, CT; 1993.
n Adverse Side Effects of 5-alpha-Re-
ductase Inhibitors Therapy: Persistent
Diminished Libido and Erectile Dys-
function and Depression in a Subset of
Patients by A.M. Traish, PhD, et al; The
Journal of Sexual Medicine; Volume 8, Issue
3, March 2011.