PEERtrainer Note: This is a segement of a recent Q&A session that was conducted for the PEERtrainer Hormone Reset Program. We are sharing the answer to this very important question, because it is connected to EVERYTHING that we are doing with our content, programs and focus. All of this helps us in our mission to help people feel fit, energetic and fully alive!)
Dr. Sara Gottfried: I want to say a couple of things here at the beginning about hair loss because I imagine some of you might be women in your 20s or 30s and perhaps this doesn’t even effect you.
But the truth is that hair loss is a really important message from your body. It becomes crucially important, especially after you have a baby, when you start to lose hair a result of that or if you have one of the root causes that I’m going to go through.
This is definitely a really important issue. It’s got a big emotional charge behind it, which is why I really take it seriously. I also feel like this is one of those places where conventional medicine unfortunately just falls down on the job.
I can tell you from seeing several doctors for my own hair loss, when I was in my 30s and early 40s, they basically said, “Eat more red meat and use Rogaine,” which I did not find at all to be satisfying.
That’s what got me motivated to learn more about hair loss. Can you imagine, Jackie?
Jackie Wicks: No. That’s shocking, actually. Yes.
Dr. Sara: It’s worthwhile for us to go through a few of the root causes. I actually want to mention some of what is in these questions, because I really feel like a lot of you who are listening will resonate with some of this.
The first question was a woman who said, “Starting about three months ago, I had hair loss with burning and an itchy scalp.” She also says that the burning is elsewhere. It’s on her ears, neck, and shoulders. She described a few other things, including difficulty with weight loss, trouble sleeping. She had her thyroid checked, was told it was OK. Her gynecologist checked some other hormones, including something called FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone. The details on that aren’t that important, but it basically tells you how close you are to menopause, and the gynecologist told her it was fine.
But here’s the part where I really want you to listen in. She says, “I am in tears about my hair. I never knew how much it meant until I started losing it. Please help. I am not lazy. I am not crazy. I am not having problems in my relationship. I am not depressed. I don’t smoke. I don’t drink.
I don’t drink too much alcohol. I don’t eat junk food. My life and my job are not stressful. I have plenty of me-time. I travel. I have hobbies. I have a great guy. I exercise regularly and eat tons of vegetables. What is wrong?”
When I read this, it just stopped me in my tracks, because this woman is really suffering. It’s not like she is not resourceful. She has gone to not one but two physicians about this, and she’s not getting the help that she needs. So let’s get her some help.
Here is a list of some of the root causes related to hair loss. I’m going to hit the highlights, and as I said before, you could spend hours on this. In fact, Jackie, we should actually do a course related to hair loss. What do you think? There are so many women who struggle with this.
Jackie Wicks: After you told me, you mentioned the statistic of after 50, or something like that, 50 percent. We were talking the other day, and you said 50 percent of people over age of 50 have a hair loss problem. Was that the statistic, or am I…
Dr. Sara: You’re absolutely right. 30 percent of women in their 30’s have significant hair loss, and 50 percent of women starting in their 50’s. This affects a huge number of women, and it’s the silent epidemic where women are trying to get help and they’re basically being offered Rogaine.
Jackie: And meat.
