What Most Doctors Miss About Women’s Hair Loss
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Time to read 3 min
Hair loss in women is far more common than most people realize, yet it remains one of the most under-discussed and misunderstood health concerns. For many women, it doesn’t just affect how they look. It also impacts confidence, self-image, emotional health, and even relationships.
What makes this journey even harder is that so many women are told "your labs are normal" or that their hair loss is just due to aging, genetics or stress. Often, they’re sent home with topical treatments, medications, or are told to "wait and see."
But here's the truth: hair loss is not random. It’s a symptom and a sign from the body that something deeper is going on, and it can be so transformative to dig deeper.
To listen to my conversation with Dr. Sarah Erickson, NMD, about women's hair and scalp health, click here for Spotify and here for Apple.
We know stress can have a profound impact on scalp and hair health, which is why it’s so important to support the body with stress-modulating, adaptogenic herbs. Our “Sleepy” formula is thoughtfully designed to do just that—helping you unwind, restore balance, and nourish from the inside out.
What the Conventional Model Often Misses
Traditional medicine typically starts by checking thyroid function or iron levels, and while that’s important, it often stops there. If everything falls within the standard lab ranges, the assumption is that everything is "normal."
But "normal" doesn’t always mean optimal. Many women are walking around with suboptimal nutrient levels, sluggish thyroid function, hormone imbalances, chronic stress, and poor gut health, all of which can contribute to hair loss. These imbalances may not show up clearly on a standard lab panel, and without looking deeper, they often go unnoticed.
A Root Cause Approach Looks at the Full Picture
It’s important to not just treat hair loss at the surface level, but to investigate what’s happening beneath the surface by looking at key areas, including:
- Comprehensive Hormone Testing: Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and cortisol all play a role in hair health. Imbalances, especially high androgens or low progesterone can fuel hair thinning and shedding.
- Thyroid Function: A full thyroid panel that includes TSH, FT3, FT4, RT3, and thyroid antibodies can reveal underlying issues with conversion or autoimmunity that are often missed.
- Nutrient Status: Iron, ferritin, zinc, vitamin D, and B vitamins are essential for healthy hair. Even mild deficiencies can have a major impact.
- Gut Health: The gut is where we absorb nutrients, regulate inflammation, and modulate our immune response. Conditions like dysbiosis, leaky gut, or infections like H. pylori can make hair health and growth near impossible.
- Autoimmunity & Inflammation: Autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata don’t just happen in isolation. It's important to look at gut health, chronic infections, immune health, inflammatory markers, and triggers that may be driving immune dysfunction.
Why This Matters
The truth is many women leave dermatology or primary care appointments feeling dismissed or discouraged. They’re often given one-size-fits-all treatments that don’t address the deeper why.
Supporting the whole body through personalized testing, targeted nutrition, lifestyle support, and evidence-based supplementation, the hair will respond. And more importantly, so will your energy, mood, digestion, hormones, and overall health. Because hair loss isn’t just a cosmetic issue. It’s a sign from your body, and your body deserves to be listened to.
If You’re Struggling with Hair Loss...
You’re not alone. And you’re not crazy for wanting more answers.
Whether you’re dealing with alopecia areata, postpartum hair loss, PCOS-related shedding, or unexplained thinning, a root cause approach will make all the difference.
Dr. Sarah Erickson is a licensed naturopathic doctor, founder of Cura Integrative Medicine, and a valued member of the Peace Love Hormones Medical Advisory Board. Her passion for root-cause healing began with her own journey—after being diagnosed with alopecia areata in college and losing all her hair, she turned to holistic medicine when conventional treatments fell short. Through natural therapies and lifestyle changes, she regrew her hair and discovered her calling: helping others heal from the inside out. With deep empathy and personal experience, she now empowers women to uncover the root causes of their symptoms and achieve real, lasting results. Check out her private practice here and her Instagram here.
Follow me, Maddie Miles, and Peace Love Hormones on Instagram for daily inspiration, education, and support on your women’s wellness journey.
- Maddie Miles, clinical herbalist, MS, founder & CEO of Peace Love Hormones: @themaddiemiles
- Peace Love Hormones : @peace.love.hormones
To listen to my conversation with Dr. Sarah Erickson, NMD, about women's hair and scalp health, click here for Spotify and here for Apple.
We know stress can have a profound impact on scalp and hair health, which is why it’s so important to support the body with stress-modulating, adaptogenic herbs. Our “Sleepy” formula is thoughtfully designed to do just that—helping you unwind, restore balance, and nourish from the inside out.
