Hormone Balance

The hair growth cycle could be affected by hormone imbalances – this panel provides insight into important steroid hormone levels.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a potent androgen hormone known to contribute to hair loss. An overproduction of DHT can cause hair follicles to shrink and shorten the hair growth cycle.¹

DHEA is a precursor hormone that influences the production of other hormones in the body, like estrogen and testosterone. Fluctuations in DHEA-s levels may impact hair growth and quality.

Free and Total Testosterone - testosterone can influence hair growth patterns, and imbalances in testosterone may contribute to hair loss in both men and women.

Estradiol levels play a critical role in maintaining hair health, and imbalances in estradiol can contribute to hair thinning and hair loss.

Insulin Resistance

Insulin is an important hormone in monitoring metabolic disease, which can influence hair health. Insulin resistance can play a significant role in hair loss concerns, leading to an inflammatory response that may shrink hair follicles. Insulin may also play a role in DHT's effects on hair growth patterns.³

Thyroid Function

Thyroid dysfunction can disrupt the hair growth cycle, and lead to hair thinning or hair loss – this panel provides comprehensive thyroid testing for TSH, Free T3, Free T4 and reverse T3.²

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is a primary indication of thyroid function, which plays an important role in hair health. Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are both associated with widespread hair loss. Testing TSH provides insight into thyroid function and detects abnormalities that may be impacting your hair growth cycle.²

Free T3 is the bioavailable form of T3 (triiodothyronine), which is the most active thyroid hormone.

Free T4 is the bioavailable form of T4 (Thyroxine), which is the primary hormone produced by the thyroid. T4 is also converted to the more active hormone T3. Healthy levels of both T3 and T4 are necessary for normal thyroid activity. Both low thyroid hormone activity (hypothyroidism) and high thyroid hormone activity (hyperthyroidism) are associated with hair loss concerns.

Reverse T3 is a non-functioning form of T3 and can provide additional insight into symptoms of low thyroid function. T4 is normally converted to T3, but other factors, like stress-induced elevations in cortisol, may inhibit this conversion and produce reverse T3. Reverse T3 can interfere with T3’s normal effects and produce symptoms of low thyroid function, contributing to hair loss.

Stress

Stress is not only a significant overall health hazard, but it can also cause hair follicles to go into the resting phase and stop hair from growing. As a result, hair can fall out weeks to months later. This type of hair loss is called telogen effluvium and it can be triggered by any stressful event such as: infections, medication side effects, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and any acute stress or traumatic event.

Cortisol is a primary biomarker for monitoring stress. Chronic high or low levels can reflect acute or ongoing stress and point toward stress-related hair loss.¹

Inflammation

Chronic inflammation can impact hair follicle health and contribute to hair loss.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive marker of systemic inflammation. Inflammation of hair follicles and associated inhibition of hair growth has been observed in hair loss concerns.⁵

Autoimmune Concerns:

Many autoimmune diseases are associated with hair loss, especially alopecia areata but also systemic lupus erythematosus, Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, psoriasis, Crohn’s Disease, and ulcerative colitis.⁶

ANA (Antinuclear Antibodies)testing is a primary screening tool for autoimmune conditions, which contribute to hair loss. Evaluating ANA can help determine if autoimmune concerns may play a role in hair loss.⁴

Iron Status

Ferritin is an iron storage protein used to evaluate iron status. Iron deficiency anemia has been linked to hair loss, due to iron’s important role in hemoglobin production and nutrient distribution throughout the body. When ferritin is low, hair follicles may enter a dormant state and fall out due to low iron status.⁷

Note

If you are supplementing with any hormones, we suggest taking them approximately 2 hours prior to having your blood drawn to see peak levels. Hormones are best drawn between 8-10 AM.

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7432488
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10492440
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4144211
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4377414
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7667670
6. https://doi.org/10.1159/000527933
7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20021982