3 Metabolic Causes of Women's Hair Loss

I listened to a great radio interview on Coast to Coast Am on March 9th. You will find this interview at http://www.coasttocoast.com . Coast to Coast AM presents many different speakers and viewpoints that will stimulate new thinking. George Norry, who hosts the program, interviewed Dr. Mark Starr. Dr. Mark Starr is a medical doctor and homeopathic physician, certified by the American Board of Pain Medicine. He has extensively researched hypothyroidism and treated thousands of patients with metabolic problems. He is an expert on hypothyroidism.

Dr. Starr just published the new edition of his book, Hypothyroidism Type 2 The Epidemic, in December of last year. The interview lasted almost 2 hours and was rich in medical information about hypothyroidism, its causes and effects. Among the many topics he covered in this interview with George Noory, was women's hair loss. He gave the top 3 reasons he felt were responsible for women's hair loss: low thyroid function or hypothyroidism; chronic, systemic yeast infections; and iron deficiency anemia.

#1: Hypothyroidism (low thyroid function)

The Thyroid is the master endocrine gland and effects every cell and function of your body. It it involved with energy function, immune function, body temperature, rate at which we burn calories, and thousands of other critical functions. It impacts among other things your hair and skin. These are skin and hair symptoms associated with low thyroid conditions: thickened skin; flaky, dry, cracked skin especially on elbows and kneecaps; dry and pale skin; dry, thin, course, brittle hair; hair loss including loss of eyebrow hair, body hair, underarm hair, and pubic hair; and premature gray hair;

#2: Chronic, Systemic Yeast Infection

Many women may have a systemic yeast infection as well as a vaginal yeast infection. This means there is an overgrowth of Candida Albicans in your intestinal tract. This is usually caused by a diet laden with sugar and carbohydrates and a poor immune system. Stress also can be a factor in Candida infections. Skin and hair symptoms associated with a chronic systemic yeast infection include acne; anal itch; athlete's foot; dandruff; dermatitis; dry skin; eczema, facial rash; fungal infections of the scalp, face, nails, feet, vaginal tissues, breast areas and armpits; hives; and psoriasis. Many women also experience hair loss as well. A chronic yeast infection effects the whole body including digestion, immune function, thyroid function, and energy systems. Since it affects all those systems of the body, it can also cause hair loss.

#3: Iron Deficiency Anemia

Iron deficiency anemia occurs in about 20 percent of women and 50 percent of women who are pregnant. Causes include a diet deficient in Iron or from the heavy bleeding that occurs during a women's menstrual cycle. Iron is a key ingredient of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in the blood. Symptoms include extreme fatigue; pale skin; weakness; shortness of breath; headaches; cold hands and feet; irritability; increased infections; brittle nails; irregular heart beat; poor appetite; unusual cravings such as ice; restless legs syndrome; and in some cases hair loss.

So How Do You Know What Is Causing Your Hair Loss?

You will note that some of these symptoms are present in both hypothyroidism and iron deficiency anemia. This is why you need to go to a doctor for correct diagnosis. You may suffer from any of the three problems above or an entirely different cause resulting in hair loss. To correctly diagnose your hair loss problem, the physician may run blood tests including tests for nutritional status, hypothyroid function and iron levels. He needs to rule out a systemic yeast infection as well. If stress is a factor, you need to take up activities to lower your stress and learn how to control your reaction to stress. If it is nutritional deficiency, you need to improve your diet. Your skin and hair need proper nutrients to be healthy. All of us need to get back to the core value of eating fresh, wholesome food.

References:

http://www.fungusfocus.com/yeast/ycandida_info2.htm

http://www.candida-yeast-infection-relief.com/

http://www.diagnose-me.com/cond/C7890.html

Coast to Coast AM, http://www.coasttocoast.com , March 9th interview with Dr. Mark Starr on hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism Type 2 the Epidemic, 4th Edition, published Dec.,2009, by Dr. Mark Starr (new, revised edition), Amazon.com

The Thyroid Solution, published by the Ballantine Publishing Group, 1999 by Dr. Ridha Arem, M.D. ISBN # 0-345-42920-6, pages 22,25,35,46,54, and 57