Hair Loss

Disclaimer: These testimonials do not represent a guarantee of medical improvement, and results may vary depending on the patient.

Hair Loss Services

Hair loss can affect our confidence at any age, for men and women alike. We offer an array of treatments intended to be used together to have the highest chances of success. Our services include customized medical nutrition, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments with microneedling, light treatments, topical prescriptions, medical grade shampoo and conditioner, and thickening haircuts and styles with our partner salon in Springfield. To read more about cutting-edge PRP therapy, see our blog post or our main PRP page. To book an aesthetic consult—whose cost is applied toward your treatment—call our clinic at 417.840.5566.

Understanding Hair Loss

Hair loss is a common problem, afflicting millions of men and women. We take an aggressive approach to hair loss because it is important to take immediate action before the hair follicles are too damaged to regrow. Taking into account your medical history and lifestyle, we use a multi-pronged approach that optimizes your nutrition and hormone balances while using topical or procedural treatments. Topical and procedural therapies often include platelet-rich plasma (stem cell) injections, light treatments, regrowth serum, diet, and hormone balancing. To learn more about the exciting new platelet-rich plasma injection therapy for hair loss, read our recent blog post.

Some of the common causes of hair loss diseases are hormonal imbalances, inadequate diet, and medical illnesses. Especially in men, problems with the hormone testosterone are a major cause of hair loss. The enzyme 5 alpha reductase, which is present in the hair follicles, converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is the most potent androgen that promotes androgenetic alopecia – the common pattern of male baldness or premature hair loss.

Hair loss in women is often difficult to diagnose and can be caused by many factors, including alopecia areata, hormone imbalances, menopause, dietary protein and amino acid deficiency, intestinal parasites, damage from other hair loss treatments, and stress.  Imbalance in thyroid hormones is one of the more common causes of sudden hair loss in women. When the thyroid gland is overactive or under active, the hair may fall out because the follicles are particularly sensitive to concentrations of thyroid gland derived hormones. These hormones have a large influence on the cellular metabolism of scalp proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and minerals.

Losing hair due to a hormonal imbalance is also seen often in pregnant women. During pregnancy, there is a high level of estrogen hormones, but after childbirth there is a rapid fall in the estrogen level and large numbers of hair follicles may fall out. Long-term hair loss after pregnancy may indicate the presence of a hormonal imbalance in the body.

Nutrition also has an impact on hair follicles and takes on many forms of over or under absorbed nutrients.  Americans’ high-fat, high-animal protein and high-salt diet can damage the kidneys and create acidic blood, thereby leading to hair loss.  Also, the typical American diet is low in vitamins and the individual can either under or over absorb these nutrients.  Poor appetite, digestion and poor absorption are also experienced by adults with zinc deficiency or those who take excessive amounts of vitamins such as Vitamin A over long periods, which can be toxic to the body.  Some people who take up crash diets in order to achieve rapid weight loss can experience malnutrition from eating meals that are low in protein, vitamins and minerals. When the body does not consume or absorb adequate nutrients, it will naturally try to economize by shifting growing hairs into resting phase. Since hair is made up of keratin, a form of protein, and it requires several minerals and proteins to make the hair, during protein scarcity periods the hair fibers are forcibly sent into a resting phase, and hair shedding occurs after a period of time. The condition can be reversed and prevented by eating a proper nutritious diet.

Illnesses can also cause hair loss.  High fever, severe infection, or flu are some of the serious illnesses that may cause the hair follicles to enter a resting phase as well. Some cancer treatments also prevent the dividing of hair follicle cells and as a result stops the growth of the hair fiber; it becomes thin, breaks off and gradually hair loss occurs. This hair loss starts within 1-3 weeks after the beginning of the chemotherapy treatment and patients can lose upwards of 90% of their hair. Other medical conditions that cause hair loss include fungus, gastro-intestinal problems, or other types of dermatological disorders.

There are also natural reasons for the condition, like improper hair care that cause severe hair loss diseases. For example, traction alopecia is a condition in which the hair fibers are pulled out from the hair follicle by a hairstyle that pulls on the roots of the hair fibers. Sometimes the strong chemicals that are used in hair treatments are kept on the hair for a longer period than they should be, and these can damage hair as well.

If you are concerned about your hair volume, please call us to set up an appointment so we can help you find a treatment plan individualized to your symptoms and lifestyle.