Understanding Hair Loss

Hair loss is the scalp expressing what is happening systemically, not a scalp problem.

Hair follicles are among the most metabolically active structures in the body, requiring a constant supply of hormonal signals, nutritional substrates, and circulatory support to maintain normal growth cycle function. When any of these is disrupted, the growth cycle shortens, follicles miniaturise, and hair loss results. The follicle itself is not the problem. The systemic environment supporting it is.

Androgenic hair loss in women, driven by elevated androgens from insulin resistance and PCOS, is the most common pattern. Iron deficiency is the most commonly missed nutritional cause, ferritin below 70 ng/mL can impair hair growth even when haemoglobin is normal. Thyroid dysfunction alters the hair growth cycle directly. Autoimmune activity produces alopecia areata. Each produces a distinct pattern that assessment identifies and maps to a specific care plan.

Possible Conditions

Conditions that commonly cause hair loss.

Female hair loss has several distinct causes that require different approaches. Assessment identifies the specific pattern and its primary contributors.

PCOS / PCODMost Common
Insulin resistance in PCOS elevates androgens that miniaturise scalp follicles, producing frontal and temporal recession characteristic of androgenic alopecia. Metabolic correction reduces androgen levels and helps slow hair loss progression.
View PCOS / PCOD care →
Hormonal ImbalanceHormonal
Oestrogen-progesterone imbalance shortens the anagen (growth) phase of the hair cycle, producing diffuse thinning across the scalp, often misidentified as genetic hair loss.
View Hormonal Imbalance care →
Hashimoto's ThyroiditisAutoimmune
Both hypothyroidism and the autoimmune process of Hashimoto's independently produce diffuse hair loss. Thyroid hormone replacement alone often does not fully resolve hair loss without addressing the autoimmune component.
View Hashimoto's Thyroiditis care →
PerimenopauseHormonal Transition
Declining oestrogen removes its protective effect on scalp follicles, producing hair thinning that often accelerates in the 2–3 years preceding menopause.
View Perimenopause care →
Early Autoimmune DiseaseAutoimmune
Alopecia areata, patchy hair loss, is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks hair follicles. Gut health, vitamin D, and zinc are primary clinical targets alongside immune regulation.
View Early Autoimmune Disease care →
PMSHormonal
The hormonal imbalance producing severe PMS, particularly relative oestrogen excess and progesterone insufficiency, also impairs hair cycle regulation and often presents alongside diffuse thinning.
View PMS care →
When Assessment Is Needed

When hair loss signals something that needs addressing.

Diffuse hair thinning worsening progressively over 6 months or more
Hair loss with irregular periods, acne, or excess facial hair, PCOS pattern
Hair loss with fatigue, cold intolerance, or weight gain, thyroid pattern
Patchy circular hair loss, alopecia areata, autoimmune assessment warranted
Post-partum hair loss persisting beyond 6 months
Low ferritin on blood testing even with normal haemoglobin
Hair loss accompanying perimenopause or significant hormonal changes
Scalp inflammation, redness, or scaling alongside hair loss
The CLCC Approach

Assessment first. Then a care plan specific to your profile.

01
Assess
Full hormonal, nutritional, thyroid, and autoimmune assessment for hair loss
Androgen panel, testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S. Thyroid, TSH, free T3, free T4, TPO antibodies. Iron and ferritin. Zinc, vitamin D. Oestrogen and progesterone at appropriate cycle timing. Metabolic profile.
02
Identify
Identify the dominant hair loss mechanism, androgenic, nutritional, thyroid, or hormonal
Different patterns require different primary interventions. The assessment identifies the pattern and builds the care plan around the specific driver.
03
Reduce
Targeted correction of identified contributors
Metabolic and hormonal correction for androgenic pattern. Iron and ferritin restoration. Thyroid support where indicated. Hormonal support where oestrogen-progesterone pattern is dominant. Autoimmune correction where alopecia areata is present.
04
Restore
Track hair cycle response at 3–6 month intervals
Hair regrowth is slow, the hair cycle is 3–6 months. Progress assessed against baseline shedding rate and thinning severity at structured intervals.
05
Continue
Sustain hormonal and nutritional health to prevent recurrence
The systemic environment that produced hair loss returns when contributing factors reaccumulate. Long-term monitoring prevents relapse.