Prick vs. Pluck: Puzzle Pieces that Lie in the Follicle and Blood

By Brandie Lesaffre, WTS, Hair Loss Specialist, NHLMA

As hair practitioners advocating for the good of our clients, we recognize that hair health is closely connected to overall health. One of the most effective ways to understand hair loss is to examine underlying causes. Comprehensive blood panels and a follicular hair analysis are effective methods to accomplish an increased understanding. You can pinpoint specific deficiencies and imbalances that may be contributing to hair-thinning and hair-loss to effectively treat it.

It is important to note that blood provides a 72-hour "window" of what is happening in the body, whereas a hair follicle analysis shows a much broader picture with 90 days of body health information. In terms of information available between the two, blood can be described as a "photograph" and hair as a "movie."

The following is a breakdown of the key blood tests and why they matter for hair health:

Blood Analysis (Prick)

1. Vitamin B12 and Folates Why We Test: A deficiency can lead to anemia, which affects the oxygen supply to hair follicles, potentially causing hair thinning and loss.

2. Iron Why We Test: An iron deficiency can result in poor oxygenation, leading to weakened hair and increased shedding.

3. A1c Why We Test: Elevated blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels and reduce circulation to the scalp, negatively affecting hair growth.

4. Copper Why We Test: Copper plays a role in the formation of red blood cells and the maintenance of blood vessels, nerves, and immune function. It also helps maintain the health of hair follicles.

5. Zinc Why We Test: Zinc is vital for tissue growth and repair, including hair tissue. It also helps to keep oil glands around the hair follicles working properly.

6. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Why We Test: TSH levels help assess thyroid function. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can lead to hair loss by disrupting the normal cycle of hair growth.

7. Ferritin Why We Test: Ferritin is a protein that stores iron and releases it when needed. Low ferritin levels can indicate iron deficiency before it shows up in serum iron levels.

8. Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy Why We Test: Vitamin D is important for hair follicle cycling. Deficiency in vitamin D is linked to many types of alopecia which can lead to significant hair loss.

Hair Analysis (Pluck)

By focusing on regenerative hair and health, a hair analysis scan can provide impressive results. By plucking a few hairs, you are able to gather up to three months' worth of data; offering valuable insights to recommend necessary lifestyle changes and suitable vitamins for each patient. You can examine the hair follicle findings to identify nutritional deficiencies, food intolerances, metals, and parasites. This comprehensive analysis allows you to develop individualized plans for each patient.

It is important that as hair practitioners we understand the significance of medical conditions such as "leaky gut" and the impact of food intolerances to accelerating hair loss. These factors, along with various deficiencies, contribute to a rising prevalence of hair loss among younger individuals. Indeed, we have observed a significant shift in patient demographics, with the 18 to 45 age group now outnumbering the 50 to 70 group.

As hair practitioners dedicated to the well-being of our clients, we do well to embrace an inside out approach to diagnosing and treating hair loss. Combining blood panels and follicular hair analysis offer a comprehensive view of a patient's health, providing critical insights into potential deficiencies and imbalances. By understanding that blood provides a snapshot while hair gives a detailed, extended view of health, we can develop more effective, personalized treatment plans. Addressing factors such as nutritional deficiencies, food intolerances, and gut health is vital for mitigating hair loss, especially as we see an increasing number of affected younger individuals. With these advanced diagnostic tools, we can empower our clients to achieve healthier hair and overall well-being.