Navigating Hair Loss: My Experience with Treating Telogen Effluvium.
I want to talk a little bit about HAIR LOSS.
Wow, it is not something I ever thought I would be dealing with, especially not at the age of 32.
When I started weight loss injections (happy to share more about that another time), I expected to lose weight— but I did not expect the side effects that would come with it. When I started losing huge chunks of hair in the shower, I was concerned. When I continued to keep losing huge chunks of hair in the shower, I started to freak out. I started to look for some sort of resolution because I was afraid I was going to lose all of my hair. Fortunately, I started with a lot, but having lost probably 1/4 of my hair at this point, it really has become noticeable to me. Of course, like any modern woman, I get on my phone and google “hair loss”, over and over again, and I just didn’t get the information I was needing. At some point I finally came across a term, Telogen Effluvium. It is a type of temporary hair loss caused by stress on the body — including weight loss or weight gain. It also happens when you aren’t getting the nutrients your body needs, which is pretty common when doing weight loss injections. At this point, I really should have scheduled an appointment with a dermatologist. SO- here is where I tell you— if you are experiencing hair loss that you are concerned about ~ SCHEDULE AN APPT WITH YOUR DERMATOLOGIST. It’s important to be diagnosed by your dermatologist so they can advise you in a treatment plan that is specifically for you. I was confident that this is what is causing my hair loss because I have had lab work done that didn’t indicate any other reason (except for my low ferritin ~ which I’m just recently learning about), and decided to take things into my own hands for now.
More and more, I am noticing how common it is for women to experience hair loss. I had two sweet clients this last week that are dealing with hair loss ~ and it seems like it’s becoming more and more common. They aren’t the only ones I see that have experienced it recently. Stress is seemingly one of the biggest triggers for women, especially in our earlier years. How are we managing our stress? What are we doing to lower stress levels in our bodies and our minds? It is a really difficult time to be alive ~ there is so much expected of us and so much heaviness in the world. We were never meant to hold this much pain and hurt in our hearts. It’s important to find coping mechanisms for our stress. Find the things that light you up and do them as often as you can. Fill your life with joy and love and people that support you. Find hobbies that bring you fulfillment. Move your body. Meditate and practice mindfulness. There are so many ways to manage stress, just choose your fighter.
Along with managing stress, there are other things you can do. I came across a Instagram Reel of a Dermatology Nurse Practitioner who has been dealing with Telogen Effluvium herself and she shared her recommendations which is why I decided to try her suggestions ~ I highly recommend watching it! She shared that a Monoxidil treatment (Rogaine) can be really helpful. It is a bit of a commitment, but to me it seems like the most effective, easy, and most affordable treatment. I use this 2% Monoxidil solution twice a day. It’s only $23 for three months supply. It can take a while to see results, but it’s important to stick with it. I plan on using it for the next year. Nutrafol is a supplement that has been clinically tested and has proven to be helpful for hair loss. It is pretty pricy ($80/month), but if you are able to add this in to your routine, it seems very promising. I am not sponsored by anyone, this is just advice I have been given that I’m passing on to you. I also have been using a High Frequency Wand that has an attachment for the scalp. The Argon Gas is helpful for hair loss because it helps increase blood flow to the scalp and stimulate hair follicles. I use this one from Amazon at home. It’s most effective when you consistently do it on a day to day basis. I also use the Banyan Botanicals Healthy Hair Oil. Not only is my hair less dense, the strands themselves are thinner and more prone to breakage. Hair Oils are so nourishing and help keep your hair healthy and shiny. Last but not least, I use a jade comb to massage my scalp. Massage brings blood to the scalp which brings nutrients to the hair follicle leading to healthier, stronger hair.
I hope this is helpful for you if you’re experiencing something similar, or maybe you know someone who you can pass this information on to. It’s such a stressful thing to experience… but there is promising relief!
As a reminder, I am not a doctor, please see a dermatologist if you are experiencing hair loss.
Radiant Aging: A List of My Favorite Sunscreens
I’ve tried a lot of sunscreens over the years. Here are my go-tos.
For Your Face
My Favorite Face Sunscreen for Daily Use: Clear Choice Sport Shield SPF 45 | $20-$40
A Non-Nano Zinc Formula that is lightweight and has a light cucumber scent. It blends in effortlessly, feels good on the skin, and is free of any ingredients that may clog pores or cause any sensitivity.
You can purchase locally at Wonder Skin Shop (also located inside of Elevate Salon Studios) or online
My Favorite Organic and Natural Brand Sunscreen: Blissoma Photonic SPF 30 | $60-$68
A Mineral Based Sunscreen that feels lightweight and gives a beautiful glow but doesn’t make you look shiny. It’s a great choice for anyone with sensitive skin, or if you are extra conscious about the ingredients you put on your skin. It even contains herbs and vitamins to not only protect but also provide nutrients to your skin! Last but not least, the refillable glass bottle is beautiful on your counter!
You can purchase on the Blissoma Website, or I am happy to order this for you so you don’t have to pay shipping!
My Favorite Tinted SPF Moisturizer: Image Daily Prevention Pure Mineral Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 | $52
This has been my go-to for tinted moisturizer for years. I love that it gives a bit of a tint that helps even out imperfections, without feeling heavy. It’s hydrating formula leaves your skin feeling smooth and moisturized. This formula contains tons of antioxidants that help protect the skin from free-radical damage, making it perfectly well-rounded for a daily moisturizer.
You can purchase online, or I’m happy to order for you so you don’t have to pay shipping!
My Favorite Luxury SPF: Agent Nateur Holi (soleil) Ageless Firming and Plumping SPF 50 | $52
Agent Nateur has lovely formulas— and this product is one of my favorites because of how light weight it is. It’s filled with beautiful ingredients that provide nourishment and antioxidants making it more than just an SPF. It’s prevention and treatment all in one.
You can purchase at Welwythn or online
For Your Body
My Favorite Body SPF: Sun Bum SPF 50 Mineral Lotion | $18
As I’ve said before, I usually recommend mineral sunscreens. For whatever reason, it’s a whole lot easier to find chemical sunscreens for the body, and a lot of the time I will use a chemical sunscreen on my body because I’m typically only applying body SPF when I’m going to be outside mid-day and that just oddly enough doesn’t happen often. I love the Sun Bum brand because it’s easy to find anywhere you go, it smells nice, and the texture is very nice. They have a great Mineral Lotion option, but to be honest, the texture of the chemical sunscreens feel a lot better and lighter!
You can purchase online or you can find it in Target and other stores.
My Favorite Body Oil with SPF: Vacation Chardonnay Oil Sunscreen SPF 30 | $22
This is my choice when I get to go to the pool alone and I want to lay out because yes, I’m an esthetician that enjoys laying out. It feels so nourishing and smells amazing! It’s definitely more of a “vacation” sunscreen.
You can purchase online, and it’s also available at Target, Sephora, and Ulta.
For Your Lips
Don’t forget to protect those lippies!
Super Goop has my favorite SPF for the lips: they have a clear lip balm, tinted lip balms, and non-sticky lip glosses. I’m a big fan of the Play Lip Shield for an easy every-day SPF 30.
Revitalizing Health: My Experience with Functional Medicine and a New Path to Wellness
How often do you think about your health? It is a daily thing for me! It is inconvenient that when we most appreciate health is when we are not feeling so great. Whether it is general wear and tear on the body, inflammation, weight struggles, gut imbalance, autoimmune disease, or any other number of things that can go wrong in the body, we have all experienced some kind of struggle. And as we get older, it seems natural for our health to decline, but that does not have to be the case; we do not have to live with symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, or pain. Functional Medicine may have the answers to you feeling your absolute best.
Five years ago, after struggling with intense brain fog, fatigue, and weight gain over a year post-partum, I asked my doctor to do a full thyroid panel. That was when my primary care physician diagnosed me with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an Autoimmune disease that can cause hypothyroidism. From my understanding, with Hashimoto’s, the immune system creates antibodies that attack thyroid cells, which can lead to an underperforming thyroid. Our thyroid produces hormones that regulate blood pressure, body temperature, metabolism, growth, development, and so much more. The exact cause is unknown, but common triggers are infections, exposure to toxic chemicals, emotional life changes, environmental triggers, or pregnancy. I started seeing an Endocrinologist in May of 2019, they put me on a common thyroid medication, and told me there was little else I could do to treat it. I have struggled with symptoms off and on, and the thyroid medication helped some, but did not stop my symptoms from coming back from time to time, leading to more lab work, an increase in medication, and so on and so forth. It has been a long journey with trivial improvement, and it has felt like something I will always have to live with.
At the beginning of the year, I chose a word for the year, “Nourishment.” I wanted to focus on my health and nourish my body and mind. At the end of January, I hit my breaking point with my weight struggles and decided to go on weight loss injections. I was at my heaviest without being pregnant, my clothes did not fit, I was depressed, I was struggling with PMDD, and I felt like I had no control of my life. Weight loss injections profoundly changed everything for me, and I will forever be so grateful for how they have helped me. I have improved so many aspects of my health by losing weight, and it only encouraged me to continue improving my health. That is where Revelation Health and Well-Being comes in!
In 2021, a friend introduced me to her friend, Tandi, and I immediately felt drawn to her. She has such a warm-hearted energy that makes you feel safe; the kind of person that you feel comfortable talking about the hard things with. It is not often that I feel immediately comfortable with someone, but with her it was easy. Tandi is a Registered Nurse and is board certified by AHNCC as a Nurse Coach. She is a wealth of knowledge in health in all aspects: physical, mental, and spiritual. She is even certified in Reiki and Yoga— she is such an inspiration to me. Over the last few years, we have gotten to know each other better and she has heard my complaints and concerns about my health and mentioned on multiple occasions she had some ideas that could be helpful for me. I finally got serious over the last month, so I messaged her, and she ordered lab work. The lab work was unlike any lab work I have ever done, and it was so insightful. It included a urinalysis, a complete metabolic panel, lipid panel, thyroid panel, Vitamin B12 & Folate, Testosterone, Estradiol, Cortisol, Progesterone, Vitamin D, Thyroid Antibodies, and so much more. I scheduled a time to meet with Tandi and her husband, Dr. Mark and while I typically have anxiety about talking to doctors about my concerns, I was excited and optimistic.
Their brick & mortar office is on their land, and it is so beautiful there. I drove down a long gravel road, passed a charming home and pool, a large chicken coop, and pulled up to a barn. They greeted me outside and brought me back into a room where we talked for two full hours about my health. I have never spent two hours with a doctor, the longest I have spent with a physician was under general anesthesia. They both asked me questions… so many questions— and it was so encouraging to have an open conversation where I didn’t feel rushed or that my concerns were falling on deaf ears. I love the dynamic between Dr. Mark and Tandi, two brains working together are far better than one. Dr. Mark is kind but has a no-B.S. energy while Tandi adds a gentleness to their dynamic, they balance each other perfectly. After we went through a comprehensive questionnaire, Dr. Mark did a physical which also included a body composition test which I had never done before. I think the body composition test and in-depth lab work should be standard practice at any primary care office since they are such accurate indicators of how healthy you really are. We then went over the lab work—and this was my favorite part. Maybe you can relate with me that lab work can be difficult to understand. Sure, it can say whether you are in normal ranges, but what does normal even mean? Are normal ranges even where I want to be? Dr. Mark went over each lab result and explained them in a way that was easy to understand. Whenever we came across a result that was not in normal range or closer to being abnormal, we went over things I can do or supplements I can take to improve my health.
Once we finished labs, Tandi asked me which aspect of my health is most important to me. People have different goals, it could be weight loss, healthier lipid levels, mental health, improving energy, training for a marathon, or anything else, we all have our own meaning of health. They tailored their suggestions based on my current goals and that made the changes feel more achievable. I felt encouraged that I don’t have to change every aspect of my life all at once to work my way toward feeling my best. Tandi recorded all the suggestions and sent them to me in a message so that I have them for my reference. I started a couple new prescriptions, and they sent me the information to the supplements they suggested I incorporate into my daily routines, but I never once felt pressured. I felt empowered.
This is just the beginning. Later on, I will have labs redrawn to see how the changes I make improve my health. For now, I am focusing on incorporating the things they suggested into my life and creating better habits so that I can feel my best and live a long, healthy life. Overall, I had a five-star experience with Revelation Health and Well-Being. If you are interested in working with them, or want to know more, I’ll share all of their links so you can see if they feel like a good fit for you! Even if you choose to work with someone else, I truly believe functional medicine is the way of the future, and I hope this encourages you that you can get the answers your looking for and find relief and health in all of your years.
Website: Revelation Health & Well-Being Website
Podcast: Rev Up Health
3 Things I’m Doing to Take Better Care of Myself
This morning, I had the pleasure of attending an event at Co-Op Movement and Social Club. A quick note on Co-Op— it’s amazing, and I highly recommend checking out their movement classes and workshops. The trainers are incredible, the facility is clean and state of the art, and just freaking cool, and the energy of the space is magnetic—you’ll totally want to come back. Today, I attended the “One Word Workshop,” where Vivienne led us through her practice of choosing a word for the year. It was exactly what I needed to help me focus on what I want for my future self and where I want to put my intentions throughout this year. I have narrowed it down to 4 words: Health, Nourish, Gentleness, Wellbeing. I’m really leaning toward NOURISH. Which is clearly so in line with taking better care of myself in all facets of life. I’ve noticed a pattern of not taking very good care of myself, giving in to habits that don’t serve my highest self, and avoiding. I tend to self-sabotage (which is something I should probably bring up with my therapist…). I’ve never been good at committing to things for myself. I’ll commit to things for other people, but I tend to run a really loose ship when it comes to myself, so here are a few things I’m doing to take better care of myself.
I’m Letting Go of Mom-Guilt
To be more accurate, I’m quieting my mom guilt. She’s still very much there, but I’m giving myself gentle reminders that it is okay to fill my cup. Whether that is asking my mom to watch the kids overnight so I can attend a workshop the next morning or spend some time with a friend, paying for a sitter on my day off so I can get some errands and appointments done, or leaving the kids at home in the evening with my husband so that I can do something for myself— there is no reason to feel guilty. I welcome help and know it takes a village to raise children, and I’m leaning into that feeling of support.
I’m Investing In and Prioritizing My Physical and Mental Health
I started working with a concierge doctor and a new therapist this month. I’ve started working with Dr. Rodenberg of Parkville Concierge Medicine. She uses a holistic approach to wellness through weight management, movement, and nutrition. Since being diagnosed with Hashimotos, I’ve struggled a lot with my health these last several years, and I hit my breaking point. I knew what I had tried wasn’t working and wanted to take the next steps to take control of my health again. For me, that includes trying a Terzepatide compound to assist in my weight loss. I’m happy to share more about that journey, as I want to be as honest and transparent as I can be about it. I’m in week two of injections, and so far, I’m thrilled with how I am feeling. I also am prioritizing movement and establishing a healthier relationship with food. My mental health has also been really struggling for quite some time. I’ve dealt with a lot of severe depression since my daughter was born and specifically since I stopped breastfeeding. Between depression and other things happening in my personal life, I knew I needed someone outside of my life to help support me through it all, so I reached out to a new therapist and had an amazing first session with her. I was dreading it, but it turned out to be an amazing decision.
I’m Done Taking Everything So Damn Seriously
In my youth, I was so full of life and joy. Having kids has CHANGED me, but my kids are my greatest teacher in this phase of life. They remind me every day of the importance of letting go and not taking everything so seriously. I think play can be just as healing as therapy; in fact, I see play as a form of therapy. I don’t really know what this will look like, but it keeps coming up for me to play and dance and just have some fun. We aren’t here just to heal, and we are here to enjoy our lives! What is the point of all of the amazing things this world has to offer if we don’t indulge occasionally in fun and play?
I hope these few thoughts give you some inspiration on how to take better care of yourself, too. You are so worthy of feeling like your best and most vibrant self… I hope you are able to take the steps to feel your best, no matter what that looks like.