When Hair Loss Gets Personal: A Story, the Science, and Real Solutions

By: Courtney Lo, PA-C | Founder of RegenCen and Cosmetic Skin & Laser Center

My Story

If you’ve ever looked at the shower drain and felt your heart sink, I understand.

I’m 52 now, but when I was 48 and in the middle of perimenopause, I started losing a lot of hair. I’ve owned RegenCen and the Cosmetic Skin & Laser Center since 2001, so I’ve spent decades helping patients through all kinds of changes—but nothing quite prepared me for that sinking, almost panicked feeling. Fine lines? I could live with those. But thinning hair hit me in a whole different way.

I blamed everything from stress to COVID to nutrition (and I still wonder if breast implant illness and autoimmunity played a role). But for many women, hair loss in midlife has a much simpler (and far more common) root cause: hormonal imbalance—especially estrogen deficiency.

Why Hair Thins During Perimenopause

Perimenopause is a hormonal rollercoaster, and your hair follicles feel every twist and turn.

• Shortened Growth Cycles – Declining estrogen and progesterone shorten the hair’s growth (anagen) phase, so hair sheds sooner.
• Relative Rise in Androgens – With less estrogen, androgens like DHT can miniaturize follicles, making hair strands thinner and weaker.
• Reduced Nutrient Flow – Estrogen supports healthy blood flow to follicles; when levels drop, follicles get fewer nutrients.
• Hormone-Sensitive Follicles – Hair follicles have receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone—so when these fluctuate, shedding often follows.

For many women, this shows up as thinning over the crown or widening of the part, rather than total balding. And while it can feel alarming, it’s often temporary and treatable.

Why It Feels So Devastating

When it’s happening, it’s hard to believe it will stop. It’s terrifying to imagine yourself going completely bald! Many women quietly start changing their hairstyles—adding bangs, wearing hats, switching to updos, or avoiding certain lighting—just to disguise the thinning.

The truth is, in most cases, women’s hair loss is cyclical—it happens in phases, and we can improve it with the right intervention.

Our Approach at RegenCen

With locations in Southeast Florida, Winter Park, and Michigan, RegenCen’s philosophy is simple:

If you don’t treat the root cause, you’re only treating the symptom.

For most women, that means assessing and restoring hormonal balance. When you first notice your hair falling out, the immediate reflex is: What have I changed that’s causing this? And for vast majority of women, the answer is YOUR HORMONES! Once we address estrogen deficiency and other hormone changes, we can layer in targeted hair restoration therapies for faster, fuller results.

Hair Loss Treatments & Thinning Hair Solutions We Offer

We use a comprehensive, personalized approach, including:

• Hormone Optimization – Restoring estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones to healthy, balanced levels for strong, healthy hair growth. Remember, this often starts BEFORE menopause!
• PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin) Injections – In-office treatment using your own blood platelets, spun into a gel and injected into the scalp to stimulate dormant follicles. Most women see about 30% improvement after three sessions.
• Topical Growth Serums & Prescription Medications – To help maintain results and prevent future shedding.
• Nutritional & Lifestyle Support – Ensuring your hair has everything it needs to thrive.

These hair loss treatments work best when paired with hormone optimization, so we address both the cause and the cosmetic result—helping you see and feel the difference faster.

Hair Loss Awareness Month

Every August is Hair Loss Awareness Month—a reminder that millions of women are facing this issue and that effective treatments exist. It’s the perfect time to start the conversation, get answers, and take steps toward restoring your hair’s health and your confidence.

You’re Not Alone—and There’s Always a Way Forward

Hair loss can feel like an attack on your identity—whether it’s from hormonal changes, stress, autoimmune conditions, or medical treatments like chemotherapy. Whatever the cause, the feelings are real, and you don’t have to face them alone.

At RegenCen, we’ve seen women come back from the scariest moments of shedding and thinning—with targeted treatments and a little patience. The key is to act early, find the cause, and treat it from the inside out.

How to Get Started

Your first step is simple: sit down with one of our Hormone & Regenerative Medicine Specialists who truly understands what you’re going through. We’ll talk about your symptoms, your health history, and your goals. From there, we’ll create a personalized plan that may include hormone optimization, regenerative scalp treatments, or both—designed for you, not just your hair.

📍 Serving Southeast Florida, Winter Park, and Michigan

🌐 Learn more about our sister company, the Cosmetic Skin & Laser Center, for complementary aesthetic treatments that pair beautifully with hair restoration.

📞 Call us today 231.347.7395 or book online by clicking here to start your journey back to healthy, confident hair.

Sincerely,
Courtney Lo, PA-C