http://www.geelongtrichologycentre.com.au/

Geelong Trichology Centre, 27 Station Lake Road, Lara (2026)

20/04/2025

Hair Loss or Thinning - Improve the Growth
When there is low Iron absorption the increase in the development of various alopecias increase.
Because hair tissue is a high metabolic tissue, hair loss is often seen before any clinical symptoms appear.
Nutrient deficiences in Iron, zinc, Vitamins B12, B6 and Vit C, D and E in particular can happen through restricted eating, malabsorption, alcohol, rushed meals, medications and todays increased demand in stress levels.
The landscape of hair loss has evolved, Non-androgenetic causes such as lifestyle, nutrition, environment and stress far outweigh the causes that influence hair thinning today, especially in younger people.
Treatments often just target the end product of the hair cycle, overlooking the importance of the underlying biological processes that control hair growth.
Nutrients play a critical role in repair mechanisms, hormone secretions and immune response which lead to new hair growth.
Low Iron absorption is the main cause of hair loss , with adrenal and thyroid dysfunction following close behind.
Eat a balanced diet and your genes will respond to new instructions, and as I said earlier hair tissue with its high metabolic rate will improve strength and growth.
Julie Tate

18/03/2024

Cleaning your Genes
I am regularly told by my patients ' My family history has pre-determined my fate... I will lose my hair, have high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid issues, arthritis, auto immune conditions or cardio-vascular problems because my family history shows these traits'.

Yes, you may have inherited more challenges because of these genes but most are not hard-wired and unavoidable. With nutritional and lifestyle support you can re-write your own your health outcome. If you remove or at least reduce processed foods, sugar, and artificial ingredients such as synthetic folic acid, can get adequate sleep, good nutrients, B vitamins, can minimize environmental toxins and reduce stress etc. your health will be optimized.

Our genes can become sluggish or over reactive that will increase changes in our histamine response, cause auto immunity disease, affect our moods such as anxiety and depression, cause poor blood vessel formation, poor detoxification by our liver, poor gut absorption, and much more. When your body is under stress it uses up methyl groups much faster, so you need more of the right foods and vitamins to make more energy otherwise your health will suffer. Good methylation relies on Folate such as leafy green veggies, broccoli, beans, lentils, seeds and nuts.

For example: A Choline deficiency is seen more in menopausal women and males, as choline absorption depends upon estrogen status. A deficiency can contribute to a fatty liver, SIBO and gallstones. Choline is found in animal protein such as eggs, fish, liver and red meat. This means people eating a low protein diet such as Vegetarians also children are at risk of a deficiency, alternative sources of choline are: Broccoli, lentils, flaxseed, spinach, cauliflower and beets.

Every person is unique but by understanding your genetics, you gain the opportunity and ability to make better choices and improve health. Contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

22/07/2023

Scarring Alopecia

When a patient complains of hair loss that accompanies one or more other symptoms such as severe itching on the scalp, pimples or redness, thickened patches, crusting, hyper or hypo pigmentation or any inflammation, this can indicate a type of hair loss that may cause scarring of the hair follicles. This can also affect facial hair too such as the eyebrows, occasionally seen in untreated Thyroid disease. I use a derma scope, a valuable tool to facilitate diagnosis of hair and scalp disorders and disease stage and progression. Subtle features seen with the naked eye are visibly enhanced and photos recorded for future reference. With any scarring alopecia, it often follows a compromise in your immune system, triggered by a systemic, neural or environmental influence, such as extreme stress, mal-absorption or disease, etc. Your nails are made of keratin too so be aware of changes for example Ridges, Beau’s lines, Brittle or discolored nails are another indication of metabolic imbalance. Your hair and scalp are part of your body systems and often show signs and symptoms of disease many months before it shows up in blood tests. Be aware of any changes and investigate early to avoid any unnecessary hair loss.

24/09/2021

Hormones and Autoimmune Disease
by Julie Tate | Sep 24, 2021 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

Sometimes the immune system becomes unable to distinguish the difference between normal cells and foreign invading cells, and so will cause an abnormal response. I often see patients with alopecia, psoriasis, connective tissue disease (Lupus) among many other auto immune responses. With women having as much as an 80% higher occurrence compared to men especially with thyroid disease, chronic fatigue, lupus, and scleroderma with many of these auto immune diseases developing during young adult years. There is often a combination of Stress, Estrogen and Infection that will trigger an auto immune response. Women, being estrogenic, generally have a lower metabolic rate than men, (parasympathetic) and if through poor diet, mal-absorption, pollutants or illness, a more dominant ‘cellular’ immune response is activated that can dominate and upset the immune response integrity. This affects neuro endocrine activity and oxidation rates and the way the body reacts to bacteria and viruses, causing changes to hormones that can suppress adrenal and thyroid expression causing disease. There are ways to reduce the risk of autoimmune disease mainly in the food we choose to eat. Protein rich foods that contain Iron and Zinc, and fresh vegetables and fruit for their Vitamin C and anti oxidant benefits and free radical scavenging are invaluable. Nuts and seeds for Vitamin E and Selenium (for thyroid recovery). We may not be able to change our living or work place environment but it is important to avoid or include foods that can help you balance your bio-chemistry. This can lead to a reduced susceptibility to auto immune disease. I use hair analysis as a screening tool for assessing the nutritional and immune status of individuals to make dietary requirements more specific based.

02/04/2021

Dry Scalp/ Dandruff
The skin/scalp should be slightly acidic, a perfect barrier against bacteria and to help eliminate any toxins from within the body. When the scalp becomes more alkaline this changes the pH content which becomes more favorable for a yeast to flourish in the nutrients available and so produce the scaly and itchy patches called dandruff.
Diets that are high in Calcium (dairy) can promote an alkaline environment so should be reduced because as skin cells mature they move from the deeper layers to the outer surface, the excess calcium slows this process down and this inhibits the normal moisture content. There is usually an increased need for certain minerals such as zinc and essential fatty acids too, and the use of a medicated shampoo.
Most dry scalps will respond quickly but if symptoms become persistent examination may be necessary to rule out any underlying condition that may go on to cause hair loss.

20/01/2021

As we age the hair follicle loses the ability to produce the color pigment and the hair will turn white. Normally the greying of hair (known as Canities) is not a welcome visitor, it signifies we are getting older, but what if this happens when you are still young? In your 20’s and 30’s. If you do not have the genetic background it could be the color pigment is lost because of dietary deficiencies, notably Calcium, Iron and Vitamin B12, indicating pernicious anemia, thyroid or an auto immune response. Now I am not saying everyone with grey hair should self-medicate but It is worthwhile taking a closer look at your nutritional requirements and ensure you are getting enough foods that contains these minerals, which are quite often seen to be deficient in protein restricting diets.

26/07/2020

A liver in Trouble.........
I have seen an increase in hair loss, hair thinning and skin problems such as dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema recently, with stress having a huge influence, especially during this time of pandemic.
But so many of these symptoms are also rooted in a sluggish liver. Imagine your liver hoarding unwanted and impolite house guests that barge their way inside with processed foods, toxic minerals such as mercury and lead, alcohol, medications and antibiotics etc., and then bully the important vitamins and minerals out that we need to reside in our liver to protect us.
Your liver when in great condition is like a medicine chest full of nutrient therapies , and will dispense them when your body needs them. But when the liver becomes overwhelmed it spits toxins back into the digestive tract and blood stream, forcing them into the skin and hair follicle to be excreted, no wonder our skin breaks out or the hair follicle decides to terminate.
Liver enzymes can be tested and if results come back abnormal is a good indication that something is wrong with the liver. When the liver is problematic it is safe to assume that it has already signaled your adrenals, nervous system and other organs for support, often putting them in an exhaustive state too, with symptoms of depression, anxiety, skin or hair problems, IBS and more on the horizon, if left untreated.
So care for your liver as if it was your best friend, as it will protect and defend you from every thing you throw at it. Choose natural products as often as possible, not plastics etc, consume high anti oxidant foods such as vegetables and fruits, reduce alcohol, dairy and hormone containing foods, and hydrate well with water.
If you have any questions on this I am happy to answer
Julie Tate

23/11/2019

Polycystic O***y Syndrome
PCOS is the appearance of tiny follicles on one or both ovaries, this is due to a disturbance in hormonal balance and an increase in insulin secretion. Many women have a number of symptoms including scalp hair loss, excess body hair growth, absent or irregular periods, weight gain and acne. The ovaries are super sensitive to insulin, and so has a major effect on ovarian function and symptoms. Importantly nutrient balance will alter hormone production. A well balanced, nutritious diet and eliminating processed and sugary foods is so beneficial to insulin regulation as nutrition affects the hormonal glands. For example if you have a magnesium deficiency, normally I see this when calcium is too high in the diet, some adrenal gland hormones are increased, Magnesium is important for insulin sensitivity and hormonal response in cells, so balancing minerals such as magnesium is crucial to ovarian function. Also estrogen and progesterone have an influence on copper and zinc status, when zinc / copper ratios are elevated or deficient this highlights hormonal imbalance. Food can be the simple solution to hormonal and insulin balance.

08/11/2019

Australia Alopecia Areata Foundation supports research to find a cure or treatment for Alopecia Areata. Thank you Lillie for your kind donation of your hair to the AAAF

07/11/2019

Itchy Scalp
I often see patients with an itchy scalp, it can be a small area like a pimple or a large area that can affect other parts of the body too, either way itch can be pretty distressing. Some itching can be easily helped with a medicated shampoo that will help normalize the pH level of the skin, as with dandruff or oily/ dry scalp. It may be psoriasis, that will bleed when scratched, this normally is influenced by stress and can be eased with the right nutrition. Ringworm can be alarming and is very contagious, there would be itching and inflammation and medication is needed to kill off the fungi. This is often caused by a pet, and I often see redness or blisters around the face too where the pet has snuggled close to the owner . Dry skin is a common problem and often using an oatmeal/ aloe vera or coconut shower wash really helps, again nutrition of vital minerals is essential. Quite often itchy scalp coincides with hair loss and can be a sign of an inflammatory condition caused by an immune response, as with Folliculitis Decalvans and Lichen Planopilaris. Some conditions maybe scarring, others non scarring, get advice early on if you are worried. With any itching this is a symptom that internal homeostasis is unbalanced. I often find the liver is often the culprit, whether sluggish or congested it can dump toxins into the blood stream and cause a histamine response. Many minerals including calcium, zinc and copper are major players in histamine and immune response. So include healing foods such as vegetables and fruit, and leave out junk and processed food, hydrate well and your skin will see the difference.

Geelong Trichology Centre

20/04/2025

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22/07/2023

24/09/2021

02/04/2021

20/01/2021

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