Melanie:
Hey everybody. It is your favorite stylist. Here it is Melanie Day with You've got Curls and Hair Loss Center, and as always, having something special going on and bringing on amazing guests. And tonight we have a fabulous guest Dr. Eman Yousif. She is a internist, a medical doctor at Washington University at St. Louis. How are you doing tonight?
Dr. Eman:
I'm doing great, Melanie. Thanks for having me.
Melanie:
Yes, I'm so excited. So before we get started, just wanna let everybody know what our topic is and our topic is getting to the root cause of hair loss in women. And I, I, I don't, When you first reached out to me, I was like really surprised. I was really excited actually. Mm-Hmm. <Affirmative>, you know, because I don't really know how tech works and a log rhythms and things like that. But you actually found me. So how did you find me again?
Dr. Eman:
Yeah, so I'm an avid podcaster. Like I love listening to podcasts, that, that's how I consume most of my information. But often it's sort of in the medical world, you know, keeping there's a lot, lots of ways to keep up to date now in terms of evidence based medicine and that sort of thing. But you know, kind of when we, when we spoke, you know, I shared this sort of hair loss, excess hair shedding was something a, a more personal thing that's I've been through and sort of recovered from. And I was sort of looking if other people were talking about it in the space. So I just kind of looked around what people were doing, what people were sharing, and how much of that was evidence based and what sort of information was coming out. So that's how sort of I found you and I was interested, especially as women of color. I was so excited to find you.
Melanie:
Yeah. So this is what makes it even more special. It's is that part of it, but that there's like-minded individuals that are out there that are searching, but also looking for credible information. So tell me a little bit more about your background, because it is pretty interesting, but I, I want the world to know like what your, what your background is medically and everything.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah, so I'm, I'm board certified in internal medicine. I practice both inpatient outpatient medicine and our training as sort of internists, we think of systems. You know, we essentially delve deep into how the organs are connected and how different symptoms and diseases interplay between those sorts of organs. The skin, as we know, is an organ itself, and a lot of that stuff is very much really tied into what's potentially going on in your body. So I think that's essentially, basically what I do is I try to connect the pieces and connect symptoms with what's going on in the body.
Melanie:
Yeah. So it's almost like a detective, right?
Dr. Eman:
<Laugh>? Yeah. Yeah, for sure. I, I, I honestly, I enjoy it. It's, it is like, like a detective. Especially when you have the time and the relationship with your patients when they share that information with you. I think it's, it's, it's really valuable for sure.
Melanie:
Yeah. And something else that I think you brought out in our conversation was mentioning as far as taking additional classes for nutrition. Now, is that something that doctors normally do or don't do?
Dr. Eman:
<Laugh> No, I I think you're right. A lot of people don't. I think I realized after finishing my own training you know, we do, it's, it's a lot of schooling, you know, four years of undergrad, four years of medical school, and then, you know, between three to seven years depending on whatever training you or be able to decide to do a residency. So that's, you know, upwards of 11 plus years. And our nutrition education, unfortunately, it's, and it's not a secret is, is limited to most, maybe a couple weeks to month. And I realized that sort of deficit when I started taking care of patients outside of the hospital. You know, they would ask me, Oh, doctor, I have high blood pressure, or I have diabetes, what can I do? And often the unfortunately the reflux is to have a dietician sort of refer, you know, have that referral.
Dr. Eman:
But in, in hindsight, I realized that, you know, these are conditions I see every day all day during the clinic, and I should probably have a better understanding about what the interplay is, interplay is between these chronic diseases, the symptoms that my patients manifest and, and how to effectively treat them. That's beyond the, this, I, unfortunately, I was, I was, was one of those people who were eat less exercise more, you know, And I felt horrible and I was like, I can't, like this <laugh>, this cannot be the extent of my nutrition knowledge, especially when I'm advocating for preventative care, you know, eliminating, reducing chronic diseases. And that's, that's effectively the premise of how I practice. So, So,
Melanie:
Okay. So eliminating chronic diseases and getting, or getting patients off their medications, right?
Dr. Eman:
Yeah. That's, that's, that's my goal. That's probably my passion, you know because a lot of, I, I'm talking strictly about, you know, the ones that we know about in diabetes, hypertension those sorts of things that are sort of diseases of, of affluence and environmental that are unfortunately chronic and endemic in our area, you know, in the United States. Yeah, I think there's a lot of work to be done in, in terms of that area. And so those are the things that I'm primarily interested in.
Melanie:
I love it. I love it. We, we need more healthcare providers like yourself, I know they're out there. It, it, it takes time to find healthcare professionals that really wanna spend time and getting to know why, you know, if we're having, having certain reactions or helping patients to learn more about their bodies and if something doesn't feel right, you know? Yeah. Helping them work through that. So, we'd like to talk about the que I guess, the thought about your own journey, cuz I think you mentioned earlier as far as hair loss and, and what that was like. What, tell me what was that situation for you?
Dr. Eman:
Yeah, so, right. My, so my interest in the hair loss, and I, I will say as a caveat if you, I'm talking strictly non, non scarring hair loss solu androgenic alopecia. If you, I mean, if you have scarring alopecia, that's definitely have a derma ceo, that's, this is not what we're talking about. We're talking about just regular access, chatting, that sort of thing. Right. so, you know, I I will say if it wasn't the privilege I have for being a physician, have, you know, being equipped with the knowledge that I had, I don't know that I would've even identified it early. Wow. And I think that's probably a one. That's why I really want people to know that if you're experiencing something just like any sort of symptom, in my mind, hair loss is a symptom of something else that may be going on. And to not be afraid to share that with your doctors, because, you know, there's probably a reason why that's going on and it's something worth investigating for sure.
Melanie:
Okay. So I like what you said, hair loss is the symptom of something else that's going on. Mm-Hmm. <Affirmative>. So what was it like, like I know for me I think that's how you found me was my, my personal experience was I was on medication, it was a hormonal medication. I had really heavy periods mm-hmm. <Affirmative> and really heavy periods caused anemia. So the medication was just a byproduct of probably the underlying thing, which was the anemia mm-hmm. <Affirmative>. So like you said, her loss is a symptom of something else that's going on. So me as a patient knowing this, what conversation should I be having with you as a medical provider to help me better understand what's happening?
Dr. Eman:
Yeah. So, so that, yeah, that's, that's the, that's a good question because I, for myself, it's really, I, because I know how I get history from patients, I try to get a timeline from them. And I would say for other patients to also try to reflect back on what's been going on in the last couple of months. You know, have you started a new diet? You know, this is where the nutrition, nutrition component comes in. Especially if you're on, if you're a high risk one, you're African American you know, woman, you go on a strict vegan diet when you know there's not a lot of iron potentially, especially if you're not doing it correctly, that could be a problem. Right. you know, new stresses in your life, new illnesses you know, if you're getting sick more. Yeah. Well, I'm sorry,
Melanie:
Covid was a big one.
Dr. Eman:
Oh yeah, for sure. Absolutely. I mean, they're all related. You know, if, if you start noticing your joint pain, new rashes, you're having digestive issues that could be pointed to potentially the start of some new mal absorption issues, some new autoimmune disease you know, even if you're having heavy, heavy menstrual periods or if that's changed, you know, if it's something that's if your meso period has become more irregular, that could be pointing towards like some sort of P C O S fibroids, you know, endometriosis. It could be a lot of things, but I think the most important thing is to think about what's been going on in the last couple of months.
Melanie:
Yeah. So having that history, I like that. Now, the points that I, I think you were mentioning earlier was labs, the different types of labs. You know, everyone, when you look online, people have so many different opinions. They'll say like, Oh, well, you know, you need to check your vitamin D levels and you need to check your, your ths like your thyroid levels and things like that. But what labs should I ask for when I'm seeing certain things happening with me?
Dr. Eman:
Yeah. So kind of the, I'm trying to think of probably the standard labs I think are a good base to start with. So a basic metabolic panel, a thyroid, thyroid, tsh, free t4, free t3 are important as well. Vitamin D also in a complete blood count from those, I think you can gain a, probably a baseline good information about what's potentially going on mm-hmm. <Affirmative> and then expand from that. But I would, I would probably, yeah, start with those, those couple of labs for
Melanie:
Sure. Okay. Okay. So what about like, if I wanted to check my zinc levels or I don't know. Cuz I have some clients that have come in and they've had all those, all those tests run mm-hmm. <Affirmative> and everything checks out fine. But I'm still seeing, like you said, of something else. I actually had one client probably say she's in her forties and mm-hmm. <Affirmative>, you know, has children or whatnot, but we're still trying to figure it out. Hers looks like, you know, pattern or genetic alopecia or thinning mm-hmm. <Affirmative>, but I also suspect that there might be something underlying going on there as well, but I'm not the, I'm not medical, I don't know. But all her labs check out fine. So when a patient has that issue, what, what's the next step when things check out fine or Okay.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah, I would, I would still probably harp back on kind of the history because one, it could be other things. So is she eating enough protein? That's a big one. You need essential fatty acids to, you know, make sure your hair grows. Zinc, of course, selenium, some, some of those micronutrients and those are probably your labs that we would run next. And probably maybe look at the labs a little bit more closely because there are some fine kind of, so we only think about the hemoglobin white blood cell count on platelets, but there are more, when you see your labs, you, there's like 7, 8, 9 different labs. Right. We don't <laugh> we don't really talk about them. But personally, I'll tell you how I kind of found mine because it wasn't, it wasn't my doctor, it was, I I just noticed that the trends, you know, I look at trends, especially when I see my patients.
Dr. Eman:
I look at what's going on. Like, is your hemoglobin 13 and now it's 10? You know, maybe it's not a big, big difference, but it's, it's gone down, You know, that's potentially an early problem. But an r, the R d w in your hemoglobin in your, in your complete blood cell account can tell you that your iron stores are low. That, that happens before you're deficient, you know, before you're anemic. Okay. That still means your iron deficient, you know, even though you're not, you're not exactly anemic. You know, your hemoglobin might be 10, 11, nothing to be too alarmed about, but your iron scores are still low. And pretty soon you probably will be overtly anemic. But then by that point it might be, you know, you might have really serious start, you know, having serious hair loss, but once you're already WS high, I would probably already start supplementing you with iron.
Melanie:
Okay. That is very interesting that you said that because for me, like I, you know, you can go on your MyChart or Epic or whatever your doctor uses and you can see your labs, right? Mm-Hmm. <Affirmative>, I have no idea what it is I'm looking at. So I go onto Dr. Google, I type in this, and you know, it's like, oh, well you shouldn't be alarmed. This is pretty common. You see this with anemia. For me, my my doctor, she put me on just, just the basic iron phs, the 3 25 mm-hmm. <Affirmative> 65 milligram is what she suggested for me mm-hmm. <Affirmative>. But what I find interesting about that is that and it's interesting because I think in the material that you cited, I'm taking mine every day and I wonder if I should be taking it every day.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah. it's, it's, it's hard to keep up with the literature. It's, I I, and it's not anybody's anybody's fault. That's, that's the, that's the previous thinking is every day it makes sense. You're iron efficient ticket every day, right? Yeah. But what they found in the more recent literature is every other day because the body's smart. If it's seeing, you know, super therapeutic, you know, 500% more iron, it's not gonna absorb it and be like, Why are you giving me so much iron? I'm not gonna take it. So it's sort of a mechanism I, in my mind, this is what it is. Obviously they don't explain it in the, in the literature, but what they found is taking it every other day allows for better absorption, allows the body to better you know, understand that this is a new supplement that's coming in and this is how I'm gonna start taking it. And of course you take it with some vitamin C, the you take a pill. I prefer telling my patients to eat like an orange or have someone like lemon water, anything like that. Okay. The more natural is better. Obviously if you can take red meat or have full protein that that's even preferred. But when you're deficient, you need to take supplements until your stores are back to normal.
Melanie:
Okay. So you're saying that I, cause I, you know, I didn't know that, so I should, I need to be following up with a vitamin C or lemon water or something.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah, take it. Take your iron pill. I mean, in general we recommend people to take iron pills with, with vitamin C because that allows for better absorption. Yeah. <laugh>.
Melanie:
Oh, see I'm learning. No wonder I so tired. I'm it day I'm tired.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah. It, it, that's just typically how they go. That's how they get absorbed.
Melanie:
Okay. Yeah. So take with vitamin C, so an orange or lemon water.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah. Something citrusy.
Melanie:
Yep. Okay. Okay. Noted. That is definitely good <laugh>. The other thing was, hmm, so I, I'm doing, I have this regimen, when should I start to see results?
Dr. Eman:
So yeah, typically you can see, so I'd say probably around three months you can start to see results. Your stores are not gonna be replete until about six months. So you need to take it for a long time. Okay. Your iron, your iron or your hemoglobin might start to look normal, but your iron stores are still, are still probably not completely replete, but the body's getting, getting there, <laugh>.
Melanie:
Okay. So that's my, that's my other question. I, Cause I know for myself, I re I just recently have blood work done probably a few weeks ago, but I was two weeks post menstrual, so obviously I'm gonna be depleted. So Yeah. Question to you is, is that when taking blood work for for a checkup with my cycle, when should I go? Should I wait three weeks? Cuz by then, you know, it's, I'm almost time to start again. Like I've got that fine window, you know, when should I Yeah. When should I do blood work?
Dr. Eman:
Yeah. you know, it's, it's I'm trying to, I don't know that there's a particularly great answer. I guess probably the right, probably before your menstrual period, you know, maybe the week before that probably be the easiest thing. Okay. But really your hemoglobin probably should be replete by then, you know? It shouldn't be like super low. It should probably be within reference range, I would think. So either there's a issue with not having enough iron or hasn't been depleted completely. Yeah.
Melanie:
Okay. So does it normally take about 30 days for, for the body to kind of cycle and to kind of replenish itself,
Dr. Eman:
You're saying? Yeah. Yeah. It should, it should take about 30 days. Yeah.
Melanie:
30 days. That's good to know because I have, I have a checkup very soon, so
Dr. Eman:
<Laugh>,
Melanie:
I'm, I'm for,
Dr. Eman:
Yeah. Yeah. I will say if, yeah, if the heavy benies is a, it's a probably, it's probably a, I wouldn't, I'm not gonna say a lifetime prescription, but probably to some degree taking iron pills probably for a long time.
Melanie:
Okay. Yeah. And I've also, I've also had clients at work that have the Cena, am I saying that right? Tazia, Am I
Dr. Eman:
Oh, Thalassemia. Thalassemia. Yeah. Thala,
Melanie:
Yes. And or they also have sickle cell,
Dr. Eman:
So Oh yeah.
Melanie:
Chronically fatigued or anemia.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah.
Melanie:
And they didn't realize that that could have been, you know, a reason why their hair is doing what doing.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah, for sure. That's, I mean probably a big, big reason that's probably contributing is the anemia that's from the thalassemia and from the sickle cell for sure.
Melanie:
Yeah. Yeah. You mentioned earlier as far as nutrition and micronutrients raw veganism is back, you know, a lot
Dr. Eman:
People
Melanie:
Are, you know, especially in the black and brown community, that that is, that is a, a big lifestyle change. I, you know, I I I tried it for about a year. Mm-Hmm. <Affirmative>. But for those individuals, especially women who don't consume animal products, what are safe ways that they can get good amounts of irons, especially if they're exercising? Cause I think you mentioned that earlier.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah.
Melanie:
Guys you know, what can they do?
Dr. Eman:
Yeah, you can. I mean, leafy greens, kale, spinach, those sort of plant irons are pretty good at Iami has pretty good protein. Mm-Hmm. Those are things off the top of my head. I mean, it, you can get the enough iron from a raw vegan, plant based diet for sure. Mm-Hmm. <Affirmative>. It's just, you gotta be really careful. It's, you know, you probably have to plan a little bit bit better. You have to make sure you're getting all a sufficient amount of protein. It's not a sort of willy-nilly, I'm just gonna be vegan and not necessarily pay attention to how my protein and I end up getting. Yeah. Because I think the, even in general for the general population, it's seven to 10 cups of leafy greens is the required amount, but I'm not sure everybody necessarily gets that. Yeah. so,
Melanie:
And it's, it's very hard and this fast pace now that things are kind of reopening and we're getting back to how things were before. I'm tired like this, you know, I was perfectly fine with just chill and things not really being open. I'm like, I'm okay. But now we're almost at like, full throttle again. Yeah. And I've gotta get my, my mental back <laugh> Yeah. That the energy level. So for individuals that have that go, go, go lifestyle and mentality where can they, you know, what suggestions do you have for them as far as should they supplement too if they're not getting the micro macronutrients?
Dr. Eman:
Yeah, I would, I would supplement, I think probably do like a mineral analysis. See which ones you're actually deficient in. Okay. And then I would supplement because it's, it's just not, not worth it, you know? You can get, so, I mean, you can have so many problems if you're deficient in your micronutrients and your macronutrients. And it's, to me, it just doesn't seem like a risk that's, that's necessary
Melanie:
For the mineral analysis. Is that not where can I, can I ask for that when I, when I see a doctor?
Dr. Eman:
Yeah, you can, you can ask for it. We, we do it. Really, we do it infrequently and usually it's for more serious conditions, but we can run them. If Yeah, if we, if the relationship is there and you know, it's my patient and we wanna go ahead and do this, you're at risk for deficiencies. We will run them for sure. Wow. Yeah.
Melanie:
So many, I'm telling you, I'm telling you Dr, so many, so many gyms you just shared tonight
Dr. Eman:
That
Melanie:
Really change people's lives. Right. You know, because Oh yeah. Especially you think about, I've been struggling with this for so long and I'm eating all the right things. I'm exercising, I've, you know, I'm following this very it's not too regimented, but it's just, you know, I'm eating, I'm eating well, but my numbers are still showing this. So should we be so fixated on numbers or more of how we feel?
Dr. Eman:
I, so I'm a, I'm a data person <laugh>, I will say, but probably to my detriment. So I think as long as you have a trusted healthcare provider, you know, your doctor, physician, somebody who's watching you I think the, the goal in anyone is to feel well. So as long as you're feeling well, I don't think patients need to worry. I think it's the onus is on the physicians to keep track. So I, I think, yeah, I think for patients in general, don't worry about the numbers. Make sure the person that's looking at them is someone you trust. And then do what you need to and, and let them know if your things are changing.
Melanie:
Okay. I like that. Yeah. Make sure that it's someone that you trust. So we have all this information. What's the importance of having a personalized nutrition as well as, you know, trying to medications and everything? What, what's the benefit and of that?
Dr. Eman:
Yeah, I think, yeah, nutrition is such a, I feel like it's probably the most difficult <laugh> topic in medicine for sure. But I think it's, it's important to combine the, the conditions you have, you know whether you're knee meds, you have other autoimmune disease or whatever other conditions you have and the combination to the lifestyle that you want. You know, are you someone, like you said, that want to try to stick to as much vegan or vegetarian diet? Then, you know, what things can we do to make sure you're getting all your nutrients mm-hmm. <Affirmative>. But I, I think being honest and how you want to live your life in terms of the food eat i, I think is important. Cause honestly, sometimes we'll recommend things with them, and I'm part of it <laugh> that may not be in line with what the patient wants. And I think it's important to consider what they want.
Melanie:
Yeah. So from your experience, what have you recommended? That's not in line with, I guess, where a patient is wanting to go.
Dr. Eman:
I, I, I don't I will say I don't in general give like a blanket recommendation. I, I try to find out what so it really depends. So I will say some, if I, I find out what conditions they have. I, I, I see a lot of people with diabetes, high blood pressure, you know, as a, as an internist. Yeah. so we have general idea what types of diets we can recommend to them. So those people, I will have something to offer them. But everyone else, I kind of just try to figure out how are you eating? And try any, any, if I can get anyone to leave sort of the standard American diet. Any, any sort of diet is better than that, I think for any
Melanie:
Bad diet.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah. So, so for the general population, if you're, any movement away from the South American diet is great. And if you can reduce the, the processed foods, the simple carbohydrates fructose for me in the form of soda, diet, soda, fruit juice, it, it does, doesn't necessarily need to be a part of our diet. We can limit it as much as we can. Mm-Hmm. <Affirmative>. And then those are probably the, you know, other than that, I think people can generally have a good sense of what else they can use.
Melanie:
Right. There's so much
Dr. Eman:
<Laugh>
Melanie:
There, there's so much that we, that are, that is, that's genetic, but so genetic in the sense of we're following the same eating habits, right? Yes. Like, Oh, well, in my family, diabetes and high blood pressure runs rampant, but we're eating the same thing, you know? And so, you know, of course you're gonna have all of that. So Yeah. That, that makes perfect sense. And I actually was interviewing another healthcare professional. She's a, a nutritionist mm-hmm. <Affirmative>, and she's Indian. And so she was telling me that when she first came to the States, she was recognizing how malnourished Americans were, but we were overwhelmed.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah.
Melanie:
We were still malnourished because we were eating all of this junk that had no nutrients in it. And so when she was working at the women's hospital, maybe like a shelter, she was seeing what people were, were being fed. And she's like, This is bad. And so for her practice, she actually started, she actually incorporated her i a techniques from back home.
Dr. Eman:
Oh,
Melanie:
Wow. That's, that's what she knew. And that's worked. And so that, you know, she was helping her patients, you know, with diabetes and high blood pressure, because a lot of it is lifestyle related.
Dr. Eman:
Right. Yeah. That's awesome that she did that for sure.
Melanie:
Yeah. Yeah. It's, it kind of reminds me of you in a way because it's, it's she's very intentional very intentional with her patients and looking at patients as an individual and trying to wing them off of their medications if possible, and teaching them healthier choices. Now, I know for myself, in my family, we do have quite a bit that are, that have high blood pressure, that are also diabetic type one, but also type two mm-hmm. <Affirmative>. And sometimes it's, it's, it's really, really hard because your life is revolving around food, you know? Yeah. Even when you're eating, you're thinking about your next meal.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah.
Melanie:
And it's like, okay, I know I'm hungry, but you have these swings, you know, which also affect your mood. And then you get tired. But then if you, if you take insulin you know how much insulin, I mean, it's very overwhelming.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah.
Melanie:
Very overwhelming.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah. I, I a hundred percent agree with you. It, it is, it is so hard. And I feel for everyone. And it's definitely, like you said, a big, there's obviously a genetic component. We know that. And I mean, like you said, sort of an environmental component too. When food is around you, it's hard to do. And then the swings is, is is a basically sort of an end product of the constant high carbohydrate, you know, high or, you know, high fructose corn syrup, that sort of stuff that's going on. You have swings, high blood sugars, and then you start crashing. It's up and down, up and down, and you get hungry. So yeah, it is a problem.
Melanie:
It's exhaust. It's, it's exhausting. So it's, but you know, I'm happy that we have that we're having this conversation because, you know, like my goal and, and your goal is, is to share this with other people Yeah. And where they can have evidence based information to where they can make better life lifestyle choices.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah, for
Melanie:
Sure. And then they can share that with their friends and family, and then potentially change the trajectory or the direction of their family dynamics and like, Hey, this is something that's really simple that we can do. It doesn't have to be drastic, but it's just one small change, cutting up, you know, getting ready and replacement with water. If you're not ready for that you know, maybe, you know, go from sweet tea to unsweetened tea, you know, kind of gradually work your
Dr. Eman:
Way. Yeah.
Melanie:
<Laugh>, you don't have to go cold Turkey.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah, no, I mean, honestly, that's, that's how you, that's the right way to do it. That's how I do it with if, if you're, That's how I do it with my patients. If I mean, I'll, I'll tell you one anecdote. Had a patient came with me with an A1C of 11, all we did was she stopped her soda, that, that's it, her soda pop. And then I saw her three months later, this, this lady, her hemoglobin was six, her A1C was six. And I'm like, What did you do? She's like, I just stopped the soda <laugh>. That's amazed. You know, And it's, it's, I think part of it, it's the cravings will go away, that sort of thing. It's probably playing a role, but like you said, one, one step at a time I think can make a, a big difference.
Melanie:
Yeah. Yeah. Well you know, patients are very blessed to have you. No, I mean, seriously, it is just, you know, it's nice. It's a beautiful thing to have medical professionals that are, that are on your side and, and that are open to, to nutritional things too. And, you know, understanding what your goals are, potentially coming off medications, not being on something for a long time, but helping us as patients, being able to reach our goal and to, you know, to stay the course. So that, that's, that's, that's a wonderful thing to know. Yeah.
Dr. Eman:
<Laugh>. Yeah.
Melanie:
Yeah. Yeah. So this has been a great conversation. I've really enjoyed it. I've learned a lot just in these last, you know, 30 minutes or so, and I'll recap for myself, <laugh> that although I've been taking my, my 65 milligram iron every day mm-hmm. <Affirmative>, I learned today that I should probably take it every other day mm-hmm. <Affirmative>. And that I should also you know, take it with vitamin C, whether it's lemon water or an orange or something citrus related, I should definitely do that so that my body can absorb it. Ah, that was a great point. Mm-Hmm. <Affirmative>, the other point that I really appreciate that you brought out was if I'm susceptible to having different types of deficiencies that I can actually ask my provider for minimal analysis.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah.
Melanie:
Did not know that, that I could do that. Yeah. That's great. Yeah. So you're, you're giving me all the, the gyms here, <laugh>, and then let's see, what was, what was the other one? I think you also mentioned too that hair loss is the symptom of something else that's going on. So realizing the timeframes of things and kind of deep diving into what happened months ago, whether he was a pregnancy, extreme stress. Right. Sickness, you know something like that, because for me, I've always said that the body leaves clues.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah. We just have to, You're right.
Melanie:
We have to listen to it. Yeah. It tells us. So not to be fanatical about things, but but just to, you know, to listen to it. So
Dr. Eman:
Yeah.
Melanie:
I like that. I like that. Well, thank you.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah. No, it's been my pleasure. Yeah. I mean, it's just, it's, I I, I've enjoyed this. I mean, it's, I love being able to help people in this way and I think in, in general, like who, you know, patients who are listening your clients that I think it's so important. You know, there's so many different people out there. Make sure you find someone who's open. You know, I, I'll say that, the other thing I think people don't realize is you can pick and choose who you see. You know, it's not necessarily limited to what your insurance provider necessarily gives you, you know, And you know, we're trained to be lifelong learners. So find someone who's always reading, learning, keeping up with the data, that sort of things. And especially to make sure they're in alignment with what conditions and problems that you have and what their interests may be. So
Melanie:
I love that. I love that. It reminds me of the, the conversation I had with another doctor. She's a dermatologist, Dr. Mcmichael. And it, she was telling me, she's like, you know, when you find a dermatologist, make sure that they're board certified. I'm like, What do you mean by board certified? She's like, that they are board certified dermatologists because they follow, they stay up to date with dermatology. Like, you know, anybody can be birth board certified, but if not their field, that's different.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Absolutely.
Melanie:
Just kinda like what you were saying, you know, you're staying abreast with what you do.
Dr. Eman:
Yeah. And, and board certification, it's is that cuz we're required to maintain, you know, every, even every couple months we're required to take courses and keep up. And the standards are very high just for any specialty, so. Okay. That's true. That's important.
Melanie:
Thank you. So I will I'll share that and kind of type it in so they have additional questions, which I'm sure they probably will, but this has been really good. So thank you again for taking your time out of your busy schedule for, for doing this. Yeah. And for those of you that are listening, once again this is one of the benefits of being a part of our in living curls hair care community. You get hair care advice, lifestyle, but also interviews with the experts when it comes to medicine wellness and just overall, you know, lifestyle things. Lifestyle things. So definitely stay tuned in. And this is your, once again, this is your favorite stylist Melanie Day with You've got Curls and Hair Loss Center. Until next time, Bye. Bye everybody.