Causes, Signs and What You Can Do About It So You Don’t Lose Your Mind or More Hair

by Katie Driessens, RD, LDN, CDCES, CGN

Several years ago, I lost approximately 75% of my hair.

At the time, I was doing many of the things (or so I thought) that should have supported healthy hair growth: I was eating a balanced diet, taking hair growth supplements, and trying various hair growth strategies like hair oiling, scalp massages, and using good hair products to maintain length. Yet despite my efforts, my hair continued to get thinner and thinner.

What I didn’t realize then was that I was living in a home with high levels of toxic indoor mold. Looking back, mold wasn’t just affecting my hair density (or lack thereof) —it was affecting my entire body and the shedding was the symptom of a much larger problem all of my doctors missed.

The biggest lesson I learned personally (and now professionally) is that mold-related hair loss is rarely caused by a single mechanism. Instead, toxic indoor mold can contribute to a cascade of physiological dysfunction where healthy hair growth and density become increasingly difficult.

In my case, toxic indoor mold exposure contributed to:

Nutrient deficiencies and mineral depletion despite a healthy diet
Histamine intolerance
Chronic inflammation/CIRS diagnosis
Gut dysbiosis, candida overgrowth and low stomach acid
Scalp dysfunction including excess Malassezia
Plus, worsening of insulin resistance worsening DHT levels
Difficulty in resolving chronic Lyme disease after conventional treatment of a tickbite

Each of these factors can independently affect hair growth. Together, they can create the perfect storm for excessive shedding and thinning. As I worked to find and address these underlying issues, my health improved and my hair loss started reversing.

Today, many of the clients I work with have similar health journeys. They’ve tried the standard hair loss recommendations, (supplemental iron, Nutrafol, topical serums, etc.) but it’s child’s play if they are not doing interventions that are most specific to the root-iest of root problems when mold is the culprit. While mold-exposure-related illnesses are certainly not responsible for every case of hair loss, it is one of the most commonly overlooked contributors that many practitioners don’t think of; consequently, they play (what I call) “downstream symptom whack-a-mole.”

Hair follicles are incredibly sensitive to what’s happening throughout the body. They require adequate nutrients, proper immune regulation, sufficient energy production, optimal hormone function, etc. When mold exposure contributes to dysfunction in one or more of these areas, hair growth and density will likely suffer – for some a little, and for others a lot.

How To Recover from Mold Related Hair Loss

Individualization based on labs is best, but there are several foundational areas I focus on to help point those suffering in the right direction:

Step 1: Thoroughly Address the Home Environment

This is the most important step. If mold exposure is ongoing, many bodily interventions may provide only temporary relief. No supplement can outpace continued exposure to high levels of mold or other biotoxins like actinobacteria or endotoxins from indoor water/moisture/humidity damage. Analogy: You can try to drain the tub, but it won’t fully work if the faucet is still on. Note that the other side of this is the tub could still be full even if the faucet is shut off, so that also needs to be fixed.

Identifying and addressing environmental sources of mold is often the foundation upon which recovery is built. Professional mold inspection and remediation is needed when clinically significant levels of mold are present! If you think this could be you, you can start with at home tests like using EC3 Mold Screening Test Plates or an ERMI dust test; but if these tests show abnormalities, you will ultimately need an expert to find the where mold is and why mold grew in the first place. This can take some time to get an expert out and for professional removal. Not sure where to start finding a quality IEP? I recommend using the ISEAI.org website where you can then specifically then search for qualified IEPs.

What you can do on your own leading up to remediation is reduce the exposure by removing mycotoxins and biotoxins from your home if you are unable to leave. (Ideally you immediately leave the home but that is not financially feasible for most families). The next best option is doing what you can in the meantime leading up to professional remediation. While our family “was in limbo” we used air purifiers and several cleaning products like adding the EC3 Laundry Additive to each load to rinse and remove mycotoxins from clothes/towel/bedding/drapes. We also used the EC3 Wipes to regularly clean surfaces and remove mycotoxins from our home. This was not a permanent solution if the original source is still putting off mycotoxins but it’s something that can be done ongoingly up until remediation. It is also critical to properly remove any remaining particles after the remediation as a final step so your home. Get fully back to baseline and ensure you’ve handled not just the source of mold but all the residual in the home.

Step 2: Foundations: Minerals and Stabilization

Minerals get so depleted from mold exposure:

Via all the oxidative stress from mold “burning through” minerals – and we can measure this via HTMA testing or bloodwork
Via inflammation which can change mineral distribution- we can measure mold-related inflammation via a CIRS panel
Via decreased absorption from the all-too-common gut dysbiosis, low stomach acid, decreased commensal bacteria, decreased fecal elastase and intestinal permeability from the biotoxins which can be measured from GIMAP testing or a GI effects test

Minerals are not optional for the body. They are required ongoingly to sustain life, and their consistent consumption to achieve optimal levels should be a foundational step if exposed to mold. Ideally one tests their mineral levels to then be targeted in their efforts to optimize mineral status. When working with patients 1-1, I almost always see a slew of nutrient deficiencies when we test. The Complete Thymic Formula is a solid option when unable to test as it contains multiple minerals (+ vitamins too) that mold exposure can deplete like zinc, copper, magnesium, selenium, etc. and it will cover a lot of bases.

If histamine issues are prevalent in someone exposed to mold, calming mast cells is an integral stabilization step and gives the person in misery some bandwidth. There are prescription options for someone with a full on diagnosis of MCAS but not everyone with mold related illness experiences this. However, many do experience histamine intolerance, and Histamine Relief is a supplemental blend to support someone with elevated histamine to decrease allergy type symptoms until the root-ier bodily problems are resolved which takes time to correct.

Step 3: Reduce the Inflammatory Burden

When CIRS inflammatory markers (can self order here) are abnormal from mold (or other biotoxins in some cases), another big goal becomes supporting the body’s ability to restore balance. This involves protocols to normalize inflammatory biomarkers and reverse bioaccumulation of mycotoxins. Some practitioners utilize prescription binders like cholestyramine but over-the-counter binders (while not as “strong” in terms of affinity for binding) do work too. Binders like BioActive Binder can also help halt enterohepatic circulation (AKA – actually get the mycotoxins to leave the body via a bowel movement as bile acids are stingy and ~90% recirculate).

But binders “only grab onto” and remove what is flowing on through the body. To support proper bile flow which can get “sludgy” from mold (see your doctor ASAP if you suspect gallbladder disease), I highly recommend Phosphatidyl Choline which is a constituent of plasma membrane for all cells that can get damaged from mold and need replenished. Phosphatidylcholine also helps maintain the normal physiology of bile secretion and transport.

Step 4: Eradicate Pathogenic Overgrowth

There are multiple areas of the body where pathogenic overgrowth can result from a mold exposure. In regards to the nose, one can test for nasal and nasopharyngeal opportunistic pathogens via a MARCoNS panel as an option; abnormal results need to be addressed via intranasal care. One effective option is to use CitriDrops Nasal Spray to eradicate various pathogenic microbes that have overgrown so this doesn’t keep “reseeding the gut” and/or upsetting the pituitary; otherwise the biotoxin induced innate immune system overdrive can persist.

If/when SIBO and/or candida overgrowth is present, the gastrointestinal tract needs targeted as this won’t typically go away on its own or with dietary restriction which is a drop in the bucket. Pursue eradication efforts when you have GIMAP testing (I’ve ordered thousands and love this test!) abnormalities that give us insight into the gut microbiome. It is in the scope of practice for RDs to assist with gut microbiome-based interventions including recommendations for effective herbals like Candida Rid which help rebalance. If there is reduced digestive capacity, consider Digest Assist which is a blend of enzymes and HCL to support digestion and maximize nutrient absorption – which is generally challenged from mold exposure.

Step 5: Support Liver Detoxification

Ever hear the expression: “If you have a liver you are detoxing?” It drives me bonkers as it’s so dismissive and reductive. Owning organs doesn’t equate to ongoing proper phase 1 and phase 2 liver detoxification which everyday requires a lot of cofactors (think “ingredients”) to package up and ship out toxins and biotoxins. Just like how a car needs gasoline, your liver needs lots of fuel too to do its normal functioning. The Liver Health and Detox Bundle provides cofactors that support this innate bodily process.

Speaking of liver support, lots of practitioners love to throw iron supplements at a low ferritin even in the absence of anemia which is sometimes the right choice, but the following needs to be stated: the liver is involved with ferritin levels. Mold can alter normal liver function which can suppress ferritin levels. This is why many people don’t respond to iron supplements to increase the ferritin levels in the absence of iron deficiency with or without anemia. Long story short: throwing more iron at the low ferritin/hair loss problems doesn’t always work; many times, it’s the liver that needs support, the inflammation needs to be decreased, and the person needs to get out of mold. When these things happen, now the ferritin stands a chance at increasing and the hair growth can come back online.

Step 6: Support the Scalp

Healthy hair growth doesn’t just depend on nutrients and hormones — it also requires a healthy scalp. When the scalp microbiome becomes unbalanced, especially with excess Malassezia or Actinobacteria, inflammation can develop. This imbalance is something practitioners often see in people exposed to mold or water‑damaged buildings, because environmental stressors can shift the scalp’s microbial ecosystem.

When the scalp is inflamed or the barrier is disrupted, hair follicles don’t function as well. A balanced microbiome helps keep pathogens from overgrowing, supports the scalp’s protective barrier, and creates the conditions needed for strong, healthy hair growth. Without that balance, issues like inflammation, irritation, and slowed growth can show up.

Don’t overlook proper topical interventions as a part of a larger strategy. The EC3 Head-to-Toe Cleanser is effective yet gentle, non drying and color safe! I used this gem of a product and it seriously felt like a salon shampoo. Definitely did not have a strong scent which is appreciated for those of us with chemical sensitivity from mold. The EC3 cleanser also doubles as a body wash and face wash – which one can appreciate the simplicity here given the overall complexity of the layers to properly tackle mold-related illnesses.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Make THIS Big Mistake

The most common oversight I see is people hyperfocus on haircare and forget the reality that most hair loss is a symptom of deeper internal problems. When chronic inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, microbial imbalance, or environmental exposure are driving the hair loss problem, simply spending more money at Ulta or Sephora with a side of wishful thinking isn’t going to get you far. Be targeted, be intentional, be testing-focused so you can do interventions specific to the underlying problems and stop wasting your time, your money and your sanity.

For me, recovering my hair required addressing all of the systems that mold exposure had affected.

The goal wasn’t just to regrow hair.

The goal was to restore health.

As my body recovered, my hair followed.

If you’re struggling with unexplained shedding, thinning, scalp issues, or hair that simply isn’t responding to conventional approaches, it may be worth investigating whether mold exposure, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, or microbial imbalances are part of your story as well. Because sometimes the key to better hair isn’t found in a salon —it’s found by identifying and addressing the underlying factors that may be preventing your body from thriving in the first place.