Gut Health Screening
Your gut and your hair are more connected than you might think. Our clinically guided gut health assessment identifies the internal imbalances that could be driving your hair loss, scalp conditions, and wider health concerns.
Why gut health matters for your hair
The gut is often called the body's second brain — and for good reason. It regulates nutrient absorption, immune function, hormone metabolism, and systemic inflammation. When the gut is compromised, the effects ripple outward, and hair follicles are among the first to feel it.
Poor gut health can impair the absorption of the very nutrients hair follicles depend on — iron, zinc, B vitamins, and vitamin D. It can drive the kind of chronic low-grade inflammation that accelerates follicle miniaturisation. It can disrupt the hormonal balance that governs the hair growth cycle.
At The PMU Clinic, we take a whole-body approach to hair and scalp health. Our gut health screening is designed to identify the internal factors that conventional hair loss assessments often miss — giving you a clearer, more complete picture of what's actually driving your symptoms.
Your gut health assessment, step by step
Initial Consultation
We begin with a thorough clinical consultation covering your hair loss history, digestive symptoms, diet, medication, and lifestyle. This gives us the context to identify which areas of gut health are most relevant to your presentation.
Targeted Testing
Based on your consultation, we recommend a tailored panel of tests. These may include stool microbiome analysis, intestinal permeability markers, inflammatory markers, and nutrient absorption indicators — all interpreted in the context of your hair and scalp health.
Results & Analysis
Your results are reviewed by our Registered Trichologist and interpreted alongside your clinical presentation. We don't just hand you a report — we explain what the findings mean for your hair health specifically, and how each factor connects to your symptoms.
Personalised Treatment Plan
You leave with a clear, evidence-based plan addressing the gut health factors identified. This may include dietary recommendations, targeted supplementation, referral to a specialist, or integration with your existing hair loss treatment programme.
Areas covered in your gut health screening
Our assessment covers the key gut health markers most relevant to hair loss, scalp conditions, and systemic wellbeing.
Gut Microbiome Balance
The trillions of bacteria in your gut play a critical role in nutrient synthesis, immune regulation, and inflammation control. Dysbiosis — an imbalance in the microbiome — has been linked to autoimmune hair loss conditions including alopecia areata, as well as generalised shedding and scalp inflammation. We assess microbial diversity and identify patterns associated with hair and scalp dysfunction.
Intestinal Permeability
Often referred to as 'leaky gut', increased intestinal permeability allows partially digested food particles and bacterial toxins to enter the bloodstream, triggering systemic immune responses and chronic inflammation. This inflammatory burden can directly impact hair follicle cycling and scalp health. We assess permeability markers to identify whether this is a contributing factor in your case.
Nutrient Absorption
Even a nutritionally adequate diet cannot compensate for poor absorption. Gut dysfunction can impair the uptake of iron, zinc, B12, folate, and vitamin D — all of which are essential for healthy hair growth. We assess absorption markers to identify whether deficiencies are driven by dietary insufficiency or by gut-level malabsorption, as the treatment approach differs significantly.
Gut-Driven Inflammation
Chronic gut inflammation elevates systemic inflammatory markers that can accelerate androgenetic alopecia, trigger telogen effluvium, and worsen scalp conditions including seborrhoeic dermatitis and psoriasis. We assess key inflammatory indicators to understand whether gut-driven inflammation is amplifying your hair loss — and what can be done to address it.
Gut health screening: your questions answered
No. Many people with significant gut dysfunction have no obvious digestive symptoms at all. Bloating, discomfort, and irregular bowel habits are common signs, but gut dysbiosis, intestinal permeability, and nutrient malabsorption can all occur silently. If your hair loss is unexplained or hasn't responded to conventional treatments, gut health is worth investigating regardless of whether you have digestive complaints.
The specific tests recommended will depend on your clinical presentation. Stool microbiome analysis involves a simple at-home sample collection kit. Blood markers for inflammation, nutrient levels, and intestinal permeability are assessed via a standard blood draw. We'll explain exactly what's involved at your consultation before any testing is arranged.
Turnaround times vary depending on the tests requested. Blood markers are typically available within 3–5 working days. Comprehensive stool microbiome analysis usually takes 2–3 weeks. We'll give you a clear timeline at your consultation so you know what to expect.
Absolutely — and in many cases it's most effective when integrated with your broader hair loss treatment plan. Understanding the gut health picture allows us to address root causes alongside surface-level treatments, which often produces better and more sustained results. We'll discuss how gut health findings fit into your overall treatment programme at your results appointment.
No. Food intolerance testing looks at immune reactions to specific foods. Our gut health screening is broader and more clinically focused — it assesses the microbiome, intestinal permeability, inflammatory markers, and nutrient absorption in the context of your hair and scalp health. If food intolerances are suspected as a contributing factor, we can discuss allergy and sensitivity screening as a complementary assessment.
Working with Health Beings
We work in partnership with Health Beings to provide our clients with access to qualified nutritionists. Where gut health screening identifies dietary or nutritional factors contributing to your hair loss or scalp health, the Health Beings team will review the case and liaise directly with our Trichologist — inputting into and supporting your treatment plan to ensure your care extends beyond the clinic.
Where gut health findings point to nutritional factors, a qualified Nutritionist at Health Beings reviews your case alongside our Trichologist — ensuring the dietary dimension of your results is assessed with specialist expertise.
Health Beings nutritionists contribute directly to your personalised treatment plan, providing evidence-based dietary and supplementation guidance that works in conjunction with your trichological care.
Nutritionist support available via case review and treatment plan input
Ready to look deeper?
If your hair loss hasn't responded to conventional treatments, or if you want to understand the full picture of what's driving your symptoms, gut health screening could be the missing piece.
Trichology consultations start at £60, fully redeemable against any treatment.
Please note: all tests are subject to additional costs and are not included in the consultation fee.