
77: Beautiful Hair & Skin from Within: A Hormone-Focused Approach With Dr. Trevor Cates
Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations with Dr. Izabella WentzShow Notes
In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, Dr. Izabella Wentz interviews Dr. Trevor Cates – author, naturopathic doctor, and founder of The Spa Dr. skincare and supplement line – about the intimate links between hormones, skin, and hair. Together, they explore how perimenopause, thyroid dysfunction, and toxic skincare products affect women’s health inside and out.
Listeners will gain insight into the role of bioidentical hormones, clean skincare, nutrient-rich foods, and targeted supplements in promoting healthy aging. Dr. Cates also shares her clinical experience with hair loss, the importance of addressing root causes, and how natural approaches can bring harmony back to the body.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
Perimenopause reveals hidden imbalances. Symptoms like insomnia, night sweats, palpitations, and anxiety can feel overwhelming, but they are signs of underlying root causes – like gut dysbiosis or nutritional deficiencies – that often resurface during this time of transition.
Hormones and skin are deeply connected. Fluctuations in estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol can cause acne, premature aging, and sagging skin. Instead of masking symptoms, Dr. Cates emphasizes root-cause healing through nutrition, stress reduction, and hormone balance.
Skincare toxins can disrupt hormones. Many conventional products contain endocrine disruptors that are absorbed through the skin and contribute to estrogen dominance, thyroid dysfunction, and other imbalances. Choosing clean, pH-balanced, and microbiome-friendly products is key.
Hair loss isn’t just about the thyroid. While hypothyroidism is a common cause, other root triggers include low ferritin, high DHT, stress, medications, and infections. Addressing these drivers while supporting hair externally can promote regrowth and resilience.
Inside-out and outside-in approaches create lasting beauty. Anti-inflammatory foods, antioxidants, collagen, and gut health practices work synergistically with topical skincare and haircare products to maintain healthy, glowing skin and strong hair.
Supplements and botanicals can ease perimenopause. Formulas with Vitex (chaste tree), black cohosh, dong quai, and saw palmetto can help with brain fog, mood changes, and hair loss related to shifting hormones.
Be sure to subscribe to the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast so you don’t miss an episode! Sign up for the Thyroid Pharmacist Weekly Thyroid Solutions Newsletter here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/
For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations with Dr. Izabella Wentz
In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, Dr. Izabella Wentz speaks with Dr. Efrat LaMandre (Dr. E) about medical gaslighting, why it happens, and how patients can change their approach to ensure they get the right care. Dr. E. explains why doctors may seem dismissive if they don’t find anything on lab tests, why patients can unintentionally dismiss their own symptoms, and how to communicate in a way that healthcare providers understand. She also shares practical strategies for self-advocacy and how to find answers when a doctor’s visit doesn’t bring the clarity you’re certain you need.
In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, Dr. Izabella Wentz speaks with Dr. Richard Horowitz, an integrative physician who has spent more than 40 years working with complex chronic illness, including Lyme and tick-borne diseases. His work eventually led him to develop the MSIDS model, or Multiple Systemic Infectious Disease Syndrome, which looks at 16 different factors that may contribute to chronic illness rather than focusing solely on a diagnosis or individual symptoms.
In this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, Dr. Izabella Wentz speaks with hormone expert Dr. Jolene Brighten about why ADHD is so often missed in women and how hormonal changes throughout a woman’s life can influence the way ADHD symptoms show up. From puberty and hormonal birth control to postpartum, the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, and postmenopause, they explore why some women may not recognize their neurodivergence until midlife, and why understanding how the brain works can be a powerful first step toward finding the right tools and support.
In this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, Dr. Izabella Wentz interviews Dr. Erin Kinney, naturopathic doctor and author of The Cortisol Cure. She offers a fresh perspective on cortisol and its role in energy, stress, and healing. Rather than viewing cortisol as a hormone that is always “bad” and needs to be lowered, Dr. Kinney explains why understanding how the body uses and replenishes cortisol can change the way we approach burnout, chronic stress, and autoimmune health.
In this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, Dr. Izabella Wentz interviews Dr. Miles Nichols, DAOM, MSOM, LAc, founder of Medicine With Heart Clinic and the Medicine With Heart Institute. Dr. Miles shares his personal Hashimoto’s healing journey, including his experience with debilitating fatigue and brain fog despite being told that his initial testing looked “normal.” His search for answers ultimately led him to look beyond conventional thyroid markers and uncover several potential root causes contributing to his symptoms.