Healthy skin and strong hair begin beneath the surface, and at Health & Vitality Center, we treat the internal imbalances that often drive breakouts, rashes, thinning, and chronic flare-ups.
Clearer Skin And Stronger Hair Start With Internal Balance
Skin and hair changes are often dismissed as cosmetic concerns, but they are frequently signals of deeper dysfunction involving inflammation, gut health, hormones, detoxification, and metabolic stress. At Health & Vitality Center, Dr. Shiva Lalezar evaluates the full internal picture rather than suppressing surface symptoms. By identifying and correcting root causes, we help patients move toward lasting improvements instead of temporary relief.
Schedule your consultation with Health & Vitality Center to uncover what may truly be driving your skin or hair concerns.
Why Skin And Hair Symptoms Are Often Misunderstood
Conventional care frequently treats skin and hair conditions from the outside in—topical creams, prescriptions, temporary suppression of inflammation, or cosmetic procedures. While these may provide short-term improvement, they often fail to address the underlying drivers.
Skin and hair are highly responsive to internal physiology. Chronic inflammation, gut imbalance, hormone shifts, toxic burden, and metabolic dysfunction can all disrupt the body’s ability to regulate oil production, immune response, collagen support, and nutrient delivery.
When the internal environment is inflamed or unstable, symptoms tend to recur. At Health & Vitality Center, the goal is to stabilize the internal terrain so visible improvements are supported long term.
The Root-Cause Approach To Skin And Hair Health
Dr. Shiva Lalezar evaluates skin and hair concerns through a systems-based lens, often focusing on:
Hormonal imbalance, including thyroid and adrenal function
Metabolic syndrome and chronic inflammation
Nutrient deficiencies that affect collagen, keratin, and hair growth cycles
Gut health and intestinal permeability
Food sensitivities and immune activation
Heavy metal burden and detox capacity
Rather than isolating one symptom, the Queen Maker and King Maker protocols often integrate skin and hair support into a broader plan that restores systemic balance.
Conditions We Treat Relating to Skin & Hair Health
Below are some of the most common skin and hair-related concerns treated at Health & Vitality Center. Each is approached through individualized evaluation and structured care.
Persistent acne is often tied to hormonal imbalance, insulin resistance, gut dysfunction, and inflammation. Instead of relying solely on topical or antibiotic-based approaches, we assess metabolic stability, detox pathways, and hormone patterns to reduce breakouts at their source.
Eczema frequently reflects immune dysregulation and gut-related inflammation. Identifying food sensitivities, repairing intestinal integrity, and calming systemic inflammation can help reduce flare frequency and severity.
Hair thinning and shedding in both men and women can be driven by thyroid dysfunction, hormonal imbalance, chronic stress, nutrient depletion, inflammation, or toxic exposure. We evaluate underlying patterns to support healthier growth cycles.
Chronic hives are often immune-mediated and may be associated with gut imbalance, food triggers, inflammation, or environmental exposures. Addressing immune regulation and systemic stress is a key part of reducing recurrence.
Post-viral hair shedding can occur after systemic inflammation, stress, or immune activation. Supporting detoxification, calming inflammation, restoring metabolic stability, and optimizing nutrient status may help improve recovery and regrowth over time.
How Inflammation Affects Skin And Hair
Inflammation is one of the most powerful drivers of visible skin changes. Elevated inflammatory markers can:
Increase breakouts and oil dysregulation
Trigger redness, itching, and rashes
Accelerate collagen breakdown
Disrupt hair growth cycles
Exacerbate autoimmune-related skin conditions
Many patients are surprised to learn that metabolic imbalance, blood sugar instability, or gut dysfunction can be fueling inflammatory skin patterns. By addressing these upstream factors, we often see visible changes become more stable and less reactive.
The Role Of Gut Health In Skin Clarity
The gut-skin connection is well documented. When the intestinal lining is compromised or imbalanced, inflammatory molecules can circulate systemically and manifest in the skin. Patients with chronic bloating, irregular digestion, food sensitivities, or leaky gut patterns often experience concurrent skin flare-ups.
Repairing gut integrity and rebalancing the microbiome may reduce immune activation that presents as eczema, acne, hives, or unexplained irritation. Gut repair is not a quick fix. It requires strategic sequencing and individualized care—especially when symptoms have been present for years.
Work in a toxin-heavy profession?
We treat the long-term effects of occupational exposure, including firefighters, police, tradespeople, and more.
Hormones play a central role in skin oil production, collagen health, and hair growth cycles. Thyroid dysfunction, cortisol imbalance, estrogen dominance, and androgen shifts can all influence visible changes.
For women, perimenopause and menopause can trigger thinning hair and drier, more reactive skin. For men, hormonal shifts may influence hair density and inflammatory skin patterns. Addressing hormones in the correct order—after stabilizing inflammation and detox pathways—often leads to more sustainable results.
Advanced Detox And Skin Health
Toxic burden, including heavy metal exposure, may contribute to chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation. At Health & Vitality Center, detoxification is treated as a medical process, not a trend.
Dr. Lalezar is one of only a few physicians in Los Angeles offering IV chelation therapy as a core component of care when appropriate. Supporting detox pathways may improve systemic inflammation and resilience, which can indirectly benefit skin clarity and hair vitality.
Testimonials
“I highly recommend Dr Lalezar.”
I went to Dr Lalezar frustrated that after having seen 4 specialists, 3 years of aggravation, having gained more than 30 lbs, no one could figure out what was wrong with my thyroid.
Well she did in the first 10 min I met her. I also found out that the level of mercury in my body was thru the roof. She fixed that too with her chelation treatment and only in a few sessions.
Not only she is the most pleasant doctor you will meet, but also she is one of the brightest. She thinks in 3 dimensions and combines her knowledge of western medicine with osteopathy beautifully. She is extremely competent.
Her office staff are so kind, considerate, and patient orientated. Dr. Lalezar has spent so much energy, turning her office and treatment center into a beautiful, calm, zen spot, following Feng shui elements. You will never feel like you are in a doctor’s office.
I have come across people who have come to her office as far as Barstow. I highly recommend Dr Lalezar.
– Farahnaz F.
“I feel better than I have felt in years”
“I feel better than I have felt in years thanks to Dr. Lalezar. Seriously, I had been to other doctors and when they asked how I felt and I said “meh” they just shrugged it off. It turns out I was suffering from extreme mercury toxicity.Thank goodness Dr. Lalezar knew what tests to give me. She also has prescribed hormones and various minerals and micronutrients to get me feeling better than ever. Those, along with IV chelations have made incredible transformations in my health.
Three friends in the past week have told me how good I look. I also brought my 16-year-old daughter to see her for a full exam and Dr. Lalezar has been compassionate, thoughtful, and nurturing to us both.”
– Margaret G.
“Dr. Lalezar cured me and GAVE ME MY LIFE BACK.”
Starting in February 2018 I started to develop a mysterious, severe face rash that conventional doctors could not determine the cause. By March, it progressed and it was very painful…it felt like my face was on fire and weeping blisters developed on my face. It was horrible. I didn’t want to go anywhere. Doctors tried me on all sorts of medications. I also switched out all my makeup and skin care products. Nothing cured it. Additionally, the doctors would prescribe Prednisone, which helped, but as soon as I tapered off, the painful rash would reappear…and worse each time! The conventional doctor finally told me he thought I was developing psoriasis. I refused to believe that. I intuitively knew I was reacting to something.
I spent countless hours researching possible causes on the Internet. I thought maybe I developed an allergy to a certain food. So I went on an elimination diet and for several weeks only ate fruits, vegetables and salmon. I also got allergy tested for cat dander and goose feathers as I theorized maybe I developed an allergy to my cats or to my feather comforter. None of this helped. The burning rash and blisters continued to return.
I didn’t want to return to the conventional doctors. They were at a loss, too. I knew I had to take a different approach.
I found Dr. Lalezar’s website and resonated with what I saw. I had treated with functional medicine practitioners with great success in the past.
Dr. Lalezar cured me and GAVE ME MY LIFE BACK.
How?
Ten years ago I was diagnosed with a nickel allergy. During my Internet research, I studied nickel allergy and saw that many magnets contain nickel. In July 2017 I started wearing magnetic lashes. I thought it was pretty far-fetched that my lashes – with extremely tiny magnets – would be the cause of my face rash. Because my rash didn’t start developing until many months after I started wearing the lashes. And, even though the rash did start underneath my eyes, the rash had spread to many parts of my face, including by my ears, my forehead and underneath my chin.
Keep in mind, even when my face was at its worst, I CONTINUED TO WEAR THE LASHES. I figured because I couldn’t wear makeup, those lashes were the one element of beauty I could easily still wear.
Dr. Lalezar took ample time to meet with me and listen to my medical history. I mentioned my nickel allergy and told her about the magnetic lashes. (Although, again, I still thought it likely wasn’t the cause.)
She submitted my blood for testing and she also had me to a six-hour urine test that would test the presence of many heavy metals in my body.
In the meantime as I was awaiting results of my labs, I contacted the company where I bought the lashes from. They couldn’t help me when I called them, so I emailed the company. Nine days later they responded to me, informing me that the magnets on their lashes were indeed “black nickel coated.”
I decided to stop wearing the lashes to see what would happen. The last day I wore them was April 25, and I was in the middle of tapering off a round of Prednisone. (If the lashes were the culprit, then my nickel reaction would occur three days later per my allergy results regarding nickel 10 years ago.) My Prednisone taper ended April 26.
The rash returned; however, by April 28, the rash would have progressed to the oozing stage. It didn’t. The red, dry, itchy rash appeared in various parts all over my face, but it didn’t burn as bad and it never started oozing. It plateaued. Why didn’t it progress this time? The only thing I changed was I stopped wearing the lashes. Now I was pretty convinced the lashes were the culprit.
On April 30, I saw Dr. Lalezar because the results came in on my heavy metals testing. It revealed that I had an excessive amount of nickel in my body…more than four times the limit a human being should have in the body. It was evident that the nickel-plated magnetic lashes was the primary contributor to my face rash.
After months of obsessive research and dealing with the terrible rash, and with the help and expertise of Dr. Lalezar, I was overjoyed and eternally grateful to have finally found the cause of my ugly and painful face. Needless to say, I immediately threw the lashes away, and Dr. Lalezar started me on IV chelation therapy to expel the nickel out of my body.
A couple of weeks later (by Mother’s Day!), my face was almost fully healed. I will forever be grateful to Dr. Lalezar for helping me solve the terrible mystery of my awful face rash that was ruining my life. Since this experience, I’ve done further research on heavy metal toxicity, and it’s amazing the kinds of health problems people can suffer from due to large amounts of heavy metals in their bodies. It is a contributor to many types of ailments and illnesses. And mainstream medical providers do not address this.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Dr. Lalezar and team!!!
– Connie W.
“Dr. Lalezar is wonderful at examining the whole picture”
“I am currently seeing Dr. Lalezar to get to the bottom of several issues including fatigue, hormone imbalance, high cholesterol, and mood disorder. I am trying to get off some of my medications. I am so tired of traditional doctors just giving you a pill for your symptoms.
Dr. Lalezar is wonderful at examining the whole picture: hormones, nutrition, toxicity, and the environment. I really feel that she is interested in helping me. Just for example, I changed my diet and started taking Red Yeast Rice per her advice, and my cholesterol went down 40 points in 3 months! The bio-identical hormones have also made a huge difference in my energy levels.
Functional medicine requires more involvement and responsibility from the patient too. If you want to take control of your health, I recommend Dr. Lalezar and her capable staff.”
– L. L.
“She was very professional and kind”
I went to see Dr. Lalezar for answers regarding my overall health and low immune system. After taking lots of blood samples and a urine sample and waiting for a few weeks Dr. Lalezaradeh’s office called me in to meet with the Dr who went over ALL of my test results and figured out why my immune system is down and drafted a plan to get me back on track (which worked). She was very professional and kind and her Vitamin C injection is like medical crack it will have you up and running in no time. It really works! The only down fall is that she tests for EVERYTHING and somethings are NOTcovered through insurance so make sure you have met your deductible. Oh and shout out to the staff who are very warm and welcoming.
– Keith M.
“Great experience.”
Great experience. And I will continue come to Dr. Lalezar Office for my IV vitamins and minerals. Today I start a program to see if my body has a heavy metals and if I do Dr. Shiva Lalezar will help me to clean my body from it. Let’s start my journey.
While every patient’s journey is unique, improvements may include:
Greater confidence in appearance and long-term stability
Fewer inflammatory flare-ups
Healthier hair texture and reduced shedding
More stable, predictable skin
Reduced redness and irritation
Improved scalp health
Because this approach addresses internal drivers, changes tend to build gradually and hold more reliably than surface-level treatments alone.
Why Choose Health & Vitality Center?
Health & Vitality Center has served Los Angeles since 2009 and is led by Dr. Shiva Lalezar, a functional medicine physician known for solving complex, multi-system cases with precision. Rather than suppressing symptoms, the practice follows a structured protocol addressing inflammation, gut health, detoxification, and hormone balance in the correct sequence. Dr. Lalezar is also one of the few physicians in Los Angeles offering IV chelation therapy as a core pillar of care. Contact Health & Vitality Center today to begin a root-cause plan for healthier skin and stronger hair from within.
Welcome Inside
Get a glimpse of our space and what you can expect when you visit, a setting created for comfort, focus, and personalized care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Skin & Hair Health
How long does it take to see improvement in skin or hair concerns?
Some patients notice early changes in inflammation or digestion within a few weeks, but meaningful improvements in skin clarity or hair growth typically develop over several months as internal systems stabilize.
Do I need hormone therapy to improve skin or hair issues?
Not always. While hormones can play a role, many patients see improvement after addressing inflammation, gut health, metabolic imbalance, or detox capacity first.
Is hair loss always related to stress?
Stress can contribute, but hair thinning is often multifactorial. Thyroid dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies, hormonal shifts, and inflammatory patterns are frequently involved.
Will I need advanced testing?
Testing is determined on an individual basis. If symptoms suggest deeper metabolic, hormonal, gut, or toxic contributors, targeted testing may help clarify the root cause and guide treatment.
Can this approach work if I’ve already tried dermatology treatments?
Yes. Many patients come to Health & Vitality Center after topical or prescription treatments provided temporary relief but did not address the internal drivers of recurring symptoms.
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