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What Dr To See For Hair Loss

Find A Hair Loss Specialist Doctor Near You

Which doctor should I see if Im losing my hair?

Canadian Institute of Hair and Scalp Specialists is a world-renowned hair revival and transplant clinics. Our 30+ years of extensive experience in the field of hair loss treatment has attracted patients from all over the world to our clinic. This includes many American cities such as Detroit, Buffalo, and even New York. We take great pride in helping our clients regain their confidence in their looks. For complementary consultation, please call us at or toll-free at .

In business since August 1, 1986, I am the president and also a client at The Canadian Institute of Hair & Scalp Specialists. Having worked with a team of Doctors and Chemists over the years I have compiled a great deal of knowledge in this area, originally involved with a Pharmaceutical company manufacturing vitamins for the hair loss industry. Years ago I was fascinated by the new developments in this area as my own hair was beginning to thin. Studying Trichology at the Toronto clinic I then opened my own office and have enjoyed it ever since.

Patients Who Are Eligible To Be Scheduled For A Hair Loss Clinic Appointment Should Have One Of The Following Issues:

    • Patients with a clinical diagnosis by a dermatologist OR biopsy-proven scarring alopecia:
    • Lichen planopilaris
    • Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia
    • Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
    • Dissecting cellulitis of the scalp
    • Scarring alopecia or scarring hair loss
  • Patients with moderate to severe alopecia areata, affecting 30% or more of the scalp
  • Patients with chemotherapy or cancer therapy induced alopecia
  • Patients with alopecia due to graft versus host disease

If you meet eligibility, you must register as a Mass General patient to make an appointment.

It is required that patients provide one of the following to our office by faxing to 617-726-7768 Attn. Hair Loss Clinic:

2) A biopsy report confirming one of the following diagnoses:

  • Lichen planopilaris
  • Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia
  • Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
  • Dissecting cellulitis of the scalp
  • Scarring alopecia or scarring hair loss
  • Chemotherapy induced hair loss

For less severe forms of hair loss or for patients who are not eligible for our Hair Loss Clinic appointments, you may request a consultation with one of our general dermatologists.

At Mass General Dermatologys Hair Loss Clinic, our board-certified dermatologists are highly specialized in the diagnosis, management and treatment of hair loss that affects both adolescents and adults. For most people, it is normal to shed 100-150 hairs a day however, if you are noticing bald spots or excessive hair loss, it may be a sign of alopecia.

Tests To Consider For Hair Loss:

  • A CBC is a routine lab thats run for so many things. It tells us the status of your red blood cells, whether you have an infection, or you’re trending towards anemia. Often this gets run without ferritin and that’s when we get that infamous “your labs are fine, but you don’t feel fine” paradigm.

Iron Panel

  • TIBC

  • % saturation

  • Ferritin: this is our storage form of iron. This can be low without our actual red blood cells being affectedyet. So it’s always good to check this because low iron stores are the beginning stages of anemia. Ferritin below 50-60ng/mL might be indicating that this is the source of your hair loss!

Thyroid panel

  • My ever favorite panel to check, since most providers don’t do a full panel!

  • This full panel should include MUCH more than just TSH. It should also include total T3/T4, free T3/T4, reverse T3, AND thyroid antibodies . The antibodies are key to figuring out whether you have an underlying autoimmune condition that is to blame for the symptoms of thyroid disease .

Androgens

  • Total and free testosterone and DHT

  • Most commonly, this is found to be elevated in women with PCOS and you might be experiencing hair loss along your temples or a receding hairline. This is often paired with excess body or facial hair, and acne along the chin and jawline.

FSH, LH, estrogen, and progesterone

Sex Hormone Binding Globulin

Cortisol and DHEA-s

Fasting insulin, blood glucose, and A1c

DUTCH Complete

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When To Contact A Medical Professional

  • Losing hair in an unusual pattern
  • Losing hair rapidly or at an early age
  • Pain or itching with the hair loss
  • The skin on your scalp under the involved area is red, scaly, or otherwise abnormal
  • Acne, facial hair, or an abnormal menstrual cycle
  • You are a woman and have male pattern baldness
  • Bald spots on your beard or eyebrows
  • Weight gain or muscle weakness, intolerance to cold temperatures, or fatigue
  • Areas of infection on your scalp

How Can I Tell If I Have Female Pattern Hair Loss

6 months pregnant and hair loss

Its best to make an appointment to see a dermatologist. Dermatologists are the experts in diagnosing and treating hair loss. A dermatologist can tell you whether its FPHR or something else that is causing your hair loss. Other causes of hair loss can look like FPHL, so its important to rule out these causes.

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What Type Of Doctors Treat Hair Loss

Hair loss can be a very elusive condition thats difficult to diagnose for a lot of physicians, which is why extensive tests and examinations are sometimes necessary to get to the root of the problem. In some cases, its not entirely a standalone issue rather, its symptomatic of other deeper and sometimes more serious underlying health problems or conditions. Hormone imbalances, autoimmune disorders, treatments and medications for illnesses, various skin conditions, and genetic predispositions are all probable culprits. In fact, the list of possible causes runs about a mile long making it extremely difficult for those who suffer from hair loss to know exactly what kind of doctor can treat their hair loss, which hair loss clinics in places like Detroit they can go to, and which treatments will work for them.

How Do Dermatologists Diagnose Hair Loss

Because so many things can cause hair loss, a dermatologist acts like a detective and begins by asking questions. The dermatologist will want to know whether your hair loss happened suddenly or gradually. Knowing this helps to determine the cause.

A dermatologist also will ask what medicines you take, what allergies you have, and whether you have been dieting. It is important to give the dermatologist accurate information. Like a murder mystery, the slightest clue can solve the case. Women may be asked about their menstrual cycles, pregnancies, and menopause.

The dermatologist also will carefully look at your scalp and hair. During an exam, the dermatologist may pull on your hair. Sometimes a dermatologist needs to pull out a hair to get the necessary evidence. And sometimes a dermatologist needs to look at the hair on the rest of your body to see whether there is too little or too much hair in other areas.

Sometimes the evidence lies in your scalp. The dermatologist may remove a small piece of the scalp. This is called a scalp biopsy. A dermatologist can quickly and safely perform a scalp biopsy during an office visit. A scalp biopsy can be essential to solving the case. Sometimes, a blood test is necessary.

Because so many things can cause hair loss, it can take time to find the cause.

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What Are The Earliest Symptoms Of Telogen Effluvium

It is perfectly normal to lose up to 100 hairs per day. In telogen effluvium, people may lose closer to 300 hairs per day, and this can continue over the course of several months. You may notice that more hair falls out while brushing or when washing your hair in the shower. You may also notice thinning of your hair.

Pull Test And Tug Test

What You Can Do about Hair Loss

This simple test measures the severity of hair loss. During a pull test, a dermatologist grasps small sections of hair, about 40 strands, from different parts of the scalp and gently tugs. If six or more strands fall out, you have whats known as active hair loss.

This may mean you have one of the following types of hair loss: telogen effluvium, in which hair falls out all over the scalp due to an interruption in the bodys cycle of hair production anagen effluvium, or rapid hair loss resulting from medical treatment loose anagen syndrome, which most commonly develops in young children and occurs when hair that is not firmly rooted in the follicle early androgenetic alopecia, better known as male pattern hair loss or female pattern hair loss or advanced alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease in which the bodys immune system attacks healthy tissues, including the hair follicles.

During a tug test, the doctor grasps a section of hair and holds it with two hands, one near the root and one near the tip, then tugs to see if any of the strands break in the middle. This test gives the dermatologist information about the brittleness or fragility of your hair strands.

A doctor may use the tug test when he or she suspects a hair shaft abnormality, which causes hair strands to thin, weaken, and possibly break.

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Causes Of Temporary Hair Loss

You can avoid hair loss and promote regrowth when hair loss is temporarily caused by:

Tight hairstyles. Tight ponytails, braids and cornrows can all cause hair loss and damage the follicles, which regulate hair growth. Changing hairstyles can help prevent thinning. But beware: When the follicles sustain too much damage, hair loss can be permanent.

Extreme physical shock/stress. Dramatic changes in the body can cause temporary hair loss. Giving birth, rapid weight loss, surgery and certain illnesses may cause more hair loss than usual, typically in the resting phase. But hair should grow back over time.

Medical therapies and toxic substances. Chemotherapy, certain other drugs and radiation treatments can prompt hair loss, mainly in the growth phase. Hair loss can strike suddenly, anywhere in the body. It is typically temporary .

Nutritional deficiencies. Not getting enough iron, protein or vitamin B12 in your diet can also cause your hair to thin. If this happens to you, talk to your doctor about supplements.

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What Are The Stages Of Hair Growth

There are three main stages of hair growth:

  • Anagen: This is the growth phase in which the hair follicle grows.

  • Catagen: This is the transition phase where the hair follicle stops growing.

  • Telogen: This is the resting phase where the hair stays for 2 to 3 months until it falls out. About 10% to 15% of your hair is in the telogen phase at any given time.

  • Telogen effluvium occurs when hair follicles are pushed into the telogen phase earlier than normal. In 2 to 3 months after the stressful event, these hairs will start falling out.

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    Treatment For Inherited Hair Loss

    When your hair loss is inherited, your hair won’t grow back naturally. Treatment can help some hair grow back and prevent more from falling out, but you probably won’t get all your hair back. And treatment doesn’t work for everyone.

    The goal of treatment is to prevent hair loss, promote hair growth, and cover bald areas of the scalp.

    Some people choose to treat hair loss with:

    • Medicines, such as minoxidil, finasteride, and spironolactone. Minoxidil is available without a prescription. Finasteride and spironolactone are available by prescription.
    • Surgery. The types of surgery to treat hair loss include hair transplants and procedures such as scalp reduction and scalp flaps.

    Others may use hair products to thicken hair or a spray or powder to hide the scalp. A different hair style may help. Or you might want to try a hair piece, wig, or toupee.

    Other Concerns With Hair Loss

    hair loss growth cycle

    Treating the cause often stops hair loss, and hair grows back. In some cases, other treatment is needed.

    Hair care for cancer treatment

    Hair loss caused by cancer treatment requires special care: Use mild shampoos. Do not use a hair-dryer.

    Alopecia areata

    Alopecia areata occurs when the immune system attacks hair follicles, where hair growth begins. Because hair often grows back within a year, you may decide not to have treatment. Understanding the come-and-go nature of hair loss with this condition can help you make the best treatment decision. Children and teenagers may need counselling to help them adjust to the hair loss.

    Medicines, such as corticosteroids, can be used to treat alopecia areata.

    Women taking birth control pills

    Women with inherited hair loss who wish to take birth control pills should use a pill type that does not add to hair loss, such as a norgestimate or desogestrel.footnote 2

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    How To Determine What Kind Of Hair Loss Doctor You Need

    As with any other potentially serious physical ailment, the best way to determine what kind of doctor you need, as well as which treatment options are most suitable for your situation, is to obtain multiple opinions on the matter. Comparing and contrasting between a wide variety of medical perspectives will help you make as informed a decision as possible when it comes to your health. You should also always keep your GP in the loop when it comes to anything that could affect your health or be perceived as a symptom of something else. In fact, your GP should always remain an active member of your medical team and hair loss treatment because they can provide some helpful insights regarding your overall health to the other medical professionals working on your case. Every little tidbit of background information is essential to implementing a strong, all-encompassing, and fitting treatment plan to combat and reverse hair loss.Think of your DNA, your family history, and your own medical history as a metaphorical roadmap to your own good health. All of these components work together to reveal telling clues about your body and why it behaves the way it does.Whats beneficial about Cialis is its safety read more about this at HowMed. A properly selected dose can be effective for erectile dysfunction treatment, even for men who are diagnosed with accompanying or underlying heart disorders, diabetes, and similar abnormalities.

    Why You Need A Dermatologist For Hair Loss Not A Trichologist

    11 Mar 2020

    If you are looking for the right person to treat your hair loss its important to know the facts so that you get the very best treatment available. Hair loss can be caused by a whole range of conditions, such as alopecia areata, many different autoimmune diseases, anaemia, thyroid disorders, traction, and baldness. While it can potentially be caused by one of these disorders, female hair loss can also occur as a result of polycystic ovary syndrome after pregnancy and during menopause.

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