What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
- What is the cause of my hair loss?
- How many strands of hair am I losing per day?
- What type of hair loss do I have?
- Will my hair loss be permanent?
- Whats the best treatment for me?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Hair loss may cause you distress whether it happens because of genetics, a disease, or even stress. Know that there are some treatments you can try, and expert dermatologists are there to help you. Your hair loss may be able to be reversed. See your healthcare provider as soon as you notice something wrong because the sooner you start treatment, the better.
Do You Need A Hair Loss Doctor
Medically reviewed by Kristin Hall, FNP
If youve noticed your hairline starting to recede or your hair beginning to thin, one of the most important steps you can take in stopping any further hair loss is getting in touch with a hair loss doctor.
Hair loss can start as early as your teens, and many men start to notice the early signs of male pattern baldness in their 20s or 30s.
The point is, with hair loss, the earlier you take action and seek out professional treatment, the more of your hair youll generally be able to keep.
Luckily, almost all male hair loss is treatable today. A hair loss doctor can work with you to find out whats causing your hair loss and put together a hair loss prevention plan that helps you to minimize further loss and keep as much of your hair as possible.
Not sure if you need a hair loss doctor? Below, weve listed the key benefits of talking to a hair loss doctor, as well as some signs you can look for to know when its time to take action and do something about your hair loss.
You Have A Visible Receding Hairline
Male pattern baldness often begins at your hairline, with the hair around your temples starting to thin and your hairline beginning to recede.
Experts assess the severity of hair loss using the Norwood scale a seven-type scale that goes from a full hairline to severe, horseshoe pattern hair loss. In the first few stages, the hair on your scalp might still be thick, but your hairline may show visible signs of recession.
If youve started to notice your hairline becoming thinner, higher and more M-shaped, its best to make an appointment with a doctor that specializes in hair loss.
Recommended Reading: Can Otezla Cause Hair Loss
The Benefits Of Seeing A Hair Loss Doctor
With hair loss drugs like minoxidil available over the counter, seeing a doctor for your hair loss might seem like an unnecessary step. However, there are still plenty of reasons to meet with a hair loss doctor if youre starting to experience the early signs of male pattern baldness.
One of the first reasons to see a hair loss doctor is that they can help you to identify the specific type of hair loss you have.
As we covered above, hair loss can occur for several different reasons. If you work long hours in a stressful environment, it could be telogen effluvium hair loss that occurs as a result of chronic, severe stress.
If youve recently dealt with a serious injury or illness that causes fever, its possible that it could also be telogen effluvium.
There are also other reasons for hair loss. For example, a diet that contains little or no essential vitamins and minerals can lead to weak, thinning hair. Some men also experience hair loss as a result of skin conditions, certain medicines and lack of sleep.
Hair loss can also be hereditary. For example, male pattern baldness often occurs in people with a family history of hair loss.
Since hair loss doctors specialize in identifying the primary causes of hair loss, they can quickly and easily inform you about why your hair loss is occurring, as well as what you can do to treat it effectively.
If your hair loss isnt genetic, a hair loss doctor can help you find out the root cause using one of several different tests:
Trichologist Is An Expert In Human Hair A Dermatologist Is A Medical Doctor
A trichologist is an expert in human hair, from making it look its best through to treating problems with your hair and scalp. A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in skin, hair, and nails and has the training and expertise to conduct a full examination and any necessary tests to give an accurate diagnosis.
This training and depth of knowledge are vital. Typically a trichologist will train for up to four years. My training to become a dermatologist included six years of medical school, two more years of core medical training, four years specializing in dermatology, then another year on my special interest areas. Thats 13 years of medical training to specialize in skin and hair, giving a depth of knowledge that enables the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of hair loss conditions. I am one of the few dermatologists in the UK who specializes in hair loss.
Read Also: Is Hair Loss A Sign Of Menopause
Are You Suffering From Hair Loss Problems
Now you are aware of doctors who can help you in treating your hair loss problem. To determine your hair loss problems, it would help if you had a clear picture of what is troubling you.
- Whether your hair loss has been temporary or chronic.
- Is your hair loss patchy?
- Are you suffering from any other problems?
- Is your hair only thinning or falling out and balding as well?
- The nature of your lifestyle and your dealings with stress.
- Whether anyone in your family has experienced similar hair loss.
- If you are suffering from any other condition like thyroid disorders.
- What medications you are on.
Must read
What are the medications that cause hair loss?
Which Type Of Doctor Treats Alopecia Areata
ANSWER
THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the WebMD Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.
This tool does not provide medical advice. See additional information.
Other Answers On:
Also Check: What Helps Thinning Hair In Women
Thinning Hair And Hair Loss: Could It Be Female Pattern Hair Loss
For most women, FPHL begins in midlife, when a woman is in her 40s, 50s, or 60s. It can begin earlier for some women.
FPHL is a progressive condition. This means women tend to continue losing hair. But women do not lose all of their hair, as do some men. Instead, your part often gets wider. Hair near your temples may recede. Without treatment, some women eventually develop widespread thinning.
Treatment can prevent hair loss from worsening and help women regrow their hair. Treatment delivers the best results when started at the first sign of hair loss.
An Overview Of Hair Loss
Hair loss, also known as alopecia, is experienced by both men and women. We all lose hair every day around 500 hairs a day, that is, but when you notice bald patches forming or a serious thinning of the hair, it is probably a hair loss case at the question.
The most common cause of hair loss is genetics when a hereditary hair loss happens. But hair loss also happens due to stress, pregnancy, menopause, thyroid issues, iron deficiency anemia, and much more. Unfortunately, not all cases of hair loss are fully treated. However, there are some treatment options that you can try, as not all hope is lost. The first step would be scheduling a visit to your dermatologists office.
Read Also: Do Vitamins Help With Hair Loss
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy
Platelet rich plasma therapy will require a blood sample to get started. After you have blood drawn, the fluid will be placed into a centrifuge that will separate the blood into different components. The platelets, which are a type of blood cell, will be treated and injected into the affected area of your scalp. Its believed that these platelets can help to stimulate new growth.
Although early research is promising for this approach to hair loss treatment, more studies are needed to know whether this is a safe and effective treatment for male pattern baldness.
What’s The Best Doctor To See For Hair Loss
If you’ve started to notice your hairline receding or the hair on the crown of your head slipping away, you may be experiencing male pattern hair loss.
It’s a genuine medical condition that affects millions of men globally, and this type of hair loss is actually the most common cause of hair loss among men. Nearly 80% of men will experience significant hair loss in their lifetime because of it.
For most men, the process of losing their hair will start sometimes in their 30s, but it can start later or much earlier depending on genetic traits. In fact, genetics and heredity are key factors in whether you’ll be affected by male pattern baldness, also known as androgenic alopecia.
While male pattern hair loss is a progressive condition that results in continual hair loss over time, there are hair loss treatments that can delay loss and even stimulate new growth. The first step to treatment may involve seeing a medical professional.
But which is the best medical professional for hair loss?
Also Check: Can Low Magnesium Cause Hair Loss
How Seeing A Hair Loss Doctor Can Help You
The sooner the topic of your hair loss is discussed with a doctor and a treatment is started, the better chance you have at maintaining a thicker head of hair long term. Time wasted ignoring your hair issues, or trying out questionable over the counter or gimmicky hair loss treatments likely wonât get you far.
A hair loss doctor can perform tests and observe your hair to help you figure out if your hair loss is genetic , nutritional, stress or illness related, or due to a scalp or skin condition. And, ultimately, prescription hair loss treatments can only be obtained through a prescription from a doctor.
How Long Does It Take For Hair To Grow Back
If youve ever experienced hair loss, how long it would take for your hair to grow back was probably at the top of your mind.
The truth is that hair loss and hair growth arise from complex bodily systems and depend upon a variety of factors. Read on to understand hair growth cycles and how your efforts to get back to healthy growth might be impacted, along with expert tips on what you should actually be doing to encourage thicker, fuller hair.
Don’t Miss: Can We Regrow Hair After Hair Loss
A Trichologist Is Not Medically Trained
A trichologist can of course help in some cases but can only give patients topical treatment for hair loss, as they are not medically trained. Unlike a dermatologist, they cannot perform tests that help with the diagnosis and evaluation of the condition and inform the best course of treatment these require special training.
For example, a dermatologist can perform a trichoscopy with a video dermatoscopy, a non-invasive technique that allows a rapid and magnified observation of the skins surface enabling the evaluation of hair thickness, presence of regrowing hairs and scalp inflammation. We can also perform a trigonometry, which involves an instrument that provides a numeric value of the hair quality. All of which are vital to in-depth diagnosis.
Dermatologists can also carry out a scalp biopsy, where a sample from the scalp is taken under local anaesthetic and tested under the microscope by a histopathologist. These tests are often necessary to evaluate cases of hair loss.
Only a dermatologist is qualified to carry out these tests, without which a full and thorough evaluation and diagnosis is not possible. Getting to the cause of your condition leads to better treatment. Furthermore, there are a variety of oral treatments available for hair disorders which a trichologist cannot prescribe but a dermatologist can so these are some reasons why you need a dermatologist for hair loss and not a Trichologist.
Dermatologists Can Get To Root Of Problem Provide Treatment
Losing hair, especially over time, is normal. But when it happens suddenly or without clear explanation, it may be quite distressing. In some cases, it may be due to an illness or underlying condition. Dermatologists are experts in the skin and its structures including hair. Often they can get to the root of the problem and recommend the best hair loss treatment approach.
There are a number of things you can do to slow or stop hair loss, says Daniel Zelac, MD, a dermatologist at Scripps Clinic. But before deciding what to do, its important to identify the type of hair loss you are experiencing.
When to consider hair loss treatment
It is normal for individuals to lose 50 to 300 hairs each day, often without noticing. New hair usually replaces lost hair, but even this can result in a loss of overall hair length and a sense of fullness. When hair loss increases suddenly, it can be alarming, especially if it appears to be happening rapidly.
Some types of hair loss are linked specifically to correctable causes while others are not, Dr. Zelac says. Your dermatologist can determine if your hair loss is caused by things like thyroid gland issues, stress, scalp infections, genetics or simply aging.
When hair loss is temporary, often no treatment is needed and the hair may regrow on its own. Other times, treatment may be needed to slow the rate of the hair loss. In particular cases, hair loss treatment may allow the thinned hair to be regrown.
Aging and hair loss
Read Also: When Does Postpartum Hair Loss Happen
Which Doctor Should I See For My Hair Loss
Hair loss is a condition that affects a vast majority of the population. If you are a hair loss victim, there are treatment options available you dont need to be a silent sufferer. Deciding to act is the first step in the treatment process. If you are ready to do something that will stop or reverse the hair loss process, youll need the help of a professional. But who should you turn to? Your general physician? A dermatologist? An endocrinologist?
The answer is
Yes. You should schedule appointments with all three types of doctors.
There are lots of unanswered questions about hair loss. Finding the cause of your hair loss might take a lot of work. Getting advice from multiple sources is the best way to receive the most accurate diagnosis. Any doctor who has an interest in hair loss and has the knowledge to back up his or her claim can help. Find a doctor who wont dismiss your problem as unimportant or say its no big deal. It is a big deal!
How do you know if a doctor can help with your problem?
Read: Tips for Men: How To Prevent Baldness
Ask some questions. Try calling and talking to the prospective doctor on the phone. If you cant speak to the actual doctor, chat with the receptionist. Ask if this particular doctor treats a lot of hair loss cases. Does he or she perform blood work? What type of treatment does the doctor usually prescribe?
What is the difference between an endocrinologist and a dermatologist?
Also Check: Does Conditioner Cause Hair Loss