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Once your dermatologist diagnoses your hair loss, they will determine whether treatment could be effective. Treatments can either help hair regrow more quickly or slow future hair loss. Keep in mind that age-related or genetic hair loss may not be reversible.

Patients who have a medical condition causing hair loss, like a thyroid issue or infection, will need to treat that condition before addressing the hair loss. In some cases, your dermatologist will refer you to a specialist for treatment. If you have a medical condition like alopecia areata, the dermatologist may prescribe medications or recommend an over-the-counter treatment.

In-office procedures can also be effective for some patients. These treatments can include corticosteroid injections, laser therapy, and platelet-rich plasma therapy. You may require repeated treatments before seeing improvement in hair growth.

It’s also important to mention that your dermatologist may recommend lifestyle changes to prevent future hair loss. This may include changing your diet, as well as avoiding certain hairstyles and hair pieces.

Hair loss can be complicated, but the team at Pacific Dermatology Specialists can diagnose your condition and recommend treatment. Located in Long Beach, CA and a number of other convenient locations, our medical dermatology professionals are committed to helping you look and feel your best. Contact us today to get started.

How Can a Dermatologist Diagnose Hair Loss?

If you’re losing hair, visiting a medical dermatology clinic is one of the best steps you can take. A dermatologist can assess your hair loss and pinpoint a specific diagnosis. They will then find an appropriate treatment if applicable.

During your appointment, the dermatologist will ask you questions about your hair loss and overall health. They’ll ask how long you’ve noticed the hair loss, whether you’re taking any medications, and if you have a family history of hair loss or baldness.

The doctor will also examine your nails and scalp, as the health of these areas might provide clues for diagnosis. The specific pattern of your hair loss can indicate a specific diagnosis as well. In some cases, they will perform a blood test and scalp biopsy to check for medical conditions that might cause hair to fall out.

I'm Losing Hair: How Can a Dermatologist Help?

Hair loss can be an embarrassing issue for both men and women. Whether your hair is gradually thinning on the top of your head or falling out in patches, you’re likely looking for ways to cover it up. However, you might not have to. A dermatologist can accurately diagnose your hair loss and recommend treatment so you can feel confident again.

What Causes Hair Loss?

Many instances of hair loss are linked to genetics. If you have a family history of hair loss or balding, you may be more likely to experience these issues with age. Hair loss can also occur due to changes in hormones, particularly during pregnancy and menopause, and because of any thyroid issues. Stress may play a factor in hair loss as well.

Medical conditions and medications have been linked to certain types of hair loss. Alopecia areata, for example, is a common condition that causes hair loss in patches. Infections can have a similar effect. If you’re taking medications for conditions like depression, heart disease, and high blood pressure, hair loss could be a side effect. So, it’s important to talk to your doctor about any concerns. Hair loss is a common side effect for cancer drugs like chemotherapy, as well as cancer treatments like radiation to the head region.

Hair loss treatments

“In some cases, simple dietary or lifestyle changes or switching or modifying medications can help lessen or correct hair loss,” Dr. Zelac explains. “In other cases, medical treatment or surgical intervention may be recommended depending on the underlying cause.”

A treatment plan to get your hair growing again may include one or more of the following:

Medication, either topical or oral. Some require a prescription while others are over-the-counter products.

Laser treatment, or treatment with colored light emitting medical devices are available without prescription. In some cases, they have been shown to help control hair loss.

Procedures, such as hair restoration or hair transplantation, where hair-bearing skin, usually from the back of the head, is removed and transplanted to bald parts of the scalp. “These are great procedures that provide a near permanent solution for specific individuals,” Dr. Zelac says.

Which hair loss treatment is best for you?

While treatments for hair loss abound, it’s important to first find out what is possible. “Your physician can discuss which options best suit your individual needs,” Dr. Zelac says.

Hair loss and medical conditions

Hair loss can be caused by medical conditions, such as thyroid gland disease, anemia, autoimmune diseases and vitamin deficiencies.

An autoimmune condition that targets hair follicles is alopecia areata, which is marked by fast growing circular patches of complete hair loss. “In most cases, this is a straight forward diagnosis for a dermatologist and fortunately in many cases, it is self-limiting,” Dr. Zelac says.

Scalp infections, such as ringworm, are easily diagnosed and treated, he adds. By treating the condition, hair loss often can be stopped or reversed.

Other causes of hair loss include:

Illness, or physical stress, including major surgery, high fever, severe infection and flu.

Hormonal changes from pregnancy, childbirth and menopause.

Medications or supplements, such as those used for cancer, high blood pressure, depression, arthritis, heart problems, birth control and athletic performance (anabolic steroids). Too much vitamin A-containing supplements and medications can also cause hair loss.

Dieting and poor nutrition, including extreme weight loss, protein and iron deficiency and eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia.

Emotional stress, such as the death of a loved one or divorce.

Hairstyle, including years of wearing tight ponytails or cornrows; frequent use of hair products, such as hair dyes, gels, relaxers, hair sprays and frequent use of hair dryer.

Before making a diagnosis, a dermatologist will likely perform a physical exam, ask about family and personal medical history and maybe run some tests, including a blood test or even a scalp biopsy, a procedure where a small sample of skin and hair are removed for laboratory testing.

What are the types of hair loss?

The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. This includes the loss of visible hair or hair shaft, and the loss of the skin structure that makes hair, which is called the hair follicle.

“When the loss is centered around the hair shaft without affecting the health, size, or density of hair follicles, there may be a physical or structural cause, such as damage to the hair from traction, hair treatment activities or infection,” Dr. Zelac explains.

When the follicles are affected, the hair loss is often related to conditions in the scalp, such as irritation, scale and scarring.

Aging and hair loss

When alopecia happens gradually, it may just be due to aging. Hereditary hair loss is the most common cause of hair loss, affecting about 80 million individuals in the United States, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Specifically, it is known as female or male-pattern baldness. Age and family history are often factors. However, in some cases, a biopsy of the skin is needed to confirm the diagnosis.

More than 50 percent of men over the age of 50 will be affected by male-pattern baldness, which is often characterized by a receding hairline or thinning of the hair on the back or vertex of the scalp. Women tend to keep their hairline, but experience thinning hair, with the first sign of hair loss being a widening part.

“Both men and women experience hair loss as a result of the aging process. The extent, distribution, rate of development and age of onset are all individually determined,” Dr. Zelac says

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, it’s 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.

When hair loss appears to be permanent and stable, some interventions may simply make the thinned area appear more full and acceptable to the patient. “In these cases, there are several ways to address the hair loss, including simple cosmetic camouflage, styling, hair appliances and surgical intervention, such as hair transplantation,” Dr. Zelac says.

Surgical Procedures for Hair Loss

The type of procedure that a dermatologist recommends depends on how much hair you have lost and the cause. While we do not currently provide the following surgical procedures, your dermatologist may refer you to a medical professional who does.

Hair transplantation: Skin on the scalp that has good hair growth is removed and transplanted to areas of the scalp that need hair.

Scalp reduction: Bald scalp is surgically removed and hair-bearing scalp is brought closer together to reduce balding. Scalp reduction surgery can be performed alone or in conjunction with a hair transplant.

Scalp expansion: Devices are inserted under the scalp for about 3 to 4 weeks to stretch the skin. This procedure may be performed before a scalp reduction to make the scalp more lax. It also can be performed solely to stretch hair-bearing areas, which reduces balding.

Scalp flaps: A hair-bearing segment of scalp is surgically moved and placed where hair is needed.

Untangled Hair Supplement: There is evidence of the beneficial effects of collagen supplements, consisting of proteins and glycosaminoglycans. Originating from marine sources, these supplements may have beneficial effects on hair and skin in both men and women.

How do dermatologists treat hair loss?

Just as there are many causes, there are many treatments for hair loss. Dermatologists recommend treating hair loss early, before you lose a lot of hair. Hair loss is harder to treat when a person has already lost an extreme amount of hair.

One or more of the following treatments may be part of your treatment plan.

Available Treatments Without a Prescription

Minoxidil: This medicine is applied to the scalp. It can stop hairs from getting thinner and stimulate hair growth on the top of the scalp. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved minoxidil to treat hair loss. It is the only hair re-growth product approved for men and women. A dermatologist may combine minoxidil with another treatment.

Laser devices: Brushes, combs, and other hand-held devices that emit laser light might stimulate hair growth. These devices might make hair look more youthful in some people. Because the FDA classifies these products as medical devices, the products do not undergo the rigorous testing that medicines undergo. The long-term effectiveness and safety for these devices are not known.

PRP for Hair Loss: Injecting the patient’s own blood platelets can potentially stimulate hair restoration as growth factors and stem cells work together to reverse the miniaturization of the hair follicle. It’s like jump-starting dormant hair back into the growth stage. Learn more about PRP for Hair Loss.

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