Should You See A Dermatologist For Hair Loss?

Are you worried that you are losing hair rapidly? Are you overwhelmed and confused about what you are supposed to do and who you are supposed to talk to? Do you perhaps ask yourself – Should I see a dermatologist for hair loss? Well, read on to discover the answer to that question in just a few minutes!

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 dermatologist’s office.

Should I See A Dermatologist For Hair Loss?

Of course, you can ask for advice from your dermatologist online, but we would recommend seeing him/her personally. Do not make the mistake of thinking that a dermatologist is only trained to take care of any skin issues. Your dermatologist is able to recognize and treat any issues that are linked, not only to your skin but also to your nails and hair. That is why, during your visit at the dermatologist, you will be asked to take away most of your clothes, so that your doctor can inspect the whole skin, your scalp and hair, and your nails to look for any irregularities.

Of course, your dermatologist will also ask you about your medical history and perform a physical exam. Other tests such as a blood test or a hormone test might be required as well. For example, if your dermatologist discovers that it is really a serious hair loss case that you are dealing with, he/she would naturally want to investigate further and discover the reason behind it. You might be instructed to expand your visit to an endocrinologist or even another dermatologist due to the importance of a second opinion.

So yes, you should definitely give your dermatologist a visit when you are noticing that you have been losing more hair than usual. Perhaps nothing is wrong, and perhaps there is a hormonal imbalance, a nutrient deficiency, or a case of thyroid issues, that has been causing your hair to fall out quickly. The visit does not require a lot of time, in most cases is covered by your health insurance, and it will give you peace of mind. In addition, your dermatologist will be able to start your hair loss treatment, and you will be able to eliminate this issue as soon as possible.

How Is Hair Loss Treated?

Talking about hair loss, there are some lifestyle changes that you can make in order to improve your hair loss. As for your dermatologist, he/she can prescribe drugs or recommend some over-the-counter drugs to help treat your case of hair loss. Scalp injections might be required as well. Scalp injections are one of the most commonly used treatments that dermatologists prescribe for hair loss. You and your doctor can also discuss the possibility of hair transplant if there is a severe hair loss going on.

Remember – It all comes back to the reason that has been causing you to lose hair rapidly. If it is stress that has been causing your hair loss, managing your stress levels will do some good. If it is a thyroid issue, treating it usually results with an improvement in your hair loss. As soon as that reason is discovered, you can proceed to exercise, improve your diet, and use all of the tips and treatments that your dermatologist has recommended.

Conclusion

Faced with hair loss, a lot of people wonder – “Should I see a dermatologist for hair loss?” Is he/she able to do something about my rapid loss of hair? As we have learned today, the answer to that question is – yes, you should definitely schedule a visit to the dermatologist’s office to discuss your issue with hair loss and what you can do about it.

Dr. Ahmed Zayed

Doctor, author and fitness enthusiast, Ahmed Zayed, MD, is a surgery resident with a passion for helping people live a happy healthy life. He is the author of numerous health-related books and contributor to several medicine, health and wellbeing.