When to See the Doctor About Your Hair Loss

The real short answer about when you should see your doctor concerning your hair loss is when you want to. Some doctors are going to brush you off and tell you that it’s just "female pattern" hair loss.

But there are many possibilities besides that, and you should be tested to ensure that you don’t have underlying health issues causing the problem.

If you are having any measure of thinning hair, you will want to start with an appointment to your doctor to rule out underlying health issues that can cause hair loss. Then, when you’ve dealt with those you can move on to other treatment options.

 There is no set, "ideal" time to seek treatment for hair loss. 

First, let’s talk about alopecia.

Alopecia is more or less, a common word we use for "hair loss".  Two of the most common types are chemical or traction. Chemical alopecia is what we refer to when the hair loss is due to chemicals, over-perming or even contact allergies to dye or other things we apply to our hair and scalp. Traction alopecia is sometimes due to trauma, or traction (pulling).

When to See the Doctor About Your Hair Loss

This is a question we get often. Again, there is no “right” time. Here are the most important steps to take:

1. Determine cause of hair loss.  In this case, to answer the specific question of "timing", EARLY is best.  Hair loss happens in an almost "sneaky" kind of way, so once you do recognize that your hair is thinning, it is best to seek treatment ASAP.

2. Make sure there are no underlying infections (fungal or bacterial) in the scalp. If there are, they must be dealt with before trying to grow hair.  You can't grow hair well out of an inflamed scalp.

3. There is no "too long" or "wrong time" to seek treatment for hair loss. At Pretty Faces Atlanta, we have helped patients that just recently started to notice hair loss, and we have also successfully treated patients that have had significant hair loss for years. 

4. Do not wait. Skin grows slowly, and hair grows even slower.

5. You will have to maintain the growth, which may be as simple as just being consistent with your topical medications, or it may me something procedural.

If you are experiencing hair loss, you don’t have to wait! Contact us today to schedule an appointment and receive a thorough and specific treatment plan to address your type of hair loss issue.