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Finding Answers to Your Hair Loss Problems: The Experts

Finding answers to your hair loss problems

Stylist

The first thing to remember is if you go to a stylist on a regular basis, you and your stylist should discuss your problems. You and your stylist are the two people who know your individual care regimen the best, which can help in correcting the problem. Bring the problem to her attention if she has not mentioned it to you, remember you are with your hair 24/7 and you will notice things like hair in the comb, sink, and on the pillow case. Your stylist will notice changes in your scalp and hair strand. Together you two can team up to make sure your hair and scalp is being cared for properly.

If you and your stylist are unable to control your hair loss you should look to other experts.

The three experts helpful for diagnosis are: trichologists, dermatologists, and endocrinologists.


Trichologist

Although trichologists have been around since the early 1900s, many have never heard of them. A trichologist, simply stated, is a professional who studies hair strands, their diseases and disorders, and their connection to the scalp. Similar to other practitioners, trichologists’ area of specialty may vary from one to another. Ask for a phone appointment to speak directly to the trichologist, or their assistant, so that you can ask questions about your problems and get answers that will help you determine whether or not you should make an in-person appointment.

Trichology checklist


Dermatologist

A dermatologist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats diseases and disorders of the skin and also deals with the appendages of the skin, which includes hair. A dermatologist can treat hair loss problems that stem from internal follicle issues. Additionally, they can do a biopsy on your hair follicles in the areas where the density changes are occurring, which is something you definitely want done. Some women have had a follicle biopsy and were disappointed, not because of the doctor’s finding, but due to the pain during and the scaring afterward, causing a greater change in density. However, many dermatologists have special equipment to choose from for scalp follicle biopsies—one that is so small it can punch out one follicle at a time and it is virtually painless. The dermatologist sends the follicle to a pathologist, who will report any findings to your dermatologist, who, in turn, will explain the pathologist’s findings to you. So there is no need to be afraid of an examination that will aid in finding out whether your follicles are functioning properly.

Things to remember


Endocrinologist

Because hair is a part of the skin, dermatologists were once thought to be the only practitioners who should treat it. Yet what is thought to be the cause of the most common form of internal hair loss, androgenic alopecia, is due to actions of hormones, which are the focus of a different specialty—endocrinology. Therefore, the next doctor who should be on your list is an endocrinologist specializing in female hormone problems.

Endocrinology checklist