Can a dermatologist find cause of hair loss?

[Boba909]

Hi guys, i have hair thinning in my crown and front, but am not sure if it's heredity since my grandfather from either sides were bald. If i go to a dermatologist, can he or she find the cause of my hair loss? If not, who should i go to?

[RCWest]

Some dermatologists know enough to check these things. If you doubt it is hereditary, get them to do a complete blood workup and have iron, thyroid, testosterone, and DHT levels checked. My Aunt's hair got real thin because her thyroid was barely working. That was a year ago. Now that she is on Synthroid her hair is unbelieveably thick.

 

Have you dieted or anything? I have a Cousin who had the lapband last August and she only has maybe 10-20 percent of her hair left on top because it is causing her to have malnutrition, plus it's a proven fact that a fast loss of weight of 15 pounds or more can initiate hair loss.

[Boba909]

No, but around the time of hair loss, i started weightlifting on and off, eating protein supplement, taking creatine, and growth hormone. I think these supplements contributed to my hair loss, and i have stopped taking all of it except protein, but i am still weightlifting.

 

During that time period, my weight also fluctuated ~10lbs as i ate a lot to gain weight, and then lost it again. But they were gained/lost slowly, maybe a 1-2 lbs a week.

 

I also looked at Norwood's diagram and to be honest, my hair loss doesn't fall into any of the patterns. I basically have thinning of hair on my hairline, loss of hair on my vertex, and basically just the top portion of my head. The hair loss is not severe to the point where i'm bald, but it's severe to the point where you could see my entire scalp after getting out of the shower.

[BadBeat]

It sounds like your hair is miniaturizing which is basically the start of the balding process. It might be time to start Rogaine and Propecia.

[michaeljames]

Hi guys, i have hair thinning in my crown and front, but am not sure if it's heredity since my grandfather from either sides were bald. If i go to a dermatologist, can he or she find the cause of my hair loss? If not, who should i go to?

 

Hey Matie!

 

Many dermatologists are acquainted with evaluating hair loss at some levels. However there specialty is overall dermatological disorders and not specifically hair loss. The physicians recommended here on HTN are among the very best in the world. The vastness of medicine in general has led to seeking the professionals most specialized in a field. In determine hair loss in women like you aunt there are extra steps in evaluation that are needed in terms of testing. Dermatologists and hair transplant surgeons are the best to evaluate hair loss. Given the preference I advocate for HT specialists.

 

All the Best, Michael