Hair loss? First find out what is going on

Hair loss in men

In many men hair loss is hereditary. The hair follicles are sensitive to the hormone DHT, which makes the hairs thinner and shorter over time. It often starts at the temples or the crown and gradually increases over the years.

You do not have to do anything about it, of course. But if you notice your hair thinning and you want to know whether the process can be slowed down, there are treatments for that.

Finasteride and minoxidil are two of the best studied options for hereditary hair loss. They can be effective, but they are not suitable for everyone.

That is why it matters to establish first whether you really do have hereditary hair loss.

That may sound obvious, but online you can increasingly order medication straight after filling in a short questionnaire. While there can be other causes of hair loss.

At 247dermatologist a dermatologist therefore looks at your situation first. You send in photos and answer a number of questions about your symptoms. A BIG-registered dermatologist then assesses what is most likely going on.

A dermatologist specialises in skin and hair, so they also watch for signals that point to another cause. Think of sudden hair loss, bald patches, itching, flaking or abnormalities of the scalp.

Within 12 to 48 hours you receive a diagnosis where possible and personal treatment advice.

Is medication right for you? Then the dermatologist can prescribe it. The prescription goes to a pharmacy of your choice, where the dosage and possible interactions with other medicines are checked as well.

247dermatologist does not sell medicines and does not earn anything on the medication that is prescribed. So the dermatologist advises the treatment that suits your situation best from a medical point of view.

Hair loss in women

Hair loss in women rarely starts with an obvious bald patch. Often you notice it first in small changes.

More hairs stay behind in your brush or in the shower drain. Your ponytail feels thinner than it used to. Or you suddenly see in a photo that your parting looks wider.

That can leave you feeling unsure. And it is often hard to work out on your own what exactly is going on.

Hair loss is common in women and can have various causes.

With hereditary hair loss the hair often becomes gradually thinner on top of the head and around the parting. But hormonal changes can play a part too, for example after childbirth or during the menopause.

Thyroid problems, iron deficiency, stress, illness or strict dieting can also cause hair loss. Sometimes you only notice it months later.

It is tempting to try all sorts of supplements, shampoos or hair serums yourself. But what helps depends above all on the cause.

An iron deficiency calls for a different approach than hereditary hair loss. And a scalp condition is treated differently again from hair loss caused by hormonal changes.

At 247dermatologist you send in photos and answer a number of questions about your symptoms. A BIG-registered dermatologist then assesses what is most likely going on.

Within 12 to 48 hours you know more about the possible cause, whether further testing is worthwhile and which treatment suits you.

If medication is needed, the dermatologist can prescribe it. But sometimes no treatment is needed at all and the hair is expected to recover on its own. That is worth knowing too.

What can you expect from treatment?

Hair grows slowly, around one centimetre a month on average. So it is not realistic to expect much difference within a few weeks.

With most treatments it takes several months before you can properly judge whether they are having an effect.

Worth knowing too: with many treatments the effect lasts as long as you keep using the product. If you stop, the hair loss can gradually return.

For supplements such as biotin the scientific evidence in hair loss is limited or mixed. They are mainly useful when a deficiency has actually been established.

Considering a hair transplant? Here too it is wise to have the cause of your hair loss assessed first. A transplant is mainly worthwhile in hereditary hair loss that is stable enough.

Finasteride and minoxidil: what you need to know

Finasteride and minoxidil are among the best studied treatments for hereditary hair loss.

They can work well, but they also have limitations and possible side effects. That is why it matters to assess beforehand which product, if one is needed at all, suits you.

Which treatment is suitable depends not only on the type of hair loss, but also on your health and any other medicines you take. That is why a medical assessment beforehand matters.

Myths and facts about hair loss

A lot is said and written about hair loss. But not everything you come across online is true.

Need medication? Our dermatologist can prescribe it

Some medicines for hair loss are only available on prescription. That is not without reason: effective medicines can also have side effects and are not suitable for everyone.

So a doctor first assesses whether a medicine is a good and safe choice in your situation.

247dermatologist is a licensed healthcare provider. If the dermatologist concludes after assessment that medication is suitable for you, a prescription can be issued.

That prescription goes to a pharmacy near you or to an online pharmacy of your choice.

The pharmacy checks the dosage and possible interactions with other medicines, among other things. You receive a registered medicine with an official patient information leaflet.

That matters. The Dutch government warns about medicines offered online outside the official medicines chain. These can be counterfeit, for example, or have a different composition from the one promised.

247dermatologist does not sell medicines and does not earn anything on the medication that is prescribed.

You pay for the consultation and the medical assessment by a dermatologist. A prescription is only issued when it is medically appropriate.

Send your photos in today and you will have an answer from a BIG-registered dermatologist within 12 to 48 hours.