You’ve started losing your hair, and you don’t know what to do. You could research over-the-counter hair loss remedies online, but with so many options to choose from, finding the right treatment will be quite a challenge. It’s also much harder to solve a problem when you don’t know the underlying cause. Sure, you could ask your friends or your barber for advice, but are they really hair loss experts?
Treating hair loss would be infinitely easier if there were a universal first step in this process. Fortunately, there is a first step you can take to figure out where to begin. Regardless of your age or the severity of your hair loss, the most sensible way to start here is to consult a board-certified dermatologist.
This might come as a surprise for the countless individuals who are under the impression that dermatologists only treat skin conditions like acne, eczema, or psoriasis. In fact, dermatologists are the medical world’s foremost authorities on hair loss. Consulting a dermatologist will prevent you from wasting time and money on ineffective solutions and put you on the quickest path toward hair regrowth.
With this in mind, here are five reasons a dermatologist is the best person to treat your hair loss:
Dermatologists have the most comprehensive training
A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in skin, hair, and nails. In addition to graduating from medical school like any other doctor, dermatologists are required to undergo several years of extensive training in these three areas. If your dermatologist specializes in hair loss, this person will have many years of medical training in hair loss under their belt.
You aren’t going to find someone with more knowledge of hair loss than a dermatologist. For example, a trichologist – someone who specializes in treating the hair and scalp – typically undergoes just four to five years of hair loss training. Since trichologists are not medical doctors, they cannot conduct medical examinations, prescribe medications, or provide any solutions beyond topical hair treatments.
At Happy Head, 100% of our dermatologists are hair loss specialists. Before we started Happy Head, my co-founder and I had accumulated more than 20 years of hair loss experience, during which period we prescribed customized hair loss medications to thousands of patients and regularly published our innovative hair growth research. As world-renowned pioneers in the field of hair loss, we possess the specific expertise to uncover the root of your problem and provide the best course of treatment.
Your hair growth journey will be easier
The psychological effects of hair loss can be devastating. People panic when they start losing their hair and want to fix it as quickly as possible. They don’t want to spend days researching hair solutions online and experimenting with different options, all of which could turn out to be completely useless. You have no idea if any of these treatments will work because you won’t know what your underlying issue is.
Hair loss can be caused by a wide variety of factors, including genetic predisposition, hormonal changes, medications, stress, nutritional deficiencies, and harsh hair styling treatments. A dermatologist will know what questions to ask and what signs to look for. They’ll start by asking about your medical history, your diet and lifestyle, when your hair loss started, etc. This information is essential in identifying the cause of hair loss because every patient is unique.
At Happy Head, we make your hair growth journey easy. Our patients simply complete a short questionnaire, upload photos (optional,) and receive a virtual consultation with a board-certified dermatologist. You don’t have to go to a doctor’s office, undergo any physical examinations, or even leave your house to pick up your treatment since our medications are delivered for free and in discreet packaging right to your door.
You may have a medical condition
Hair loss can be caused by a host of factors, from a traumatic event to a new medication. You may find out your hair loss can be attributed to a medical condition such as a thyroid issue, fungal infection, hormonal imbalance, or a vitamin or mineral deficiency. Another common cause of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, aka male and female pattern baldness. The only way to know for sure if a medical condition is causing your hair loss is by consulting a medical professional who is licensed to perform examinations and issue diagnoses.
If a medical condition is revealed to be causing your hair loss, over-the-counter hair loss remedies won’t make your hair grow back. You’ll probably need a prescription medication, which brings us to our next reason:
You’ll have access to advanced treatments
People with conditions like androgenetic alopecia typically require medications that only a dermatologist can prescribe. These treatments are much more advanced than over-the-counter remedies, many of which are merely designed to improve the appearance of your existing hair, not treat the underlying cause. Supplements will compensate for vitamin deficiencies and make it easier for hair to grow back, but if you’re not addressing the underlying condition, the problem will continue.
Happy Head’s topical and oral medications are the strongest hair growth solutions on the market, consisting of prescription-grade ingredients such as finasteride, minoxidil, dutasteride, and spironolactone. If minoxidil sounds familiar, it’s because it’s sold over the counter as Rogaine and other store brands. The difference between over-the-counter minoxidil and prescription-grade is the dosage. While the over-the-counter topical treatments are between two and five percent minoxidil, Happy Head’s topical treatments are approximately eight percent minoxidil.
The team at Happy Head also frequently prescribes customized formulas featuring minoxidil and other medications because the latest research indicates that combining certain ingredients can stimulate hair growth more effectively. For instance, one of Happy Head’s SuperCapsules combines minoxidil with vitamin D3 and dutasteride, which has been proven to be the most important ingredient for offsetting male and female pattern baldness.
Your treatment plan may need to be adjusted
Unfortunately, there’s no way to know which hair loss medication will achieve the best results for each patient. Two people with the same medical condition could see very different results from the same medication. So, there’s no guarantee that the first medication your dermatologist prescribes will achieve its intended outcome.
Thankfully, your dermatologist is fully prepared for this scenario. Their hair growth prowess extends to continuously adjusting treatment plans until their patients see real results. If your first prescribed medication isn’t measuring up, you may need a higher dosage, a different medication, or even a completely customized formula that suits the complexities of your hair loss problem.
Final thoughts
Addressing hair loss can be an emotional journey fraught with uncertainty and frustration. However, the pathway to effective treatment and peace of mind is through consultation with a dermatologist. The team at Happy Head brings unparalleled expertise and access to advanced treatments that can be tailored to your unique situation.
So, if you’ve noticed your hair is thinning, Happy Head is ready to be your one-stop hair loss shop. You don’t have to wait for an appointment and lose valuable time that could be used to regrow your hair. By choosing to partner with a dermatologist from the onset, you’re investing in a knowledgeable guide who will not only restore your hair but also restore your confidence as well.
Written by: Dr. Ben Behnam
Dr. Ben Behnam is a Co-Founder of Happy Head and a board-certified dermatologist recognized nationally by Newsweek as one of the top 10 Physicians and Surgeons in the US, with appearances on The Doctors Show, FOX Good Day LA, and ABC News. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from UCLA.
