Can a Dermatologist Help With Hair Loss?

If you’re noticing gradual hair thinning and more hair circling the drain than usual, you may be experiencing female pattern hair loss (also known as female pattern baldness). So what’s the solution? Can a dermatologist help with hair loss in women, or should you see a different type of healthcare professional?

Short answer: A dermatologist can absolutely help with hair loss concerns.

However, not all dermatologists are hair experts. For best results, seek out a dermatologist specializing in hair loss.

Below, we outline what a hair loss dermatologist does, treatments they may suggest, and how to find the right dermatologist to address your female hair loss-related concerns.

Wondering what kind of healthcare professional to see for female pattern hair loss? First off, know that you’re not alone. Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the most common cause of hair loss in women, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

Pattern hair loss affects three to 13 percent of women under 40 and 32 to 54 percent of women over 70.

You might not immediately assume a board-certified dermatologist has the expertise to deal with hair care concerns. Dermatology is all about skincare, after all.

However, scalp health is important for a healthy hair growth cycle, meaning dermatologists do play a role in hair health.

That said, the best dermatologist to help you determine the root cause of hair issues is one who has plenty of experience with hair-related medical conditions. A hair loss dermatologist can help diagnose the reason for excess hair shedding and develop a personalized treatment plan that fits your needs.

One important note: A trichologist is different from a dermatologist who specializes in hair loss. Trichologists specialize in hair and scalp health but don't have medical training.

Before diving into why you may want to see a dermatologist specializing in hair loss, let’s touch on a couple of things that could be causing your hair loss.

There are a few common types of hair loss affecting women. A hair loss dermatologist will likely look into diagnosing one of the following:

• Androgenetic alopecia

• Telogen effluvium

• Traction alopecia

• Alopecia areata

• Vitamin deficiencies

Read on for more details about these potential causes of female hair loss.

Androgenetic Alopecia

Female pattern hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is the most common form of hair loss — in men, it’s known as male pattern baldness and is also the most common form of hair loss. The condition is caused by hormone imbalances, specifically of androgens, or male sex hormones.

FPHL typically manifests as you get older, especially if you’re approaching menopause. It often shows up as a receding hairline.

Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium typically appears as a pattern of even thinning across the scalp. It’s often caused by a stressor like major surgery, bodily trauma, extreme weight loss, serious illness, giving birth, or radiation treatment.

Telogen effluvium will typically resolve on its own, especially after the stressor is addressed or passes.

Traction Alopecia

Traction alopecia is hair loss due to traction (pulling) on the hair follicle, which can result in scalp injuries. Sometimes called traumatic alopecia, this form of hair loss can happen due to tight hairstyles like ponytails, buns, braids, and cornrows.

Marginal traction alopecia refers to hair loss and thinning seen along the frontal and temporoparietal margin of the hairline, which basically causes a rainbow shape between the ears.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata occurs when your immune system attacks your scalp or hair follicles, mistaking them for foreign bodies. This type of hair loss is a symptom of an autoimmune disease, such as Hashimoto’s, Graves’ disease, lichen planopilaris, or lupus.

If you have this form of hair loss, you may have patchy hair loss or random bald spots. There’s no cure, but there are effective treatment strategies.

Nutritional Deficiencies

In some cases, nutritional deficiencies are to blame for hair loss. A 2017 study showed that not getting enough of the following nutrients may impact hair structure and growth:

• Iron

• Niacin

• Zinc

• Fatty acids

• Selenium

• Vitamin D

• Vitamin A

• Vitamin E

• Folic acid

• Amino acids

• Biotin

A blood test can help identify whether your hair loss results from a nutritional deficiency.

Take a look at our blog post for a deeper dive into iron deficiency and hair loss.

There are several ways hair loss dermatologists can diagnose female hair loss, including:

• Asking questions about your lifestyle, diet, and medical history

• Performing a hair pull test

• Using a dermatoscopy tool to look closely at your hair and scalp

• Diagnosing any skin conditions that may be affecting scalp health

Learn more about the different ways dermatologists diagnose female hair loss below.

Lifestyle Questions

It’s crucial for a hair loss dermatologist to gather information about your life and lifestyle.

First, they may ask if you’ve recently experienced a stressful event since stress hair loss is pretty common.

Be prepared to talk about your family history (did either of your parents experience hair loss?) and any medical conditions you have or medications you’re taking.

A hair loss dermatologist will also probably ask about your diet and hormonal changes, like those related to menopause. They may ask if you’ve recently been pregnant or given birth to determine if your shedding is the result of postpartum hair loss.

Hair Loss or Shedding

A hair loss dermatologist may also try to determine whether you’re just experiencing typical hair shedding instead of actual hair loss.

According to the AAD, losing between 50 to 100 hairs per day is normal. That’s because not all hairs are in the same stage of the hair growth cycle at the same time. If that were the case, you would lose all your hair each time you entered the shedding (or telogen) phase.

Around 85 to 90 percent of hair follicles are in the growth phase at any time. This means 10 to 15 percent are in the catagen or telogen phases, so you always have at least some hairs ready to shed.

Hair-Pull Test

A hair loss dermatologist will examine your hair, hair follicles, nails, and scalp as part of a physical exam. They may also do additional testing, like a hair pull test.

Your healthcare provider will grasp 20 to 60 hairs with their fingers, holding them as close to your scalp as possible.

They’ll tug on the hairs gently, and if more than 10 percent of the strands easily come out from your scalp, it’s generally considered a sign that you’re actively shedding hair.

Dermatoscopy

Your hair loss dermatologist may use a special microscope called a dermatoscope, a powerful handheld, lighted magnifying device.

This lets them examine your hair and scalp more closely, which can help them determine what is causing your hair loss.

Scalp Biopsy

While skin disorders like psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis (eczema) can affect the scalp, they don’t often directly cause hair loss.

However, a dermatologist can help identify skin disorders, fungi, or conditions like dry scalp that may impact scalp health. In some cases, excessive or intense scratching and scalp sensitivity are associated with temporary hair loss.

A scalp biopsy can help determine if the skin on your head is healthy.

Additional Testing

Your hair loss healthcare provider may order a blood test or refer you to another healthcare professional if they think an underlying medical condition, such as a thyroid issue, is causing your excess shedding.

Millions of people experience hair loss for numerous reasons. A hair loss dermatologist will help you find the best female hair loss treatment for your situation.

Here are some treatment options dermatologists may recommend for hair loss.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil (Rogaine®) is an FDA-approved, over-the-counter (OTC) treatment for hair loss.

How minoxidil works has yet to be completely understood, but it seems to reactivate hair follicles. It’s also a vasodilator, meaning it brings oxygen, blood, and nutrients to the scalp — which can help with hair growth with minimal side effects.

It also appears to shorten the telogen phase and extend the anagen (growth) phase.

Minoxidil comes in a 2% strength solution and a 5% strength foam.

You apply minoxidil solution twice daily to your dry scalp in the areas where you want to see new hair growth.

Minoxidil foam works like the drops, and you apply half a capful once daily.

It’s also available as an oral medication, although this is an off-label use, which means the FDA hasn’t approved it for female hair loss.

Spironolactone

Spironolactone is an antiandrogen that helps with hair growth by decreasing the effects of DHT (dihydrotestosterone). DHT is a byproduct of testosterone — yes, women have testosterone too.

DHT plays a significant role in male-pattern baldness, though its role in female-pattern hair loss isn’t fully understood.

Spironolactone is prescribed off-label for hormone-related female hair loss. Research shows it’s more effective when paired with other hair loss treatments.

In a 2023 study, spironolactone was more effective when combined with other therapies, such as oral or topical minoxidil, than alone.

Spironolactone can also improve the efficacy of other hair loss medications. If you’re not satisfied with minoxidil alone, this study suggests that adding spironolactone to the mix can help boost results.

Wigs and Concealers

If you’re not looking for medication, a dermatologist may recommend hair products like root spray, wigs, or scalp concealers to disguise thinning hair.

Microneedling

Microneedling for hair loss involves using a little roller with small spikes. You roll it all over your scalp, which some say can help hair regrow.

You may experience better microneedling results when you use it with minoxidil or platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

If you already see a dermatologist you like, it’s worth asking if they specialize in hair loss.

Otherwise, the AAD offers a handy Find A Dermatologist tool to help you find a dermatologist near you. You can search by zip code and specialty, though hair is not explicitly mentioned as a specialization.

Or check out our hair loss treatments page to start an online consultation with a healthcare professional.

Can a dermatologist help with female hair loss?

In short, yes — it makes sense to see someone specializing in hair loss dermatology to determine the cause of your hair loss and what you can do about it. Let’s recap:

• A specialist is your best option. While all dermatologists are familiar with hair and scalp conditions, some have received more extensive training in diagnosing and treating hair loss.

• A dermatologist can help determine the root cause of hair loss. There are many reasons your hair could be thinning, and if you’re not an expert, it’s hard to figure out exactly why you’re losing hair. A hair loss dermatologist can address the root cause and suggest lifestyle and diet changes that may help with hair regrowth.

• A hair loss specialist will help discern which hair loss treatments might be best for you. They may recommend options like oral minoxidil, minoxidil spray, spironolactone, topical finasteride and minoxidil spray (for postmenopausal women), microneedling, laser therapy, a hair transplant, or cosmetic fixes.

It can be helpful to get some background info on your condition before seeking medical advice. That way, when you see the dermatologist, you’ll know what questions to ask about hair loss and potential treatments.

To learn more, check out our blog posts on what causes female hair loss on the crown and how to get stronger hair and promote growth.