HARVENSPECIALISTSHARVENSPECIALISTSSelect a service to read about what it involves, how it is approached and what to expect.
Losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal. Shedding beyond that can follow illness, fever, rapid weight loss, childbirth, stress, thyroid problems, low iron or vitamin levels, and some medicines.
The doctor takes a detailed history, examines the scalp and may use trichoscopy to look closely at the hair roots. Blood tests are suggested only where they are likely to help. Treatment targets the cause as well as the shedding.
When the trigger is corrected, shedding usually settles within a few months, and new hair grows slowly after that. Patience matters, as hair grows only about a centimetre a month.
Ask about this at your consultation →Thinning means hair is becoming finer or sparser, even if you are not shedding heavily. It can be an early sign of pattern hair loss or the result of another cause.
Trichoscopy helps show whether hair shafts are getting thinner, which points to pattern hair loss. The doctor then recommends treatment suited to the cause, which may include medicines for the scalp, nutritional correction and procedures such as PRP.
Thinning is treated over months, not weeks, and progress is judged by comparing photographs and scalp findings over time.
Ask about this at your consultation →Male pattern hair loss is the most common cause of hair loss in men. It is driven by genetics and sensitivity to male hormones, and usually starts with a receding hairline or thinning at the crown.
The earlier it is treated, the more hair can be kept. Options include medicines applied to the scalp, tablets prescribed after discussing benefits and possible side effects, PRP, and in suitable cases a hair transplant.
Treatment is usually long-term, because stopping it allows loss to resume. Results are judged after several months. Ask the doctor about any side effects you are worried about.
Ask about this at your consultation →In women, pattern hair loss typically shows as a gradually widening parting and reduced volume over the crown, while the front hairline is kept. Hormonal changes, thyroid problems, iron deficiency and polycystic ovary syndrome are checked for as possible contributors.
The doctor examines the scalp, uses trichoscopy and advises tests where they are useful. Treatment may include scalp treatments, correction of any deficiency or hormonal issue, and PRP in selected cases.
Please tell the doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy, as some hair medicines are not suitable. Improvement takes months, and treatment is continued to maintain it.
Ask about this at your consultation →Alopecia areata causes smooth, round bald patches and is related to the immune system. It is not contagious. Some other types of alopecia scar the scalp and can cause permanent loss, so a correct diagnosis matters.
The doctor examines the scalp, often with trichoscopy, and decides the type. Treatment may involve medicines applied to or injected into the patches, and other medicines for more widespread disease.
Regrowth can be unpredictable, and hair may fall again. Early assessment is especially important if the scalp is red, painful or scarred.
Ask about this at your consultation →Dandruff is often a mild form of seborrhoeic dermatitis, linked to a yeast that lives normally on the scalp. Dry scalp, stress and weather can make flaking worse. Sometimes what looks like dandruff is another condition.
The doctor confirms the cause and recommends a medicated shampoo or scalp treatment, with advice on how to use it. Shampoos usually need to stay on the scalp for a few minutes to work.
Dandruff can be controlled but often returns, so a maintenance routine is useful. Hair fall linked to dandruff generally settles once the scalp is calm.
Ask about this at your consultation →Scalp psoriasis produces thick, silvery scales that can extend beyond the hairline. Scalp dermatitis causes redness, itching and flaking. They can look similar, but they are treated differently.
After examination, the doctor chooses treatments such as medicated shampoos and scalp lotions. Scales are softened before treatment so medicines can reach the skin. Where it is more widespread, other options are discussed.
Both conditions are long-term, with flare-ups. Avoid scratching or picking at scales, which can cause bleeding and hair loss.
Ask about this at your consultation →Scalp infections include fungal infection (ringworm of the scalp), boils and inflamed hair follicles. They may cause scaling, pus-filled spots, itching, tenderness or patches of hair loss. Fungal scalp infections are more common in children.
Diagnosis may involve looking at hair and scale under the microscope or sending a sample for testing. Scalp fungal infections usually need tablets because creams alone do not reach the hair root.
Treatment takes several weeks and should be completed. Do not share combs, towels or caps, and check family members if the infection is a fungal one.
Ask about this at your consultation →Trichoscopy is a non-invasive examination using a magnifying instrument, the trichoscope, to see the scalp, the openings of hair follicles and the hair shafts in detail.
It helps the doctor tell different types of hair loss apart, measure how thick and dense the hair is, and spot scaling, inflammation or broken hairs. The images also provide a baseline against which later progress can be compared.
It takes only a few minutes, and nothing is cut or removed. Come with your hair as you normally wear it and avoid applying heavy oil beforehand, so the scalp can be seen clearly.
Ask about this at your consultation →PRP uses your own blood. A small sample is taken, spun to concentrate the platelets, and the plasma is injected into the scalp. It is used to support hair in selected patients, especially in early thinning.
The doctor decides whether PRP is suitable alongside other treatment. It works best as part of a larger plan, not as a stand-alone for every kind of hair loss. Evidence on results is mixed, so outcomes are discussed honestly beforehand.
Sessions are usually repeated over a few months. Mild soreness, tightness or swelling can follow. Tell the doctor if you take blood thinners or have a blood disorder.
Ask about this at your consultation →Hair growth therapy means a plan tailored to the cause of your hair loss. It may combine scalp treatments, tablets, correction of deficiencies and procedures such as PRP.
The doctor sets out what each part of the plan is for, how it should be used and what side effects to look out for. Progress is checked at follow-up visits, and the plan is adjusted if needed.
Hair cycles are slow, so it takes about three to six months to judge a treatment. Many treatments need to be continued to keep the benefit.
Ask about this at your consultation →This visit is for anyone who wants to understand their options for restoring hair, including whether medical treatment alone is enough or whether a transplant might help.
The doctor examines the scalp, assesses the pattern and stage of hair loss and the donor area, and explains realistic outcomes. If a hair transplant is an option, the next steps are explained.
You will leave with a clear idea of what is possible, what is not, and what a sensible sequence of treatment would be. There is no pressure to proceed.
Ask about this at your consultation →There are many possible causes, including hormones, nutrition, illness, medicines, stress and genetics. An examination and the right tests help narrow it down.
No. It is a non-invasive examination of the scalp and hair.
It depends on the cause and the treatment. Hair grows slowly, so changes are usually judged over months, not weeks.
Some types can be. Seeing a doctor early makes it easier to find the cause and protect the hair you have.