Thankfully, hair loss dermatology in Maryland offers answers, relief, and most importantly, real solutions if you’re experiencing sudden shedding, notice a widening part, or a slowly receding hairline.
Knowing what’s happening (and why) is the first step to turning hair loss around. Here’s what you should know if you want to regrow a full head of healthy hair you can run your fingers through.
What Are the Different Types of Hair Loss (Alopecia)?
The term alopecia refers to many different conditions that can impact hair on the scalp and body, and getting the right diagnosis is key to treating it effectively.
These types include:
- Androgenetic alopecia: This is a hereditary condition, often referred to as female pattern baldness in women or male pattern baldness in men. Thinning and receding of the hair happens over time with this type.
- Traction alopecia: Hair loss develops in areas under constant strain from tight styles like braids, ponytails, or extensions, and it can become permanent if the tension continues.
- Alopecia areata: This autoimmune disorder mistakenly targets hair follicles, resulting in sudden, round patches of hair loss. Often occurring on the scalp, it can happen anywhere on the body where hair grows.
- Telogen effluvium: Triggered by major stressors such as illness, surgery, or childbirth, this condition causes more hair than you would naturally lose during the resting stage of hair growth to fall out.
- Anagen effluvium: This type happens rapidly during the growth phase, most often as a result of chemotherapy, radiation, or harmful chemical exposure.
- Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, or CCCA: This scarring alopecia typically begins at the crown and spreads outward, and it disproportionately affects women of African descent due to genetic and styling factors.
What Are Common Causes of Hair Loss Other Than Genetics?
While a family history plays a big role, your genes are far from the only factor.
Hair loss has a number of different causes, such as:
- Hormonal fluctuations, often experienced during menopause or pregnancy
- Nutrient deficiencies, especially iron, vitamin D, and zinc
- Chronic stress or trauma
- Infections of the scalp, such as bacterial or fungal
- Autoimmune disease
- Certain medications
- Harsh styling chemicals
- Certain hairstyles
A proper diagnosis through hair loss dermatology in Maryland is essential.
Is It Preventable?
The answer is that sometimes it is and sometimes it isn’t.
While genetic forms like androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness) may be inevitable, early intervention can slow progression significantly.
Other forms, like traction alopecia, are avoidable once the cause is identified and eliminated.
Why Should You Choose a Dermatologist for Hair Restoration Treatment?
Dermatologists are the only medical doctors trained specifically to diagnose, treat, and prevent conditions of the hair, skin, and nails.
Unlike cosmetic clinics or salons, dermatologists can perform scalp biopsies, evaluate autoimmune triggers, prescribe medications, and recommend clinical-grade treatments.
They don’t just treat symptoms. They treat the cause.
If you’re experiencing shedding, bald patches, scarring, or persistent thinning, a visit with a board-certified dermatologist is the best choice you can make for healthier hair.
Is Hair Loss Reversible?
It depends on a number of variables, including the type and stage of your hair loss.
Non-scarring forms like telogen effluvium or early androgenetic alopecia can often be reversed or significantly improved with proper treatment.
In scarring alopecias like CCCA, the scarred follicles may not be able to regrow hair, but early diagnosis can prevent further damage.
Bottom line: The earlier you act, the better your chances of regrowth or halting progression.
What Hair Loss Treatments Might Be Recommended?
Depending on the diagnosis and severity, your dermatologist may recommend one or more of the following treatments:
- NeoGraft: This advanced hair transplant method uses follicular unit extraction (FUE) to deliver natural looking, long-lasting regrowth.
- Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP: This treatment is constructed from your own blood through the extraction of growth factors in your plasma. The PRP is injected into your scalp to revive weakened hair follicles and encourage regrowth.
- Platelet-rich fibrin matrix, or PRFM: A more advanced version of PRP, PRFM offers extended growth factor release for more consistent, longer lasting stimulation of hair follicles.
- Aerolase laser therapy: This non-invasive laser treatment helps calm inflammation, increase circulation, and support scalp healing, which is especially helpful for scarring types of alopecia like CCCA.
- Keravive scalp treatments: A therapeutic multi-step system, Keravive deeply cleanses, hydrates, and nourishes the scalp to promote healthy hair growth.
- Nutritional supplements: Your hair restoration expert may recommend specific vitamins or minerals to address deficiencies contributing to hair thinning.
- Topical or oral medications: Pharmaceuticals may be used to slow shedding and stimulate regrowth over time.
- Scalp micropigmentation (SMP): For cases where regrowth isn’t possible, SMP can create the look of fuller hair or a defined hairline using a specialized tattooing technique.
Your dermatologist will build a customized treatment plan based on your diagnosis, goals, and lifestyle.
When Is It Time to Worry About Hair Loss?
It’s time to seek treatment if you’re seeing excessive hair in the drain, waking up to hair on your pillow, noticing bald patches, or experiencing itchiness, pain, and / or scaling along with thinning.
These signs could signal something more serious than seasonal shedding. Early intervention is the difference between temporary loss and permanent damage.
Even if you’re unsure whether it’s bad enough, a consultation with a hair loss expert can provide peace of mind, as well as a proactive plan for getting ahead of it.
Still Wondering About Hair Loss Dermatology in Maryland? Let’s Talk Today!
Whether you have stress-induced shedding, a complex autoimmune condition, or different type of hair loss, Kindred Hair & Skin Center offers the expertise you need!
Call us now at 443-424-7754 to book your personalized consultation to address hair loss dermatology in Maryland.
With cutting-edge treatment options from NeoGraft to PRP and all of the others mentioned above, we’re ready to help you restore your confidence through hair restoration!