What type of doctor should I see for hair loss?

lehcar · 09-23-2002, 04:21 AM

I'm pretty sure now that my hair loss is telogen effluvium, not androgenic alopecia as it is not male pattern. Unfortunately, I have no idea where to go from here and I'm desperate enough to seek a mainstream doctor's advice even though they lost my trust a long time ago. So what type of doctor should I see? An internist, endocrinologist, hair loss specialist, etc.? I would like to get my hormone levels checked, but maybe a hair loss specialist would be better? I'm not sure...what are your thoughts?

CTCyster · 09-26-2002, 01:19 AM

I would probably see a Dermatologist first, since they are the hair loss specialists. A Dermatologist could probably best determine the cause of your hair loss. If your hair loss is indeed related to an endocrine problem, then the derm would probably refer you to an Endocrinologist anyway.

Good Luck!
HTH

*Aimee*

guineapig · 09-26-2002, 09:52 AM

I started with an internist, who cluelessly referred me to a quack endocrinologist, who said I had too much testosterone and it was causing hairloss. Prescribed gluc to bring down testosterone--didn't really work, and lab values of testosterone were always well within normal in the first place. I later went to a dermatologist who said that my hairloss was TE--despite the fact my hair looks like mens hairloss--and it would grow back. Later second endocrinologist did not relate hairloss to PCOS in particular at all--suggested rogaine. I would start with the derm--if you get a knowledgeable one, they can prescribe topical lotions/etc other than Rogaine to help hairloss. Mine would not, but I am going to another derm soon.