Hair Loss Clinic

Overview

At Mass General Dermatology’s Hair Loss Clinic, our board-certified dermatologists are highly specialized in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of hair loss that affects both adolescents and adults.

This clinic is specifically for:

1. Patients with a clinical diagnosis by a dermatologist OR biopsy-proven scarring alopecia:
   • Lichen planopilaris (LPP)
   • Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (FFA)
   • Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA)
   • Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE)
   • Folliculitis decalvans
   • Dissecting cellulitis of the scalp
2. Patients with moderate to severe alopecia areata, affecting 30% or more of the scalp
3. Patients with chemotherapy or cancer therapy-induced alopecia
4. Patients with alopecia due to graft versus host disease (GVHD)
5. Moderate to severe female pattern hair loss (FPHL) with scalp hair density similar to any of the photos below:

   

6. Moderate to severe male pattern hair thinning or androgenic alopecia (AGA) with scalp hair density similar to any of the photos below:

   

For less severe forms of hair los or for patients who are not eligible for our hair loss clinic, you may request a consultation with another dermatologist.

At Mass General Dermatology’s Hair Loss Clinic, our board-certified dermatologists are highly specialized in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of hair los that affects both adolescents and adults.   For most people, it is normal to shed 100-150 hairs a day; however, if you are noticing bald spots or excessive hair los, it may be a sign of alopecia.

About Alopecia

Alopecia is the medical term for hair los. There are different types of hair los including;

• Patterned hair loss in men and women
• Situations that cause increased hair shedding
• Focal patches of hair los due to immune conditions listed above

Some types of hair los are temporary and can regrow.  Other forms of hair los are permanent and once the hair is gone, it cannot regrow.  Luckily, most causes of hair los can be stopped (if diagnosed in time) or treated.

What Causes Hair Loss?

There are many causes for hair los, which is why it is important to work with a dermatologist skilled in diagnosing hair los disorders to ensure you receive the correct advice and treatment.  More importantly, in some cases hair los can be a sign of other internal health issues.  Below is a list of some possible causes:

• Medical conditions like thyroid disease
• Short or long term illness
• Hereditary factors
• Iron deficiency
• Poor diet
• Medications
• Hormonal imbalance FAQ hair loss
• Physical or emotional stress
• Certain hairstyles/hairstyling practices
• Infections

Thousands of men, women, and children deal with hair loss.  Adult patients in particular often feel that they are being “too vain” in seeking the help of a dermatologist with a hair los issue.  But hair is central to our identity, and hair los is well known to cause negative effects on a person’s self-esteem and self-image.