Hair Restoration & Hair Loss Treatment

Types of Hair Loss We Treat

Hair loss — medically called alopecia — has many different causes, and the right treatment depends entirely on an accurate diagnosis. Our dermatologists are trained to distinguish between the many types of alopecia and create individualized treatment plans.

Androgenetic Alopecia (Pattern Hair Loss)

The most common cause of hair loss in both men and women, androgenetic alopecia is driven by genetic sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In men it typically causes recession at the temples and thinning at the crown; in women it more often presents as diffuse thinning along the top of the scalp with preservation of the frontal hairline. Multiple effective treatments exist, and starting early produces the best results.

Alopecia Areata

An autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing patchy, often sudden hair loss. It can affect the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and body hair. Severity ranges from a single small patch to complete loss of all scalp and body hair (alopecia universalis). Newer FDA-approved JAK inhibitor medications have transformed treatment options for moderate-to-severe cases.

Telogen Effluvium

A temporary but often alarming form of diffuse shedding triggered by physical or emotional stress, illness, major surgery, childbirth, crash dieting, or nutritional deficiencies. Hair typically sheds 2-4 months after the triggering event. In most cases, shedding resolves once the underlying cause is addressed, though it can take 6-12 months for full recovery.

Scarring Alopecias

A group of less common conditions — including lichen planopilaris, frontal fibrosing alopecia, discoid lupus, and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia — in which inflammation permanently destroys hair follicles and replaces them with scar tissue. Because hair loss in scarring alopecias is irreversible, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment to halt progression are critical.

Traction Alopecia

Caused by chronic tension on hair follicles from tight hairstyles such as braids, weaves, ponytails, or extensions. Early traction alopecia is reversible with style changes; long-standing traction can cause permanent follicle damage. Our providers offer practical guidance on protective hairstyling alongside medical treatment.

Diagnostic Approach

Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of effective hair loss treatment. During your evaluation, our providers will:

• Take a thorough history including onset, pattern, family history, medications, diet, hormonal changes, and recent stressors
• Perform a detailed scalp and hair shaft examination
• Use dermoscopy — a handheld magnification tool — to assess follicle health, miniaturization, and scalp inflammation at high resolution
• Order targeted blood work as appropriate: thyroid function (TSH, T4), ferritin (iron stores), complete blood count, hormones (DHEA-S, testosterone, prolactin), vitamin D, and zinc
• Perform a scalp biopsy when the diagnosis is unclear or a scarring alopecia is suspected

Treatment Options

Androgenetic Alopecia

• Topical minoxidil (2% or 5%) — applied to the scalp daily to stimulate follicles and extend the growth phase
• Oral low-dose minoxidil — increasingly used for broader coverage or when topical application is impractical
• Finasteride (for men) — an oral DHT-blocking medication that slows loss and stimulates regrowth in many patients
• Spironolactone (for women) — an anti-androgen medication that reduces the hormonal driver of female pattern hair loss
• PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy — injections of concentrated growth factors to stimulate follicular activity
• Hair transplant referral — for patients who are appropriate surgical candidates seeking permanent restoration

Alopecia Areata

• Intralesional corticosteroid injections — the most common first-line treatment for patchy alopecia areata, injected directly into bald patches to suppress local inflammation
• Topical corticosteroids and immunosuppressants (tacrolimus, anthralin) for mild or pediatric cases
• Oral corticosteroids — short courses for rapidly progressing disease
• Baricitinib (Olumiant) — FDA-approved JAK1/2 inhibitor for adults with severe alopecia areata
• Ritlecitinib (Litfulo) — FDA-approved JAK3/TEC inhibitor for patients 12 and older with severe alopecia areata
• Minoxidil as adjunctive therapy to promote regrowth in recovering areas

Telogen Effluvium

• Identify and treat the underlying trigger: correct nutritional deficiencies (iron, vitamin D, zinc, protein), optimize thyroid function, address postpartum or stress-related causes
• Minoxidil to support faster regrowth during the recovery phase
• Patient education on realistic timelines and reassurance — most cases resolve within 6-12 months

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Therapy

PRP is an in-office, minimally invasive treatment that harnesses your body's own growth factors to stimulate hair follicle activity. Here's how the process works:

• A small blood sample is drawn from your arm — similar to a routine lab draw
• The blood is placed in a centrifuge, which spins at high speed to separate and concentrate the platelet-rich plasma
• The concentrated PRP — rich in growth factors like PDGF, VEGF, and IGF-1 — is injected across the treatment area of the scalp
• Multiple sessions (typically 3 initial treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart) are recommended, followed by maintenance injections every 4-6 months
• Most patients tolerate the procedure well; a topical numbing cream can be applied beforehand for comfort

Why Early Treatment Matters

Hair follicles are living structures, and prolonged inflammation, DHT exposure, or traction can cause permanent damage over time. In scarring alopecias, fibrosis replaces healthy follicles irreversibly. In androgenetic alopecia, follicles miniaturize progressively until they can no longer support a visible hair shaft.

Starting treatment while follicles are still viable — even if hair is thinning but not yet fully gone — consistently produces better outcomes. If you've noticed changes in your hair density, texture, or shedding pattern, scheduling an evaluation sooner rather than later gives you the best chance of preserving and restoring what you have.