Hair loss treatment
Hair loss deserves a diagnosis, not a product.
Hair loss has dozens of causes — hormonal, autoimmune, nutritional, traction-related, scarring and more — and each needs different treatment. Dr Claudia Moloabi investigates hair loss the way a specialist should: identify the cause first, then treat it with evidence. Because some forms of hair loss are reversible only if treated early, the right time to be assessed is now.
Understanding hair loss
Why the cause matters so much.
Losing 50–100 hairs a day is normal. But when shedding increases, the hairline shifts, a patch appears, or your ponytail thins, something has changed — and the list of possible reasons is long: androgenetic (pattern) hair loss, alopecia areata, telogen effluvium after illness or stress, thyroid and iron problems, traction alopecia from tight hairstyles, and scarring alopecias such as CCCA, which is particularly important in African hair.
These conditions can look similar in the mirror while behaving completely differently under the surface. Some recover on their own. Some respond well to medical treatment. And some — the scarring alopecias — permanently destroy follicles unless they are diagnosed and treated early. This is why buying products before getting a diagnosis costs patients more than money: it costs time that some follicles don't have.
A specialist hair consultation includes a detailed history, scalp examination (often with dermoscopy), and targeted blood tests or a scalp biopsy where they will change the plan.
See a dermatologist promptly if you notice
- A bald patch or rapidly widening parting
- Itching, burning, tenderness or pimples in the scalp
- Hair breaking at the edges or temples
- Sudden, heavy shedding
- Scaling or scarring of the scalp
What we investigate
Many causes. One careful process.
Hair loss is a symptom. These are some of the conditions behind it.
01
Pattern hair loss
Androgenetic alopecia in men and women. Progressive but very treatable — and far easier to keep hair than to regrow it.
02
Alopecia areata
Autoimmune patchy hair loss. Treatment options have advanced significantly in recent years.
03
Traction & styling-related loss
Thinning edges and temples from tension on the follicle. Reversible early; scarring if ignored.
04
Scarring alopecias (incl. CCCA)
Inflammatory conditions that permanently destroy follicles. Early diagnosis preserves the hair you still have.
05
Telogen effluvium
Diffuse shedding triggered by illness, surgery, childbirth, stress or deficiency. Usually recovers once the cause is found and corrected.
06
Scalp disorders
Dandruff that won't shift, scalp psoriasis, folliculitis and other conditions that disturb healthy hair growth.
Your consultation
How a specialist investigates hair loss.
No assumptions. No miracle serums. A diagnosis, then a plan.
Full history
Health, medication, family history, styling practices, diet and life events — the clues usually start here.
Scalp examination
Specialist examination of the scalp and hair, including dermoscopy of the follicles where needed.
Targeted investigations
Blood tests or a scalp biopsy — only when they will genuinely change your treatment.
Diagnosis and plan
A clear explanation of what is happening and an evidence-based plan: medical treatment, styling guidance and realistic timelines.
Track the regrowth
Hair recovers slowly. Structured reviews — with photos — show the progress your mirror hides.
Hair loss questions
Hair loss, answered.
Have a question that isn't covered here? Ask the practice directly.
Can lost hair grow back?
It depends entirely on the cause. Shedding from telogen effluvium typically recovers fully. Alopecia areata and early traction alopecia often respond well to treatment. But once a follicle is scarred — as in CCCA and other scarring alopecias — it cannot regrow, which is why early diagnosis is everything.
Why are my edges thinning?
Thinning edges are most often traction alopecia from tight braids, weaves, buns or extensions — though other conditions can contribute. Caught early, it is usually reversible with changed styling and medical treatment. Left for years, the follicles scar permanently.
Do I need blood tests for hair loss?
Sometimes. Iron deficiency, thyroid disease and other internal factors are common contributors, and Dr Moloabi's laboratory background means investigations are chosen purposefully — tested when they will inform treatment, not as an expensive routine.
Is hair loss treatment worth it for pattern baldness?
Yes — with realistic expectations. Modern evidence-based treatments reliably slow or stop progression in most patients and produce visible regrowth in many. The earlier treatment starts, the better the result, because keeping hair is easier than regrowing it.
Can a hair loss consultation happen online?
An initial discussion and follow-up reviews work well via teledermatology, especially with good photographs of the scalp. Where a physical examination, dermoscopy or biopsy is needed, an in-practice visit will be arranged.