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  1. #1
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    Default Are Dermatologists Really Worth It?

    Hey guys I am 23 years old and from the UK, long story short I went to a dermatologist today amid fears of balding, I'm currently a norwood 2 on the Hamilton scale, I told her how I thought I was losing hair, and had a constant itch in the crown area. Anyway she examined my scalp with a torch and microscope all over including the sides and top, she didn't even really check my hairline( my area of main concern)
    she concluded that my hairline is just changing as I'm turning to An adult. I'm really not convinced, especially since I shaved my head recently and actually noticed slight thinning behind my hairline.
    My point in case here do general and private dermatologists in the UK ( and possibly US) actually not have that much knowledge in men's hair loss, or is it best to see a hair transplant surgeon. Obviously I hope she's right, but I'm really not convinced- I see a ton of minituarized hair on my hairline and to be honest get the feeling the guys on BTT can generally give better and more accurate diagnoses than most dermatologists.

  2. #2
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    I've read that they (Derm) don't have much specialization in hair loss, but I don't know for sure. I went to see one a while back, waited for months for the appointment, and was in and out within about 5 minutes. He just looked at my scalp, said "Try rogaine", and sent me off.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by joel203 View Post
    My point in case here do general and private dermatologists in the UK ( and possibly US) actually not have that much knowledge in men's hair loss, or is it best to see a hair transplant surgeon. Obviously I hope she's right, but I'm really not convinced- I see a ton of minituarized hair on my hairline and to be honest get the feeling the guys on BTT can generally give better and more accurate diagnoses than most dermatologists.
    Some do and some don't. What's your dad's hair like? What about your grandfather's hair on your mother's side? Your mother's brothers? If there is hair loss in your family, how severe is it? Usually families are a mixed bag. I've known brothers where one is bald while the other has a full head of hair. The HairCheck system known as cross-section trichometry is of value in assessing the progression of male pattern baldness. Its value is acknowledged on the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, Website.

    I suggest you locate a local hair transplant doctor who makes HairCheck available. You basically need to let your hair grow to about 2 inches before you can be checked. The clinic records you hair mass index numbers for several areas of your scalp. You go back, in a few years if hair loss is still a concern, get another HairCheck and compare the hair mass index numbers.

    35YrsAfter also posts as CITNews and works at Dr. Cole's office - forhair.com - Cole Hair Transplant, 1045 Powers Place, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009 - Phone 678-566-1011 - email 35YrsAfter at chuck@forhair.com
    The contents of my posts are my opinions and not medical advice
    Please feel free to call or email me with any questions. Ask for Chuck

  4. #4
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    Hi Joel,

    I'm in exactly the same situation as you. 24yo, NW2, thinning at the crown

    My itching is so bad that I want to see a dermatologist - just to sort out the itching itself.
    I haven't had much like finding someone who specialises in both MPB and dermatology - apart from Dr Fenton on Harley Street, who is very highly regarded and was one of the people who worked on launching Minoxidil.

    Who did you go to see?

    Feel free to email me on jamesarthurwilliamson123 at gmail.com

  5. #5
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    I mean derms vary a lot like doctors, but really in the end there is not a lot they can do. The one I saw a long time ago basically just asked about family history and then your options we all know are just propecia or minox. I would argue your only real option long term is just propecia anyways so take it or dont. I think if your going bald and pay attention you will know before anyone else. Your probably not wrong, and like my derm said he cant tell until you lost 50 percent of the density anyway before its noticeable to others.
    I guess there might be tests like he mentioned above though but I might save the money and just go based on what I see. I mean if your losing hair I wouldnt place bets its going to magically stop although some people claim it can.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by 35YrsAfter View Post
    Some do and some don't. What's your dad's hair like? What about your grandfather's hair on your mother's side? Your mother's brothers? If there is hair loss in your family, how severe is it? Usually families are a mixed bag. I've known brothers where one is bald while the other has a full head of hair. The HairCheck system known as cross-section trichometry is of value in assessing the progression of male pattern baldness. Its value is acknowledged on the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, Website.

    I suggest you locate a local hair transplant doctor who makes HairCheck available. You basically need to let your hair grow to about 2 inches before you can be checked. The clinic records you hair mass index numbers for several areas of your scalp. You go back, in a few years if hair loss is still a concern, get another HairCheck and compare the hair mass index numbers.

    35YrsAfter also posts as CITNews and works at Dr. Cole's office - forhair.com - Cole Hair Transplant, 1045 Powers Place, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009 - Phone 678-566-1011 - email 35YrsAfter at chuck@forhair.com
    The contents of my posts are my opinions and not medical advice
    Please feel free to call or email me with any questions. Ask for Chuck
    My dads an NW2 and uncles from my mothers side are all NW1s I have a worst hairline now then all of them (theyre all 45+, crazy huh?)
    I think my mother may suffer from hair loss though she seemed to diffuse loss around the scalp and has some frontal thinning ( she's 52 now)

  7. #7
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    My experiences have mostly resulted in failure, where they've been not too familiar with hair loss. scalp conditions and their treatments. In fact, 3 months or so after seeing a dermatologist to which I received very little help, I went off on my own and discovered a scalp condition I had through researching it myself. I then went back and told the dermatologist about my discoveries and he thenconfirmed that I was right--which he failed to diagnose when I visited him and could have probably prevented a lot of thinning in one area of my scalp. It angers me that the ones I have seen do very shallow examinations, even if you do highlight symtpoms that are characteristic of diseases they should be very familiar with. So the point is, you have to be active in your own treatment and diagnoses, unfortunately, because you will find some Derms to be too lazy to do sufficient examination or just too ill-prepared to be of help.

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    Yeh I just get the feeling any NW2 That would see a derm would be told they have nothing to worry about or it's an adult hair line- you'd have to be visibly balding or have bald patches around your scalp for them to prescribe meds and we all know propecia works best for maintaining not re growing what is lost. I know it sounds stupid but I hoped the doctor confirmed I had mpb today so I could use propecia, my parents are against me using it for obvious reasons of side effects - and do not think I should take them until I'm clearly balding but we know that's not the case

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by joel203 View Post
    Yeh I just get the feeling any NW2 That would see a derm would be told they have nothing to worry about or it's an adult hair line- you'd have to be visibly balding or have bald patches around your scalp for them to prescribe meds and we all know propecia works best for maintaining not re growing what is lost. I know it sounds stupid but I hoped the doctor confirmed I had mpb today so I could use propecia, my parents are against me using it for obvious reasons of side effects - and do not think I should take them until I'm clearly balding but we know that's not the case
    Yeah, you could always just monitor it very closely. Take photographs of your hairline every month, compare them, and if you notice further recession, then propecia may have to be considered. Otherwise it's probably just a mature hairline.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by OrdinaryUser View Post
    I went off on my own and discovered a scalp condition I had through researching it myself. I then went back and told the dermatologist about my discoveries and he thenconfirmed that I was right--

    What was the scalp condition that you self-diagnosed?

    And I agree with this thread, Derms have been 100% useless over the years in providing ANY type of relevant feedback to hairloss or it's treatments, except for suggesting Rogaine or Propecia (which some won't do).

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