When should you see a doctor about hair loss?
Seasonal hair loss usually limits itself. The priority in assessment is finding the cause. Hair loss that looks the same can have different causes, and the approach changes accordingly.
Author: Uzm. Dr. Oya Oylum Argun
Seasonal hair loss usually limits itself. The following situations need assessment:
- The shedding lasts longer than a few months.
- Hair density has visibly fallen or the hairline is receding.
- The shedding is gathered in particular areas, not spread across the head.
- The scalp has redness, flaking, itching or tenderness.
- It started suddenly, after a fever illness, an operation, a birth or a change of medicine.
The priority in assessment is finding the cause. Hair loss that looks the same can have different causes, and the approach changes accordingly.
Which doctor should you see for hair loss? The first department to go to is dermatology. A dermatologist examines the scalp and hairs, and if needed looks at them magnified with a dermatoscope.
A blood test may be requested to find the cause of the shedding. Commonly checked are iron stores, thyroid hormones and some vitamins. Which tests are needed is decided from the findings at the examination.
Internal conditions such as a thyroid problem or anaemia can also cause shedding. When a dermatologist finds such a cause, they work together with a specialist in internal medicine.
Tell your doctor about the medicines you take. Some blood pressure, rheumatism and hormone medicines can be linked to shedding.
This article is for general information and does not replace individual medical advice. The right approach for you is decided at the consultation.
Last updated: 16 September 2026
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- Seasonal hair loss peaks in September and OctoberExtra hair on the comb and in the shower in autumn is, most of the time, a sign of a seasonal cycle and not of a new problem. But if the shedding goes on for months, the hairline is receding or there is thinning in particular areas, the cause may not be seasonal.
- “Losing 100 hairs a day is normal.”Daily shedding within a certain range is considered normal. So the real question is not “how many hairs” but “for how long and where”.
- Do shampoos or oils help with hair loss?Shampoos and hair oils do not stop hair loss on their own. Hair loss has a cause, and changing products without finding that cause wastes time.
- What does a dermatologist treat, and when should you see one?A dermatologist looks after diseases of the skin, hair and nails. Cildiye and dermatology are the same department.