My 7 Minute Dermatologist Appointment

[DMoney123]

So as some of you may know, I started worrying about hairloss in around November. You can look at my old posts if you're curious, apparently, I have great hair and nothing to worry about. However, my worries have stayed with me, and in February I finally decided to book a dermatologist appointment to clear my head. In my head, I would get formally checked out to 100% confirm or deny if I'm going bald.

Now I'm not professional, but I feel like I was lowballed out of a 2-month wait for an appointment. Although I feel like I have peace of mind, the appointment really wasnt anything spectacular. The doctor walked in, looked at me, and in almost a confused voice she said "You're here for... hairloss?" This was a good sign, but still I was hoping for a detailed evaluation. She asked what caused my worries, I told her, described my history, and she began too look. She put gloves on, slowly examined each area of my scalp by pushing the hair back (temple, sides, part, crown, midscalp, other part, sides, temple). And..... that was it. She said my hair is perfect currently, and all of my hair follicles are healthy and not thin.

So now I'm in a weird state. My hairloss worries are little to none as of right now, but why so short? I've read online that some derms don't check in detail about hairloss, so could that be it? Or are detailed, microscoping evaluations only done if someone's hairloss is already evident in one shape or form? I don't know. Nonetheless, I'll hopefully be off this forum unless I notice anything pop up out of the blue.

I'd love to hear what you guys have to say. Please let me know if this is similar / different to your experiences. And despite the lack of detailed evaluation, should I trust what she said?

side note, I asked about my baby hairs and she said it's "new growth, and they will constantly be there cause of how hair grows in cycles

 

[Hairs45]

Yes, you should trust what she said.

Now you need to go see a therapist or a psychiatrist.

 

[hz123456]

You should have went to a hair loss specialist not a dermatologist. Not saying that her diagnosis was incorrect, but unless it’s very noticeable, most who don’t specialize won’t do a detailed analysis. Truth is hairloss isn’t “noticeable” until a person loses ~50 percent of his density. She should have used something to determine if your hair density differed in regions that are prone to male pattern baldness and those that aren’t (like the sides/back of head).

Honestly though, you yourself can probably do a better assessment than most. If your hair feels less dense, or you can’t create the same hairstyle that you used to be able to, those to me are the biggest signs of thinning. Most people probably won’t be able to tell a difference unless it’s very clear balding, but if you want to do the most you can to prevent male pattern baldness you need to start treating it before it gets to that state. It’s far more difficult to bring back hair compared to preventing/slowing further loss

 

[Northface32]

So as some of you may know, I started worrying about hairloss in around November. You can look at my old posts if you're curious, apparently, I have great hair and nothing to worry about. However, my worries have stayed with me, and in February I finally decided to book a dermatologist appointment to clear my head. In my head, I would get formally checked out to 100% confirm or deny if I'm going bald.

Now I'm not professional, but I feel like I was lowballed out of a 2-month wait for an appointment. Although I feel like I have peace of mind, the appointment really wasnt anything spectacular. The doctor walked in, looked at me, and in almost a confused voice she said "You're here for... hairloss?" This was a good sign, but still I was hoping for a detailed evaluation. She asked what caused my worries, I told her, described my history, and she began too look. She put gloves on, slowly examined each area of my scalp by pushing the hair back (temple, sides, part, crown, midscalp, other part, sides, temple). And..... that was it. She said my hair is perfect currently, and all of my hair follicles are healthy and not thin.

So now I'm in a weird state. My hairloss worries are little to none as of right now, but why so short? I've read online that some derms don't check in detail about hairloss, so could that be it? Or are detailed, microscoping evaluations only done if someone's hairloss is already evident in one shape or form? I don't know. Nonetheless, I'll hopefully be off this forum unless I notice anything pop up out of the blue.

I'd love to hear what you guys have to say. Please let me know if this is similar / different to your experiences. And despite the lack of detailed evaluation, should I trust what she said?

side note, I asked about my baby hairs and she said it's "new growth, and they will constantly be there cause of how hair grows in cycles

Your good bro perfect hair now just live your life.

 

[Ikarus]

It’s because you don’t suffer with hair loss. When I saw my dermatologist, she referred me to a hair specialist and endocrinologist because I actually suffer with hair loss...

 

[DMoney123]

It’s because you don’t suffer with hair loss. When I saw my dermatologist, she referred me to a hair specialist and endocrinologist because I actually suffer with hair loss...

I don’t disagree. I have peace of mind now. But I still can’t help but think that the derm told me what literally anyone could, and my 2 months of waiting was wasted. What did your derm do when you went, evaluation wise?

 

[Northface32]

Did you mention how many hairs you lose daily? Did she tell you that it's normal?

 

[DMoney123]

Did you mention how many hairs you lose daily? Did she tell you that it's normal?

Didn’t mention cause I don’t lose a noticeable amount. Only time I lose is in the shower, and it’s <5-7 hairs which is nothing compared to guys with my hair length. I told her my history and she said I have perfect hair and nothing to worry about as of rn.

 

[Ikarus]

I don’t disagree. I have peace of mind now. But I still can’t help but think that the derm told me what literally anyone could, and my 2 months of waiting was wasted. What did your derm do when you went, evaluation wise?

I got referred to a dermatologist within two weeks since I demanded to be put on the urgent list. I threw in a few tears and said my hair was making me suicidal and severely depressed, and I’m glad it worked... On the initial appointment, she said that she will refer me to a hair specialist since they can do more tests (I had to wait 5 months for the appointment, which I now have in two days). She spent the least amount of time on my hair since she doesn’t have the tools (around three minutes) and didn’t say much, then spent the rest of the time discussing me starting Accutane for my skin (which I stopped taking after a month of usage). I do see her every month or so, especially since she will be monitoring my hair and blood tests (I think I only see the hair specialist once and he can send the information and prescriptions to my dermatologist and GP). The dermatologist is only able to prescribe spironolactone, in which she did. The hair specialist can prescribe oral minoxidil, dutasteride / finasteride, spironolactone and possibly more...

I think when you visit these doctors, you have to demand for a further evaluation or they won’t do anything.

 

[DMoney123]

I got referred to a dermatologist within two weeks since I demanded to be put on the urgent list. I threw in a few tears and said my hair was making me suicidal and severely depressed, and I’m glad it worked... On the initial appointment, she said that she will refer me to a hair specialist since they can do more tests (I had to wait 5 months for the appointment, which I now have in two days). She spent the least amount of time on my hair since she doesn’t have the tools (around three minutes) and didn’t say much, then spent the rest of the time discussing me starting Accutane for my skin (which I stopped taking after a month of usage). I do see her every month or so, especially since she will be monitoring my hair and blood tests (I think I only see the hair specialist once and he can send the information and prescriptions to my dermatologist and GP). The dermatologist is only able to prescribe spironolactone, in which she did. The hair specialist can prescribe oral minoxidil, dutasteride / finasteride, spironolactone and possibly more...

I think when you visit these doctors, you have to demand for a further evaluation or they won’t do anything.

So basically on the off chance my worries spawn again in a few months, see a hair specialist?

 

[Ikarus]

So basically on the off chance my worries spawn again in a few months, see a hair specialist?

Pretty much...

 

[DMoney123]

You should have went to a hair loss specialist not a dermatologist. Not saying that her diagnosis was incorrect, but unless it’s very noticeable, most who don’t specialize won’t do a detailed analysis. Truth is hairloss isn’t “noticeable” until a person loses ~50 percent of his density. She should have used something to determine if your hair density differed in regions that are prone to male pattern baldness and those that aren’t (like the sides/back of head).

Honestly though, you yourself can probably do a better assessment than most. If your hair feels less dense, or you can’t create the same hairstyle that you used to be able to, those to me are the biggest signs of thinning. Most people probably won’t be able to tell a difference unless it’s very clear balding, but if you want to do the most you can to prevent male pattern baldness you need to start treating it before it gets to that state. It’s far more difficult to bring back hair compared to preventing/slowing further loss

I think this is what she DID do. She got a glove and felt every single area of my hair, and ran her fingers through it. I guess if it felt lighter anywhere she would've noted it. Then again my hair had a little bit of product in it cause I didnt get the chance to shower beforehand, so I'll never really know lol

 

[DMoney123]

Pretty much...

Sounds good to me. I'm like 95% sure im good as of right now, so I should be fine. Do i wish I got a better analysis? yeah, but oh well. Ill just keep an eye on it over time and if nothing changes by say the middle of the summer, I should be perfect. Thank you again

 

[Jakejr]

Most doctors don’t care about male pattern baldness.
You really have to educate yourself..
They don’t have the answer...

 

[Ikarus]

Most doctors don’t care about male pattern baldness.
You really have to educate yourself..
They don’t have the answer...

I agree, they have normalised it unfortunately. It shouldn't be normalised.