A Dermatologist-Led Approach to Hair Loss

Your Hair, Your Identity

Watching your hair thin, shed more than usual, or change in ways you don’t understand can be frustrating and unsettling. Many patients come to us wondering whether what they are seeing is temporary, whether it will get worse, or whether there is anything they can do about it.

At Springs Dermatology MD, we start by listening and looking for the reason behind the change. Hair loss is not one condition, and the right treatment depends on understanding what is happening to your hair and scalp first.

Our team cares for men and women of different ages, hair types, textures, and backgrounds throughout Sandy Springs and Metro Atlanta. For patients who need more focused restoration care, we also work closely with our sister practice, Springs Hair Restoration, where Dr. Zack Charkawi evaluates medical, nonsurgical, and surgical hair-restoration options.

Understanding Why Your Hair Is Changing

Hair loss can happen gradually or seem to appear almost overnight. You may notice more hair in the shower, a widening part, thinning around the hairline, patchy areas, or a general loss of density.

Sometimes the cause is genetic. In other cases, hair loss may be related to inflammation, autoimmune disease, hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, medications, stress, or another medical condition.

Common causes can include:

• Genetic hair loss, including male- and female-pattern hair loss

• Autoimmune conditions, such as alopecia areata

• Hormonal changes, including those related to pregnancy, menopause, aging, or thyroid disorders

• Nutritional deficiencies, including iron or vitamin deficiencies

• Physical or emotional stress

• Medications or medical treatments

• Inflammatory or scarring conditions of the scalp

The important thing is that similar-looking hair loss can have very different causes. That is why we focus on finding the underlying reason before recommending treatment.

A Personalized Diagnostic Approach

There is no single test or treatment that is right for every person with hair loss.

At Springs Dermatology MD, Dr. Zack Charkawi, ABHRS Diplomate, and Dr. Shereen Timani, a board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon, and dermatopathologist, evaluate hair loss with attention to the scalp, medical history, pattern of hair loss, and possible underlying causes.

Your evaluation is based on your history, what is happening on the scalp, and any other medical factors that may be contributing.

History & Scalp Evaluation

We begin by talking with you about when the changes started, how quickly they developed, your family history, medications, medical conditions, recent stressors, and anything else that may help explain what you are seeing.

We then examine the scalp and hair closely. In some cases, other areas of the body may also provide clues about the underlying cause.

Blood Tests

When the history or examination suggests that hormones, nutritional deficiencies, autoimmune disease, or another medical condition may be playing a role, laboratory testing may help guide the next step.

Scalp Biopsy

Sometimes the diagnosis is not obvious from appearance alone. When needed, we can perform a scalp biopsy to help distinguish between different forms of alopecia, including scarring conditions that may require earlier treatment.

Biopsies can be interpreted by our in-house dermatopathology team, allowing the clinical and microscopic findings to be considered together.

Treatment Starts With the Right Diagnosis

Many patients arrive worried that they need the most aggressive treatment available. Often, the first priority is simply understanding what type of hair loss they have.

Depending on the diagnosis, treatment may include medical, nonsurgical, or restorative options such as:

• Prescription topical treatments

• Physician-monitored oral medications

• Steroid injections for certain inflammatory forms of hair loss

• Advanced injection treatments

• Regenera Activa

• Keravive by HydraFacial

• Light-based therapies when appropriate

For patients with permanent hair loss who may benefit from surgical restoration, FUE and FUT hair transplantation are available through Springs Hair Restoration.

You can learn more about hair restoration options or visit Springs Hair Restoration for dedicated hair-loss and restoration care.

You Don’t Have to Guess What Is Happening

One of the hardest parts of hair loss is not knowing why it is happening or what to expect next.

Our goal is to give you clearer answers, explain what we see, and help you understand which options make sense for your particular type of hair loss.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. The right plan begins with understanding your hair, your scalp, and what may be driving the change.

Still have questions about your hair loss? Schedule an appointment online to discuss what may be causing it and which treatment options may be appropriate for you.