Private hair loss dermatologist in London

Early diagnosis and treatment can often help slow further hair loss, preserve your existing hair and, in many cases, encourage regrowth. If you've noticed changes in your hair or scalp, seeking specialist advice as early as possible can make a real difference.

If you are concerned about hair loss and have noticed that your hair is thinning, becoming fine and brittle, or shedding more than usual, you should consider seeing a specialist.

Signs of hair loss include: 

• Hair shedding (more hair than usual on your pillow, hairbrush, or in the shower)
• A widening parting
• Thinner hair all over
• A receding hairline or a higher hairline than usual
• Patches of hair loss
• Pain or itching on your scalp 

Although we recommend early assessment and treatment for best results, if you have been experiencing hair loss for a while, there is still usually a lot that our specialists can do to prevent further hair loss and support regrowth.

During your consultation, our specialists will take the time to fully understand your experience of hair loss before carrying out a detailed clinical assessment.

Consultation

Your initial consultation is 30 minutes, with plenty of time for a thorough discussion about your hair concerns.

Hair loss can be a complex condition, sometimes with many reasons behind it, so we will take the time to explore factors such as:

• family history of hair loss
• recent illnesses
• hormonal conditions
• medications
• your diet
• stressful life events
• your medical history

Clinical Assessment

Our specialists will carry out a careful scalp examination using trichoscopy (a specialist dermatoscope that provides detailed, magnified images of the scalp and hair follicles). This helps provide an accurate picture of your scalp health and hair, and guides us towards the most appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Our specialists may also recommend further tests, including:

• Blood tests, e.g., to check for nutritional deficiencies or hormone issues
• Scalp biopsy, when needed, to help establish the diagnosis 

Management and Treatment

Depending on your test results, our specialists will work with you to find the most appropriate treatment plan, which may include:

• Prescription medication, such as oral Minoxidil, Spironolactone, Finasteride, or Dutasteride
• Bespoke scalp solutions such as topical Minoxidil, Finasteride and Tacrolimus
• Corticosteroids
• Evidence-based nutritional supplements

We will also monitor your progress over the longer term with the use of medical photography, adjusting your treatment where necessary to ensure it's as effective as possible, and make sure you feel fully informed and looked after throughout.

Hair loss can happen for many different reasons, from genetics to hormonal changes, illness, and stress. Understanding the cause is essential to finding the right treatment, which is why a thorough assessment is always the best place to start.

Some of the most common types of hair loss include:

Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness)

• Caused by a combination of hereditary and hormonal factors
• Tends to develop gradually
• Symptoms include thinning, receding hairline, widened parting

Alopecia Areata

• Autoimmune disease whereby your immune system targets the hair follicles
• Small or large patches of hair loss
• Although hair can regrow spontaneously, often treatment is required to aid recovery. 

Telogen Effluvium (hair shedding)

• Usually a temporary form of hair loss
• Triggers can include illness, extreme stress, pregnancy and childbirth, and nutritional deficiencies (such as iron)

Hair loss can also result from other factors, including scalp infections, traction alopecia (caused by tight hairstyles), trichotillosis (hair pulling), autoimmune scarring alopecias such as lichen planopilaris, frontal fibrosing alopecia, folliculitis decalvans, or side effects of cancer treatment. 

While some forms of hair loss cannot be reversed, there’s often a great deal we can do to slow down further thinning or shedding, and improve the density of your existing hair.

Hair loss can be a complex condition, and it’s always a good idea to seek specialist help as soon as you can. Early assessment and treatment give you the best chance of success. For example, with the most common form of hair loss – male and female pattern baldness – there are effective, evidence-based treatments that work well for many people. These can often slow down or halt further hair loss, and in many cases encourage regrowth. 

Other types of hair loss, such as telogen effluvium, are usually temporary, with hair typically growing back once the underlying factors have been addressed.

Yes. Stress and traumatic life events, such as divorce, bereavement or illness, can trigger temporary hair shedding – known as telogen effluvium. Thankfully, the hair loss is usually short-term, and your hair should begin to grow back within a few months. Our specialists can help identify and treat any underlying triggers, which can help support healthy hair regrowth.

Each person’s experience of hair loss will be different, so it’s important to have a comprehensive understanding of what’s causing your hair loss. Our specialists will be able to give you a detailed clinical assessment, discuss the various treatment options with you and create a personalised treatment plan.

Common treatments can include:

• Prescription medication: to help slow down or prevent further hair loss
  • Topical or oral minoxidil: to help stimulate hair follicles and prolong the active phase of the hair growth cycle  
  • DHT blockers, finasteride and dutasteride: which can be prescribed orally or topically 
  • Corticosteroids: for autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata or scarring alopecias.
  • JAK inhibitors: for alopecia areata 

Our dermatologists work closely with a multidisciplinary team, including Consultant Gynaecologists, a Consultant Endocrinologist, our mental health specialist and nutritionist. If your hair loss is linked to hormonal, nutritional or psychological factors, we'll ensure you receive access to the most appropriate specialist.

Many people don't realise it, but it's perfectly normal to lose between 50 and 100 strands of hair a day, and up to around 150 if your hair is thicker. You may also notice more hair falling out at once if you don't brush or wash your hair every day, and it's usually nothing to worry about.

It’s often quite hard to identify hair loss, but common symptoms to look out for include:

• Hair shedding more than usual, that doesn’t improve over time
• Clumps of hair coming out in your hands
• Patches of baldness
• Large areas of thinning hair 

It’s useful to remember that most periods of hair shedding are temporary, and your hair should return to its normal growth cycle over time. However, it’s always worth seeking specialist advice. An expert assessment can identify any underlying cause and, if you need treatment, help you to access the most effective options as quickly as possible.

In most cases, you can expect to see some improvement after 3-6 months, with more noticeable results after 6-12 months. How quickly you respond will depend on several factors, including the type and severity of your hair loss, how early treatment begins, and how consistently you follow your treatment plan.

It can sometimes be tempting to give up if you don’t see immediate results, but treating hair loss requires patience. We will support you throughout, with regular follow-up appointments to monitor your progress, answer any questions, and adjust your treatment plan where necessary. 

It's important to remember that hair loss can be complex, and no treatment is effective for everyone. However, an accurate diagnosis and early, consultant-led treatment give you the best chance of slowing further hair loss and achieving the best possible results.

While some of the common medications for hair loss are the same for men and women, the underlying factors behind women’s hair loss are often very different and require a separate, tailored approach.

Although genetics often play a role, hair loss in women is frequently linked to hormonal changes and other medical conditions, including:

• Menopause particularly the decline in oestrogen and progesterone
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), now known as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS)

Dr Nicola Clayton has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating female hair loss. 

She works closely with a multidisciplinary team that includes Consultant Gynaecologists and a Consultant Endocrinologist, ensuring that any hormonal or underlying medical factors are fully investigated and treated. This collaborative approach allows us to create personalised treatment plans that address the root causes of your hair loss and give you the best chance of a successful outcome.

Hair loss in children is much less common than in adults, and is often temporary. It can be caused by the following:

• Alopecia areata: an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the hair follicles, causing small or large patches of hair loss. Treatment often involves corticosteroids. 
• Tinea capitis: a fungal infection that can be treated with prescription antifungal medication. 
• Telogen Effluvium: temporary hair shedding that’s often caused by illness, surgery or extreme stress.
• Traction alopecia: hair loss caused by tight hairstyles that pull at the hair.

Yes. Our Consultant Dermatologists Dr Nicola Clayton and Dr Nihull Jakharia-Shah are highly experienced paediatric dermatology specialists, with expertise in treating hair and scalp disorders. They offer bespoke care and clinical excellence, in a warm and child-friendly environment.

They are both renowned clinicians and practice at leading London teaching hospitals. Dr Clayton is a senior consultant at the prestigious Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust, where she leads the paediatric dermatology clinic. Dr Jakharia-Shah has extensive experience treating babies and children, and is a Consultant Dermatologist at Imperial College NHS Trust, specialising in complex hair and scalp conditions.

Once we have created a personalised treatment plan, we ensure that you are carefully monitored by your specialist over the following months. We know that hair loss treatment requires consistency and can take time to work. That’s why we make sure you are fully supported and guided at every step.

Our follow-up appointments include:

• Digital photography to take comparative photos to track progression, check follicle density, and monitor your response to treatment. 
• Examining your scalp using trichoscopy to make sure the treatment is effective
• Referral to other specialists if other investigations or treatments are needed

• Access to a team of highly skilled specialist consultants within our multidisciplinary clinic, with no long waits for appointments