Hair loss Treatment Center

PARTICIPANTS Michael L. Reed, MD New York University School of Medicine Neil Sadick, MD Weill Cornell Medical College, New York Presbyterian Hospital

Who should a person turn to first when they're seeking help?

NEIL SADICK, MD: Dermatologists are experts in the field of hair disorders, so if you have a dermatologist, he is the person I would consult first. If you don't, you can consult your family physician, and he or she can make the appropriate referral to a dermatologist.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: But not all dermatologists are hair loss experts, are they?

MICHAEL REED, MD: All dermatologists are trained in the general knowledge and treatment of hair loss disorders, but not all dermatologists choose to do this. A dermatologist will often refer to a specialist. There are some of us in the area who have sort of a subspecialty in hair and scalp disorders, in medical and/or surgical treatment.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: Does it make a difference if the hair loss sufferer is a man or a woman?

NEIL SADICK, MD: Not really. Most dermatologists who are trained and have some expertise in this area usually deal both with men and women.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: Some patients may turn to over-the-counter products or products that they hear advertised on the radio or television. Is this harmful? Is this going to do anything bad, or is it just a waste of time?

MICHAEL REED, MD: Over-the-counter minoxidil, which is Rogaine, is FDA approved. It's been shown to be effective in scientific studies. Most of the other preparations that are heavily advertised or marketed are, to be nice about it, unproved. Any product that is advertised as being effective in regrowing hair and absolutely devoid of side effects has got to be untrue, because there's a basic law of pharmacology that every drug that works has some side effects in some certain circumstances. So I would just use that as a guide in using these over-the-counter preparations.

Unfortunately, this is snake-oil country. It always has been and always will be. People get really desperate when they're losing their hair, and they'll try anything.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: Who should people avoid?

NEIL SADICK, MD: I would not turn to anyone that has no experience and no interest in treating patients with hair disorders. So you need to be careful to be sure that the physician that you're consulting with has a particular interest in treating your problem, because as has been mentioned, many dermatologists themselves are not particularly interested in treating hair disorders, so be sure the doctor that you choose -- and you may call to ask his receptionist if he has experience and interest in treating hair disorders -- be sure either through referral or by exploring this physician that he's someone that has an interest in trying to help you.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: But how does a person realistically find out if that doctor is any good at hair replacement therapy?

MICHAEL REED, MD: If you want to get a referral, you can check with the American Academy of Dermatology. You can call the local medical centers, speak to the department of dermatology to find out if they have a specialist in that area. But we're around and we're not that hard to find. We don't play hard to get.

NEIL SADICK, MD: The American Academy of Dermatology has a physician referral service, and those physicians are listed in their areas of interest and expertise, so by calling the American Academy of Dermatology and if you ask for someone that has an interest in hair, you will be given the name of someone in your area that has shown interest and expertise in dealing with your particular problem.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: Thank you both for helping to elucidate where to go to get help for hair loss. Thanks for being here.