Hair Loss in Women and Men: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

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Hair loss is not one diagnosis. Behind the word "shedding" sit entirely different conditions — with entirely different treatments. The most expensive mistake in hair loss is not the wrong shampoo; it is the months lost treating the wrong cause. That is why treatment here does not begin with a needle, but with a diagnosis.

Step 1: Which type of hair loss do you have?

• Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern). A receding hairline and thinning crown — genetically and hormonally driven, the most common cause in men. It progresses slowly but steadily; starting treatment early protects what you still have.

• Female pattern hair loss. A widening part and thinning crown with the frontal hairline preserved. It frequently intertwines with hormonal factors, iron and thyroid — which is why blood tests are a mandatory part of the assessment in women.

• Telogen effluvium. Sudden, diffuse shedding "by the handful," typically 2-3 months after a trigger: high fever, surgery, childbirth, crash dieting, severe stress. Good news: with the cause corrected it is reversible — but it must be distinguished from the other types.

• Alopecia areata. Round, smooth patches without hair — an autoimmune condition with its own treatment protocol.

• Other causes: scalp disease (seborrhoeic dermatitis, psoriasis), traction from tight styles, certain medications — and, increasingly common in clinic, shedding after rapid weight loss on GLP-1 medications ("Ozempic").

Step 2: Diagnosis — what happens at the consultation

• Trichoscopy — dermoscopic examination of the scalp and hair shafts: each type of hair loss leaves visible signs under magnification

• Blood tests where indicated — ferritin (iron stores), thyroid, vitamin D, and a hormonal panel in women; supplements follow results, not guesses

• History — medications, diets, childbirth, stress, family history

One warning from practice: if you take biotin, say so before blood tests — high doses can distort results, including thyroid panels. Why biotin is rarely the answer.

Step 3: Treatment — by type, not by catalogue

• In androgenetic alopecia — medical therapy is the foundation (topical and, where indicated, systemic options, discussed honestly with benefits and side effects); procedures are support, not a substitute

• In telogen effluvium — finding and correcting the cause; often the best "medicine" is iron, time and patience

• In alopecia areata — anti-inflammatory treatment by protocol, according to extent and activity

• In scalp disease — the scalp is treated first; no procedure works on an inflamed base

And only then: PRP and mesotherapy — for the right patient

PRP (plasma from your own blood, rich in growth factors) and scalp mesotherapy are valuable supportive methods: alongside medical therapy in androgenetic alopecia, and in selected cases for hair quality and density. What they are not: a universal solution for every kind of shedding. PRP in untreated telogen effluvium or on a diseased scalp is wasted money — which is exactly why the order "diagnosis first, procedure second" is not a formality but the treatment itself. The number and rhythm of sessions are set individually at examination, not sold as a fixed package.

Realistic expectations

Hair loss treatment is measured in months, not weeks: the first changes are usually assessed at 3-4 months, because hair grows slowly. In the chronic types the goal is stopping the loss and gradual thickening — "new hair in a month" is advertising, not medicine.

For international patients

Dr. Kağan Cingöz's clinic is in Kırklareli, Turkey — 2 hours from Istanbul, 1 hour from Edirne, and an easy drive from the Bulgarian and Greek borders. Consultation, trichoscopy and ordering the necessary tests are done in a single visit, with photo follow-up via WhatsApp between visits — practical when you travel. A note worth making plainly: Turkey is best known abroad for hair transplantation, but a transplant on an undiagnosed, still-active loss disappoints. Assessment comes first — and for many patients medical treatment alone changes the picture. Send scalp photos (+90 555 209 09 39) for a preliminary assessment and a euro price before you travel; English spoken.

Frequently asked questions

Is daily shedding normal? — Yes, up to around 100 hairs a day is physiological; sudden excess or visible thinning is what warrants assessment. Do shampoos stop hair loss? — Shampoo washes the scalp; it does not treat the cause. Good maintenance — not treatment. Does PRP hurt? — With numbing cream, discomfort is mild. When will I see results? — Realistically: 3-4 months for the first changes, 6+ months for full assessment. Should I consider a transplant? — Only after the type is established and the loss is stabilised — otherwise transplanted hair sits among hair that is still being lost.

Appointments

☎ WhatsApp: +90 555 209 09 39 · ✉ info@drkagancingoz.com · İstasyon Mah. Edirne Cad. No:102, Kırklareli, Turkey

⚠️ Results vary between individuals. A detailed consultation is recommended before any treatment.