Blond Male Model concerned about hair loss

Concerns

Hair Loss

Your hair is deeply connected to how you see yourself. When thinning or shedding begins to affect your confidence and change how you feel when you look in the mirror, our board-certified dermatologists offer advanced solutions that address the root causes and support regrowth. With physician-guided care and evidence-based treatments, you can achieve healthier, fuller-looking hair that restores both your appearance and your confidence.

Understanding Concerns With Hair Loss

Hair loss can develop gradually or suddenly, profoundly affecting appearance, confidence, and quality of life. For many patients throughout the East Bay, noticing more hair in the shower drain, seeing a widening part, or feeling your ponytail getting thinner creates anxiety and distress. Hair loss is not just a cosmetic concern, it impacts how you feel about yourself every single day.

Multiple factors contribute to hair loss including genetics, hormonal changes, autoimmune activity, stress, nutritional deficiencies, and scalp health. The pattern and cause of your specific hair loss determine which treatments will be most effective. Addressing these concerns early often leads to better outcomes, as intervention can support regrowth and help prevent further thinning over time.

Common concerns:

  • Gradual hair thinning at the crown or temples
  • Widening part that becomes increasingly noticeable
  • Patchy or sudden areas of shedding
  • Receding hairline
  • Excessive daily shedding (more than 100-150 hairs per day)
  • Overall loss of hair density and volume
  • Thinning that makes your scalp more visible
  • Hair that feels finer or less full than it used to be
  • Difficulty styling hair due to lack of volume

At Potozkin + Ellis Dermatology, our board-certified dermatologists bring medical expertise to hair restoration. We understand that effective treatment requires accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause—whether genetic, hormonal, autoimmune, or related to scalp health. We create comprehensive treatment plans that address your specific type of hair loss with evidence-based therapies.

How Do We Treat Hair Loss?

Our board-certified dermatologists use advanced, physician-selected treatments to stimulate follicle activity, improve hair density, and address the underlying causes of thinning. Unlike medspas or salons offering hair treatments, our physicians bring medical expertise to accurately diagnose your specific type of hair loss and recommend the most effective, scientifically-proven therapies.

Each treatment plan is DermDesigned based on your diagnosis, the pattern and severity of your hair loss, your medical history, and your goals for regrowth. Many patients achieve optimal results through a combination of treatments that address hair loss from multiple angles.

Low-Level Laser
Therapy (LLLT)

A non-invasive photobiomodulation technique that stimulates follicle activity and improves hair quality through light energy. LLLT enhances cellular energy production in hair follicles, extends the growth phase of the hair cycle, and improves blood flow to the scalp. This gentle treatment supports healthier growth patterns and increased hair density with no downtime. Regular sessions help strengthen existing hair and support regrowth over time.

Topical and
Oral Minoxidil

FDA-approved treatment that prolongs the growth phase of hair follicles and stimulates new growth. Available in topical or oral formulations depending on your needs and preferences.

Oral Finasteride
or Dutasteride

Prescription medications that block DHT (dihydrotestosterone), the hormone responsible for androgenetic hair loss. Particularly effective for male and female pattern baldness.

Spironolactone

An anti-androgen medication that can be effective for women experiencing hormonal hair thinning.

Intralesional Injections

Corticosteroid injections directly into areas of patchy hair loss, particularly effective for alopecia areata.

Topical Immunotherapy

Specialized treatment for autoimmune-related hair loss that helps reset the immune response affecting hair follicles.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

PRP uses your own growth factors to support follicle activity, improve hair thickness, and stimulate regrowth. PRP is often combined with other therapies to enhance results and is effective for many forms of thinning and early pattern hair loss.

Nutritional Guidance and Scalp Health Optimization

Comprehensive assessment and treatment of nutritional deficiencies, scalp conditions, and lifestyle factors that may be contributing to hair loss.

Each recommendation is based on personalized evaluation, accurate diagnosis, and commitment to long-term scalp wellness and hair health.

Young woman with hair loss problem looking in mirror indoors

Understanding the Causes of Hair Loss

Hair loss, medically known as alopecia, refers to the reduction of hair density caused by genetic factors, immune system activity, hormonal changes, or scalp health conditions. Understanding the specific type of hair loss is critical to effective treatment.

Normal hair growth occurs in cycles: a growth phase (anagen), a transitional phase (catagen), and a resting phase (telogen). Hair loss conditions disrupt these normal cycles—either shortening the growth phase, causing premature shedding, or preventing follicles from producing new hair altogether.

Background texture

Concerns we treat:

  • Alopecia Areata – Autoimmune condition causing patchy, circular areas of hair loss
  • Androgenetic Alopecia – Genetic, hormone-influenced pattern baldness affecting crown and hairline
  • Telogen Effluvium – Diffuse shedding triggered by stress, illness, or hormonal changes
  • Hormone-Related Thinning – Hair loss related to thyroid conditions, pregnancy, menopause, or PCOS
  • Traction Alopecia – Hair loss from tight hairstyles or repeated tension on hair
  • Stress-Related Shedding – Temporary increased shedding following major life events
  • Early-Stage Hairline Recession – Beginning stages of pattern hair loss
  • Loss of Volume at the Crown – Thinning at the top of the scalp
  • Diffuse Thinning – Overall reduction in hair density throughout the scalp

Our board-certified dermatologists conduct thorough evaluation including scalp examinations, medical history review, and when appropriate, laboratory testing to identify the underlying cause of your hair loss. Accurate diagnosis is essential because different types of hair loss respond to different treatments.

The goal is always meaningful improvement in hair density, quality, and your confidence, addressing both the medical aspects of hair loss and how it affects your daily life.

Who is a Good Candidate for Hair Loss Treatment?

Ideal candidates include individuals seeking improved hair density, healthier regrowth, and early intervention for thinning with physician-guided, evidence-based care.

You may be a good candidate if you:

  • Notice hair thinning, shedding, or changes in density
  • Want a non-surgical solution to hair loss
  • Prefer supportive, evidence-based care from board-certified dermatologists
  • Are in the early to moderate stages of hair loss (earlier intervention often yields better results)
  • Want to improve hair growth and density over time
  • Have realistic expectations about gradual improvement
  • Are committed to consistent treatment for optimal results
  • Want accurate diagnosis of your specific type of hair loss
  • Seek medical expertise in hair restoration

Patients throughout Danville, Walnut Creek, Lafayette, and the East Bay choose Potozkin + Ellis Dermatology for physician-guided hair restoration that prioritizes accurate diagnosis, comprehensive care, and natural improvement.

During your consultation, our board-certified dermatologists will examine your scalp, discuss your medical history, and may recommend laboratory testing to identify the underlying cause of your hair loss. This thorough evaluation ensures you receive the most effective treatment for your specific condition.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hair Loss

What causes hair loss?

Hair loss can occur due to multiple factors including genetics (the most common cause), hormonal changes (thyroid disorders, menopause, pregnancy, PCOS), autoimmune activity (alopecia areata), chronic stress, nutritional deficiencies (iron, vitamin D, biotin, zinc), medications, scalp conditions, and aging. Some hair loss is temporary and reversible, while other types are chronic and require ongoing management. Understanding the underlying cause is critical to effective treatment. Our board-certified dermatologists conduct comprehensive evaluations to identify which factors are contributing to your specific hair loss and develop an informed treatment plan that addresses the root causes.

Can laser therapy help with thinning hair?

Yes. Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) stimulates follicle activity through photobiomodulation, using specific wavelengths of light to enhance cellular energy production in hair follicles. This process extends the growth phase of the hair cycle, improves blood flow to the scalp, reduces inflammation, and supports healthier, thicker hair growth over time. LLLT is a gentle, non-invasive treatment with no downtime that can be particularly effective when combined with other hair restoration therapies. Regular sessions help strengthen existing hair and support regrowth, with many patients noticing improvement after several months of consistent treatment.

What is the difference between androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata?

Androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness) is genetic and hormone-influenced, causing gradual, progressive thinning typically at the crown and hairline in men, and diffuse thinning at the part and crown in women. It results from follicle sensitivity to DHT (dihydrotestosterone) and is the most common form of hair loss. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing patchy, circular areas of sudden hair loss. These two conditions have completely different causes and require different treatment approaches. Our physicians accurately diagnose which type you have during your evaluation to ensure you receive the most effective therapy.

Is early treatment important?

Yes, early intervention often leads to significantly better long-term outcomes. Once hair follicles become dormant for extended periods, they may lose the ability to produce new hair permanently. Addressing hair loss at the first signs—when follicles are still active—gives you the best chance for meaningful regrowth. Early treatment can slow or stabilize thinning, prevent further loss, and support recovery of affected follicles. Patients who seek evaluation and begin treatment when they first notice changes typically achieve stronger, more comprehensive regrowth than those who wait until hair loss is advanced.

Can medications help hair loss?

Yes. Several FDA-approved and prescription medications effectively support regrowth, reduce shedding, and improve hair density. Minoxidil (topical or oral) prolongs the growth phase of follicles. Finasteride and dutasteride block DHT production in androgenetic alopecia. Spironolactone addresses hormonal hair loss in women. Corticosteroids treat autoimmune hair loss. The right medication depends on your specific diagnosis, gender, medical history, and goals. Our board-certified dermatologists determine which options are appropriate for your needs based on comprehensive evaluation. Many patients achieve optimal results by combining medications with other treatments like PRP or laser therapy.

What role does PRP play in hair restoration?

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) uses concentrated growth factors from your own blood to support follicle activity, improve hair thickness, and stimulate regrowth. During treatment, your blood is drawn and processed to concentrate the platelets, then injected into areas of thinning. These growth factors enhance cellular activity in dormant follicles, improve blood supply to the scalp, and reduce inflammation. PRP is effective for many forms of thinning including androgenetic alopecia and early pattern hair loss. It is often combined with medications or laser therapy to enhance overall results. Most patients undergo a series of treatments initially, followed by maintenance sessions.

Do nutritional factors matter?

Absolutely. Nutritional deficiencies can significantly contribute to hair loss and compromise treatment effectiveness. Low levels of iron (the most common nutritional cause of hair loss), vitamin D, biotin, zinc, or protein can accelerate shedding and prevent optimal regrowth. Our dermatologists may recommend laboratory testing to identify deficiencies affecting your hair health. Correcting these deficiencies through supplementation or dietary changes ensures your follicles receive the nutrients they need for healthy growth and optimizes your response to other treatments. Proper nutrition is a crucial foundation for successful hair restoration.

Can stress cause shedding?

Yes. Stress-related shedding, medically termed telogen effluvium, can occur two to three months after significant physical or emotional stress, illness, surgery, childbirth, or major life changes. This condition causes large numbers of follicles to enter the resting phase simultaneously, leading to noticeable shedding. The good news is that telogen effluvium is usually temporary hair typically regrows once the trigger is removed and the follicles return to their normal growth cycle. Treatment focuses on identifying and managing triggers, supporting scalp health, and ensuring proper nutrition. Our dermatologists can determine whether your shedding is stress-related or indicates a different underlying condition requiring specific treatment.

Will hair grow back after treatment?

Many patients see meaningful improvement with appropriate treatment, but results vary depending on the underlying cause, duration of hair loss, severity of follicle damage, and adherence to the treatment plan. Early-stage hair loss typically responds better than long-standing, severe hair loss where follicles may be permanently damaged. Androgenetic alopecia requires ongoing treatment to maintain results. Alopecia areata may resolve spontaneously or with treatment. Telogen effluvium usually improves once triggers are addressed. Our board-certified dermatologists set realistic expectations during your consultation and create a treatment plan designed to support the best possible outcome for your specific type of hair loss.

How do I know which treatment is right for me?

During your comprehensive consultation, one of our board-certified dermatologists will examine your scalp, review your medical history, discuss the pattern and timeline of your hair loss, and may recommend laboratory testing to identify underlying causes. Based on this thorough evaluation, your physician will diagnose your specific type of hair loss and determine whether laser therapy, topical solutions, oral medications, PRP, intralesional injections, or a combination approach will be most beneficial. This personalized, medically informed strategy ensures you receive the most effective treatment for your unique condition and the best chance for meaningful improvement in hair density and quality.

What Our Patients Have to Say

Doctors Ellis and Potozkin

Why Choose Potozkin + Ellis Dermatology

Patients from San Francisco, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Orinda, Moraga, Alamo, and Blackhawk choose Potozkin + Ellis Dermatology for our unparalleled expertise and results.

We combine the science of dermatology with the artistry of aesthetics to deliver natural-looking enhancements that build confidence. With board-certified dermatologists performing all injections and a comprehensive range of laser technologies delivered by skilled providers, we provide both safety and excellence in a sophisticated yet approachable environment.

Unlike other practices, we complement our advanced treatments with physician-selected medical-grade skincare products and begin every aesthetic journey with our signature DermDesigned consultation. Whether you're seeking cosmetic enhancement or medical dermatology care, our commitment to natural-looking results and excellence ensures you'll receive the highest standard of care in the East Bay.

Visit Us In Danville

Experience world-class dermatology care right here in the East Bay.

Hours of Operation

Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Contact Us

925.838.4900