How is Propecia Prescribed? | Hair Loss & Hair Transplant Surgery Guide


In order for a doctor to prescribe you with Propecia, they must first assess your condition and diagnose you with male pattern hair loss, as this is the only type of hair loss that Propecia effectively treats. But how do doctors diagnose you with Male pattern hair loss?

Diagnosing male pattern hair loss

The best way to diagnose male pattern hair loss is to simply look at the pattern of the hair on the head. If you are experiencing this condition, then your hair will have an "M" shaped pattern where you have lost more hair at your temples and then your hair recedes back. They can also look at your scalp under special machinery called a Dermatoscope. This allows them to get a close up view of the top layers of your skin in order to assess whether the hair is miniaturized. They will apply a certain oil onto the top of your head and use an optical machine to look closely at your hair follicles. This procedure is not always necessary but it can help confirm male pattern hair loss.

Another procedure that they may carry out to determine whether you have the condition is a procedure that uses a densitometer. It is a piece of machinery that basically magnifies the area that you hold it over and the doctor can then look for miniaturized hair strands and look at their strength. It is very similar to a Dermatoscope. They may also look at your family history, as male pattern hair loss tends to run in families, usually in clusters.

However, not all hair loss falls under the category of male pattern hair loss and other tests would be needed to diagnose other conditions. Skin biopsies may be taken in order to assess other causes of the hair loss.

What happens once you are diagnosed?

Once you have been diagnosed with Male pattern hair loss, then the doctor can help you decide what to do about your condition. Some men are happy to live with the condition whereas others want to seek treatment to prevent further hair loss from occurring. Your doctor will talk through the options that you have which will include surgery or medication. The one medication that will most likely be prescribed to you is Propecia as it has had a lot of success in treating male pattern hair loss as in some men it has not only prevented more hair loss from occurring, but initiated hair regrowth. If you choose Propecia and are deemed suitable to have this treatment, then you will be given a prescription that you can take to your local pharmacy and you can pay for your hair loss medication.

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