“No treatment regrows a dead follicle. The work is saving the ones still alive.”
— Dr Sin Yong
When should you see a doctor about hair loss?
See a doctor about hair loss when it is sudden, patchy, painful or scarring, or when thinning keeps progressing, because the type of hair loss decides the treatment. A 2026 clinical review sets out the same order. History and scalp examination come first, then targeted tests such as thyroid-stimulating hormone, a full blood count and iron studies, with a scalp biopsy kept for confirming scarring.
- Patches that appear quickly on the scalp, beard or eyebrows, which can be alopecia areata.
- Redness, scaling, itching, burning or tenderness, or smooth shiny areas, which can mean a scarring alopecia that needs a dermatologist.
- Heavy shedding after illness, surgery, childbirth, crash dieting or a new medicine.
- Hair loss with tiredness, weight change, irregular periods, acne or excess facial hair, which raises thyroid, iron or hormonal questions.
- A widening parting or a hairline that is still moving back, because a miniaturising follicle can be kept and a lost one cannot; the early signs of thinning are described separately.
Shedding after a trigger is often temporary. A 2026 review of telogen effluvium describes a non-scarring, diffuse shed after stressors such as illness, childbirth, nutritional deficiency or medicines, usually reversible, with care focused on finding the trigger. Pattern loss is different: it is progressive. A 2017 meta-analysis of randomised trials found that minoxidil, finasteride and low-level laser light each produced more hair growth than placebo in men with androgenetic alopecia, and minoxidil in women. That is why pattern thinning is worth assessing while follicles remain, and why suspected scarring alopecia is referred for a dermatology opinion. How each type is approached, from pattern loss to traction alopecia and scarring alopecia, is set out on its own page.
What happens at a hair loss consultation?
A hair loss consultation establishes which type of hair loss you have before any treatment is chosen. It begins with a history: when the loss started, and whether it is shedding from all over or thinning in a pattern. Recent illness, childbirth, weight loss or stress, diet, current medicines, hairstyles and any family history of thinning are also covered.
The scalp is then examined, including trichoscopy, a magnified view of the scalp that shows miniaturised hairs, broken hairs, scaling and signs of inflammation or scarring. The pattern is graded on the Norwood or Ludwig scale, or with the SALT score for patchy loss, and standardised photographs are taken as a baseline for review.
Blood tests are arranged where they can change the plan, particularly in diffuse shedding and in women. Commonly checked markers include iron stores, zinc and folate, with thyroid function and hormonal tests added according to the history. A correctable deficiency or thyroid problem treated with a hair product alone leaves the trigger in place.
Only then is a plan proposed. It may be prescription medicine with adjunct treatments, or review of a shed that is likely to settle. It may also be referral to a dermatologist for a scarring condition, or to a transplant team where follicles have already been lost.
Bring a list of medicines and supplements, any recent blood results for iron, thyroid, zinc or folate, and older photographs of your hairline and crown; how consultations work explains the rest.
Who it suits, who should wait, who is referred on
Tends to suit
- Early to moderate pattern thinning with follicles still present
- Increased shedding after a clear trigger, once the cause is confirmed
- People willing to follow a long-term programme with planned reviews
- Those who want a medical, assessment-led plan before any device
Better to wait
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding, when prescription options are limited
- Active scalp infection or inflammation until it is treated
- Unconfirmed cause of hair loss, until blood tests and trichoscopy are done
Referred on
- Advanced loss with few surviving follicles, for hair transplant assessment
- Suspected scarring alopecia or other scalp disease, for dermatology assessment
People with advanced loss and few surviving follicles, or with scarring or autoimmune patchy loss that has not been typed, tend to respond poorly. This programme is the wrong tool for them until the cause is established.
Risks, side effects and when to call
Expected effects depend on the treatment. Oral and topical medicines can cause side effects that are reviewed before starting, including scalp irritation with topical products and, in a minority of men, sexual side effects with oral anti-androgen therapy. Shedding can appear to increase early in a programme before settling. Scalp procedures can cause tenderness, redness, swelling or bruising at the treated points. Infection and allergic reactions are uncommon but possible. No treatment can promise regrowth, and response varies between people, which is why progress is reviewed with photographs and trichoscopy at planned visits.
Contact the clinic the same day if
- Spreading redness, warmth or pus on the scalp
- Increasing pain or swelling after a procedure
- Rash, itching or swelling of the face or lips after a medicine
- Mood changes, breast tenderness or sexual side effects on oral therapy
- Sudden patchy loss or a scalp area that looks scarred
See what to do if something feels wrong after a treatment.
Aftercare
First 24 hours
- Keep the scalp clean and avoid scratching or picking at treated areas
- Avoid hot showers, saunas and vigorous exercise if the scalp feels tender
First week
- Use the scalp products you have been advised to use, and avoid others
- Continue prescribed medicines as directed and note any side effects
Sun
- Cover the scalp or use a suitable sun protection product on exposed areas
Skincare
- Pause irritating scalp actives and harsh styling treatments until advised otherwise
When to call
- Spreading redness, warmth, pus or increasing pain on the scalp
- Rash, facial swelling or any side effect from a prescribed medicine
Frequently Asked Questions
Can hair loss be reversed?+
It depends on the cause. Shedding after illness, childbirth or a crash diet usually settles once the trigger has passed, and correcting low iron or a thyroid problem removes one driver. Alopecia areata can regrow. Pattern hair loss is managed rather than reversed: treatment aims to slow miniaturisation and support follicles that are still alive, but follicles that have gone are not revived. Scarring alopecia needs a dermatologist. Which of these applies is decided by examination.
Should I see a dermatologist or a hair clinic for hair loss in Singapore?+
See a dermatologist promptly if the scalp is red, scaly, sore or scarred, if the hairline recedes in a band with eyebrow loss, or if patches spread quickly. Scarring and autoimmune causes need specialist care. Pattern thinning and shedding are commonly assessed at a doctor-led clinic that examines the scalp, orders blood tests where needed and can prescribe. Be wary of non-medical hair centres that sell scalp packages without a diagnosis. Dr Sin Yong refers scarring cases on.
Is hair loss treatment covered by MediSave or insurance in Singapore?+
Treatment of pattern hair loss is generally regarded as cosmetic, and MediSave and most insurance plans do not cover cosmetic treatment. Blood tests and treatment for a medical cause, such as thyroid disease or iron deficiency, may be handled differently, often through your own doctor. Check with your insurer before you start, and ask for an itemised written quote so that each part of the plan is visible.
How do I know if my hair shedding is normal?+
Everyone sheds some hair every day as part of the normal cycle. Shedding is worth assessing when it is noticeably heavier than usual and keeps going, or when the parting widens or the ponytail slims. It also deserves assessment when the hairline or crown changes on photographs taken in the same light, or when patches appear. Shedding that starts some months after illness, childbirth, surgery or a crash diet suggests telogen effluvium. Trichoscopy and blood tests tell the types apart.
Which hair loss treatment is right for postpartum shedding?+
Postpartum shedding is usually telogen effluvium: follicles that stayed in growth during pregnancy rest and shed together a few months after delivery, and classic cases settle on their own. What is checked is iron and thyroid status, and whether female pattern loss has been unmasked underneath. Nutritional support may be advised; pattern loss or a deficiency is treated only where it is found.
How long before I see results?+
Hair grows slowly and follicles cycle over months, so change is assessed over months rather than weeks, and response varies between individuals. Progress is tracked with standardised photography and trichoscopy at review visits rather than judged in the mirror.
Is finasteride available without a prescription in Singapore?+
No. Finasteride is a prescription medicine in Singapore and is prescribed by a doctor after assessment. The decision depends on the type of hair loss, your medical history and the side effects that need discussing first. It is named here for education only.
What should I look for in a hair clinic in Singapore?+
Look for a doctor-led diagnosis before any product or package is discussed. That means a scalp examination with trichoscopy, blood tests where shedding or female thinning is involved, and a clear statement of which type of hair loss you have. Prescription medicines can only be prescribed by a doctor, and a single treatment offered for every scalp skips the diagnosis.
What happens if I stop hair loss treatment?+
In androgenetic alopecia, the hormonal process continues whether or not it is treated, so stopping medical therapy generally allows miniaturisation to resume and hair gained or kept is gradually lost. Shedding triggered by a temporary cause, such as illness or childbirth, behaves differently once the trigger has passed. Any change to a prescription should be discussed with your doctor before stopping.
Can stress cause hair loss?+
Yes. A significant physical or emotional stress can push many follicles into their resting phase at once, causing diffuse shedding a few months later, known as telogen effluvium. It usually settles once the stress has passed, but it can also unmask pattern thinning that was already developing, so persistent shedding is assessed rather than put down to stress alone.
