Hair Loss Treatment in Melbourne: Visit Your GP

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As a GP with dermatology training and a special interest in skin and hair, people regularly ask me where to get the best hair loss treatment in Melbourne.

My approach to treating hair loss is to provide tailored advice, which begins with understanding the specific symptoms and type of hair loss you may be experiencing.

ON THIS PAGE

• Common hair loss conditions, causes & symptoms
• Treatments available in Australia
• Other causes of balding
• Getting an accurate diagnosis
• When to visit your GP
• About Dr Zack Bukhari

This personalised approach is crucial to finding the most effective treatment for you and may save you an expensive trip to a dermatologist.

More often than not, I put patients’ minds at ease by explaining that losing hair is healthy, normal, and expected, especially as we age. It’s likely nothing to worry about.

However, I appreciate the fear that comes with shedding more hair than usual. Most people’s first step is to speak with their doctor.

There’s a wide range of treatments to manage hair loss in most cases, even if a particular condition isn’t entirely curable.

Let’s look at the hair loss conditions people regularly seek my care for.

Hair and Scalp Conditions

Although men and women experience similar conditions, treatment options vary by gender*.

This is because hormones typically play a role in hair loss.

* I recognise and appreciate that not everyone identifies with binary genders.

Male Pattern Baldness

Male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is the most common type of hair loss in men.

It typically begins with a receding hairline or thinning at the crown of the scalp and gradually progresses over time.

Unlike some other forms of hair loss, it follows a predictable pattern, often leaving hair around the sides and back of the head.

The main causes are ageing and genetics, with men with a family history of hair loss more likely to develop the condition. Other factors, including obesity and prostate issues, may also contribute.

Male-pattern baldness affects 50% of men by age 50.

While it cannot usually be completely reversed, early assessment and treatment can help slow progression and preserve existing hair.

A well-known and effective treatment with which I’ve had personal experience, as have many of my patients, is finasteride tablets.

The medicine has known side effects and risks associated with lowered testosterone levels that may include loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, and gynecomastia (enlarged male breasts).

If I believe finasteride could benefit you, I’ll explain the risks and benefits and sometimes suggest a topical version you can apply directly to your scalp as an alternative.

Evidence suggests patients may develop side effects similar to the tablet version, but this is far less common.

Female Pattern Baldness

Also known as androgenetic alopecia, female pattern hair loss is the complaint I most frequently help treat for women.

It affects approximately a third of women throughout their lives, especially as they age.

With this condition, hair loss begins at your centre part. Over time, your centre part can widen and spread across the top of your head.

Though incurable, going completely bald is uncommon. Effective treatments exist to slow its progress.

Causes of female pattern baldness include:

• Aging
• A family history of the condition
• A change in hormone levels, possibly due to menopause or issues with your ovaries, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your hair follicles, weakening the hair and causing it to fall out.

These attacks can occur anywhere hair grows on your body, but they’re more noticeable on top, where hair is most dense.

Hair can come out in patchy clumps, strips, and unusual shapes that follow no pattern.

Eyebrows, eyelashes, and facial hair can also be affected. You may even notice changes to your fingernails.

The condition doesn’t discriminate and affects up to 2% of Australians across all genders, ages, and nationalities.

However, I primarily see it in children and teenagers, which can be very distressing for them.

Alopecia areata isn’t curable. Hair can grow back in mild cases, although patients often experience sporadic relapses.

Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA)

CCCA is another hair loss condition I treat in women.

Middle-aged women, particularly those of African descent, are disproportionately impacted.

Australian Hair Loss Treatments

While a cure for every underlying condition may not be available, there are almost always treatments to slow your hair loss and allow for some regrowth.

Treating hair loss needs time and patience. As hair grows slowly, it can take a few months to notice results.

Medications

Both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications can help treat most conditions.

Minoxidil is an OTC medication for which I’ve seen some excellent outcomes for both male and female pattern baldness. A popular brand is Regaine.

It comes as drops that you apply to your scalp. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid the medication.

Doctors occasionally use minoxidil alongside other medicines to treat CCCA.

Many OTC supplements are also available and are generally safe to use, though they lack scientific evidence for effectiveness.

I suggest avoiding some of these products, especially if they’re expensive.

Prescription medications include:

• Finasteride (male pattern baldness): Brands include Finasta and Propecia.
• Spironolactone (female pattern baldness): A brand example is Aldactone.
• Cyproterone (female pattern baldness): A brand example is Androcur.
• Anti-inflammatory medications (CCCA & alopecia areata): Examples include corticosteroids, tetracyclines & hydroxychloroquine

Lifestyle Changes and Non-Medical Treatments

Stress and anxiety go hand-in-hand with poor sleep and fatigue. It can be a vicious cycle that leads to poor overall health and a compromised immune system.

Additionally, I can look at your diet and exercise routine and help you limit any unhealthy habits, such as smoking and excess alcohol consumption.

Some other non-surgical treatments and tips we can explore are:

• Avoid excessive hair styling that uses chemicals and heat at home and in the salon.
• Limit the use of hairdryers, curling irons, and straighteners.
• Stop pulling your hair into tight ponytails, braids, or buns.
• Try to leave your hair alone if you have a habit of twisting or pulling it.

Because most treatments take time to work, many people opt for styling techniques and products that add volume or use colouring to mask gaps.

Surgical and Cosmetic Hair Loss Treatments

Sometimes, a patient’s condition calls for surgical and cosmetic treatments offered by specialist dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons.

Surgical hair transplants

During this procedure, a specialist takes patches of hair from parts of your scalp with healthy growth and grafts these patches to your balding areas, usually on top.

This form of treatment is most appropriate for male pattern baldness.

You may need several implants to achieve your desired coverage and appearance. Risks associated with hair transplants include swelling, bleeding, and infection.

Moreover, implanted hair may still be susceptible to hereditary balding or symptoms of an underlying hair loss condition.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy

PRP uses a patient’s own blood cells to help with hair regrowth.

For this treatment, providers prepare platelet-rich plasma from your blood and inject it into your scalp to encourage hair growth.

It’s reasonably effective for those suffering from female and male pattern baldness, as well as alopecia areata.

PRP is pretty low risk, though patients occasionally report nerve damage, bleeding, and infection.

Hair loss clinics

Although many reputable hair loss clinics are staffed by qualified doctors, it can be challenging to determine which clinics lack this expertise or how involved their doctors are in your treatment.

You may only see a doctor to start with and be left with ‘expert clinicians’ to follow through with treatment.

Also, be wary of businesses hawking miracle cures, herbal treatments, laser therapy, and quick fixes, especially when offered without evidence-based, clinically verifiable medicine.

We’re not 100% sure of the exact causes, but genetics and hairstyling treatments likely play a role.

The tell-tale sign of CCCA is hair progressively thinning outwards from your scalp’s crown.

You may also experience increased hair breakage, itching or burning in the area, and a scaly or crusty scalp.

Though CCCA isn’t curable, early treatment gives us the best chance of reducing inflammation, slowing its spread, and even regrowing hair follicles.

Other Causes of Hair Loss

Apart from causes linked to specific conditions, there can be many other reasons you’re experiencing hair loss, including:

• Stress and anxiety
• Lack of sleep
• Medications
• Chemotherapy
• Inflammatory skin conditions (e.g. eczema and psoriasis)
• Infection – Fungal and bacterial
• Excessive hairdressing involving harsh treatments
• Hormonal changes (e.g. during pregnancy or menopause)
• Vitamin and nutritional deficiencies (e.g. iron)
• Health conditions such as lupus, diabetes, and thyroid problems
• Obesity
• High blood pressure

Slowing or stopping hair loss and regrowing your hair can be as simple as making a few simple lifestyle changes.

Getting an Accurate Diagnosis

Once I learn about the symptoms you’re experiencing, I’ll conduct a comprehensive assessment, including taking a complete medical and family history, chatting about your diet and lifestyle, and talking over any stress or anxiety that may be impacting your mental health.

I’ll then be in a great position to diagnose the specific hair loss conditions at play.

Using a dermatascope, I’ll examine your scalp for obvious signs of the conditions mentioned above, which alone can point to a particular diagnosis.

I’ll also arrange a comprehensive set of blood tests to rule out secondary causes and sometimes send skin or hair samples for further testing.

When to Visit Your GP

If you’re concerned about finding more hair strands on the shower floor or in your brush than usual, it might be time to visit a GP experienced in treating skin and hair conditions.

I’ve had great success treating hair loss conditions in clinic, like those mentioned above, often saving patients time and money spent with a dermatologist.

In the rare event that a diagnosis isn’t clear or you need more intensive treatment, I’ll refer you to a specialist and work with them to help you get results.

Dr Zack Bukhari is a local GP at Doctors of South Melbourne.

Zack has a special interest and extensive experience in skin health, including hair loss conditions.

He has also completed dermatological training.

You can make an appointment online with Zack or call us on (03) 8579 6838.