When to seek professional care for your hair and scalp
2026-10-29 21:26:18 · 4 min read · Reviewed
Most hair concerns are cosmetic. These signs mean you should speak to a doctor or dermatologist rather than change products.
Seek professional assessment if you notice
- Sudden or rapid hair loss, or hair coming out in handfuls.
- Bald patches, or a parting that widens quickly.
- Scalp pain, burning, severe itching, swelling, weeping or crusting.
- Redness or scaling that does not improve after several weeks of gentle care.
- Hair loss together with fatigue, unexplained weight change, fever or menstrual changes.
- Hair loss after starting a new medicine — speak to the prescriber rather than stopping it yourself.
- Hair loss in a child.
Who to see
A GP or family doctor can assess common causes and order basic blood tests. A dermatologist specialises in hair and scalp conditions and can perform a scalp examination, trichoscopy or biopsy if needed.
How to prepare
Bring a short timeline: when it started, any illness or stress around that time, your usual routine, medications and supplements, and photographs if you have them. This app's progress journal and photo timeline can help you put that timeline together — you can export it from Settings.
A final reminder
HairCare Companion is an educational tool. It does not diagnose conditions, prescribe treatments, or promise regrowth. When in doubt, get it checked.
Sources
- NHS — When to see a GP for hair loss (public patient information)