Dermatology

Hair and Scalp Disorder Clinic

Find your care

Whether you need ongoing treatment or want to enhance your appearance, we can help. 

At the UCLA Health Hair and Scalp Disorder Clinic, our board-certified dermatologists specialize in diagnosing and treating all types of scalp and hair disorders. We are dedicated to providing expert and personalized care in a safe and caring environment. 

What Causes Hair Loss?

Hair loss can happen for many reasons, and it can affect people physically and emotionally. Your genes, hormone levels, stress, certain medications and other medical conditions can all contribute to hair loss. Learning about your medical history can help doctors figure out why you are losing hair and create the best treatment plan for you.

Common causes of hair loss:

  • Androgenetic alopecia, often referred to as male or female pattern hair loss, is a hereditary form of hair loss caused by hormonal and other age-related changes. In men, it often appears as a receding hairline and thinning on the crown, while women generally experience thinning throughout the scalp, especially at the middle hair part.
  • Alopecia areata is a skin condition where the body's immune system targets its own hair cells. This leads to patchy hair loss, primarily on the scalp. It affects about 2% of the global population and can happen at any age. You may be more likely to get it if someone in your family has it or if you have a personal history of other autoimmune conditions.
  • Telogen effluvium is a temporary form of hair loss that happens when hair follicles on the scalp enter the resting (telogen) phase too early. This leads to more shedding than usual and causes the hair to look thinner. Usually, this type of hair loss occurs because of severe stress, infection, surgery, nutritional deficiencies or certain medications. Most people’s hair grows back once the underlying cause is addressed.

Hair Loss Treatment Options

Every person is different. Treatment options at the Hair and Scalp Disorder Clinic include:

Topical medications

What: Liquid solutions, foams or oils applied directly to the scalp. Examples include minoxidil (Rogaine) and topical corticosteroids.

Advantages: Direct application to affected areas; minimal systemic side effects.

Drawbacks: Requires consistent application; may affect hair texture and appearance; results can vary and typically take 6-12 months.

Oral medications

What: Pills taken by mouth. Examples include finasteride (Propecia), spironolactone, minoxidil and immunosuppressive medications.

Advantages: Can treat extensive hair loss; some may experience significant regrowth.

Drawbacks: Potential systemic side effects; not suitable for everyone, especially pregnant women and patients with other medical conditions.

Injections

What: Corticosteroid injections into the scalp

Advantages: Targeted treatment; can show promising results for certain types of hair loss.

Drawbacks: Discomfort during injection; potential side effects like skin thinning.

Laser therapy

What: Low-level lasers used to stimulate hair follicles

Advantages: Non-invasive; can be used in conjunction with other treatments; can be done at home.

Drawbacks: Results vary; cost.

Wigs, hairpieces and camouflage 

What: Cosmetic solutions offering immediate appearance benefits.

Advantages: Variety of styles; boosts confidence; immediate solution.

Drawbacks: Needs regular maintenance; potential for displacement; may not feel as natural as one's own hair; cost.

What to Expect at the UCLA Health Hair and Scalp Disorder Clinic

Step #1: Consultation

After you arrive, our providers will conduct a thorough consultation to address your concerns about your hair and scalp health. This process often begins with a detailed questionnaire, which is carefully reviewed by your provider. By understanding your medical and family history, we aim to identify potential future hair loss patterns, assess treatment efficacy and uncover underlying causes.

Step #2: Diagnosis

Making the right diagnosis is important. This often requires the use of a specialized tool called a dermatoscope to look closely at your scalp and hair follicles. In some cases, a scalp biopsy may be necessary. Sometimes laboratory tests are required to determine whether conditions such as thyroid disease or anemia are contributing factors. It's important to note that most instances of hair loss are not related to an underlying medical condition.
 
If you have any past biopsy results or laboratory tests related to your hair loss, it's helpful to bring them with you to your appointment. Thyroid, vitamin D, iron levels or any hormonal testing is most helpful.

Step #3: Treatment

After diagnosing your hair loss and assessing its severity, your provider will recommend a personalized treatment plan. This plan may include topical treatments, oral medications or more advanced treatments. Our primary goal is to provide the most effective solution for your unique situation. Please note that while we do not offer hair restoration surgery or platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections here; we can refer you to trusted specialists if these treatments are appropriate.

Step #4: Progress tracking

To monitor changes over your visits, we'll take photographs of the affected scalp area. These images will be securely stored in your medical record. 

Meet Carolyn Goh, MD

Dr. Carolyn Goh, medical dermatologist and researcher

Dr. Carolyn Goh practices medical dermatology with a specialty in hair loss and scalp disorders. She completed undergraduate studies at Stanford University and graduated medical school at Weill Medical College of Cornell University with honors in both research and community service. She completed her residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Cornell in New York City.

Dr. Goh's research and clinical interests are in all types of hair loss, including alopecia areata and scarring alopecia. She uses a personalized patient-centered approach and creates unique treatment plans using evidence-based medicine and shared decision making to attain best results. She is active with patient advocacy groups for patients with hair loss. She is regularly invited to speak at national and international meetings to educate other dermatologists.

Meet Delila Foulad, MD

Delila P. Foulad, MD

Dr. Delila Foulad is a medical dermatologist with a special clinical and research interest in hair loss and scalp disorders. She graduated medical school from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and completed her residency at UC Irvine, where she served as the academic chief resident. She provides patients with an innovative and patient-centric approach to dermatological care, emphasizing patient well-being and advancing research in the field.