Scarring AlopeciaFemale Pattern Hair Loss3 months agoFrontal Fibrosing Alopecia: The Mysterious Epidemic Affecting Postmenopausal WomenFrontal fibrosing alopecia was a rare diagnosis until the 1990s. Now it affects an estimated 1–2% of postmenopausal women, and we still don't know exactly why.Liam Foster15.7k views3 min read
ResearchMinoxidil3 months agoRosemary Oil vs Minoxidil: The 2024 Trial That Actually Held UpA widely cited 2015 trial suggested rosemary oil matched 2% minoxidil for androgenetic alopecia. A more rigorous 2024 replication has now tested whether that finding survives proper methodology.Dr. Maya19.1k views3 min read
ResearchDHT3 months agoSaw Palmetto for Hair Loss: A Mechanism Without Clinical EvidenceSaw palmetto extract is in dozens of hair loss supplements. The 5-alpha reductase inhibition is real in vitro. The clinical evidence remains stubbornly thin.Liam Foster8.7k views3 min read
NutritionTelogen Effluvium4 months agoIron Supplementation for Hair Loss: Why Ferritin Below 70 Is the Real ThresholdMost physicians say ferritin within the normal range is fine. For hair loss, the relevant threshold appears to be substantially higher than the general anemia cutoff.Dr. Maya4.5k views3 min read
NutritionResearch4 months agoVitamin D Deficiency and Hair Loss: The Causal Question Is Still OpenVitamin D receptors are expressed on hair follicle cells, and deficient patients often have hair loss. Whether supplementation reverses the loss is a more complicated question.Liam Foster3.7k views3 min read
ResearchTreatment4 months agoScalp Massage: A 4-Minute Daily Protocol With Surprisingly Real EvidenceA 2016 Japanese study found that 4 minutes of daily scalp massage produced measurable hair thickening over 24 weeks. The follow-up survey of 327 men added a real-world dimension to the finding.Dr. Maya12.1k views3 min read
Female Pattern Hair LossDHT4 months agoPCOS and Hair Loss: Treatment Considerations for the Underlying EndocrinologyPolycystic ovary syndrome affects 10–15% of women of reproductive age. Hair loss is a common feature, and treating it without addressing the underlying endocrinology often fails.Dr. Maya2.4k views3 min read
Telogen EffluviumFemale Pattern Hair Loss4 months agoPostpartum Hair Loss: Timing, Severity, and When to WorryPostpartum hair shedding affects roughly half of new mothers. The timing is predictable, the cause is well understood, but a meaningful minority of women have persistent effects.Liam Foster16.2k views3 min read
DiagnosisResearch4 months agoTrichoscopy: The Diagnostic Tool That Should Be Standard in Every Hair ConsultationA handheld dermatoscope and three minutes is enough to distinguish androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, scarring alopecias, and telogen effluvium. Many consultations still rely on visual inspection alone.Dr. Maya19.1k views3 min read
ResearchNutrition4 months agoPumpkin Seed Oil for Hair Loss: A Surprising Trial With Replication PendingA 2014 Korean trial reported substantial hair count improvements from oral pumpkin seed oil. The methodology was unusual and replication is overdue, but the mechanism is plausible.Liam Foster2.2k views3 min read
Telogen EffluviumResearch5 months agoThyroid Hormone and Hair Loss: Both Hypo and Hyperthyroidism Trigger SheddingHypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism both cause hair loss, but through different mechanisms. Testing TSH is the most basic workup item for unexplained shedding, and one of the most commonly overlooked.Dr. Maya6.8k views3 min read
Hair TransplantTreatment5 months agoScalp Micropigmentation: When the Best Hair Loss Treatment Isn't About HairScalp micropigmentation creates the appearance of a closely shaved head through pointillist pigment deposits. For some patients it produces better cosmetic outcomes than any hair-growing approach.Liam Foster7.9k views3 min read
ResearchTreatment5 months agoLatanoprost and Bimatoprost for Hair Growth: A Prostaglandin Story Worth FollowingEye drops for glaucoma turned out to grow eyelashes. The mechanism, prostaglandin F2-alpha receptor agonism, has obvious implications for scalp hair, though the clinical data remains mixed.Dr. Maya18.7k views3 min read
DiagnosisHair Transplant5 months agoNorwood Scale: Why the Classification System Matters More Than People RealiseThe Norwood scale is older than most current hair loss treatments. It remains the standard staging tool, and getting the staging right shapes every subsequent treatment decision.Dr. Maya5.1k views3 min read
GeneticsResearch5 months agoGenetic Testing for Hair Loss: What 23andMe and Polygenic Scores Actually PredictDirect-to-consumer genetic tests report male pattern hair loss risk. The science behind those reports is more complicated, and less predictive, than the marketing suggests.Liam Foster9.3k views3 min read
NutritionResearch5 months agoNutrafol Clinical Data: What the Trial Actually ShowedNutrafol is the most expensively marketed hair loss supplement on the market. The trial data is real, but the trial design is unusual, and the effect size compared to alternatives is what matters.Dr. Maya9.8k views3 min read
TreatmentMinoxidil5 months agoCompounded Topical Formulations: The Pharmacy Workaround That Has Quietly Reshaped TreatmentCompounding pharmacies have become a significant force in hair loss treatment, producing custom topical formulations that combine multiple active ingredients in single products.Liam Foster13.3k views3 min read
Hair TransplantTreatment5 months agoHair Transplant Turkey: Cost Savings vs Quality Trade-offsTurkey now performs more hair transplants than any other country worldwide. The cost advantage is genuine, but the quality variance is substantial, and patients need to understand both.Dr. Maya9.4k views3 min read
Female Pattern Hair LossResearch6 months agoHair Loss in Postmenopausal Women: Distinct Patterns Need Distinct TreatmentFemale pattern hair loss in postmenopausal women has distinct features compared to pre-menopausal cases, and treatment approaches that work pre-menopause sometimes fail after.Liam Foster13.4k views3 min read
DiagnosisFemale Pattern Hair Loss6 months agoLudwig Scale vs Sinclair Scale: Choosing the Right Female Pattern ClassificationThe Ludwig scale has been the standard female pattern hair loss classification since 1977. The Sinclair scale offers more granular staging that has become preferred for clinical trials.Dr. Maya11.9k views3 min read
CosmeticTreatment6 months agoHair Fibre Concealers: Toppik, Caboki, and What Actually WorksKeratin hair fibres are the most cost-effective cosmetic treatment for mild hair loss. Different brands use different fibre materials with substantially different performance characteristics.Liam Foster16.0k views3 min read
MinoxidilTreatment6 months agoCaffeine Shampoo Alpecin Marketing: Reading Between the ClaimsAlpecin's caffeine shampoo has captured significant market share through aggressive marketing. The clinical claims sit on a foundation of in vitro data, and very short-contact-time application.Dr. Maya11.5k views3 min read
ResearchDHT6 months agoSetipiprant: The PGD2 Antagonist That Almost WasSetipiprant blocks the prostaglandin D2 receptor implicated in androgenetic alopecia. The drug had a promising mechanism and a disappointing development path. Here's what happened.Liam Foster14.1k views3 min read
ResearchInflammation6 months agoCetirizine for Hair Loss: An Antihistamine With Surprising Pilot DataTopical cetirizine has produced unexpectedly positive hair count results in small trials. The mechanism, PGD2-pathway interference and inflammatory modulation, is plausible but the data is preliminary.Dr. Maya3.2k views3 min read
CosmeticTreatment6 months agoSulfate-Free Shampoo: Marketing Hype or Genuine Hair Health Benefit?Sulfate-free shampoos dominate the premium hair care market with claims of gentler cleansing. The trichology evidence is more measured than the marketing language suggests.Liam Foster14.1k views3 min read
ResearchLifestyle7 months agoSmoking and Androgenetic Alopecia: An Independent Risk Factor With a Plausible MechanismMultiple epidemiological studies have linked smoking to accelerated androgenetic alopecia. The relationship survives statistical adjustment, and the proposed mechanism makes biological sense.Dr. Maya11.4k views3 min read
TreatmentCosmetic7 months agoHair Systems and Toppers: When Wearing Hair Makes More Sense Than Growing ItModern hair systems are unrecognisable from the toupées of the 1980s. For patients with extensive hair loss, they offer instant, high-quality cosmetic transformation that other approaches can't match.Liam Foster8.1k views3 min read
Alopecia AreataJAK Inhibitors7 months agoAlopecia Areata: Beyond JAK Inhibitors, What Else Is in the PipelineJAK inhibitors transformed alopecia areata treatment, but they're not the end of the story. Several other immune-modulating approaches are advancing through clinical trials.Dr. Maya16.5k views3 min read
Telogen EffluviumNutrition7 months agoTelogen Effluvium After Bariatric Surgery: What 5-Year Data RevealsSignificant weight loss after bariatric surgery triggers telogen effluvium in roughly half of patients. The long-term recovery data is more complicated than acute studies suggested.Dr. Maya8.5k views3 min read
TreatmentResearch7 months agoCold Cap Therapy for Chemotherapy Hair Loss: What 2025 Data ShowsScalp cooling during chemotherapy can preserve hair for many patients. The 2025 outcomes registry of 8,400 patients defines who benefits and how much.Liam Foster9.3k views3 min read
Liam Foster
