Hair Loss Treatment
With Isabelle Joseph,
DNP, NP-BC
Hair Loss Treatment
With Isabelle Joseph,
DNP, NP-BC
Maybe your ponytail feels thinner than it used to be. Your part looks wider. You're noticing more hair in the shower, on your brush, or on your clothes. Or perhaps the change has been gradual enough that you're only now realizing your hair doesn't have the density it once did.
Hair loss can be frustrating—and figuring out what to do about it can feel even more overwhelming. The first step isn't another shampoo, supplement, or serum.
It's understanding what may be causing the change. Isabelle Joseph, DNP, NP-BC provides personalized, medically guided hair-loss care designed to identify your pattern of hair loss and develop an evidence-based treatment plan when appropriate.
Maybe your ponytail feels thinner than it used to be. Your part looks wider. You're noticing more hair in the shower, on your brush, or on your clothes. Or perhaps the change has been gradual enough that you're only now realizing your hair doesn't have the density it once did.
Hair loss can be frustrating—and figuring out what to do about it can feel even more overwhelming. The first step isn't another shampoo, supplement, or serum.
It's understanding what may be causing the change. Isabelle Joseph, DNP, NP-BC provides personalized, medically guided hair-loss care designed to identify your pattern of hair loss and develop an evidence-based treatment plan when appropriate.
Your Hair Is Changing. Let's Understand Why.
Hair Loss Isn't One Single Condition
Hair Loss Isn't One Single
Condition
It's easy to talk about “hair loss” as though everyone experiencing thinning hair has the same problem. They don't. Hair changes can occur for many reasons. Some people experience gradual pattern hair loss related to genetics and hormones. Others notice increased shedding after an illness, major stressor, pregnancy, nutritional change, rapid weight loss, medication change, or another event. Thyroid conditions, iron deficiency, hormonal changes, scalp conditions, and certain medical conditions can also contribute to hair changes. That means effective treatment starts with an important question: Why are you losing hair? Isabelle evaluates your symptoms, history, hair-loss pattern, medications, health changes, and other relevant factors before determining which treatment options may be appropriate.
Finding the Cause Matters.
What Does Hair Loss
Look Like?
Hair loss doesn't always mean bald spots or dramatic shedding. For many people, the earliest signs are subtle.
If something about your hair has changed, you don't have to wait until the loss becomes severe to ask about it.
Earlier evaluation may provide more options for protecting existing hair and addressing the underlying cause.
You may notice:
A widening part
A thinner ponytail
More visible scalp
Gradual thinning at the crown
A receding hairline
Increased shedding in the shower
More hair on your brush or pillow
Changes in overall hair density
Hair that doesn't seem as full as it once was
Understanding
Pattern Hair Loss
One of the Most Common Causes of Thinning Hair. Androgenetic alopecia—often called male or female pattern hair loss—is a common form of progressive hair loss influenced by genetics and hormones. It can look different in women and men. Pattern hair loss tends to progress over time.
Prescription treatment may help slow further loss and, for some patients, support regrowth.
Skin Clique's current hair-loss program is designed primarily around medically supervised treatment for androgenetic hair loss and other appropriate forms of thinning.
A widening part
Diffuse thinning across the top of the scalp
Decreased overall hair density
Women may notice:
Recession around the temples
Thinning at the crown
Progressive changes to the hairline
Women may notice:
What Else Can
Cause Hair Shedding?
Sudden or increased shedding can sometimes have a different explanation. This is one reason jumping immediately into a hair-growth medication isn't always the best first step.
Your pattern, timeline, health history, and symptoms help determine what should happen next.
When appropriate, Isabelle may also recommend laboratory evaluation or additional medical assessment to investigate potential contributors.
Potential contributors can include:
Significant physical or emotional stress
Illness or surgery
Pregnancy or postpartum changes
Rapid weight loss
Nutritional deficiencies
Thyroid conditions
Hormonal changes
Certain medications
Scalp conditions
Other medical conditions
Isabelle's Approach to Hair Loss
Isabelle's Approach to
Hair Loss
Don't Just Treat the Hair. Look at the Bigger Picture.
Hair loss can feel very personal. It can affect confidence, self-image, and how you feel when you look in the mirror. And when you've already spent money on products that haven't helped, another generic solution isn't particularly reassuring. Isabelle's approach starts with understanding your experience. When did you first notice the change? Is your hair thinning gradually or shedding suddenly? Where is the change occurring? Has anything changed with your health, medications, hormones, nutrition, stress, or weight? What have you already tried? Your answers help Isabelle determine whether your hair-loss pattern may respond to treatment and whether additional evaluation is appropriate. The goal isn't simply to prescribe something. It's to create a plan that makes sense for your hair and your health.
Prescription Hair-Loss Treatment Options
Prescription Hair-Loss
Treatment Options
Your Treatment Depends on Your Pattern, Health + Goals.
Your Treatment Depends on
Your Pattern, Health + Goals.
Skin Clique currently offers personalized topical and oral prescription options for hair loss.
Depending on your diagnosis, health history, sex, reproductive considerations, and individual risk factors, a treatment plan may include options such as:
Minoxidil is a well-established medication used to support hair growth. It may be used topically or, for selected patients, prescribed orally. Your provider can determine whether minoxidil is appropriate and which route may make sense for you.
Minoxidil
Skin Clique also currently offers compounded topical formulations that may combine multiple ingredients into a single treatment. The appropriate formulation depends on your diagnosis, goals, and medical history.
Medication availability, formulations, and pricing may change. Current treatment options should always be confirmed with Isabelle and Skin Clique.
Customized Topical Formulations
Dutasteride also affects the hormonal pathway involved in DHT production and may be considered in selected patients. As with other prescription hair-loss medications, its use should be individualized based on your health history and risk factors.
Dutasteride
Finasteride works by reducing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, a hormone involved in androgenetic hair loss. It may be considered for certain patients with pattern hair loss. Finasteride is not appropriate for everyone and has important reproductive and potential side-effect considerations that should be reviewed with your provider.
Finasteride
Spironolactone has anti-androgen effects and may be considered for certain women experiencing hormonally influenced pattern hair loss. It isn't appropriate for every patient, and medical screening and monitoring may be necessary.
Spironolactone
WHAT TO EXPECT
Understand What's Happening
Your first step is a medical evaluation. Isabelle will ask about your hair changes, timeline, family history, health history, medications, hormonal changes, recent illnesses or stressors, nutrition, weight changes, and previous treatments.
STEP 1
Identify the Pattern
The location and pattern of hair loss provide important clues about what may be happening. Isabelle will evaluate whether your presentation appears consistent with pattern hair loss or whether another cause should be investigated.
STEP 2
Additional Evaluation When Needed
Not everyone needs the same testing. Depending on your symptoms and history, laboratory evaluation or referral for additional medical or dermatologic assessment may be appropriate.
STEP 3
Build Your Treatment Plan
If prescription treatment is appropriate, Isabelle can develop an individualized plan using topical and/or oral therapies based on your hair-loss pattern, medical history, risk factors, and goals.
STEP 4
Track + Adjust
Hair growth takes time. Your treatment needs to be given enough time to evaluate whether it's working. Isabelle can monitor your progress, address side effects or concerns, and adjust your plan when medically appropriate.
STEP 5
Hair Growth Takes
Time
Hair grows in cycles. That means even an effective treatment can't create a dramatic change within a few days or weeks. Skin Clique currently advises patients that meaningful improvement generally requires months of consistent treatment, with early stabilization potentially becoming apparent before visible regrowth. Progress also looks different from person to person. For one patient, success may mean seeing new growth. For another, the first important win may simply be slowing or stabilizing continued loss. Consistency matters. And so does setting realistic expectations from the beginning.
This Isn't an Overnight Treatment.
What About Increased
Shedding?
Some hair-loss treatments—particularly minoxidil—can temporarily increase shedding when treatment begins. That can be alarming if you aren't expecting it. This doesn't necessarily mean treatment is making your hair loss worse.
Changes in the hair-growth cycle can cause older hairs to shed as follicles transition into a new growth phase.
If you notice significant or concerning shedding after beginning treatment, talk with Isabelle rather than stopping medication without guidance.
Hair Loss + Hormonal
Changes
Hair changes can occur during periods of hormonal transition, including perimenopause and menopause. Declining estrogen levels and changes in the balance of other hormones may influence hair density and growth patterns in some women.
But hair loss during midlife shouldn't automatically be blamed on menopause.Thyroid function, iron status, genetics, medications, nutrition, stress, and other health factors may also contribute.
If you're experiencing hair changes along with symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep changes, brain fog, or other concerns associated with perimenopause or menopause, Isabelle can help determine whether a broader hormone-health evaluation may also be appropriate.
Hair Changes +
Weight Loss
Hair shedding can sometimes occur following significant or rapid weight loss. Changes in nutrition, calorie intake, illness, physical stress, or rapid changes in body weight can temporarily shift more hairs into the shedding phase of the hair cycle.
That doesn't mean everyone who loses weight will experience hair loss. And it doesn't mean GLP-1 medications directly cause every case of shedding that occurs during weight-management treatment.
If you've noticed increased shedding while losing weight, tell Isabelle. She can help evaluate the timing, severity, nutrition, medications, and other potential contributors before determining the appropriate next step.
Healthy hair growth depends on adequate nutrition. Protein, iron, and other nutrients all play roles in normal hair growth and follicle function. But taking more supplements isn't automatically better.
Hair supplements can't correct every cause of hair loss, and unnecessary supplementation isn't a substitute for identifying an underlying medical issue.
If a nutritional deficiency is suspected, appropriate evaluation can help determine what actually needs to be addressed.
Nutrition Matters, Too
Is Hair-Loss Treatment
Right for Me?
Not every type of hair loss should be treated with the same medications.
Certain inflammatory, autoimmune, infectious, or scarring forms of hair loss require different evaluation and management.
Isabelle can help determine whether your presentation fits the types of hair loss she treats or whether referral to another medical professional is the better next step.
Prescription treatment may be worth exploring if you:
Have noticed gradual thinning or reduced hair density
Have a widening part
Have a receding hairline or thinning crown
Have experienced increased shedding
Have a family history of pattern hair loss
Haven't seen meaningful improvement with over-the-counter products
Want to intervene before hair loss progresses further
Want a medically supervised treatment plan rather than continuing to experiment with products on your own
Before Starting Hair-Loss
Medication
Your individual medical history helps determine which treatment options are safe and appropriate.
Make sure Isabelle knows about:
All prescription medications
Over-the-counter medications and supplements
Allergies
Current medical conditions
Blood pressure concerns
Kidney or heart conditions
Hormonal conditions
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Plans to become pregnant
Changes in menstrual cycles
Recent illness, surgery, or significant stress
Recent weight loss
Family history of hair loss
Previous hair-loss treatments
Any scalp pain, itching, scaling, redness, or lesions
Pregnancy + Hair-Loss Medication
Pregnancy + Hair-Loss
Medication
Pregnancy and pregnancy planning are particularly important when discussing prescription hair-loss treatments. Certain medications used for pattern hair loss—including finasteride and dutasteride—are contraindicated during pregnancy.
Other medications may also need to be discontinued before or during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to conceive, or think pregnancy may be possible, tell Isabelle before beginning or continuing treatment.
Never assume that a topical medication is automatically safe simply because it is applied to the scalp.
Hair Loss Frequently Asked Questions
Hair Loss Frequently
Asked Questions
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Everyone naturally sheds hair each day. What's more important than counting individual hairs is noticing a change from what's normal for you. A widening part, thinner ponytail, visible scalp, receding hairline, increased shedding, or noticeable reduction in density can all be reasons to seek an evaluation.
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It depends on why the hair was lost and whether the follicles remain capable of producing hair. Some types of hair loss can improve substantially when the underlying cause is addressed. Pattern hair loss can often be managed with treatments designed to slow progression and support regrowth, but individual response varies.
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Hair grows slowly. Meaningful improvement usually takes months rather than weeks. Skin Clique currently advises that stabilization may become apparent around the first few months, while visible regrowth can take longer. Your individual response will vary.
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Some patients using minoxidil experience temporary increased shedding early in treatment. This can occur as hairs transition through the growth cycle. Talk with Isabelle if you're concerned about changes after beginning treatment.
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Not necessarily. Some patients may be appropriate candidates for topical treatment alone. Others may benefit from an oral medication or combination approach. Your treatment should be based on your diagnosis, health history, risk factors, and goals.
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No. Minoxidil may be used in both men and women when medically appropriate. The formulation and treatment plan may differ depending on the patient.
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These medications may be considered in selected women under appropriate medical supervision, but they have significant pregnancy-related restrictions and aren't appropriate for women who are pregnant or may become pregnant. Your reproductive status and goals must be discussed before treatment.
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For progressive pattern hair loss, ongoing treatment is typically needed to maintain the benefits. Stopping an effective treatment may allow the underlying hair-loss process to resume. Other forms of temporary shedding may have a different treatment course. Your diagnosis matters.
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Biotin deficiency can affect hair, but true deficiency is uncommon. Taking high-dose biotin doesn't treat every cause of hair loss and can interfere with certain laboratory tests. Rather than assuming you need a supplement, identify the reason for your hair changes first.
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Shampoos can support scalp and hair care, but they generally cannot address the underlying biological process responsible for androgenetic hair loss on their own. A medically guided treatment plan may include prescription therapy when appropriate.
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Significant physical or emotional stress can trigger a type of increased shedding known as telogen effluvium. The shedding may occur months after the triggering event, which can make the connection difficult to recognize. Other potential causes should still be considered.
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Hormonal changes around menopause may contribute to changes in hair density and pattern. However, hair loss can have multiple causes. Evaluation helps determine whether hormones, genetics, nutrition, thyroid health, medications, or another factor may be involved.
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Significant or rapid weight loss can contribute to temporary shedding in some people. Nutrition, illness, stress, medication changes, and other factors may also contribute. If you're experiencing shedding during weight loss, discuss it with Isabelle rather than assuming there is a single cause.
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Sometimes. Hair changes can be associated with thyroid disorders, iron deficiency, autoimmune conditions, hormonal changes, nutritional issues, medications, and other health conditions. Sudden, severe, patchy, painful, inflamed, or otherwise unusual hair loss deserves appropriate medical evaluation.
When Hair Loss Needs a
Different Kind of
Evaluation
Not every case of hair loss belongs in an online prescription program. The right treatment starts with the right diagnosis.
If Isabelle believes your hair loss requires a different type of evaluation, the best plan may be helping you determine where to go next rather than prescribing a medication that isn't appropriate.
Additional medical or dermatologic evaluation may be appropriate if you experience:
Sudden or dramatic hair loss
Smooth, round bald patches
Scalp pain or burning
Significant redness or inflammation
Scarring
Scaling or signs of infection
Loss of eyebrows or eyelashes
Hair loss accompanied by other unexplained symptoms
A Real Provider Following Your Progress
A Real Provider Following
Your Progress
One of the hardest parts about treating hair loss is waiting. You shouldn't have to spend those months wondering whether you're doing everything correctly or whether your treatment needs to change.
Skin Clique's current program pairs patients with a dedicated clinician who can monitor progress, review treatment response, and adjust the plan over time. With Isabelle, your care isn't reduced to an automatic prescription renewal. You have a provider who knows what you're treating, why you're treating it, and how your plan is progressing.
Because Hair Loss Treatment Takes Time.
Ready to Stop Guessing
About Your Hair?
Ready to Stop Guessing About Your Hair?
You don't need to diagnose your own hair loss before reaching out. You don't need to know which medication you need. And you don't need another shelf full of products promising thicker hair. Start by understanding what's changing. Isabelle can help evaluate your concerns and determine whether a medically guided hair-loss treatment plan may be appropriate for you.
You don't need to diagnose your own hair loss before reaching out. You don't need to know which medication you need. And you don't need another shelf full of products promising thicker hair. Start by understanding what's changing. Isabelle can help evaluate your concerns and determine whether a medically guided hair-loss treatment plan may be appropriate for you.