Hair loss: should you see a GP before a hair clinic?

Reviewed by The Wellness Team. Last reviewed October 2026.

Short answer: the NHS advises seeing a GP to get an idea of what is causing your hair loss before thinking about going to a commercial hair clinic. That is sound advice, and we agree with it. A GP can look for medical causes. A hair clinic can then help if the cause is one that a clinic treats and you want to go further.

Why start with a GP

The NHS says some hair loss is temporary and has a cause such as illness, stress, cancer treatment, weight loss or iron deficiency. Other types, such as male and female pattern hair loss, are permanent and usually run in families. The NHS adds that hair loss is not usually anything to worry about, but occasionally it can be a sign of a medical condition. The GP may be able to tell what is causing it just by looking at your hair.

The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) says a blood test may be done to exclude other causes of hair loss, including thyroid conditions and iron deficiency. If one of those is behind it, treating that is the first step.

What the NHS says treatment looks like

The NHS says most hair loss does not need treatment and is either temporary and grows back, or a normal part of getting older. Hair loss caused by a medical condition usually stops or grows back once you have recovered.

For male pattern baldness, the NHS names finasteride and minoxidil as the main treatments. Minoxidil can also be used for female pattern baldness. Women should not use finasteride. It says these treatments do not work for everyone, only work for as long as they are used, and are not all available on the NHS. It also says no treatment is 100% effective.

When a hair clinic can help

A clinic visit makes sense after the basics are covered, if:

• The cause is already clear, such as pattern thinning, and you want to talk through options.
• Your GP has ruled out a medical cause and you still want an assessment of the scalp.
• You want a closer look than a quick check, for example with dermoscopic imaging.

What to ask any clinic: what is the diagnosis, what is the evidence for the treatment, what does it cost in total, and what happens if it does not work.

Where PRP fits

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is made from a small sample of your own blood and injected into the scalp. We do not suggest it for hair loss that has a medical cause still to be found, or for a temporary shed that will settle by itself. For ongoing pattern thinning once the cause is assessed, it can be one option to discuss. The research is mixed and results vary. We do not guarantee an outcome.

Our prices are plain: a hair consultation with dermoscopic imaging is £150. PRP for hair is £450 a session, or £1,215 for three.

Next step

If you have not yet had your hair loss checked, start with your GP or a blood test. If you want a second view or an honest read on whether PRP is worth considering, message us.

Message us on WhatsApp or read our hair PRP guide.

Sources: NHS, Hair loss (nhs.uk/conditions/hair-loss); British Association of Dermatologists, Telogen effluvium patient information leaflet (bad.org.uk/pils/telogen-effluvium). This article is general information and not a diagnosis.