Hair loss and scalp treatment for men and women in Brooklyn, NY begins with identifying why the hair is thinning, shedding, breaking, or developing patchy loss and whether a scalp condition is contributing. At Skin Glow Dermatology, Yelena Terushkin, PA-C evaluates adults with hair loss, itchy or flaky scalp, alopecia, and other medical scalp concerns and develops an individualized plan based on the diagnosis.
Hair loss can have many causes, including androgenetic hair loss, telogen effluvium, alopecia areata, inflammatory or scarring alopecia, medications, nutritional or medical factors, and scalp disease. Treatment may include prescription or topical medication, scalp-directed treatment, management of an underlying condition, selected procedural or regenerative options, or referral/testing when appropriate.
The pattern, speed, and location of hair loss provide important clues. Some patients develop gradual thinning, while others experience sudden shedding or discrete patches. The scalp itself may appear normal or show redness, scale, tenderness, pustules, or scarring.
Female pattern hair loss can cause progressive thinning, often with widening of the central part or reduced density across the scalp. Treatment depends on the pattern, medical history, age, and goals.
Male pattern hair loss commonly causes progressive thinning at the temples, hairline, crown, or a combination of these areas. Medical evaluation helps determine appropriate treatment options.
Diffuse shedding can follow illness, stress, major weight change, medication changes, nutritional issues, or other physiologic triggers.
Alopecia areata is an immune-mediated form of hair loss that can cause smooth patches and requires a different treatment approach from pattern thinning.
Inflammatory disorders can damage follicles and may lead to permanent loss if scarring develops. Early diagnosis and treatment are important.
Women may experience gradual pattern thinning, widening of the part, diffuse shedding, postpartum or hormonal changes, alopecia areata, medication-related shedding, or inflammatory scalp disease. The treatment plan depends on identifying the cause.
Men commonly seek evaluation for receding hairlines, thinning at the crown, diffuse shedding, or patchy loss. Hormonal and medication factors can also matter. Patients using testosterone can read our guide on hair loss while taking testosterone.
Scalp itching and flaking can occur with several conditions, and treatment depends on the cause rather than the symptom alone. Persistent scratching can irritate the skin and may contribute to excoriations or secondary infection.
Scaling, itching, and irritation may improve with an individualized scalp-care and medication plan.
Thicker scale and inflammatory plaques may require prescription treatment and broader psoriasis management.
Tender bumps, pustules, crusting, or irritation may need evaluation to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.
Pain, burning, inflammation, scale, or progressive areas of permanent loss can require prompt evaluation for inflammatory/scarring alopecia.
Your provider reviews when the problem began, shedding pattern, family history, recent illness or stress, medications, nutrition, hair practices, and relevant medical conditions.
The scalp, hair density, distribution of loss, inflammation, scale, follicular changes, and other findings are assessed.
Depending on the presentation, laboratory testing, additional diagnostic evaluation, or scalp biopsy may be considered.
Treatment is selected according to the suspected or confirmed diagnosis rather than using the same hair-growth treatment for every patient.
Treatment depends on the cause of hair loss, whether follicles are scarred or non-scarred, the condition of the scalp, medical history, and patient goals.
Topical therapies may be recommended for selected forms of hair loss or scalp disease based on diagnosis and tolerance.
Prescription treatment may be considered when appropriate after reviewing diagnosis, medical history, risks, and treatment goals.
When inflammation, scale, itching, or autoimmune scalp disease is contributing, controlling the scalp condition can be an important part of preserving hair.
Selected patients may discuss procedural or regenerative approaches as part of a broader hair-restoration plan when clinically appropriate.
Light-based hair-growth approaches may be considered for selected patients, but they are not substitutes for diagnosing the underlying cause of hair loss.
If findings suggest an underlying medical disorder or a condition requiring additional specialty care, further testing or referral may be recommended.
The scalp can also develop moles, cysts, warts, inflamed follicles, benign growths, and skin cancer. Because hair can make lesions difficult to see, mention any scalp spot that is new, changing, bleeding, painful, crusting, or not healing.
Patients with broader concerns about suspicious lesions can learn more about our total-body skin cancer exam in Brooklyn.
Hair thinning and shedding can be influenced by genetics, hormonal changes, illness, stress, medications, nutrition, and hair-care practices. These factors should be considered together with the pattern of hair loss and scalp findings rather than assumed to be the only cause.
Patients sometimes ask whether nicotine and vaping may affect hair health. Read our educational guide: Does Vaping Cause Hair Loss?
Androgen-sensitive hair follicles can be relevant in pattern hair loss. Patients using testosterone can review How to Prevent Hair Loss While Taking Testosterone.
For patients concerned about pressure, friction, or repeated headphone use, see our guide: Can Headphones Cause Hair Loss?
Illness, major weight changes, medications, nutritional issues, and other medical conditions may contribute to shedding. Additional evaluation or testing may be appropriate based on history and examination.
Include prescriptions, supplements, recent medication changes, and products used for hair or scalp treatment.
Be ready to describe whether loss was gradual or sudden and whether shedding, patches, itching, pain, or scale developed first.
Illness, stress, surgery, major weight change, pregnancy/postpartum changes, diet changes, and other health events can be relevant.
If you have prior lab results, scalp biopsy reports, or treatment records, bring them when available.
Medical evaluation of hair loss and scalp disease may be covered by insurance when medically necessary. Coverage for laboratory testing, biopsy, prescription treatment, injections, or other services depends on the plan, network, deductible, copay, diagnosis, and authorization requirements.
Self-pay consultations are available for patients without insurance. Testing, medications, procedures, pathology, or regenerative/cosmetic treatments may have separate costs.
Skin Glow Dermatology is located at 480 Court St, Suite #103, Brooklyn, NY 11231. Schedule with Yelena Terushkin, PA-C for hair thinning, shedding, patchy loss, itchy or inflamed scalp, or another hair and scalp concern.
Medical Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, laboratory testing, biopsy, or individualized treatment. Hair loss and scalp disorders have many possible causes, and treatment depends on the diagnosis. Insurance coverage varies by plan.
Updated: October 3, 2026
