1. Contents
Do not skip the red-flag gate. A TOC is navigation, not a diagnosis.
💡 Quick answer
We do not prescribe. Do not skip the red-flag gate.
Questions answered here
AAD/NHS/Keeps-style IA. Affiliates never move a grade. We do not invent PMIDs.
2. Photo protocol
Same light, same angle, same part. Changing filters wrecks comparison.
3. 0–12 month timeline
Calling failure before month 4 is often too early. Maintenance is continued use.
4. Dread shed
Topical minoxidil can shed more at first. Often telogen shift. Estimate.
5. Clinic questions
Patterned or diffuse? New drug, birth, fever? Possible pregnancy? Iron/thyroid labs?
6. Norwood/Ludwig map
Stages are maps, not certificates.
7. Female vs male path
Female patterning has more TE/iron/hormone forks. Do not copy men’s 1 mg finasteride.
8. Child / AA gate
A child, circular patches, pus/pain — stop self-triage.
9. Oral minoxidil
Oral is often off-label. Off-label is never shown as approved.
10. Ketoconazole shampoo
Adjunct, not first-line.
11. Graft arithmetic
Grafts ≈ area × density goal. Quotes are in person. Lowest price is not safest.
12. Cost is an estimate
Country, graft count, and packages vary.
13. Regulator chips
FDA · MFDS · PMDA · EMA. Dutasteride for AGA: approved in Korea/Japan; off-label in US/EU.
14. PRP honesty
Evidence is heterogeneous. We do not promote it to first-line.
15. LLLT
Some devices have safety clearance. We do not write that they replace minoxidil or finasteride.
16. Biotin
Not a cure unless deficient. Guarantee ads stay D.
17. Iron · thyroid
Diffuse loss can have lab causes. See a clinician.
18. Traction / hairstyle
Tight pull can cause traction alopecia. We do not blame the culture.
19. Postpartum TE
Diffuse loss months after birth is common. It often settles.
20. Illness TE
Loss after high fever or surgery can be telogen. No invented PMIDs.
21. Before/after detector
Before/after without light, angle, and duration is marketing.
22. Maintenance = continued use
The medicine is not magic; continued use is. Stopping reverses.
23. We do not prescribe
Finasteride and dutasteride are teratogenic. Do not handle broken tablets if pregnancy is possible.
24. Sources rail
AAD, NHS, FDA labels. No invented PMIDs.
25. Term chips
AGA · TE · AA. Nicknames are not diagnoses.
26. Print visit sheet
Keeps questions and photo protocol.
27. Share as education
Share “evidence literacy”, not “cured”.
28. Related
Evidence literacy · method · treatment hub.
29. FAQ schema
FAQs are red flags, labels, and timelines.
30. Re-read rule
The date moves only when we re-read.
FAQ
Do you invent PMIDs?
No. Hubs link AAD, NHS, and FDA labels.
Do you prescribe?
No. Visit questions and evidence literacy only.
Explore more
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Not medical advice. General education only; it does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a licensed professional. Figures such as 1 mg or 5% are labelled strengths you may see in your country — not a dosing instruction. Consult a board-certified dermatologist before starting, stopping or changing any treatment.
⚠️ When to see a doctor — don’t self-treat
- Sudden patchy or circular bald spots
- Redness, scaling, pus, pain or itch (possible scarring alopecia — treat urgently)
- Broken hairs or rapid loss
- Loss with body-wide signs (weight loss, fatigue, cycle changes, acne, extra hair)
- Loss right after a new medication
- Any hair loss in a child