💡 Quick answer
Photograph the part under flake-free light if you can. Do not triple foam because the shoulders were white.
Questions answered here
Key termsFinasteride
Scale can make density look worse on camera. Traction and telogen are other files. This is not medical advice.
Do not start finasteride from a dandruff selfie. Related: shampoo-change shedding.
Pustules, honey-crust, or hair coming out with pain is dermatology, not a zinc-pyrithione aisle. This is not medical advice.
Try the free self-check →📚 Sources
Sources: AAD ↗
FAQ
Is every flake AGA?
No. Seborrhea and pattern can coexist. Exam, not a flake count.
Does ketoconazole replace 5% foam?
Adjunct, not a Drug Facts swap.
Raise minoxidil on an itchy scalp?
Not on broken inflamed skin. Treat the dermatitis plan with a clinician.
Same as tinea vs areata?
Kids with scale patches are another URL. This file is adult flake versus pattern.
Explore more
Self-check →Treatments →Transplant →Women →New →Hair Loss Causes →Hair-Loss Glossary →Hair-Loss Questions & Answers →Hair-Loss Ingredient Evidence Ratings →Hair Transplant Cost by City →Research →Guides →Browse all →
Not medical advice. General education only; it does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a licensed professional. 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