Hair Loss Test At Home: What’s The Best Way To Diagnose Hair Loss Online?

It’s tough for anyone to start losing their hair. Even though hair loss is common for those of a certain age, that doesn’t make it any easier to have a doctor prodding around your head, pointing out any bald spots or to go through a check-out line with your over-the-counter hair loss treatment. Those kinds of processes can be more demoralizing than hopeful. 

That’s one of the reasons online brands are so great – they can give you a way to discreetly get diagnosed from your own home. 

What are the online brands you can turn to for hair loss? In this article, we’ll take a look at both men’s and women’s telemedicine platforms for hair loss like Keeps, Hims & Hers, Roman, and Musely. Not only do we review the different ways to diagnose and treat hair loss from home, but we also cover how to know if you need treatment and how to get it, should you determine it’s the right step for you.

Cutting to the chase: 

Instead of visiting a doctor or hair clinic in-person or using the trial and error approach for over-the-counter treatments, it’s possible to get diagnosed and treated for hair loss straight from your home. 

When comparing a few of the leading options that offer this service online, our #1 pick for men is Keeps who offers an easy, risk-free hair loss diagnosis consultation to help assess your situation online, as well as a dedicated care team should you be eligible for treatment:

For women facing hair loss, Hers is our top pick. We’ll explain why below, but just in case you’re short on time…

What causes hair loss in the first place? 

Source: Keeps

First, let’s consider why you’re losing your hair in the first place. This answer will directly relate to what you should do about it. Most men develop androgenic alopecia as they age. You’ve probably heard it called by its less formal name, male pattern baldness. 

While you might have thought that hair thinning and balding would start later in life, it actually tends to begin around 35, and for some, it can start as early as your early 20s. This is usually related to an onset of androgenic alopecia, which is the cause of approximately 95% of men’s hair loss. That might be a hard pill to swallow, and it’s the reason that many men want to take action to prevent losing their hair. 

Male pattern baldness leads to the shrinking of hair follicles, and can eventually stop hair growth completely. This is when you’ll notice the beginning processes of going bald, which include thinning in the areas of the temples and crown. 

In a small minority of cases, hair loss in men is not caused by androgenic alopecia. Other possibilities could include medical conditions or medications contributing to balding. Otherwise, lifestyle factors like an imbalanced diet or extreme stress can be factors in hair loss. 

What to do when you start losing your hair

Because there are varying causes, including the possibility of an underlying medical condition, it’s important to start by talking to a medical professional, specifically a dermatologist that specializes in hair loss. They can determine whether you’re facing male pattern baldness or if there might be something else going on, in which case they would refer you to a different specialist or physician. 

From there, you can receive recommendations for treatment, including prescription medication (if needed). Fortunately, this process is more convenient than ever, as you have the choice of visiting with a dermatologist online.

Note: If you suspect your hair loss could be due to an underlying medical condition, poor diet, unmanageable stress, or medication side effects, by all means, start by going to your primary care doctor or a relevant specialist with your concerns. Especially if hair loss is in conjunction with other medical or physical issues, you could benefit from other health condition evaluations first and foremost.

How to diagnose hair loss online

Source: Keeps

If you’ve noticed your hairline receding or your hair starting to thin, one of the most important steps you can take to prevent further hair loss is to consult with a hair loss specialist. Because male pattern baldness causes permanent hair loss, acting quickly can help stop it in its tracks and allow you to keep your full head of hair. 

Seeing a doctor for hair loss may seem like an unnecessary step now that hair loss drugs like minoxidil are available over the counter. But, if you’re experiencing the early signs of male pattern baldness, hair thinning, or anything of the likes, there are still plenty of reasons to consult with a hair loss specialist.

One of the first reasons to consult a hair loss doctor is to determine the type of hair loss you have. Hair loss can occur for a variety of reasons. It could be caused by chronic illnesses, severe stress, a serious injury, a poor diet, skin diseases, or it could be hereditary.

Because hair loss doctors specialize in determining the root (pun intended) causes of hair loss, they can quickly and easily inform you of why your hair loss is occurring and what you can do to effectively treat it.

So, why choose an online hair loss doctor?

When seeing a hair loss doctor or dermatologist in person, it can become far too likely to put your hair loss diagnosis or treatment on the back burner due to factors such as long commutes and waiting rooms.

Telemedicine platforms make hair loss diagnosis and treatment at home possible, eliminating the need to visit a dermatologist’s office or a hair clinic in person. You can avoid any feelings of shame or embarrassment that many people associate with the in-person process. Not to mention that getting diagnosed and ordering online simplifies the process significantly. 

While you could attempt to self-diagnose based on what you’ve read online or what a friend’s told you, you run the risk of using the wrong chemicals or treatments for your condition and could end up harming yourself or hindering the process. Besides that, you’ll likely end up with a hand mirror trying to catch a glimpse of your scalp in the mirror or with a partner or roommate that’s not quite sure of what they’re looking for. 

Source: Hers

An online hair loss doctor can inform you about each type of treatment’s risks and side effects, including medications and cosmetic procedures, and a dermatologist can prescribe FDA-approved treatments that you wouldn’t otherwise have access to on your own. It’s best to focus on these effective, proven treatments instead of over-the-counter options that may or may not work. Nonetheless, dermatologists often give a customized recommendation that includes both prescription and over-the-counter approaches combined for the best results. Rather than trying to figure it out on your own, you’ll have expert guidance. 

Many online hair loss platforms such as Keeps and Hims provide free online consultations that include a series of questions to pinpoint your hair loss condition and take into account your treatment preferences. A doctor then reviews the results in order to determine and prescribe the best treatment plan for you.

The process of online hair loss treatments and doctor’s consultation

Getting a diagnosis online is simple. You typically fill out a brief online questionnaire and provide images of your scalp to assist doctors in determining the best course of treatment for you. They will also ask about your symptoms, concerns, and other details, just like any dermatologist or hair loss specialist would in person – except you won’t have to get off the couch or leave the office for an appointment!

These online hair loss platforms will then connect you to a licensed US doctor, and their team will analyze your information and determine whether prescription hair loss medications are appropriate for your condition – all within 24 hours. If you have any concerns or questions, you can also chat with a board-certified doctor directly through their unlimited messaging option.

After reviewing your questionnaire and photographs, the doctors will create a custom prescription that they believe is best for you. If approved, your product(s) will be shipped to you on a monthly basis for free (or based on a frequency of your choosing).

Virtual vs in-person diagnosis: Are at home hair loss tests reliable? 

Once you’ve determined if you want to see a dermatologist to assess your hair loss, you can then choose between going to one in-person or choosing which platform through which to diagnose hair loss online. The answer to the second part is to consult with one virtually through telemedicine. You may then wonder whether the two options are truly equivalent. Can a telemedicine hair loss doctor provide an accurate diagnosis via your computer or smartphone?

Research has found that teledermatology (which includes online hair loss services) is reliable and comparable to in-person visits for diagnosis and treatment management. Nonetheless, there may be certain downsides – researchers do note that more research is needed to determine the effectiveness of teledermatology. The research also notes the difficulty of taking an accurate picture of your scalp to show a doctor online, as it’s difficult to get the right image exposure and pixel ratio in this area for the doctor to gain an accurate view. 

Furthermore, some researchers suggest that you see a dermatologist in person for the initial diagnosis, and then consider combining an online hair loss consultation with regular in-person checkups with a primary care physician.

Best at home hair loss tests for men: Keeps vs Hims vs Roman vs Rex MD

Best at home hair loss tests for women: Hers vs Musely vs Nutrafol

How to get treatment after hair loss diagnosis

Doctors do not prescribe a one-size-fits-all hair loss treatment because, as we’ve mentioned, hair loss can occur for a variety of reasons.

The online comprehensive consultation process assists the hair loss doctor in examining your scalp to determine the primary cause of your hair loss. Based on the type and severity of your hair loss, they will then recommend the best treatment for you.

Finasteride

Finasteride, available as a prescription oral and topical spray, is classified as a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor. It treats hair loss by preventing the actions of 5-alpha-reductase. Therefore, testosterone is not converted into DHT, which is the cause of male pattern baldness. While this medication can provide excellent results for men suffering from male pattern baldness, it is not suitable for those experiencing hair loss as a result of lifestyle factors or stress.

Because finasteride is a Rx medication, you will need a doctor’s prescription. Telemedicine companies such as Hims, Keeps, and Roman connect you to an online licensed doctor who will evaluate your information and determine whether finasteride is appropriate for your condition. If they decide this, they’ll then prescribes it to you within 24 hours. Should you have any concerns or questions, you can also speak with a board-certified doctor directly, made possible with free unlimited follow-ups for ongoing conversations.

Source: Hims

Dutasteride

Dutasteride works in the same way as finasteride, by inhibiting the function of 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Dutasteride has been shown to increase male hair growth more than finasteride. This is because it inhibits both types I and II 5-alpha-reductase, whereas finasteride only inhibits type II. However, because it has not been FDA-approved specifically to treat hair loss, it may have a higher incidence of side effects. Strut Health, which we reviewed for topical finasteride and dutasteride, is one of the few telemedicine platforms that offers custom dutasteride formulas.

Source: Keeps 

Spironolactone

While finasteride is not suitable for women, brands such as Hers and Musely offer Spironolactone to treat hair loss in women. Spironolactone inhibits androgen production, which are sex hormones produced by men, including testosterone. Reduced androgen production can slow the progression of hair loss caused by androgenic alopecia.

Source: Hers

Minoxidil

Minoxidil stimulates hair growth by acting as a vasodilator, which opens blood vessels and increases circulation to the treated area. This can stimulate and reactivate dormant hair follicles, resulting in their development. Minoxidil is also recommended for extending the development phase of hair follicles. When these effects are combined, they can produce thicker, fuller hair.

Other hair loss treatments

Other treatments are available, but they may or may not be as effective. Treatments other than finasteride and minoxidil have not been proven or approved by the FDA for this purpose. If you want to give them a shot, however, other treatments for men and women include biotin supplements, tretinoin, spironolactone, ketoconazole, and nutraceuticals containing various plant ingredients. Nutrafol for men and women is at the forefront of providing 100% drug-free supplements to prevent and regrow hair loss.

The verdict: What’s the best online test for hair loss?

This guide should have provided you with enough information to make informed comparisons and decisions about the best hair loss providers and treatments for you. Online hair loss doctors are the ideal solution because the process is convenient, affordable, and (in most cases) just as effective as meeting with an in-person doctor. The online process allows you to take a proactive approach to hair loss treatment by eliminating the back and forth commute to an in-person doctor, hour-long waiting rooms, referrals, and picking up your prescription from a pharmacy.

While many of these brands provide similar prescriptions and compounds to treat hair loss, some go beyond finasteride and minoxidil, such as Hims’ biotin gummies and DHT shampoos, and Keeps’ thickening shampoos and pomade.

Similarly, other online platforms excel in their diagnostic approach and doctor consultations, with doctors personally reaching out to you for follow-ups, working closely with you to combat hair loss from every angle. 

Keeps is our top recommendation for men who want to consult with a doctor online. They offer a higher level of service which includes sharing photos for a better diagnosis. It also helps treat stress-related hair loss (in addition to male pattern baldness), and has shown great before and after results. If you have any questions along the way, Keeps’ team of care consultants is available 24/7 to assist you. They also provide clinically proven prescription and over-the-counter hair loss treatments at a lower cost than competitors.

Hers is our top choice for online hair loss medications for women. Because a smaller percentage of women experience hair loss, there are relatively fewer telemedicine platforms that cater to women.  Hers provides similar high-quality online hair loss doctor consultations and have specialized, clinically proven solutions for women’s hair concerns, such as prescription medications and over-the-counter options, as well as personalized treatment plans tailored to your specific needs.

Have you tried any of the mentioned at home hair loss tests and treatments? Let us know about your experience in the comments below!