How the visit tends to run
Every provider works a little differently, but a scalp assessment often follows a rough order.
- You describe what you have noticed and when it started.
- The provider asks about your health history, medicines, diet, stress, illness, childbirth and family pattern.
- They look at your scalp and at where and how your hair is thinning or shedding.
- They talk through what they think is worth doing next, which may include blood tests or a dermatologist referral.
A licensed provider decides what is suitable for you. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Signs that point to a doctor
Part of what a provider considers is whether your situation needs a doctor or dermatologist. Some signs usually call for one:
- Hair loss that came on suddenly
- Round or patchy bald spots
- Pain, burning or tenderness on the scalp
- Bleeding, oozing, crusting or other signs of infection
- Hair changes that arrived with other new symptoms, such as unusual tiredness or weight change
If any of these sound familiar, see a doctor or dermatologist. If you are already talking with a provider, you can ask them about a referral and what to bring.
Write a short timeline
One of the most helpful things you can bring to a scalp assessment is a simple timeline. It does not need to be neat. A few lines on a phone note will do.
Write down roughly when you first noticed a change, and what you noticed: more shedding, a wider part, a sore patch, itching. Then add anything else from around that time. A new medicine, a stressful stretch, an illness, a change in diet, a pregnancy or birth, a new hair product or style. Providers often ask about the months before a change started, so jotting it down now saves you trying to remember on the spot.
Questions about scalp assessment
Should I wash my hair before the appointment?
Ask the provider when they confirm the visit. Some like to see the scalp as it normally is, others prefer clean hair. Many suggest skipping styling products, dry shampoo and hair fibers that day so the scalp is easy to see.
Does Servetail Scalp Consult Desk do the assessment?
No. Servetail Scalp Consult Desk is a request service. We pass your request to a provider in or near Las Vegas, and that provider runs the assessment and sets the cost. The how it works page explains the steps.
Will one visit tell me what is going on?
Sometimes a provider has a clear view after one visit. Often they want tests, a referral or a follow-up to compare how things look over time. Ask at the visit what they can tell now and what they would want to check later.
Write down what you have noticed, then send it to a local hair and scalp provider.
Ask a provider