Frequently asked questions
Dermatology FAQs
The questions people ask most about Dermatology, at La Rose and across our Knowledge Centre articles.
Questions about this service at La Rose
Because among the commonest causes of hair loss are iron and ferritin deficiency, vitamin D deficiency and thyroid dysfunction, none of which is solved by a topical product. Once we know the cause, treatment is more targeted and more durable.
In many cases there is a link. Insulin resistance and PCOS can show on the skin as hormonal acne and excess hair. Some nutritional deficiencies, such as iron or zinc deficiency, can contribute to hair shedding or skin changes. That is why the dermatology and nutrition departments work together here.
They can improve, but the expectation has to be realistic: recent marks (red) respond far better than old ones (white). The consultation sets out the options that suit your case.
Do not stop it yourself. Shedding may relate to the pace of loss, too little protein or energy, iron or thyroid problems, a scalp condition, or the medicine. Review timing, food and treatment with the prescriber, and arrange dermatology assessment for patches, inflammation or marked loss.
No. Hair loss is a symptom with different causes, and a local procedure does not automatically treat iron deficiency, thyroid disease or a scalp disorder. Diagnosis comes first; then the clinician can explain whether mesotherapy has a role, the limits of evidence, risks and alternatives.
Dark circles and dullness have many causes, and results depend on the cause and injected substance; there is no universal protocol or guarantee. Dermatology assessment separates pigment, vessels, allergy, volume loss or an internal cause and explains whether injection or another option is more appropriate.
Questions answered in our articles
Select a question to open its answer in the article, with its sources and full context.
Hair loss in men: when should you get checked?
- Is a receding hairline normal for every man?
- Is family history enough to diagnose male pattern loss?
- Does every case of hair loss need blood tests?
- Is a sudden bald patch the same as hereditary loss?
- Should I start a hair supplement on my own?
- Will cutting hair or washing less stop shedding?
- How long does treatment take to show results?
- If I stop treatment, will the results last?
Telogen effluvium: understanding sudden hair shedding
- Does stress alone prove that I have telogen effluvium?
- Why did shedding begin after I recovered from the illness?
- Does telogen effluvium cause bald patches?
- Will cutting my hair or washing less stop the shedding?
- Should I start iron or biotin immediately?
- How can I tell that recovery is progressing?
- How many hairs a day is normal to shed?
- Which events can trigger sudden shedding?
Itchy bumps: when is it folliculitis rather than acne?
- Does intense itching in bumps mean it is not typical acne vulgaris?
- Why can typical acne antibiotics worsen Malassezia folliculitis?
- How do you distinguish shaving bumps from bacterial folliculitis?
- Does popping or scrubbing bumps with a loofah help them clear faster?
- When do itchy bumps require a specialist dermatology visit rather than pharmacy mixtures?
- Where does folliculitis appear and what does it look like?
- How can I stop these bumps from coming back?
Dark neck in pregnancy: when to seek assessment
- Does a dark neck in pregnancy mean I have gestational diabetes?
- Why is my neck turning dark in the third trimester, and are the dark lines on my neck normal?
- Should I scrub my neck or use lemon or an exfoliant to remove the colour?
- Will neck colour return to normal immediately after birth?
- When should itch with colour change prompt a call to the pregnancy team?
- Is darkening in other body areas normal in pregnancy?
- What about patches on the face during pregnancy?
- When does neck darkening start in pregnancy, and does it get worse?
- Does a dark, velvety neck in pregnancy mean acanthosis nigricans?
- If my neck darkened, do I need a glucose test earlier than scheduled?
Acne in pregnancy: safe assessment and care guidelines
- Does pregnancy acne resolve spontaneously after childbirth?
- What should be done if a woman was using a retinol cream before discovering her pregnancy?
- Is azelaic acid considered safe for treating acne and pigmentation in pregnancy?
- How do you distinguish ordinary itching from gestational liver cholestasis?
- Are chemical peels or laser procedures suitable for treating acne during pregnancy?
- What daily skin care helps while waiting for the assessment?
- When does acne need to be seen rather than left?
Facial melasma and sun protection: realistic clinical management
- Can facial melasma be permanently cured, or does it recur?
- Why is standard untinted sunscreen insufficient for melasma management?
- Are hydroquinone-containing creams safe for continuous unsupervised use?
- How do you distinguish facial melasma from post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation?
- When does a dark facial macule require urgent evaluation to exclude malignancy?
- Where does melasma appear on the face, and what makes it more likely?
- Does melasma go away on its own after pregnancy?
Eczema flares: when to review your routine and when to seek urgent care
- Is eczema a contagious disease that can spread between family members?
- What is the proper method for using topical corticosteroids safely?
- When does an eczema flare become a medical emergency requiring hospitalization?
- Must eczema patients eliminate specific foods like dairy and eggs?
- What is the difference between an ordinary lotion and a heavy eczema ointment?
- What can trigger an eczema flare?
- Should I stop the moisturiser once my skin improves?
Hair shedding during medical weight loss: is the medicine the cause?
- Should I stop my weight-loss medicine if shedding starts?
- Does telogen shedding begin immediately after weight loss?
- Will biotin or iron solve the problem?
- How can I distinguish shedding from breakage?
- Will hair recover after weight stabilizes?
- What information should I bring to the appointment?
- How many hairs a day is normal to shed?
- Why can hair fall out on weight-loss medicines?
Dark neck skin and insulin resistance: when is the link relevant?
- Is a dark neck one of the signs of insulin resistance?
- Can a dark neck mean diabetes?
- Can I scrub it off or use a lightening cream?
- Is there one test that confirms insulin resistance?
- When should I see a doctor quickly?
- Does an insulin resistance dark neck fade, and how do you get rid of it?
- Where else can it appear, and what does it feel like?
- Can a dark neck come from polycystic ovary syndrome?
- Can the neck be dark without insulin resistance?
- Who is most likely to develop acanthosis nigricans?
Hair-loss blood tests: what should come first?
- Should I order a complete hair-loss panel myself?
- If tests are normal, does that mean the hair loss is not real?
- Is iron deficiency always the cause?
- How many days before testing should I stop biotin?
- Can a shampoo or supplement replace finding the cause?
- Should I go to a commercial hair clinic first or to a doctor?
- Can hairstyles be the cause even when blood tests are normal?
Biotin before blood tests: why the laboratory needs to know
- Does biotin affect every blood test?
- Does biotin itself change thyroid hormone levels?
- How long should I stop biotin before a test?
- What if I forgot to mention biotin before testing?
- Should I take biotin simply because my hair is shedding?
- What do TSH and free T4 mean in a thyroid test?
- If my hair is falling out, what causes are there besides low biotin?
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