Specialty care for hair and scalp conditions in Burlington, Massachusetts. This page explains how to book a visit, what to bring and where to find our patient guides.
Call 781.744.8444Prepare for your visitGet directions
Appointments
67 South Bedford Street, Suite 100E
Burlington, MA 01803
Phone: 781.744.8444
Clinic page on lahey.org
For referrals, insurance, or changes to an existing appointment, please call the office at 781.744.8444.
Your first visit
We will review your history, examine your scalp, and discuss treatment options. Bringing the following information helps us make the most of your time.
- When you first noticed hair loss, and where on the scalp it started.
- Every hair loss treatment you have tried, with doses and dates. Include pills, topicals, injections, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP).
- Supplements and shampoos you use.
- Any lab results you already have, such as iron, vitamin D, thyroid tests, or hemoglobin A1c. You do not need new tests before your visit.
- Any illness, surgery, pregnancy, weight change, new medication, or major stress in the past 3 to 6 months.
- Personal or family history of thyroid disease, diabetes, autoimmune conditions, eczema, or allergies.
Scalp photos. With your permission, we take standardized scalp photos so we can compare your progress over time. If you wear braids, extensions, a wig, or a head covering, come as you are. Our team will talk with you about what is comfortable.
Sudden shedding: telogen effluvium
Telogen effluvium (TE) is a common cause of sudden, diffuse hair shedding. You may notice more hair in the shower, in your brush, or on your pillow. This can be very distressing. In most people, TE improves once the trigger has passed.
Patient handout: Download Dr. Senna's guide to telogen effluvium (PDF). It explains the hair cycle, common triggers and what regrowth looks like, with photos.
How the hair cycle works
A stressful event for the body, or trigger, can push many growing hairs into the resting phase at the same time. A few months later, those hairs shed together.
Common triggers
- Illness with high fever, hospitalization, or surgery
- Pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy loss
- Significant or rapid weight loss, even when intentional
- Changes in thyroid function or thyroid medication
- Starting, stopping, or changing hormonal birth control or other hormones
- Some new medications
- Major emotional stress
- Entering menopause
What to expect
Shedding usually settles within several months, and hair then regrows gradually. Because hair grows about 1 cm a month, it can take a year or more for longer hair to feel full again. In some people, shedding lasts longer or comes back, especially if a trigger continues. TE can also occur alongside other types of hair loss.
What you can do
There is no proven treatment that stops TE shedding once it starts. Supplements are not needed unless a test shows a deficiency, which your clinician can treat. If you think a medication is involved, talk with the clinician who prescribed it before stopping or changing it.
See a dermatologist if shedding lasts longer than about 6 months, if you see thinning patches or a widening part, if your scalp is itchy, painful, or red, or if you are worried at any point. An evaluation can confirm the cause and look for other conditions.
Patient guides
Read about each condition on our Hair Loss Conditions page. Printed guides on these topics are also available at your visit.
Alopecia areata
Patchy hair loss and treatment options, including JAK inhibitors, a newer class of pills.Scarring alopecias
Lichen planopilaris (LPP), frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA), and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA).Pattern hair loss
Female and male pattern hair loss.Hair and scalp care
Hair care basics, curly hair care, and ingredients to avoid.Nutrition
Iron-rich foods and nutrition for healthy hair.Procedures
Care instructions for PRP and scalp biopsy.Support and community
National Alopecia Areata Foundation
Support groups, education, and research news for people with alopecia areata and their families.Scarring Alopecia Foundation
Education, webinars, and support for people living with scarring alopecia.This page is for general education and does not replace medical advice. Please talk with your dermatologist about your own care.
