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Unfortunately, finding a qualified children's hair loss doctor is much like searching for a needle in a haystack. If the ailment at hand were
cancer, the chances of finding a good children's specialist would be high. Unfortunately for children's hair loss patients, it's much more
difficult to find someone who truly knows their stuff. When we began developing these pages, we contacted some of the leading researchers in
the industry. we were informed that there were no highly-educated specialists on children's hair loss in Southern California. It took our team
nearly 2 months to locate a physician who was extensively educated in the area of diagnosing and treating children's hair loss. Do not be
surprised if you encounter simi liar challenges.
Dermatologists are the physicians which handle hair disorders in general, so this is a good place to start. Most dermatologists know only
enough about men's hair loss to get by, so extensive knowledge on children's hair loss is rare. Don't inquire about this issue with a general
practitioner or family care physician. If your health insurance allows it (typically PPO plans), you can go directly to a specialist. However,
if you have an HMO, you will need a referral from your primary care physician. Take notes on what you see in this guide and have it prepared
for your physician so they know you want a referral. Be polite, but stand your ground until you get the referral.
Another great resource is the American Academy of Dermatology's Physician Referral Service. There, you can type in your city and see a list
of dermatologists in your area. Click each name and find the section labeled "Specialties". If "alopecia", "hair loss", or "children's skin
conditions" are not listed verbatim, read through the rest of their profile and see if it is mentioned. Note, these doctors may NOT be in your
insurance provider's network. You may need to do some cross referencing. Many insurance web sites have their own physician finder as well. If
you are unable to find a specialist in your area, make use of the AAD's more broad Statewide Search. You will be presented with all the
registered dermatologists in your state, listed by city. Some have profiles, some don't, but all have contact information. It is worth the
work to print out a list and call them one by one, inquiring as to the physician's experience with children's hair loss.
At this point, it is assumed that you have already been to a physician and received an accurate diagnosis. Of the five types of children's
hair loss covered, three have treatment options which involve products or physician intervention. We will cover these here. We'd also like to
invite you to register and post your story and your questions on our Children's Hair Loss Support Forums. Someone will be there to help you
with your questions.
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