Hair loss and the scalp

We ask when the hair loss started, about recent illness, stress, diet and medicines, and look closely at your scalp. A blood test or a small scalp biopsy can help find the cause.
Hair grows slowly, so we judge a treatment over months, not weeks.
Nail problems

Thick, discolored or crumbling nails are often a fungal infection, but not always. We test a small clipping before we treat, so the medicine fits the cause.
Show us a dark streak in a nail that is new or changing, so we can check it.
Questions about hair and nail conditions
Will my hair grow back?
It depends on the cause. Hair lost after an illness often grows back on its own. Other types need treatment to slow or stop the loss. We tell you what to expect once we know the cause.
Can you treat nail fungus?
Yes. Creams, nail lacquers and pills can help. Nails grow slowly, so treatment takes months, and we confirm the fungus with a lab test first.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Imogen Ashdown, MD, FAAD, October 7, 2026
