Excessive shedding
More hair than usual in the shower, on your brush or around the home, particularly where the change has appeared relatively suddenly.
Hair Clinic · Clinical Assessment · South Kensington
Hair Loss & Scalp Health Clinic
Hair loss is not one condition — and the right treatment depends on understanding why your hair is shedding, thinning or changing.
At Santi London, we start with assessment rather than selling a treatment. We look at your pattern of hair loss, scalp health, medical history and possible triggers before discussing PRP, home-based treatments, further investigation or specialist referral.
Diagnosis before treatment
Why is my hair falling out?
That is the most important question to answer before deciding what to do about it.
Hair shedding can follow illness, stress or hormonal change. Gradual thinning may reflect pattern hair loss. An inflamed scalp can contribute to shedding, while patchy or scarring hair loss may require specialist dermatological assessment.
Sometimes more than one factor is present.
That is why our hair clinic begins with a clinical consultation rather than assuming that PRP — or any other single treatment — is automatically the answer.
What changes are you noticing?
Widening parting
Increasing scalp visibility through the parting or progressive thinning over the crown.
Receding hairline
Gradual recession at the temples or changes in the frontal hairline.
Patchy hair loss
Discrete areas of hair loss require proper assessment rather than being treated automatically as ordinary pattern thinning.
Post-pregnancy shedding
Increased shedding can occur after pregnancy and childbirth. The pattern, timing and persistence help determine whether further assessment is needed.
Scalp symptoms
Itching, scaling, redness, tenderness or other scalp changes can be important clues when assessing hair loss.
Common types and contributing factors
Pattern hair loss
Androgenetic or pattern hair loss typically develops gradually. Follicles progressively miniaturise, producing finer and shorter hairs over time.
The distribution differs between individuals and can affect both men and women.
Telogen effluvium
This is a form of diffuse shedding that can occur after a physiological or emotional stressor such as illness, surgery, significant stress, weight change or hormonal disruption.
The trigger may have occurred several months before the shedding becomes obvious.
Hormonal changes
Pregnancy, the post-partum period, menopause and other hormonal changes can alter the hair cycle. The appropriate approach depends on the pattern and clinical context.
Nutritional factors
Iron status, nutritional intake and selected deficiencies may contribute to shedding in some people. Testing should be guided by history and clinical assessment rather than routinely taking large numbers of supplements.
Inflammatory scalp conditions
Conditions associated with inflammation, itching or scaling may affect scalp health and sometimes contribute to shedding. Treatment of the underlying scalp condition may therefore be an important part of the plan.
Alopecia areata & scarring hair loss
Patchy autoimmune hair loss and suspected scarring alopecias require accurate diagnosis and may need dermatologist-led medical management rather than a cosmetic hair-restoration programme.
Not every case needs PRP.
The purpose of consultation is to identify the most appropriate
pathway — including recognising when treatment at Santi is not
the appropriate first step.
What happens during a hair-loss consultation?
Step 01
History
We discuss when the problem started, the pattern of change, recent health events, medication, family history, nutrition, hormonal factors and previous treatments.
Step 02
Scalp assessment
The scalp and hair pattern are examined. Dermoscopy may be used where appropriate to look more closely at follicles and scalp features.
Step 03
Treatment pathway
We explain what appears most likely, whether further investigation is sensible, and which treatment or referral options are appropriate.
Looking more closely
Scalp examination & dermoscopy
The pattern of hair loss can provide valuable information. A close scalp examination helps us look for miniaturisation, scaling, inflammation and other features that may influence the diagnosis and treatment plan.
Dermoscopy provides magnified visualisation of the scalp and hair follicles and may be incorporated where clinically useful.
We can also take baseline photographs so that progress can be compared over time rather than relying solely on memory.
Will I need blood tests?
Not everyone with hair loss requires the same panel of tests. Investigation should be driven by the history and pattern of loss.
When testing may help
Where the history suggests a nutritional, thyroid, hormonal or systemic contributor, appropriate blood tests may help clarify the picture.
We can advise when discussion with your GP or another clinician would be sensible.
Supplements are not a diagnosis
Taking iron, vitamin D, B12, zinc, biotin or other supplements without establishing whether there is a deficiency is not necessarily the best approach.
Where a deficiency is suspected, assessment and appropriate testing are preferable to indiscriminate supplementation.
Your hair-loss treatment pathway
There is no universal hair-loss protocol. Your plan depends on the diagnosis, the condition of the follicles and the stage of hair loss.
Scalp care
Where inflammation, scaling or irritation is present, improving scalp health may be an important first step. Appropriate cleansing or medicated scalp products can be discussed according to the underlying problem.
Medical pathways
Some forms of hair loss have established medical treatment options. Where prescription treatment is relevant, this should be discussed in an appropriate clinical setting after assessment of benefits, risks and contraindications.
PRP
Platelet-rich plasma may be considered for selected patients with early to moderate thinning where viable follicles remain.
Low-level light therapy
Home photobiomodulation or low-level light therapy may be considered as an adjunct for selected patterns of hair thinning and requires consistent use over time.
Nutrition
Adequate protein and a balanced diet matter to normal hair biology. Specific deficiencies should be addressed when identified rather than relying on generic “hair supplements”.
Dermatology referral
Patchy loss, suspected scarring, significant inflammation or a diagnosis requiring specialist medical management may be referred to dermatology.
Regenerative treatment
PRP for hair loss
Platelet-rich plasma — PRP — is prepared from a sample of your own blood. The blood is processed to concentrate the platelet-rich component before it is placed into selected areas of the scalp.
PRP contains platelet-derived signalling proteins involved in tissue repair processes. In hair restoration it is most relevant where follicles are still present and capable of producing hair.
Where PRP may help
- Early to moderate pattern thinning
- Areas where follicles remain viable
- Selected patients as part of a broader hair plan
- Maintenance following an initial course where appropriate
What PRP cannot do
- It cannot create new follicles
- It cannot reliably restore a completely bald, shiny area
- It does not correct every cause of shedding
- Results vary between individuals
Hair loss treatment at Santi London
A closer look at how we assess hair loss and approach treatment, including scalp health, PRP and longer-term hair restoration planning.
Hair loss treatment at Santi London · South Kensington
Hair treatment takes time
Weeks
Early treatment is about establishing the diagnosis, addressing obvious triggers and creating a consistent plan.
3–6 months
Changes in shedding, hair calibre and density are generally judged over months rather than days or weeks.
Long term
Some forms of hair loss are chronic and require ongoing management. Maintenance depends on the diagnosis, treatment and individual response.
Photography matters.
Where treatment is undertaken, like-for-like photographs are more
useful than trying to remember how the hair looked several months earlier.
When PRP may not be the answer
Sudden unexplained shedding
If hair loss has changed rapidly, identifying a possible trigger or underlying condition may be more important than immediately starting an injectable treatment.
Patchy hair loss
Alopecia areata and other forms of patchy loss require diagnosis before treatment is selected.
Scarring or inflammatory disease
Loss accompanied by marked redness, scale, pain, pustules or possible scarring may require specialist dermatological management.
Advanced follicle loss
PRP cannot regenerate follicles that are no longer viable. Where hair loss is advanced, other options may be more realistic.
At-home technology
Thrix low-level light therapy
For selected patients, low-level light therapy can provide a non-invasive home component to a broader hair-management plan.
The Thrix laser cap uses low-level light / photobiomodulation and is intended for regular home use. Like most hair-loss interventions, consistency matters and results should be assessed over months.
It is not a substitute for diagnosis, and suitability should be considered in the context of your pattern of hair loss.
Thrix LLLT cap: £1,200
Suitability discussed during consultation.
Suitability discussed during consultation.
Hair Clinic prices
Hair Loss Consultation
£220Clinical history, scalp assessment and a personalised investigation and treatment pathway.
PRP for Hair
From £500Platelet-rich plasma treatment following assessment and confirmation that PRP is appropriate for your pattern of hair loss.
Course of 6 · £2,500
Thrix LLLT Cap
£1,200Home low-level light therapy / photobiomodulation for selected hair-thinning concerns.
Treatment recommendations and final pricing are confirmed following assessment. Results vary between individuals.
Hair Loss FAQs
How do I know what is causing my hair loss?
The pattern, speed of change, scalp appearance, medical history, medication, recent illness, hormonal factors and family history all provide clues. Sometimes further investigation or blood testing is appropriate. This is why we recommend assessment before choosing a treatment.
Does everyone with hair loss need blood tests?
No. Testing should be guided by your history and the clinical pattern. Where nutritional, thyroid, hormonal or systemic factors are suspected, appropriate investigation may be recommended.
Is PRP suitable for all hair loss?
No. PRP is generally more relevant to selected cases of thinning where viable follicles remain. Patchy, scarring, inflammatory or otherwise unexplained hair loss may require a different approach.
Can PRP regrow hair on a completely bald area?
PRP cannot create new hair follicles and should not be expected to restore areas where follicles are no longer viable.
How many PRP sessions will I need?
Treatment is usually course-based rather than judged from a single session. The appropriate number and spacing of treatments depend on your diagnosis, stage of thinning and response.
How quickly will I see results?
Hair grows slowly. Changes in shedding, calibre and density are normally assessed over several months, with consistent photography helping to monitor progress.
Should I take biotin for hair loss?
Biotin deficiency can affect hair, but deficiency is uncommon. Routine high-dose supplementation is not automatically useful for every person experiencing hair loss. We prefer to identify relevant nutritional issues rather than recommend supplements indiscriminately.
Can stress cause hair shedding?
Significant physiological or emotional stress can be associated with telogen effluvium, a form of diffuse shedding. There is often a delay between the triggering event and noticeable hair loss. Other possible causes still need to be considered.
Can menopause affect hair?
Hormonal changes around menopause can coincide with changes in hair density and pattern. Assessment is useful because hormonal change may not be the only contributing factor.
What if my scalp is itchy or painful?
Tell us during consultation. Scaling, inflammation, itching, tenderness or other scalp symptoms can alter the diagnosis and may need treatment in their own right.
When should I see a dermatologist?
Patchy hair loss, suspected scarring, significant scalp inflammation, rapid unexplained loss or other complex presentations may warrant dermatological assessment. We can advise when referral is the more appropriate pathway.
Hair loss & PRP resources
Santi Hair Clinic · South Kensington
Start by understanding the hair loss
If you are noticing increased shedding, a widening parting, recession or a change in your scalp, the first step is not necessarily a treatment. It is understanding what is happening and which options are appropriate for you.
Santi London · 33 Thurloe Street · South Kensington · London SW7 2LQ