Hair Restoration
Serving Patients in North Suffolk, Suffolk, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Smithfield, and Surrounding Areas
Serving Patients in North Suffolk, Suffolk, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Smithfield, and Surrounding Areas
Rooted in Confidence
When your hair starts looking thinner, it's hard to know what will help. You may have tried a new shampoo already, or spent time looking at treatments online. The advice can get confusing when you don't yet know why your hair is changing. At Clarity Acne & Aesthetic Dermatology, we start by finding out what's behind your hair loss. Deborah Quinn, DNP, FNP-BC, DCNP, has nearly two decades of dermatology experience. She'll help you understand what's happening and talk through the options that make sense for you. Some people need medication. Others may benefit from adding a treatment such as PRP or light therapy.
Our office is in North Suffolk, serving patients from Suffolk, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Smithfield, and surrounding Hampton Roads communities.
A Fuller Understanding
Hair restoration can help you hold on to the hair you have and, in some cases, grow fuller, natural-looking hair. Treatments differ in invasiveness, mechanism, and effectiveness. Some slow the changes behind inherited thinning. Others support hair follicles, the small structures in your scalp where hair grows.
We may focus on getting shedding under control before looking for more fullness. That takes patience, but it gives us a useful way to judge progress. The right starting point depends on the cause: treatment for inherited thinning won't necessarily help hair that's shedding after an illness.
Hair can thin for several reasons, and the pattern doesn't always tell the whole story. A scalp condition may need treatment even when the hair loss looks similar to someone else's.
Tell us if your scalp feels sore or itchy, even if you're mainly concerned about thinning. Sudden bald patches or areas of complete hair loss are worth mentioning too. These details help us understand what needs attention.
Clarity Begins Here
We'll ask when you first noticed the change and evaluate your scalp and hair-loss pattern during the visit. We'll also review your medications and any recent health changes. From there, we can decide if you need testing. Clarity can arrange blood work or take a small scalp sample, called a biopsy, when it would help explain the hair loss.
You may not need tests if the examination gives us a clear answer. When we recommend blood work, we're checking for a possible contributor, such as a thyroid problem. A biopsy can help when the cause is less clear, or we suspect a condition that's inflaming the scalp.
We'll talk about what you've tried and what you could keep up with at home. Applying a product every day may suit you better than taking a tablet, or you may prefer a light-therapy device. Office visits take a different kind of commitment. Those practical details belong in the conversation too, so you can consult with us about what fits your routine.
Your Options, Thoughtfully Chosen
Your treatment plan may include medication or an in-office procedure. Sometimes it makes sense to combine them. We'll explain what each treatment is meant to help with so you understand why we're recommending it.
Targeted Support for Fuller Hair
Minoxidil helps some people with pattern hair loss grow fuller hair. You can apply it to your scalp, or we may consider a low-dose tablet. The tablet is used off-label for hair loss, which means that use isn't part of its FDA approval. It can affect blood pressure. Swelling or a racing heartbeat are possible side effects, and some people grow unwanted hair on their face or body. We'll review your health before prescribing it.
Finasteride and dutasteride work on DHT, a hormone that can cause susceptible hair follicles to shrink. Reducing DHT can help slow pattern hair loss. Oral finasteride is FDA-approved for male pattern hair loss. Dutasteride is used off-label for hair loss. These medicines can cause sexual side effects or mood changes and aren't suitable during pregnancy. We'll discuss the risks that apply to you before you start.
We also offer topical prescriptions made with a combination of ingredients. These are called compounded medications, and they aren't FDA-approved as a finished formula. Applying a medicine to the scalp doesn't remove all its risks: topical finasteride can enter the bloodstream and transfer to other people. Let us know about pregnancy plans or breastfeeding so we can explain which options to avoid.
Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP hair restoration, uses part of your own blood to help support thinning hair. We separate out the platelets, which contain proteins called growth factors. These may help support gradual regrowth in hair follicles that are still active. PRP can be a great option for mild to moderate hair loss when you'd like to consider a minimally invasive procedure. Clarity offers PRP injections and may also combine PRP with scalp microneedling. Your provider will explain which approach fits your treatment plan.
Studies have found improvements in hair density with PRP, but the amount of improvement varies. It tends to make more sense for early thinning than an area that's been completely bald for a long time. PRP can't bring back follicles that scarring has destroyed, and some people don't see much change.
REVIAN RED is a cap that uses red LED light to help promote hair growth in certain types of pattern hair loss. You use it at home, with a prescribed 10-minute daily treatment. That makes it convenient, provided you can make it part of your routine.
We'll check that the device is appropriate for your hair-loss pattern and skin type. It takes months to judge the response. You may use light therapy alongside medication or PRP if the combination fits your needs.
You may have seen Nutrafol or other nutraceuticals while looking for hair-loss treatments. These supplements may have a supporting role, but they don't replace care for a medical cause. Taking extra vitamins won't necessarily improve your hair. We'll look at what you're already taking and whether there's a reason to suspect a deficiency.
The right shampoo and conditioner can make your scalp more comfortable and help reduce breakage. They may also make your hair feel fuller. That doesn't mean they're treating the changes inside the follicles that cause pattern hair loss.
Scalp microneedling uses small needles to make tiny punctures in the scalp. At Clarity, PEP Factor scalp treatment is followed by red LED light. We also offer Ariessence Pure PDGF+ with microneedling. Evidence for hair regrowth with these products is less established than for medicines such as minoxidil. We'll talk about what they may offer and what's still uncertain before adding them to your plan.
Ariessence pure PDGF+ is a topical cosmetic product. It isn't FDA-approved to regrow hair. The FDA hasn't cleared microneedling devices for hair loss or for use with other products. We'll explain what that means for the treatment you're considering, including the risks.
More Fullness, More Possibility
Depending on the cause of your hair loss, treatment may help reduce shedding or make your hair look fuller, which can also improve confidence. Medication can slow inherited thinning and sometimes help hair regrow. If your scalp is inflamed or uncomfortable, treating that condition can make daily hair care easier too.
We'll talk about what improvement could look like for you and which approach offers the best results for your diagnosis. Keeping the hair you have can be a useful result, even if treatment won't restore the fullness you had years ago. You should have a clear idea of what's possible before deciding how much time or money to put into it.
Care That Fits You
You don't need to know which treatment you want before coming in. If your hair is thinning or shedding more than usual, an evaluation can help you understand why. We'll then look at which options suit your health and whether the follicles in the affected area can still grow hair.
PRP and light therapy are generally better suited to thinning areas than long-standing bald spots. An infection or an inflamed scalp may need medical treatment first. If you have alopecia areata, for example, we may recommend a corticosteroid medicine called triamcinolone. We inject it into affected patches to help control inflammation. It treats a different problem from PRP.
A hair transplant is another approach: a surgeon moves hair follicles from a donor area into areas of hair loss. It requires enough suitable donor hair and involves recovery after surgery, and hair outside the treated area may still thin over time. Medication and PRP work with the follicles already in place. If the nonsurgical options here don't meet your needs, we'll talk about the next step.
A Confident First Step
The first visit is a chance to find out what's happening and ask questions. We can discuss treatment once we've looked at your scalp and reviewed your history.
The appointment takes about 45–60 minutes. The injections can sting, so we'll talk about comfort measures beforehand. Most patients start with 3–6 treatments spaced 4–6 weeks apart for optimal results.
Later, you may have maintenance appointments around every six months. We'll adjust that schedule based on your response.
.jpg)
Most nonsurgical hair treatments cause little disruption to your day. Taking medication or using a light-therapy cap doesn't require recovery time, although medication can cause side effects. After PRP or microneedling, your scalp may feel sore, with mild, temporary discomfort.
After PRP, most people can return to everyday activities promptly, although the scalp may feel tender. Clarity's published instructions recommend waiting 24 hours before washing your scalp and minimizing sweating for 48 hours. If your plan includes microneedling, we'll explain the aftercare for that treatment before you leave. We'll also tell you when to restart any scalp medication.
Call the office if pain gets worse or you notice spreading redness. Fever or drainage also needs attention. Using your own blood for PRP doesn't remove the procedure's risks, which include infection and bleeding.
Give hair restoration time. Changes happen over months, and you may notice less shedding before your hair looks fuller. Sometimes the main benefit is keeping existing hair from thinning further.
First several weeks: Focus on using the treatment as directed and letting us know how you're getting on. Minoxidil can cause extra shedding at first. Ask us if you're unsure about a change rather than stopping or adjusting treatment yourself.
Three to twelve months: You may start to notice a difference around three to six months, depending on the treatment. Some medications need six to twelve months before we can judge how well they're helping.
Ongoing maintenance: Inherited pattern hair loss usually needs continued care. If you stop a medication that's helping, you can lose the hair it has helped maintain. PRP may need repeat visits too. Follow-up gives us a chance to see what's working and decide if the plan needs to change.
The cost depends on what you need. A medical visit and any recommended tests are separate from elective treatments. If you're considering PRP, the total can vary based on the number of sessions and the extent of the area treated. Home devices and ongoing prescriptions have their own costs. We'll explain the plan and pricing before you decide.
Your insurance may cover a medical visit to diagnose hair loss, along with some prescription medications. That depends on your plan. Elective hair restoration procedures are self-pay. Coverage for the visit doesn't automatically extend to PRP or a home light device. Supplements may also be an out-of-pocket expense.
You can review our insurance and billing information and check benefits with your insurer. When you call, tell us you'd like a medical hair-loss evaluation. That helps us explain how the visit will be billed.
At Clarity, you can have your hair loss evaluated in a practice that offers both medical dermatology and aesthetic care. Deborah Quinn is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner. Her background helps her recognize when thinning needs medical attention and when a modern restoration treatment may help.
We'll take time to explain the recommendation with professional, patient-focused care. You can ask what a treatment is likely to do and what keeping up with it would involve. If you'd like to talk through your hair loss with us, request an appointment at our Suffolk office.
You generally don't need to shave your head for PRP injections or most home medications. Preparation depends on the treatment. We'll explain what to do beforehand so you can plan around your usual hairstyle.
Yes. You can have inherited thinning and then go through a period of extra shedding after an illness, for example. The shedding may settle while the inherited thinning needs ongoing care. That's one reason we ask about changes in your health as well as your hair.
A scalp biopsy takes a small sample and can leave a small scar. We recommend one when the result could help guide your care. Beforehand, we'll explain how we numb the area and how to look after it as it heals. We'll also go over the risks.
Speak with the clinician who prescribed it before making a change. There may be another reason for the shedding, and stopping medication could affect your health. Bring the medication name to your visit and tell us when you noticed the hair change.
You may be able to continue coloring your hair, but timing matters if your scalp is irritated or you're having a procedure. Ask us when to schedule your color appointment around treatment. We'll give you advice for the care you're receiving.
Take photos in the same lighting, with your hair parted in the same place. They make it easier to compare changes over several months. We'll also ask about shedding and how your scalp feels. Checking in the mirror every day can make gradual progress harder to see.
(757) 977-1077
Monday - Thursday: 9AM - 4PM
Friday: 9AM - 2PM
Second Saturday of the month: 9AM - 12PM
