Hi, I hope you are doing well!
I am so excited to catch up with you again and update you on everything that we have been doing at Complete Dermatology. Over the last month we have had our first mole mapping clinic and these continue with the next clinic scheduled for August 14th and then September 15th. Further sessions may drop to every three months. Please secure your appointment now.
Also, in this month of August we will be joined by my lovely colleague Dr Samantha Anthony. Samantha initially pursued surgical training obtaining her MRCS (hence she is technically a Miss- surgeons become Mr and Miss again) before pivoting to train as a GP and then again to be an Associate Specialist and Dermatological surgeon. She is one of my colleagues at West Herts Trust where she leads the Dermatological surgery team and is one of our skin cancer leads. She brings a wealth of experience, expertise and compassion to her role and I am very excited to welcome her to Complete Dermatology. So, if you have pesky benign lumps, bumps, cysts and lipomas that you have been meaning to have removed (and which the NHS no longer has the capacity to treat), now is your moment- get in touch and we will arrange a consultation. Samantha also treats skin cancers and more serious skin lesions. Please note that all patients will need a consultation to assess suitability first before being referred for any procedure.
I am also pleased to be introducing a purely Cosmetic Consultation! This consultation is slightly shorter (30 mins rather than 45 mins) and less expensive (£150 rather than £275) and is exclusively for patients who fit the following criteria:
- There is no dermatological diagnosis i.e. the main issue is not acne, rosacea, melasma or any other specific skin condition with a name- the only aim of this appointment is to increase your confidence, make your existing skin better and make you look younger.
- There is no need for a full skin check i.e. no suspicious lesions that are suggestive of skin cancer or pre-cancer.
- There is no need for any investigations- no blood tests, skin scrapings or swabs needed
- There is no need for a medical prescription- cosmetic treatments, skin care and procedures are enough. I may at my discretion add prescription products such as some retinoids, but you will not need to take a script to a pharmacy.
If you meet the above criteria, and skin rejuvenation is your only goal, we will go even further by crediting £50 of the fee toward A COURSE of treatment eg needling, peels, lasers or other in clinic procedures. Please ask for a Cosmetic Consultation at the time you book. If you know that you need a full skin check, investigations, a prescription or are worried regarding skin cancer, then please book a regular appointment.
Skin needling and hair loss treatments:
August is hair loss awareness month and so I would like to focus on this for a bit.
Hair shedding and thinning can feel distressing for both men and women. At Complete Dermatology, we do not treat male pattern hair loss but as a dermatologist, I do treat hair loss from other causes. Scarring alopecia (hair loss) is a massive topic in itself and will not be addressed today. Two of the most common non-scarring causes of hair loss are telogen effluvium, where more hairs than usual shift into the shedding phase, and female pattern hair loss, where follicles gradually miniaturise and produce finer, shorter hairs.
The best results often come from understanding the cause of the hair loss and then creating a treatment plan that improves the scalp environment, supports follicle function and protects existing hair. In this regard, regenerative treatments such as Plinest Hair polynucleotides and ExoCoBio exosomes may be used alongside microneedling to help stimulate repair signals within the scalp and I will focus on these today.
Understanding the Hair Loss Conditions
Telogen effluvium is usually a diffuse shedding pattern that can follow stress, illness, surgery, childbirth, nutritional deficiency, rapid weight loss ( eg associated with the GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy), some other drugs or hormonal shifts. The follicles are generally still alive, which means recovery is possible once the trigger is addressed and the scalp is supported.
Telogen effluvium
Telogen effluvium is usually a diffuse shedding pattern that can follow stress, illness, surgery, childbirth, nutritional deficiency, rapid weight loss ( eg associated with the GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy), some other drugs or hormonal shifts. The follicles are generally still alive, which means recovery is possible once the trigger is addressed and the scalp is supported.
Female pattern hair loss
Female pattern hair loss tends to develop more gradually. It often shows as widening of the parting, reduced density over the crown or finer hair texture. It is commonly influenced by genetics, hormones, inflammation, ageing and scalp health. In some people, telogen effluvium can reveal an underlying pattern hair loss that had not previously been obvious.
How Plinest Hair Polynucleotides May Help
Plinest Hair is a polynucleotide-based injectable treatment designed to support tissue repair and scalp bio-stimulation. Polynucleotides are purified DNA fragments which support fibroblast activity, hydration, microcirculation and reduction of oxidative stress, all of which are relevant when follicles are weakened by inflammation, shedding or miniaturisation.
How ExoCoBio Exosomes May Help
Exosomes are tiny extracellular vesicles that act as biological messengers. ExoCoBio exosomes are derived from rose stem cells and contain growth factors, biotin, proteins and signaling molecules that may help cells communicate during repair and regeneration. In the scalp, exosome-based treatments are used with the aim of supporting hair stem cells, blood flow, follicle signaling and reducing inflammation.
For patients with female pattern hair loss, exosome therapy may be considered as part of a broader plan to support the shrunken follicles. For patients recovering from telogen effluvium, the goal is to encourage a healthier scalp environment while the hair cycle resets. Current evidence for exosomes in hair restoration is promising but still developing, so treatment should be regarded as supportive rather than guaranteed.
Why Combine These Treatments with Microneedling?
Benefits for skin rejuvenation
Final Thoughts
For telogen effluvium and female pattern hair loss, regenerative scalp treatments can be a valuable part of a personalised plan. Plinest Hair polynucleotides may help improve the scalp’s regenerative environment, while exosomes may provide signalling support for follicle activity. When combined with microneedling, the aim is to encourage repair, optimise delivery and support healthier, stronger hair growth over time.
The key is a tailored approach: identify the cause, treat the trigger, support the follicle and monitor progress with realistic timelines. Get in touch to get your skin or scalp treatment rejuvenation programme off the ground.
By the way, if there is a particular topic you wish me to write about, do drop me a line on my website and I will make sure to do so.
See you soon,
The Team at Complete Dermatology.
