Telehealth hair loss prescriptions increased 400% between 2019 and 2024, making virtual consultations one of the most common entry points for men starting treatment. But a telemedicine appointment has one fundamental limitation that in-person visits do not: the doctor cannot touch your scalp, perform a pull test, or use trichoscopy equipment. Everything they know about your hair comes from what you show and tell them through a screen.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified hair loss specialist before making any treatment decisions.
Why Telemedicine Data Requirements Are Higher
In an in-person appointment, a dermatologist can compensate for a patient who shows up with no documentation. They examine the scalp directly, magnify areas of concern, test hair tensile strength, and visually assess density from multiple angles in real time.
In a telemedicine appointment, none of that is possible. The doctor sees what your camera shows them, which is typically a low-resolution, poorly lit video feed from a laptop webcam. Without supplementary data, the consultation becomes a conversation about what you think is happening rather than an assessment of what is actually happening.
Tracking data closes this gap. Photos, density measurements, and a documented timeline give the telehealth provider the evidence they need to make a confident diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
The Telemedicine Preparation Checklist
Step 1: Take High-Quality Photos 24 to 48 Hours Before
Do not rely on your video camera during the call. Take a dedicated set of photos under controlled conditions before the appointment.
Required photo set:
| Photo | Instructions |
|---|---|
| Frontal hairline | Face camera directly, hair pulled back, overhead lighting |
| Crown (top-down) | Camera held directly above the head, capturing the vertex |
| Right temple | 90-degree profile showing temple recession |
| Left temple | 90-degree profile showing the opposite side |
| Donor area (back of head) | Relevant if discussing transplant candidacy |
Photo quality rules:
- Use your phone's rear camera (higher resolution than selfie camera) with a timer or ask someone to take the photos
- Single overhead light source, all other lights off
- No flash
- Hair should be dry, unstyled, and recently washed
- Include a timestamp (date written on paper in frame, or use your phone's built-in date stamp)
Step 2: Prepare Your Medical History Document
Write this out before the call so you can share it via the telehealth platform or read from it efficiently.
History template:
| Category | Your Information |
|---|---|
| Age | [Your age] |
| Hair loss onset | [Year or approximate date] |
| First affected area | [Hairline, crown, diffuse] |
| Rate of progression | [Slow/gradual, rapid, episodic] |
| Family history | [Father's pattern, maternal grandfather's pattern] |
| Previous treatments | [List with dates, dosages, results] |
| Current medications | [All prescriptions and supplements] |
| Allergies | [Any medication allergies] |
| Medical conditions | [Thyroid, autoimmune, recent illness] |
| Current hair products | [Shampoo, conditioner, styling products with brand names] |
Step 3: Export Your Tracking Report
If you use a tracking app, export a PDF report that includes:
- Baseline photos with date
- Most recent photos with date
- Density trend data (if available)
- Norwood classification history
- Treatment timeline
Email this to the clinic before the appointment. Most telehealth platforms have a messaging feature where you can upload documents ahead of time. Providers who can review your data before the call will spend the actual appointment time on assessment and decision-making rather than information gathering.
Step 4: Prepare Your Questions
Write 3 to 5 specific questions you want answered. Telemedicine appointments are often shorter than in-person visits (typically 10 to 15 minutes), so prioritizing your questions ensures the most important ones get addressed.
Example questions:
- Based on my photos and tracking data, what Norwood stage would you classify me as?
- Do you recommend finasteride, and if so, at what dosage?
- How should I monitor for side effects of the prescribed treatment?
- When should I schedule a follow-up to assess treatment response?
- At what point would you recommend I transition from telehealth to an in-person evaluation?
During the Telemedicine Appointment
Sharing Your Photos
Most telehealth platforms allow screen sharing. Open your tracking report or photo gallery during the call so the doctor can see your high-resolution photos rather than relying on the video feed.
If screen sharing is not available, email the photos and report to the provider at the start of the call and ask them to open the files on their end.
Showing Your Scalp Live
The doctor will likely ask you to show your hairline and crown on camera. Maximize the usefulness of this by:
- Using the best lighting available (sit near a window with natural daylight, or under a bright overhead light)
- Tilting your head slowly to show different angles
- Using your phone camera instead of a laptop webcam if the resolution is significantly better
- Pulling hair back from the hairline so the recession pattern is clearly visible
Taking Notes
Write down the doctor's recommendations during the call. Record the specific medication name, dosage, usage instructions, expected timeline for results, and what to watch for in terms of side effects.
What Telehealth Providers Can and Cannot Do
What They Can Do
- Diagnose androgenetic alopecia based on photographic evidence and history
- Prescribe finasteride (1mg daily) in most jurisdictions (halts loss in 80 to 90%, regrowth in 65%, 2 to 4% sexual side effect rate)
- Prescribe topical minoxidil (2% or 5%, moderate regrowth in 40 to 60% of users, onset at 4 to 6 months)
- Order blood work through affiliated laboratories
- Monitor treatment response through follow-up virtual visits
- Refer to in-person specialists when needed
What They Cannot Do
- Perform a physical pull test (assesses active shedding)
- Use trichoscopy equipment (measures miniaturization and density at microscopic level)
- Assess scalp texture, laxity, or inflammation by touch
- Perform PRP injections ($500 to $2,000 per session, requires in-person treatment)
- Evaluate donor area density at the precision needed for surgical planning
This means telemedicine is best suited for initial medication prescriptions, treatment monitoring, and determining whether an in-person visit is necessary. It is not a substitute for a comprehensive in-person evaluation if surgery is being considered.
After the Appointment
Start or Adjust Treatment
Fill any prescriptions promptly and begin (or continue) your tracking protocol. Your next telemedicine follow-up is typically scheduled for 3 to 6 months after starting treatment. Use that interval to build a tracking record that objectively shows whether the treatment is working.
Continue Tracking Monthly
Monthly photo sessions between appointments create the evidence your provider needs at the follow-up to assess treatment response. Without tracking data, the follow-up appointment reverts to the same limitations as the first: subjective assessment through a camera lens.
For comprehensive guidance on building documentation for any medical consultation, see our guide on documenting hair loss for your dermatologist and our overview of hair loss assessment for telemedicine.
Make Your Virtual Appointment Count
A telemedicine appointment is only as good as the data you bring to it. Your tracking photos and history replace the physical exam that the doctor cannot perform remotely. The better your documentation, the more confident the diagnosis, and the more targeted the treatment plan.
Build your telemedicine-ready tracking report at myhairline.ai/analyze. Upload your photos, get your AI Norwood assessment, and generate a formatted report you can share with any telehealth provider.