Hair Loss & Skin Health Blood Test in Kingston (Core Panel)

The Core panel is designed for women noticing hair shedding, diffuse thinning, slowed growth, dull or dry skin, or brittle nails. It covers the medical causes commonly investigated in women aged 20 to 50: iron deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, vitamin D, B12 or folate deficiency, low zinc and underlying inflammation. If your hair loss has a clear hormonal pattern (frontal recession, crown thinning, late-30s onward) or you have other PCOS-type symptoms, the Advanced panel adds the androgen profile and is the better starting point.

Low iron is a frequent cause of hair shedding in women, but it explains only part of the picture. Thyroid dysfunction, and deficiency in vitamin D, B12, folate or zinc, are also recognised contributors. Inflammation (CRP) is included because chronic low-grade inflammation can affect the hair growth cycle and the interpretation of ferritin (ferritin rises with inflammation, masking iron deficiency). Testing the cluster together avoids the common scenario of treating ferritin while missing a co-existing thyroid or vitamin deficiency.

Most results are returned within 2 to 5 working days. If a specific test takes longer, you will be informed in advance.

No. You can book online, in person at the clinic, or add the panel during a GP consultation at KONCEPT®. The doctor reviews each request for clinical appropriateness before the blood draw.

No fasting is required for the Core panel. Stay well hydrated on the day. If you take biotin supplements (often marketed for hair, skin and nails), stop them 48 to 72 hours before the test - biotin interferes with several lab assays including TSH and Free T4 and can give misleading thyroid results. Mention any iron, vitamin D or thyroid medication you are currently taking so the doctor can interpret your results in context.

Core is the right starting point for most women: it covers the deficiency and thyroid causes commonly investigated in hair loss. Advanced builds on Core by adding the full androgen profile (testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, DHEAS, androstenedione, prolactin), HbA1c, lipids, selenium, magnesium and Vitamin A - useful if hair loss has a hormonal or metabolic pattern, if you also have acne or hirsutism, or if Core results were unremarkable but symptoms persist. The doctor can advise at booking if Core is enough.

All tests are reviewed before and after the test by one of our GMC-registered doctors. A short outcome note with a next-step plan is sent to your email, password-protected. If results are normal, no further action is needed. If anything requires attention, the doctor will recommend a follow-up GP or dermatology consultation - either with your NHS GP or with one of our GPs at KONCEPT® (a £149 consultation fee applies if you choose KONCEPT®).

No. Female pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) is a clinical diagnosis based on the pattern of loss on examination, your history and family history. Blood tests rule out the medical contributors that can mimic, trigger or worsen it - so that treatment targets the right cause. For a clinical-pattern assessment, a dermatology consultation is the appropriate next step, and we can refer you internally or back to your NHS GP.

A single administration fee that covers your whole visit, charged once per visit and never per test, however many tests you book. The all-in Core panel price of £408 already includes it.

Only with your written consent. We can send a clinical summary to your NHS GP for coordinated care, including any further dermatology or endocrinology referrals.

46 to 48 Wood Street, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1UW. KONCEPT® Medical Clinic is located opposite Kingston station. Parking nearby at the Bentall Centre.

Postpartum hair shedding is a specific type of telogen effluvium that typically begins 2 to 4 months after delivery and usually resolves spontaneously within 6 to 12 months. The Core panel is a useful step because it checks for the easily-correctable contributors that can prolong it: iron status, vitamin D, B12 and thyroid function. Many women feel reassured by a clear blood-test picture and a written next-step plan even when the underlying mechanism is the natural postpartum hormonal shift. If your shedding is severe, accompanied by other symptoms (low mood, persistent fatigue, palpitations), or has continued well past 12 months, the doctor will also recommend a GP review.

Telogen effluvium is the most common cause of diffuse hair shedding in women. A trigger (high fever, viral illness including COVID, surgery, severe stress, rapid weight loss, starting or stopping a medication, childbirth) pushes a larger-than-usual proportion of hairs into the resting (telogen) phase. Around 2 to 4 months later, those hairs are shed all at once, producing the visible shedding the patient notices. Telogen effluvium commonly resolves spontaneously within 6 to 9 months once the trigger is identified and corrected. The Core panel looks for the reversible contributors that can prolong it.

Low iron stores are associated with diffuse hair shedding in women. The British Association of Dermatologists and the wider dermatology literature recognise low ferritin as a contributor to telogen-effluvium-type shedding, with the commonly-cited threshold of ferritin under 30 micrograms per litre (µg/L) associated with shedding. Ferritin can be low even when haemoglobin and FBC look normal. The Core panel measures ferritin alongside CRP (because ferritin rises in inflammation and can mask a true deficiency) and full iron studies (serum iron, TIBC, transferrin saturation). Correction is usually straightforward and hair regrowth typically follows.

NHS GPs may investigate hair loss with first-line tests where clinically indicated, typically a full blood count, thyroid function (TSH) and ferritin. The wider markers covered in the Core panel (full thyroid antibodies, Free T3, full iron studies, vitamin D, zinc and CRP) are not routinely offered in NHS primary care for hair loss specifically. NHS dermatology referrals for non-scarring hair loss are usually reserved for diagnostic uncertainty or suspected scarring or autoimmune conditions, with referral thresholds varying by region (NICE CKS: Alopecia). The Core panel sits alongside NHS care for women who want a more comprehensive doctor-led investigation of the reversible medical contributors. With your written consent we share a clinical summary with your NHS GP.

Female pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) is a pattern-based form with thinning typically centred on the crown and parting. Diagnosis requires clinical examination by a doctor, often using the Ludwig or Sinclair scale. If you have a clear pattern of frontal recession, crown thinning, acne or unwanted facial hair alongside the shedding, the Advanced panel is the better starting point because it adds the full androgen profile. A dermatology consultation is the next step for clinical pattern assessment. The Core panel is the right starting point when the picture is diffuse shedding without a clear pattern.

The Foundation panel (£238, 6 markers) is the entry tier: ferritin, TSH, Free T4, vitamin D, B12 and folate. Suitable for women with mild shedding and a clear single suspected contributor. The Core panel (£408, 13 markers) adds full iron studies, Free T3, Anti-TPO thyroid antibodies, zinc and CRP, and is the right starting point for active diffuse shedding or persistent thinning. The Advanced panel (£659, 27 markers) adds the full androgen profile (testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, DHEAS, androstenedione, prolactin), metabolic markers (HbA1c, lipid profile) and additional minerals (selenium, magnesium, vitamin A). Suitable when female pattern hair loss is suspected, when there is acne, hirsutism or irregular periods alongside the shedding, or when the Core panel comes back unexpectedly normal.

Online home-kit hair-loss panels typically cover a useful set of nutritional markers (ferritin, vitamin D, B12, sometimes folate and zinc). The Core panel adds the markers most often needed for a complete diagnostic picture: full iron studies, Free T3, Anti-TPO thyroid antibodies and CRP (which is critical for interpreting ferritin alongside inflammation). The result is reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor against your symptom journey, with an outcome note stating either that the result is within expected range or that a GP review is recommended. See the comparison table above for the full side-by-side.