Will my health insurance cover it?

This is a private service. Some private insurers reimburse consultations or tests, and others do not, so check with yours. Medication on a private prescription is paid for at the pharmacy.

Can you post my medication abroad?

No. We are a medical practice, not a pharmacy: medicines are dispensed by pharmacies in Spain. If you are going away, plan the amount you need with your doctor beforehand.

Can I see the doctor in person instead?

Yes. If you prefer, or if the doctor needs to examine you, the consultation can take place at our clinic in Fuengirola.

Journal Hair

Online hair loss treatment in Spain: how it works (a guide for international residents)

How online hair loss treatment works in Spain: video consultations, local blood tests, private e-prescriptions, Spanish pharmacies and time spent abroad.

6 min readEducational content by RejuvelookUpdated in October 2026

In short

In Spain, a doctor can assess hair loss by video consultation, request blood tests at a laboratory near you and, when treatment is indicated, issue a private electronic prescription that Spanish pharmacies dispense. It suits people who live in Spain all year or part of it. Some things still need an in-person visit, and medicines are dispensed in Spain.

Key points

Pattern hair loss, the most common cause, can usually be diagnosed from your history and a look at the scalp.
Remote assessment of hair loss is feasible, although the research behind it is still limited.
Spanish prescriptions, including private electronic ones, are regulated nationally and valid at pharmacies across Spain.
If you spend time abroad, plan your medication before you travel: do not count on refills outside Spain.

If you live in Spain and are losing hair, you do not have to find a clinic near you, book several appointments and sit in waiting rooms to get a proper diagnosis. Most of the process can be done online, in English, with the same rules that apply to any doctor in Spain. This guide explains how it works, what is legal, what happens with prescriptions and pharmacies, and what still needs a visit in person.

Is online hair loss treatment legal in Spain?

Yes, within clear limits. Spanish medical ethics accept consultations by video and other remote means, provided the people involved are clearly identified, confidentiality is protected and the communication channel is secure (Spanish Code of Medical Ethics, Consejo General de Colegios Oficiales de Médicos, 2022, article 80). The doctor who treats you remotely is subject to the same professional rules as in a consulting room.

Prescriptions are governed by Royal Decree 1718/2010 on medical prescriptions and dispensing orders (Real Decreto 1718/2010, BOE). It covers private prescriptions, including private electronic prescriptions, and states that a prescription is valid throughout Spain. A private electronic prescription can be dispensed at any pharmacy in the country through approved systems that work across regions.

What online medicine cannot do is replace an examination when one is needed. A good service tells you when that is the case.

Who it suits

Online treatment suits adults who live in Spain, all year or part of it, and whose hair loss looks like a common pattern: gradual thinning at the crown, temples or parting, or diffuse shedding after a trigger such as illness or stress.

That covers most people who consult. Pattern hair loss, known medically as androgenetic alopecia, is the most common cause of hair loss in both men and women ^[1]. In women it can usually be diagnosed from the history and examination alone, and a scalp biopsy is rarely needed ^[2]. You can read more in our guide to male and female pattern hair loss.

How the video consultation works

Before. You fill in a health questionnaire and take photos of your scalp following our instructions: the same light, the same angles, hair parted in set places. Good photos are what make remote assessment work.

During. The doctor goes through your history: when the hair loss started, how it has changed, family history, recent illness, pregnancies, diets, stress, medication and general health. They look at your photos and may ask you to show specific areas on camera.

After. You get a diagnosis or a likely diagnosis, and a plan. That may be a blood test, medical treatment, simple reassurance, an in-person visit or a referral.

Research on remote assessment of hair loss is still limited. A systematic review found 11 studies with 9,622 patients, most with pattern hair loss, and the authors call for guidelines and more research ^[3]. That is why we treat photos as a tool, not a substitute for judgement, and ask to see you in person when it matters.

Blood tests at a laboratory near you

Not everyone needs a blood test. It is requested when your history points that way, for example to check iron or thyroid levels, or hormones in women with other signs. Ferritin is a sensitive and specific marker for iron deficiency in diffuse hair loss ^[4].

You have the test at a laboratory near your home, anywhere in Spain, and we go through the results with you. Spanish laboratories sometimes use different units from those at home: ferritin in ng/mL equals µg/L, vitamin D in ng/mL multiplied by 2.5 gives nmol/L, and haemoglobin in g/dL multiplied by 10 gives g/L.

Prescriptions and Spanish pharmacies

If medical treatment is indicated, the doctor issues a private electronic prescription. You take the details to a pharmacy and pay for the medicine there: private prescriptions are not subsidised by the public health system.

A few practical points, based on Royal Decree 1718/2010:

Identification. The prescription identifies you as the patient. Foreign patients are usually identified by NIE or passport.
Collect it promptly. As a general rule, a prescription must be dispensed within ten calendar days of its date.
Supply is limited. As a general rule, a single prescription covers up to three months of treatment, so longer treatment needs new prescriptions at your reviews.

Pattern hair loss is a long-term condition, and treatment only works while it continues ^[5]. Your reviews are also when prescriptions are renewed.

If you spend part of the year abroad

Many international residents split their year between Spain and another country. A few things are worth knowing:

Reviews continue wherever you are, by video consultation.
Medicines are dispensed in Spain. Plan how much you need before you travel, with your doctor, within the legal limits above.
Other EU countries. EU rules on cross-border healthcare (Directive 2011/24/EU, applied in Spain by Royal Decree 81/2014, BOE) provide for prescriptions issued in one member state to be recognised in another. In practice, a pharmacy abroad may not be able to read a Spanish private electronic prescription, and the same medicine may be sold under a different name or strength. Do not rely on it without checking locally.
Outside the EU, including the UK, do not count on a Spanish prescription being dispensed.
Travelling with medicines. Carry them in their original packaging, with a copy of your prescription or a medical summary. Rules vary by country, so check before you fly.

What cannot be done remotely

Some situations need an in-person examination or a different specialist:

Bald patches with red, scaly, shiny or scarred-looking skin, which may be a scarring alopecia and need prompt in-person consultation.
Round bald patches typical of alopecia areata, whose treatment is managed by a dermatologist.
Children with hair loss.
Hair loss with general symptoms, such as fever or weight loss, which needs medical attention without delay.
Cases where photos are not enough, or where a scalp biopsy may be needed.
Procedures such as platelet-rich plasma, mesotherapy or hair transplantation, which are carried out in person.

What the evidence says

Each statement shows its level of evidence and the sources behind it.

Supported

Pattern hair loss, the most common cause of hair loss in men and women, has evidence-based medical treatment set out in the European guideline.^[1]High-quality evidence
Blood ferritin is a reliable way to rule out iron deficiency in diffuse hair loss, and the test can be done at any laboratory.^[4]High-quality evidence

With caveats

Female pattern hair loss can usually be diagnosed from the history and examination alone; a scalp biopsy is rarely needed.^[2]Moderate evidence
Assessing hair loss remotely is feasible, mostly studied in pattern hair loss, but the research base is small and some cases still need an in-person examination.^[3]Moderate evidence

Not enough support

There is no evidence that scarring alopecias or alopecia areata can be safely managed by remote consultation alone.Low-quality evidence

How we approach it at Rejuvelook

We start with a medical video consultation, in English or Spanish, for patients anywhere in Spain. We ask for guided photos of your scalp and, if your history suggests it, a blood test at a laboratory near you.

If medical treatment is indicated, you receive a private electronic prescription, dispensed at Spanish pharmacies, and a plan of follow-up reviews with comparable photos. If you are going to be abroad, we plan your treatment around it before you leave.

In-person procedures are carried out at our registered healthcare centre in Fuengirola, on the Costa del Sol (NICA 62866), and are only added when they bring something to your case. If something needs an in-person examination or another specialist, we tell you and refer you.

When to see a doctor

Book a medical consultation, or go to A&E if it is severe or sudden, if you notice:

Hair loss that comes with fever, weight loss or feeling generally unwell: see a doctor in person without waiting.
A painful, oozing, very itchy or red scalp.
Bald patches where the skin looks shiny, smooth or scarred.
Round bald patches, or loss of eyebrows, eyelashes or beard.
Any hair loss in a child.
Mood changes, palpitations or other new symptoms after starting a hair loss medicine: contact your doctor promptly.

Frequently asked

Do I need to live in Spain to use the service?

It is designed for people who live in Spain, all year or for part of it, because prescriptions are dispensed by Spanish pharmacies and blood tests are done at Spanish laboratories. If you are only visiting, ask us before booking.

Do I need a NIE?

Not necessarily. A Spanish prescription has to identify the patient: residents usually use their NIE, and a passport can be used otherwise. Bring whichever you have to the pharmacy.

Is the consultation in English?

Yes. Consultations can be held in English or Spanish, and the doctor explains your diagnosis, results and plan in English.

Can I get a letter for my GP back home?

You can ask for a written summary of your consultation and treatment plan in English, which you can share with your GP or any doctor who sees you outside Spain.

References

Sources checked against PubMed or Crossref. Cited as plain text, without links.

1.Kanti V, Messenger A, Dobos G, Reygagne P, Finner A, Blumeyer A, et al. Evidence-based (S3) guideline for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in women and in men - short version. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018;32(1):11-22. doi: 10.1111/jdv.14624. PMID: 29178529.Verified on 2 October 2026
2.Fabbrocini G, Cantelli M, Masarà A, Annunziata MC, Marasca C, Cacciapuoti S. Female pattern hair loss: A clinical, pathophysiologic, and therapeutic review. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2018;4(4):203-211. doi: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2018.05.001. PMID: 30627618.Verified on 2 October 2026
3.Maskan Bermudez N, Perez S, Nguyen B, Tosti A. Teledermatology in alopecia: A systematic review. JAAD Int. 2024;14:64-68. doi: 10.1016/j.jdin.2023.10.004. PMID: 38274395.Verified on 2 October 2026
4.Zhang D, LaSenna C, Shields BE. Serum Ferritin Levels: A Clinical Guide in Patients With Hair Loss. Cutis. 2023;112(2):62-67. doi: 10.12788/cutis.0837. PMID: 37820340.Verified on 2 October 2026
5.Devjani S, Ezemma O, Kelley KJ, Stratton E, Senna M. Androgenetic Alopecia: Therapy Update. Drugs. 2023;83(8):701-715. doi: 10.1007/s40265-023-01880-x. PMID: 37166619.Verified on 2 October 2026

Educational content. It does not replace a medical consultation or provide a diagnosis. Tests and treatments are indicated only after medical consultation and in line with regulation.