Hair Loss

Male hair loss, commonly known as androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness, can start at any age; it can begin in your teens, 20s or 30s, often causing most of your hair to shed by your mid 40s or 50s. According to a survey by the NHS, about 25% of men begin losing their hair before they are even 30 years old.

Many men feel sensitive about their hair loss and it can affect their confidence and self esteem. However, there are a number of effective ways to treat male hair loss, and with treatments such as Propecia, you can stop your hair loss and encourage fresh new growth naturally.

What is male hair loss?

There are many causes of male hair loss, but the most common is male pattern baldness. This is the thinning of hair which loosens on the scalp and eventually falls out, permanently. As the name suggests, this type of hair loss occurs in a particular pattern. Hair starts to thin at the crown and at the temples until the two areas meet in the middle, causing a horseshoe shape.

What causes hair loss?

Whilst specialists find it difficult to pinpoint the actual cause of male pattern baldness, some medical professionals attribute it to hereditary genetics. Your hair follicles can be genetically more sensitive to DHT (dihydrotestosterone). DHT can shrink hair follicles, eventually causing them to become so small that they cannot replace lost hairs. The follicles are still alive, but are no longer able to perform their task.

Hair loss can also be caused by other factors, such as:

• Ageing
• Hormonal imbalance
• Illness and infectious diseases
• Nervous disorders
• Toxic substances
• Injury and impairment

Treatments for male hair loss

There are three types of treatment for male hair loss:

Over the counter

There are many natural supplements and creams available to buy over-the-counter which claim to help restore your hair, but few of them have any clinical data to back up their claims.

Minoxidil lotion (sold as Regaine) is one exception. This is a topical lotion which if applied directly to the scalp twice daily helps you to combat male pattern hair loss. Regaine is effective for both slowing hair loss and regrowing hair, but needs to be applied twice daily. Regrowth will normally take a few months and the results are seen on the crown of the scalp. Regaine is for genetic hair loss only; it is not effective for hair loss due to other causes.

Surgical treatments

There are three main surgical treatments, which can be used to treat hair loss. A transplant involves taking hair from the back of your head, and moving it to the front of the scalp. Scalp reduction can reduce a mild bald patch by removing a piece of your scalp and stretching the area where hair is thicker over it. Flap surgery involves stretching healthy scalp over a small area of hair loss. Besides being expensive and invasive, each of these treatments may need to be repeated at a later date.

Prescription medication

Propecia is the first and only FDA-approved medication which is proven to treat male pattern hair loss on the vertex (top of head) and anterior mid-scalp area (middle front of the head). Propecia uses the active ingredient finasteride to inhibit the activity of DHT, the primary cause of male pattern hair loss.

In tests, 99% of men who took Propecia experienced no further hair loss, and over two-thirds of them experienced significant hair regrowth. Propecia is an easy once a day medication, which causes very few side effects.

How do I know what type of hair loss treatment I need?

The treatment for male pattern baldness is determined by the exact type of hair loss you are experiencing. This is classified by using the baldness classification chart developed by Dr James B. Hamilton in 1951. The baldness classification chart involves eight separate groups indicating the various stages of hair loss. Click here to find out your baldness classification.

Can I buy prescription hair loss treatments online?

If you are suffering from male-pattern baldness; the next step to finding treatment is to complete an online consultation with us. This form will be reviewed by one of our registered doctors. They can then prescribe a suitable treatment, like Propecia, if it is safe and beneficial for you to take it. This process is entirely free, without obligation and is completely confidential.

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