Hair loss treatments

Hair loss – in the form of male pattern baldness – is a genetic condition. It affects around half of all men aged 50, but some as early as their 20s.

The main symptom of male pattern baldness is thinning hair at the sides and the top of the head. It's not dangerous and, if the hair loss does not cause you distress, doesn't need to be treated. However, effective treatments are available that will slow hair loss and, in some cases, stimulate hair regrowth.

Male pattern baldness occurs when hair follicles on the head convert the male hormone testosterone into another hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Affected follicles become more sensitive to DHT, causing them to shrink, weaken, and eventually die. This slows down hair production and can stop hair growth altogether.

Other causes of hair loss can include illness, stress or chemotherapy. Hair loss arising from these causes cannot be reversed by the treatments we offer. In some of these cases, hair loss is temporary. We advise you speak to your GP if you experience sudden hair loss.

While there isn't a cure for hair loss caused by male pattern baldness, there are effective prescription and over-the-counter treatments available to slow loss and stimulate regrowth. 

Finasteride/Propecia works by blocking DHT, stopping the hormone from attacking hair follicles. This treatment comes as a daily tablet and it will take 3-6 months of constant use before you see an effect. This is because of the hair growth cycles in your follicles. 

Regaine (minoxidil) works by increasing the flow of blood and nutrients to the hair follicles, which can help stimulate new, healthier hair growth. 

As soon as you stop using hair loss treatment, hair loss will resume. These treatment is only suitable for men. Find out more about women's hair loss treatments here. 

You can order Finasteride or Propecia from our hair loss clinic. These treatments have the same active ingredient and work in the same way, Propecia is a branded version of Finasteride. These treatments can only be prescribed to men.

When you request a treatment, we'll ask you a series of questions as part of your online consultation. Your answers will be reviewed to ensure that the treatment we prescribe is safe for you to take.  

You can also also Regaine foam, you won't need to go through a consultation to order this treatment, as it's an over-the-counter medicine. You can request this treatment alongside Finasteride/Propecia, or order it separately. 

Hair loss treatments are available for either discreet delivery or same-day collection (Regaine is only available for delivery). 

It's best to start treating your hair loss as soon as you notice your hair fall, because it's easier to prevent hair being lost than to regrow it. The treatments we offer have proven to be extremely successful in both preventing loss and encouraging regrowth when taken regularly. Success varies according to how long treatment has been underway, but almost two thirds of men who use it benefit from renewed hair growth, while hair loss is halted in most other men.

Other hair loss treatment options include hair transplants, laser therapy and wigs or hairpieces.

Avoid anyone selling medicine if they are not registered with the bodies above, and anyone selling baldness cures. There is no medicine that can cure male pattern baldness. Generally these treatments will simply not work, however in some cases the content of the tablets could be dangerous.

Only ever take prescription medicines that have been prescribed by a registered clinician and dispensed by a licensed pharmacy.

Our clinicians are all NHS-experienced and registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) or General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). As a company, we are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This means we can guarantee a high standard of care and genuine medicines if you request treatment from our service.