Hair loss
Treatment that can slow or stop hair loss.
Secure delivery Licensed clinicians
Losing your hair isn’t unusual. About one third of men get some form of hair loss before the age of 30.
On the plus side, there are medications that can help. Talk to us to get expert advice and order hair loss treatment online.
Male pattern hair loss is balding amongst men. It’s not always easy to identify at first, but early signs include a receding hairline, where hair starts to disappear at the temples of your head, producing a hairline that’s shaped like an ‘M’.
Another sign of it is crown hair loss, where your hair begins to thin at the crown (just off the top of your head). The thinning here leaves a bald spot.
In the areas where your hair is getting thinner, you may also notice that individual strands of hair are more fragile, and they don’t grow as quickly as hair in areas that are less affected.
If you find that you’re losing a lot of hair after you’ve showered on a towel, or on a comb, this can point towards male pattern hair loss. And if the hair on the sides or the back of your head is not affected, but you’re losing hair on top of your head, this can be an early indication of male pattern hair loss too. This is because hair on the sides and back of your head is not as sensitive to the hormone DHT.
With male pattern hair loss, some men are more sensitive than others to DHT (or dihydrotestosterone, which is a type of testosterone in the body). This sensitivity causes hair follicles to shrink, and stops men from growing new hair. It also reduces the lifespan of hair follicles, meaning that you lose hair more often, and at a faster rate.
So you lose hair more quickly, but the hair is also replaced more slowly, and it doesn’t grow back as rapidly.
Male pattern hair loss is very common. It can start to affect men as early as their teenage years, and between 30 and 50% of men will have it by the age of 50.
If male pattern hair loss runs in your family, you’re also more likely to get it. It tends to be hereditary.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Certain types of hair loss (or alopecia), like male pattern baldness or male pattern hair loss are permanent, while other forms of hair loss are only temporary.
An illness, stress, treatment for cancer, weight loss and iron deficiency can all trigger more short-term hair loss, but it tends to grow back or stop shedding once you recover, and usually doesn’t require treatment.
But given the long-term nature of male pattern hair loss, treatment is often needed that can help to stop any further hair loss, or to help hair grow back.
There’s no ‘cure’ as such, but treatment can help stop further hair loss, and cause hair regrowth in many cases. A lot of men take them for several years and find them effective.
Hair transplants are available for men with certain types of hair loss, but this is a surgical procedure carried out under local anaesthetic (we don’t offer it as a treatment option). When choosing a clinic and surgeon to perform your hair transplant, ask them about their training and experience. You should always try and choose a reputable and experienced professional who’s specially trained to perform hair transplant surgery.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Which treatment you choose is up to you, and it depends on your medical background.
There are two main types of hair loss treatment. One type stops an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase from converting testosterone into DHT. DHT is a hormone that can cause hair follicles to shrink, and triggers hair loss in men who are sensitive to it. By preventing this conversion from happening, this type of hair loss treatment can cut down the amount of DHT in the blood and scalp. This may help to stop you from losing any more hair, and also promotes hair growth.
In clinical studies, 48% of men using this kind of hair loss treatment showed an improvement in hair growth after one year (compared to 7% with placebo), and this increased to 66% after two years (compared to 7% with placebo).
An important thing to note here is that you may not see results immediately. It can take between three and six months before you notice improvements with hair loss treatments like this – and it may be up to 12 months before you see a difference in your hair. Given that these products can prevent further hair loss in eight out of 10 men who take it for 12 months though, and two thirds of men benefit from some degree of hair regrowth, patience tends to be rewarded.
But if you don’t see any improvements in your hair after 12 months, let our clinician know. They may recommend trying an alternative hair loss treatment.
There’s another type of hair loss treatment works in a slightly different way. It doesn’t technically stop alopecia, but it can help regrow hair that you’ve lost. It helps to improve the flow of oxygen and nutrients to hair follicles in the body, which should encourage hair growth. This type of hair loss treatment is sometimes referred to as a ‘vasodilator’ on this basis. It’s a topical treatment you apply directly to the scalp.
It isn’t quite as effective as the first type of hair loss treatment we mentioned: 60% of men have reported an improvement in their hair coverage with it in clinical trials. But because it’s is used primarily for hair regrowth, using it alongside the other main hair loss treatment option (which is often excellent at preventing further hair loss) can be very successful for some men. If you’d like to use these treatments at the same time, you should discuss this with our clinician first, so that they can decide if both are safe for you to take.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Have something specific you want to know about Hair loss? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
Cranwell, W. and Sinclair, R. (2016). Male Androgenetic Alopecia. Nih.gov.
McClellan, K.J. and Markham, A. (1999). Finasteride. Drugs, 57(1), pp.111–126. Accessed 18 Aug. 2021
Shanshanwal, S. and Dhurat, R. (2017). Superiority of dutasteride over finasteride in hair regrowth and reversal of miniaturization in men with androgenetic alopecia: A randomized controlled open-label, evaluator-blinded study. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, 83(1), p.47.
Regaine for Men Extra Strength Scalp Solution 5% w/v Cutaneous Solution - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [Accessed 18 Aug. 2021].
Malkud, S. (2015). Telogen Effluvium: A Review. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH.
Registered with GMC (No. 4624794)
Meet DanielVictorian Pharmacy Authority (AHPRA: 3000093-104124)
Meet StephenAlways read the leaflet that comes with your medication and tell us about any side effects you get.
We know health, but you know you.
Our experts tell you what’s safe, but you decide what’s best.
Answer a few questions and tell us about yourself. Get tailored advice from our clinicians so you can choose better.
Choose your treatment and how often you have it delivered.
We know things change. It’s the nature of life. We’ll check in regularly to make sure your treatment is still right for you.
Pause. Change. Skip. Start again. Any time you like.
Here are some other things we can help with besides Hair Loss.
We're making healthcare more about you. Sign up to our newsletter for personalised health articles that make a difference.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
We couldn't find what you're looking for.
Here's everything we treat. Or, if you're looking for something we don't have yet, you can suggest something.
If there’s a particular treatment or condition you’re looking for, tell us and we’ll look into it for you.
Submit your question here, or tell us if you’ve found an issue on our site.
We’ll get back to you very soon. We aim to respond to all queries in one working day.
You’re signed up to our newsletter. Keep an eye on your inbox for our latest update.
By clicking 'Subscribe now' you're agreeing to our Privacy Policy.
We’ve sent you an email asking you to confirm your email address.