Male-pattern baldness is not usually treated, as the treatments available are expensive and do not work for everyone.
Two medicines that may be effective in treating male-pattern baldness are:
Finasteride
Finasteride is available on private prescription from your GP. It comes as a tablet that you take every day.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is available as a lotion that you rub on your scalp every day. It is available from pharmacies without a prescription. It is not clear how minoxidil works, but evidence suggests it can cause hair regrowth in some men.
The medication contains either 5% or 2% minoxidil. Some evidence suggests the stronger version (5%) is more effective. Other evidence has shown that this is no more effective than the 2% version. However, the stronger version may cause more side effects, such as dryness or itchiness, where applied.
Like finasteride, minoxidil usually needs to be used for several months before any effect is seen. The balding process will usually resume if treatment with minoxidil is stopped. Any new hair that regrows will fall out two months after treatment is stopped. Side effects are uncommon.
Two medicines that may be effective in treating male-pattern baldness are:
- finasteride
- minoxidil
You may also want to consider wearing a wig or having surgery (see below).
Finasteride
Finasteride is available on private prescription from your GP. It comes as a tablet that you take every day.
It works by preventing the hormone testosterone being converted to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT causes the hair follicles to shrink, so blocking its production allows the hair follicles to regain their normal size.
Studies have suggested finasteride can increase the number of hairs people have (hair count) and can also improve how people think their hair looks.
It usually takes three to six months of continuously using finasteride before any effect is seen. The balding process usually resumes within 6 to 12 months if treatment is stopped.
Side effects for finasteride are uncommon. Less than 1 in 100 men who take finasteride experience a loss of sex drive (libido) or erectile dysfunction (the inability to get or maintain an erection).
Studies have suggested finasteride can increase the number of hairs people have (hair count) and can also improve how people think their hair looks.
It usually takes three to six months of continuously using finasteride before any effect is seen. The balding process usually resumes within 6 to 12 months if treatment is stopped.
Side effects for finasteride are uncommon. Less than 1 in 100 men who take finasteride experience a loss of sex drive (libido) or erectile dysfunction (the inability to get or maintain an erection).
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is available as a lotion that you rub on your scalp every day. It is available from pharmacies without a prescription. It is not clear how minoxidil works, but evidence suggests it can cause hair regrowth in some men.
The medication contains either 5% or 2% minoxidil. Some evidence suggests the stronger version (5%) is more effective. Other evidence has shown that this is no more effective than the 2% version. However, the stronger version may cause more side effects, such as dryness or itchiness, where applied.
Like finasteride, minoxidil usually needs to be used for several months before any effect is seen. The balding process will usually resume if treatment with minoxidil is stopped. Any new hair that regrows will fall out two months after treatment is stopped. Side effects are uncommon.
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