Male Pattern Baldness is caused by testosterone being converted by the body into a compound called DHT. DHT can block your hair follicles from receiving enough blood flow and nutrients to function normally. Over time the hair follicles shrink (leading to thinning hair) and eventually close (leading to baldness).

Not all hair loss cases are genetic - however, Male Pattern Baldness, the most common type of hair loss in men, is genetic. It is essentially down to a combination of genetics and the hormone DHT. There are two licensed medications, Finasteride and Minoxidil which are used to slow the progression (and in some cases stop progression) as well as promote hair growth, with results varying between patients.

Both Finasteride and Minoxidil have shown to be very effective at treating male hair loss in clinical trials. Like any medication, efficacy will vary between person to person. The earlier you notice hair loss and start treatment, the greater your chances of success.

Finasteride works by slowing down the process of testosterone conversion into DHT. This means there is less DHT in your blood to negatively affect the functioning of your hair follicles. We recommend one Finasteride tablet per day.

When sprayed on your scalp, Minoxidil helps increase blood flow to the hair follicles, giving them more nutrients and the right conditions to support hair regrowth. We recommend 6-8 sprays onto your scalp twice a day.

No.

Areas that are smooth, shiny and have no hair growing, cannot be recovered as there are no longer any active hair follicles. For this reason, we recommend starting treatment as soon as you start noticing your hair thinning.

Like any medication, efficacy will vary between person to person. If the medication is effective, you should start to notice diminished hair loss and hair re-growth within 3-4 months.

As your hair follicles are stimulated by the treatment, this can cause the hair regrowth cycle to accelerate – often this is accompanied by shedding of old hairs. Don’t worry – this is a positive sign that your body is reacting to the treatment – these hairs will return thicker and stronger. During this phase, stick with the treatment.

Hair Loss medication is not a lifetime cure. Instead, it’s an ongoing treatment that you need to keep taking if you want to maintain the benefits.

The two products are chemically identical. Propecia is just the brand name given to the original product when it was invented.

We've teamed up with one of the UK’s leading online pharmacies - regulated by the CQC and GPhC. Their team of fully-qualified doctors and pharmacists write and dispense all of our medication prescriptions.

Yes - if approved, our doctors will write a private prescription for you after you’ve answered our confidential online medical questionnaire. Your medication will then be sent straight out to you in the post.

It is important to read the patient information leaflets supplied before starting treatment and to familiarise yourself with associated side effects.

• Finasteride is not for use in women or males under the age of 18.
• Finasteride should not be used whilst trying to conceive.
• Finasteride should not be used in anyone who has had a history of prostate cancer.
• If going for a PSA test, then you must stop Finasteride 1 week before. This is important as Finasteride can mask the markers identified in a PSA test.
• For men that donate blood, Finasteride should be stopped 4 weeks before giving blood. This is to ensure that there are no traces of Finasteride in the donated blood.
• Finasteride should not be used in anyone who suffers from or who has a history of anxiety/depression.
• Finasteride should not be used in anyone with liver problems.
• Finasteride should not be used in anyone who has or has had Gynecomastia/issues with fatty tissue or lumps in breast tissue.
• Finasteride should not be used in anyone who is also using testosterone replacement therapy.

Studies have shown that Finasteride side effects occur in less than 2% of patients. These may include:

• Lowered mood/anxiety
• Lowered libido
• Changes in breast tissue
• Testicular pain
• Erectile dysfunction
• Low semen production

If you experience any of these side effects then you must stop taking the tablets and seek medical advice. The full list of side effects is detailed in the patient information leaflet supplied. The patient information leaflet provided should be read before starting treatment.

It is important to read the patient information leaflets supplied before starting treatment and to familiarise yourself with associated side effects.

• Minoxidil should not be applied to irritated or inflamed skin.
• If you get Minoxidil in your eyes, you should wash it out immediately and seek medical advice.
• Minoxidil can lead to unwanted facial hair growth if it comes into contact with the skin. If the minoxidil runs onto the face you should wash it off immediately.
• When starting on Minoxidil, you can go through an initial shedding phase and lose more hair, to begin with. This should slow down and stop around week 12. If you stop using Minoxidil, you can go through another shedding phase and then hair loss can continue to progress at the same rate as it did before starting on treatment.
• Minoxidil is flammable and should be kept away from heat, sparks, open flames and hot surfaces during use, storage, and disposal.

Some patients may experience mild side effects from Minoxidil. These can include:

• Scalp irritations
• Dizziness
• Headache

The side effects are unlikely and should wear off quickly after stopping using the medication. It is important that you read the patient information leaflet supplied before starting treatment.