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Everyone loses hair regularly, it is a natural process. However, sometimes the speed of hair loss is faster than the speed of the growth of new hair. For some people, new hair growth may not be
In fact, this is a common problem; some people will experience hair thinning while others may have bald patches or receding hairlines. This can be a big hit to people’s self-esteem. It is therefore understandable that some people may want to try and slow down the process of balding.
There are often different causes to hair loss from genetics to lifestyle factors; understanding the causes is key to helping people figure out what next steps they might want to take. Let’s explore the different reasons of why we lose hair and effective treatments available for this.
There is a wide range of causes and risk factors for hair loss. Gaining a better understanding of the underlying cause for your hair loss can help you think about what treatment to consider. The table below goes through main causes:
Genetics | Inherited hair loss is the most common cause of hair loss. If baldness runs in the family, your genes may mean you have a higher chance of also losing hair. For male pattern baldness, a hormone called dihydrotestosterone activates genes that shrink hair follicles and form thinner hairs. This causes hair loss and impedes the anagen (growth) phase of the hair growth cycle. |
Medical conditions | Certain medical conditions like scalp infections or alopecia areata can cause you to lose hair. |
Medication | Certain medication used for cancer (chemotherapy), heart conditions (propranolol), and depression (sertraline) can be associated with hair loss. This is usually due to their mechanism of action. Chemotherapy in particular is known to cause hair loss because the medication targets rapidly-dividing cells (like cancerous cells) but consequently also affects other rapidly-dividing cells like hair follicles. |
Hormones | Changes to your hormone levels such as menopause or thyroid issues can lead to hair loss. For example, in the case of menopause, oestrogen and progesterone are key to maintaining hair growth. When these hormone levels drop during menopause, women may experience hair thinning or loss. |
Stress | Stress can also lead to hair loss as stress hormones like cortisol can have a negative effect on the hair growth cycle. |
Malnutrition | You are at increased risk of hair loss if your diet does not contain enough nutrients such as iron, vitamins, and protein. Hair loss also happens in severe calorie restriction. For example, hair is made of a protein called keratin. So, if you do not have enough protein in your diet, it is more difficult to grow new hair. |
Fortunately, there are many types of male hair loss products available. We have outlined some of the more common ones in the table below:
Medication | Description |
Finasteride | Finasteride is a hair loss pill for men going through male pattern baldness that works by reducing the levels of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT shrinks hair follicles so decreasing its levels helps decrease hair loss. This is a prescription only drug and is taken as a daily pill. |
Ritlecitinib (Litfulo) | This is used to treat alopecia areata. It works by reducing the inflammatory processes at the hair follicles. You take it as a daily pill. |
Minoxidil | This helps decrease hair loss and stimulate hair growth. You can use it as a foam or topical solution and it is available over the counter. |
Yes, before you purchase medication for hair loss male at Medsforless you will be asked to fill in a short online consultation form. This will be reviewed by one of our doctors to check that the treatment is suitable for you. Then it will be delivered to your home or pharmacy of choice.
Some medicine for hair loss male such as Minoxidil (or Regaine Foam Extra Strength) can be bought without a prescription. Caffeine shampoos like Alpecin can also be bought over the counter. The common male pattern baldness medication that requires a prescription is Finasteride.
This depends on which pill. The most common male baldness medication is Finasteride. Ritlecitinib is used to treat alopecia areata.
Medication | Function |
Finasteride or Propecia (contains Finasteride) | This is a type of 5-alpha reductase inhibitor which works by stopping the action of the 5-alpha reductase enzyme from turning testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a hormone that leads to the shrinking of your hair follicles; this causes male pattern baldness. Taking this pill once daily should therefore help treat male pattern baldness by reducing levels of the follicle-shrinking hormone. |
Ritlecitinib | Ritlecitinib is a type of kinase inhibitor. This means it stops the action of kinases (type of enzyme) that are involved in inflammation at the hair follicles. In alopecia areata, the excessive inflammatory response damages the hair follicles. This medication treats alopecia areata by reducing inflammation to decrease hair loss and promote regrowth. |
Before starting tablets for men’s hair loss, it is important to consult a healthcare professional first and follow their advice so that you can ensure the treatment is suitable for you.
Finasteride is the most common pill for male pattern baldness and it is taken as a 1mg pill once a day. It doesn’t matter if you take it with or without food but make sure to swallow the pill whole. It is best to take it at the same time each day for it to be most effective; you may only see results after a few months.
It is important to be aware of the side effects of men’s hair loss pills and you should discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your healthcare provider. Finasteride is the most common male pattern baldness pill and common side effects include:
There are many topical remedies for hair loss treatment but their evidence base can be mixed. These include:
Medication | Description |
Minoxidil | This is a common topical medication to treat male pattern baldness. It is believed that Minoxidil helps stimulate growth and reduce loss by increasing blood flow to the hair follicles and extending the growth phase of the hair cycle. |
Caffeine shampoos | Caffeine in shampoos may increase blood flow to the scalp which may help to promote hair growth. The evidence base on the effectiveness of caffeine shampoos is mixed but some users report positive results. This can be used with Minoxidil. |
Essential oils | There is some evidence to suggest that oils like rosemary and peppermint oil have shown some benefit in promoting hair growth. However, results on their benefits can vary and more research is needed. |
Most hair loss medication for men is available to buy in pharmacies or online. Some treatments like Finasteride require a prescription while others like Minoxidil can be bought over the counter.
Both of these can be purchased from Medsforless, if you are considering a prescription medication, we can conduct an online consultation to ensure the treatment is safe and right for you.
Hair loss refers to the loss of an excessive amount of hair from your scalp to the point where it’s either very thin, bald patches appear, or your hairline begins to recede (from a loss of hair at the front). Everyone loses hair on a daily basis, with the average being between 50 and 100 hairs per day. However, this can sometimes be accelerated, to the point where you’re losing hair faster than new ones can grow, or new ones aren’t growing at all to replace the ones you’ve lost.
This isn’t a serious medical condition in and of itself. It is a natural process in the body that causes no other problems, but it can be upsetting. It can make people feel self-conscious, especially men, and as a result, many men prefer to treat their hair loss rather than let it progress at its natural rate.
Male pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men. This is a hereditary and very common condition that affects 6.5 million men in the United Kingdom alone. It gets its name from the fact that hair loss in men tends to follow a similar pattern, with the top and front of the scalp losing the most hair.
Although an inherited condition is the most common cause, alopecia areata, which causes hair to fall out in an irregular pattern, leaving sparse bald patches, can also cause hair loss. Hair loss occurs when a man’s hair follicles are overly sensitive to a male sex hormone, regardless of the cause. Male pattern baldness is caused by men having more hormone receptors, which weakens their hair follicles, causing them to shrink and eventually stop growing hair.
Excessive hair loss can also be caused by other underlying medical conditions or as a side effect of other prescription medications. As a result, before beginning treatment, make sure it’s not due to anything else.
While there is no cure for male pattern baldness, there are medications that have been shown to slow the rate of hair loss and even encourage hair follicles to regrow hair.
Finasteride is one option. It works by lowering the levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that harms follicles. This medication, when taken every day, prevents the hair follicle from thinning and slows the effects of hair loss. It also works to promote hair growth in 86 percent of people who take it on a daily basis.
Minoxidil is another option, and it works particularly well for people who are experiencing hair thinning. It improves blood flow to hair follicles and increases follicular size, extending the hair follicle’s growth phase. This promotes hair growth and the appearance of thicker hair strands.
Both of these medications have been shown to be highly effective in the treatment of male pattern baldness and other forms of hair loss, and they are available from UK Meds in a safe and efficient manner.
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