Male Pattern Baldness Blog

Q. I’m 32 and like every other man my age, I’m starting to lose my hair. I’ve heard that there are products available which can help prevent hair loss in men. Can I get these from my GP and do they actually work?

A. By the age of 30, three in 10 men will have started to notice thinning and receding of the hairline, particularly around the crown of the head and at both temples.

Eventually the areas join together leaving a U-shaped ring of hair around the head. This typical male-pattern hair loss runs in families, and with time may continue to progress to complete baldness.

Although many men laugh off their receding hairlines, hair loss can be quite a sensitive subject and one which can cause considerable problems with confidence and self-esteem.

Hair follicles in men are sensitive to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is broken down from the male sex hormone, testosterone. DHT targets the hair follicles, causing them to shrink so that they are only able to produce very thin, fine hair. Eventually they shrink so much that hair growth stops completely.

Although there is no ultimate cure formale baldness, there are a few products available which can help slow down the rate of hair loss and promote and stimulate new hair growth.

Your GP can offer you two types of treatments – a topical solution, which can be rubbed onto the affected areas twice daily, or a once-daily oral tablet.

The oral drug Finasteride (brand name Propecia)works by blocking the action of DHT and hence preventing shrinkage of the hair follicles.The follicles are able to return to their normal size, allowing the re-growth of new, thicker and stronger hair. Continued use of Finasteride is needed for about three to six months before any benefit is seen and approximately 66% of men will achieve hair re-growth with this drug.

Upon discontinuation of treatment, the balding process will resume about eight to 12 months later. Side-effects from Finasteride are uncommon, but erectile problems and decreased libido (sex drive) are occasionally reported.

Finasteride is not available on the NHS and this will need to be prescribed as a private prescription by your GP. On average you can expect to pay around pounds 30 for a month’s supply of treatment.

Many of my patients prefer to use the topical solution Minoxidil (brand name Regaine), instead of taking a daily tablet. Minoxidil was originally used to treat high blood pressure, and hair growth was found to be one of the side effects of the drug! The exact way in which Minoxidil helpsimprovebaldness is not fully understood. Some experts suggest that it may act to increase the blood flow, and hence the supply of vitamins and nutrients, to the actual hair follicle itself.

It is important to note that Minoxidil will notwork for every case of male-pattern baldness. Minoxidil will slow the balding process in approximately 50% of individuals, but only 15% of users will actually experience thicker, stronger hair.

The effects of Minoxidil are only apparent for as long as it is used, and upon discontinuation of the treatment, patients find that the hair loss quickly resumes.

Minoxidil can be bought over the counter from many pharmacies, but can also be obtained as a private prescription from your GP.

So, the ongoing quest for the ultimate cure for baldness continues, and much research is under way to develop new and exciting hair-loss treatments. For more information on advanced hair restoration procedures such as hair transplants, you should contact your nearest trichology clinic or cosmetic surgeon.

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