A PROBLEM SHARED
Male pattern baldness is a common problem, and there are lots of treatments you can try, but beware: not all of them live up to their claims.
Hair loss in men is usually due to a testosterone- related hormone called dihydrotestosterone ( DHT). In classic male pattern baldness, you thin on the top and at the front of your head, while the hair at the sides and back is spared because these follicles don’t respond to DHT. This is also the basis for some of the treatments on off er.
You’ll find that there are plenty of hair- loss shampoos on the market and they can be quite expensive. Unfortunately, most of them don’t have a significant eff ect, so save your pennies.
There are two medications that can help, though. Firstly, there is minoxidil, which you can buy over the counter. It comes as a shampoo, foam or lotion and is rubbed into the scalp. We believe this increases blood supply to the hair follicles, encouraging them to grow. However, it only works for as long as you use it and about a third of men don’t notice any improvement. It can also cause mild side eff ects, such as dryness and skin irritation.
The second treatment on off er is finasteride, which comes as
Got a problem? Dr Ranj Singh is here to off er his advice
I have been slowly losing my hair since I was 18 years old. I’m 30 now and it’s really starting to affect my confidence. I’ve been looking at a few things online, but I’m not sure where to start. Is there anything I can do?
a pill that you take every day.
This functions by reducing the production of DHT, allowing hair to stay put and also regrow. Finasteride isn’t usually available on the NHS and must be prescribed — either face to face or through an online clinic — because of the risk of side eff ects. These can include loss of libido and changes to mental health, so it must only be taken after you have considered all of the pros and cons.
Your final solution is a hair transplant, which is becoming much more common, where follicles from the sides and back of the head are surgically transferred to the front and top. The results can be very good, but it costs several thousand pounds, and some people need more than one procedure.
Whichever course of action you choose, it’s worth starting it sooner rather than later, so you can preserve the hair you do have. Have a chat with your doctor to make sure there isn’t an underlying medical reason for your hair loss, and to talk through your options.