While male pattern hair loss is a common affliction that affects millions of men, it’s certainly not something to ignore if it bothers you. After all, a full head of hair can breed confidence and self-esteem. If you’ve recently noticed the areas around your temples thinning, or are concerned about your receding hairline, here are the first steps you should take to ensure you stay in control.
Don’t panic
Noticing hair loss is certainly not a nice thing, and it can be stressful. However, it’s important not to panic. If you’ve seen hair on your pillow or in the bath, remember that it’s perfectly normal to lose between 50-100 hairs every day. Despite this, if you’ve noticed a consistent change over a more extended period of time, it’s best to check in with your doctor. A quick appointment can rule out a range of underlying conditions and is an important first step towards your hair loss treatment.
Consider your options
If you’re suffering from male pattern hair loss, you aree not alone. The condition affects approximately 6.5 million men in the UK, with most men experiencing some type of hair loss by the time they reach their sixties. However, just because it’s common, doesn’t mean you have to put up with it. Thankfully, several scientifically-backed treatments effectively treat male pattern hair loss, most notably Finasteride and Minoxidil. Let’s look at each of them below.
Finasteride
Finasteride has been clinically proven to treat male pattern hair loss. Its primary job is to help block the production of the hormone DHT, which binds to your hair follicles and causes them to thin and, eventually, die. With DHT blocked, its suppressive effect is removed and it allows your hair to achieve its full growth potential again. Finasteride is successful in around 66% of male pattern hair loss cases over two years, but it’s best used in tandem with Minoxidil, as introduced below.
Minoxidil
While Finasteride assists in blocking the production of DHT, Minoxidil improves blood flow to the scalp, helping to revitalise hair roots and stimulate regrowth. You can apply Minoxidil to the affected areas of your scalp once a day, and most men start to see results within 3-9 months of application.
Start a hair loss treatment plan
At Sons, we have a range of clinically-backed treatment plans available to treat male pattern hair loss. Our Full Works treatment is effective in 9.4 out of 10 men and combines Finasteride and Minoxidil, as well as DHT blocking shampoo and Biotin, also known as Vitamin B7. As soon as you’ve chosen a hair loss plan, we invite you to complete a free online questionnaire with one of our trained physicians. We’re on hand to answer any questions that you have about our hair loss treatments and ensure that your chosen plan is best suited to your current circumstances.
The key takeaway is not to panic if you notice hair loss, as it’s something that affects so many other men. Remember - you can do something about it. For more information about hair loss and how it occurs, read our journal entry that explains the lowdown on hair loss to help you get a better understanding of why you’re starting to see changes.
All of our blog articles are reviewed by our Medical Director before publication.
