" At Sons, we use scientifically proven, evidence based medical treatments to treat men’s mild health problems. Finasteride and Minoxidil have long been regarded as the internationally recognised best practice treatments for male pattern hair loss.
We wanted to get feedback from our patient base on whether their lived experience treating male pattern hair loss matched up to the scientific claims in the literature and so we carried out a retrospective study to get more information. "
Dr Knut Moe
Medical Director
To assess the effectiveness of the Ultimate treatment plan which consists of a combination of treatment options for male pattern hair loss and hair health.
Back to topSons provide treatment solutions for men with mild to moderate male pattern hair loss. The cornerstone of Sons’ treatment package is the Ultimate Plan. This comprises the internationally recognised best practice medical treatments for male pattern hair loss, 1mg Finasteride tablet taken once daily and 5% topical Minoxidil solution applied to thinning areas twice daily to stop hair loss and promote regrowth. These are combined with a topical natural DHT blocking shampoo and Hair Growth Complex to improve hair quality.
Medical literature from clinical trials reports that Finasteride and Minoxidil treatment are the internationally recognised best treatments for hair loss and are effective in approximately 90% of people who take them at stopping hair loss, with a significant proportion of men achieving some level of hair regrowth.
Sons has been treating men with male pattern hair loss using a digital health subscription medical model since 2019. Sons set out to assess the effectiveness of the Ultimate Plan on patients who have been taking the Umltimate Plans (Finasteride, Minoxidil, Hair Growth Complex and DHT blocking shampoo) for 9 months or more on their lived experience of their hair loss treatment with Sons. Survey emails were sent out to patients on 24th July 2022 and the survey closed on 29th July 2022.
A retrospective survey was completed by x number of male patients who had been using the Ultimate Plan for ≥ 9 months. Respondents completed an online digital survey and provided feedback on product adherence, hair density, hair quality and psychological impact.
Back to top111 patients completed the survey during the period 24/07/2022 to 29/07/2022 with the following results:
Hair Density - 91.8% reported either hair loss stopping/slowing or experiencing regrowth as the most noticeable change in hair since starting treatment. 79.3% reported increased hair density either slightly or significantly, with 18.9% reporting their hair density had stayed the same. 1.8% reported that their hair density had worsened since starting treatment.
Time to effect - 61.3% reported seeing an effect by around six months, increasing to 97.7% having noted some benefit by 12 months and just 2.3% taking longer than one year to notice increased density.
Hair quality - 70.4% reported an increase in hair quality (either a slight or a significant increase), with 29.7% saying hair quality had stayed the same. 63.1% noticed this improvement in quality within 6 months.
Objective appearance - 79.2% had received feedback that their hair appearance/quality had improved, or that their overall health / appearance had improved since starting treatment.
Pychological impact - 79.3% reported feeling more confident about their appearance and 79.3% report spending less time worrying about their hair since starting treatment.
Back to topThe results of our patient survey line up with our expected results based on research on Finasteride and Minoxidil efficacy. The improvement in hair quality could be attributable to the additional benefit of Biotin and DHT blocking shampoo as both have scientific attributes that can contribute to overall hair health.
Importantly, the impact of these treatments on patient psychological well-being is clear – 79.3% feel more confident about their appearance since the start of treatment for hair loss and spend less time worrying about their hair.
The patient cohort selected were existing patients of Sons and is a retrospective survey of patients still using treatment after 12 months. It does not take into account those who may have stopped treatment due to side effects or intolerance of treatment or due to perceived or actual lack of efficacy.
Back to topMale pattern hair loss is best treated with Finasteride and Minoxidil. Sons recommends the Full Works package to achieve optimal results in terms of hair quantity and quality for those wishing to treat their hair loss. Treatment outcomes can lead to a significant improvement in quality-of-life outcomes such as self-confidence and anxiety around hair loss issues.
Back to topEfficacy and safety of a new 10% topical minoxidil versus 5% topical minoxidil and placebo in the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia: a trichoscopic evaluation.
Ghonemy S, Alarawi A, Bessar H.
J Dermatolog Treat. 2019 Oct 21:1-6.
Androgenetic alopecia: an evidence-based treatment update.
Varothai S, Bergfeld WF.
Am J Clin Dermatol. 2014 Jul;15(3):217-30.
Combined treatment with oral finasteride and topical minoxidil in male androgenetic alopecia: a randomized and comparative study in Chinese patients.
Hu R, Xu F, Sheng Y, Qi S, Han Y, Miao Y, Rui W, Yang Q.
Dermatol Ther. 2015 Sep-Oct;28(5):303-8.
A randomized clinical trial of 5% topical minoxidil versus 2% topical minoxidil and placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men.
Olsen EA, Dunlap FE, Funicella T, Koperski JA, Swinehart JM, Tschen EH, Trancik RJ.
J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002 Sep;47(3):377-85.
Risk of erectile dysfunction associated with use of 5-α reductase inhibitors for benign prostatic hyperplasia or alopecia: population based studies using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink
Hagberg K, Divan H, Persson R, Nickel JC, Jick S.
British Medical Journal 2016; 354 :i4823.
Use of Finasteride in the Treatment of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia (Male Pattern Hair Loss)
Shapiro, J., Kaufman, KG.
The journal of investigative dermatology. Symposium proceedings / the Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc. [and] European Society for Dermatological Research 8(1):20-3 · July 2003
Evaluation of efficacy and safety of finasteride 1mg in 3177 Japanese men with androgenetic alopecia.
Sato, A., Takeda, A.
J Dermatology 2012 39: 27-32
The Efficacy and Safety of Finasteride Combined with Topical Minoxidil for Androgenetic Alopecia.
- Chen, L., Zhang, J., Wang, L. et al.
A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Aesth Plast Surg 44, 962–970 (2020).