Male pattern
baldness, sometimes called genetic hair
loss or alopecia and rogenetica, affects or will affect as many as two
thirds of all men at some point in their lifetime. For many, it is a source of
embarrassment and upset and may even contribute to depression in some cases, as
hair is often considered to be an important part of our identity, one of many
ways in which we can express ourselves. (1)
What is male pattern baldness?
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Male pattern
baldness is the most commonly occurring type of hair loss in
men. The first sign is often a bald spot forming on top of the scalp, with
thinning of the hair at the temples (sides of the head). Usually a receding
hairline will develop. It can sometimes result in complete baldness of the
scalp, though this happens rarely, and if it does happen, it’s very gradually. The
condition may occur in men of any age, but symptoms most commonly begin to
appear in men in their thirties. (1)
Why does male pattern baldness happen?
Male pattern
baldness is a genetic condition, meaning it runs in families. It’s commonly
believed that the gene responsible is passed from mother to son, but it has
been found that genes from either or both parents can contribute to male
pattern baldness. (2)
It is
believed that the genes involved code for hair follicles (the ‘roots’ from
which individual hairs grow on the scalp) that are more sensitive to a hormone
called dihydrotestosterone, which causes follicles to shrink and eventually
stop working altogether. This translates to hairs becoming thinner and shorter
until they are no longer produced. (2)
Can male pattern baldness be cured?
Unfortunately,
there’s no cure for male pattern baldness. Thankfully, the progression of the
condition can be slowed or stopped with the right treatment. A surgery known as
a hair transplant can also be performed for more instant results, but this will
still need aftercare with the right treatment. (1)
What treatment is available from Webmed Pharmacy for male pattern
baldness?
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Finasteride is an oral drug used to treat male
pattern baldness. It works by lowering dihydrotestosterone levels, helping to
slow the shrinkage of hair follicles, therefore promoting hair growth. It may
take as long as six months for effects to show. If used after a hair
transplant, it can help to maintain the hair. Finasteride needs to be taken
daily long-term, otherwise the effects will be lost. It is available to
purchase from Webmed
Pharmacy as the branded product, Propecia, or the generic, Finasteride.
Both the branded and generic products work in exactly the same way as they both
have finasteride as the active ingredient at the same strength. The only
difference is that the generic is considerably cheaper.
There is now a range of topical products available to purchase from Webmed Pharmacy
which can be used alongside finasteride to optimise the effects. These products
are recommended by Dr Mabroor Bhatty, one of the top surgeons in the field of
hair transplant and cosmetics in the UK.
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The first of
these products is Tony Maleedy Juniper
Scalp Therapy Shampoo. Composed of essential oils and moisture-binding
compounds of natural origin, it works by deeply cleansing the scalp to remove
scale (dead skin and oils); reducing the levels of a fungus which can live on
the scalp and cause a number of irritating and uncomfortable conditions such as
dandruff, spots and flaking of the scalp; and slowing down the life cycle of
skin cells on the scalp, which reduces further build-up of scale. All of this
promotes optimum health of the scalp and can strengthen hair follicles,
reducing hair loss.
This shampoo
should be used at least twice weekly to tackle hair loss, but ideally daily for
six months, after which frequency can be reduced.
The next
product is Tony Maleedy Juniper Scalp
Therapy Conditioner, which can be used alone or alongside the shampoo.
Containing four plant-derived organic oils and amino acids, it works by sealing
moisture into the hair, preventing breakage and strengthening the hair. This in
turn helps to protect against hair loss.
According to
Dr Bhatty, Tony Maleedy products can be used both before a hair transplant to
prepare the scalp, and afterwards to calm the scalp and promote the health of
the scalp and hair.
The final
products are Regaine for Men Extra
Strength Foam and Solution. The active ingredient in Regaine is minoxidil
5%, and it works by improving blood flow to the scalp, which reinvigorates hair
follicles, even reversing the shrinkage in some cases. This will result in
thicker, longer, stronger hair growing from the follicles.
Regaine
should be massaged into the scalp twice daily, preferably every twelve hours.
The hair and scalp must be completely dry before application. It usually takes
two to four months to take effect.
All of these
products can be used alongside one another to combat hair loss and are
available to buy from Webmed Pharmacy as part of an online Hair Loss Clinic,
with discounts applied when multiple products are purchased at the same time,
or when longer ‘courses’ of treatment are purchased.
Why not visit Webmed’s Hair Loss Clinic - click here.
If you would like to see what other treatments Webmed can provide, please click here.
Author: Gabby Gallagher MPharm
Medically reviewed by: Superintendent pharmacist Margaret Hudson BSc(Hons)MRPharmS 03/10/18. Updated 20/12/19.
References
Men’s
Health Forum. Hair loss FAQs [cited 20 September 2018]. Available at: https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/hair-loss-faqs
Alopecia UK. Types of Alopecia [cited
20 September 2018]. Available at: https://www.alopecia.org.uk/Pages/FAQs/Category/types-of-alopecia