Hair Loss

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Summary

Male pattern hair loss is the most common cause of hair loss in men.
A DHT hormone sensitivity shrinks the hair follicles and slows hair growth.
Effective medications like Finasteride help slow hair loss and promote regrowth.

Hair Loss: essential info
Causes
What are my options?
FAQ

Reviewed on January 31, 2025. by

Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell

Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer

Next review due on January 31, 2028

Last updated on October 09, 2025

Find the hair loss treatment that’s best for you.

We’ve got a range of options, and our clinicians can help you find the one that’s best for your body and your budget.

Finasteride

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(52)

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Generic version of Propecia. Daily tablet that stops hair loss and encourages hair growth.

Starting at $63.95

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Propecia

Finasteride

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(8)

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Like Finasteride, but the branded version. Once a day tablet that slows down hair loss.

Starting at $258.95

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What is male pattern hair loss?

Male pattern hair loss is balding amongst men. It’s not always easy to identify at first, but early signs are a receding hairline, where hair starts to disappear at the temples of your head, creating a hairline that’s shaped like an ‘M’.

Another sign is crown hair loss, where your hair begins to thin at the crown (just off the top of your head). The thinning here leaves a bald spot.

In the areas where your hair is getting thinner, you may also notice that individual strands of hair are more fragile, and they don’t grow as quickly as hair in areas that are less affected.

If you find that you’re losing a lot of hair after you’ve showered on a towel, or on a comb, this can point towards male pattern hair loss. And if the hair on the sides or the back of your head is not affected, but you’re losing hair on top of your head, this can be an early indication of male pattern hair loss too. This is because hair on the sides and back of your head is not as sensitive to the hormone DHT.

With male pattern hair loss, some men are more sensitive than others to DHT (or dihydrotestosterone, which is a type of testosterone in the body). This sensitivity causes hair follicles to shrink, and stops men from growing new hair. It also reduces the lifespan of hair follicles, meaning that you lose hair more often, and at a faster rate.

So you lose hair more quickly, but the hair is also replaced more slowly, and it doesn’t grow back as rapidly.

Who gets hair loss?

Male pattern hair loss is very common. It’s thought to affect half of men over 50, and 50 million American men are thought to have it. ^[1]

If male pattern hair loss runs in your family, you’re also more likely to get it. It tends to be hereditary.

Treated trusted source:

Cranwell, W. and Sinclair, R. (2016). Male Androgenetic Alopecia. Nih.gov.

This page was medically reviewed by Ms Laurenmarie Cormier on January 31, 2025. Next review due on January 31, 2028.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

What is the best hair loss treatment?

Which treatment you choose is up to you, and it depends on your medical background.

Two of the most effective treatments for hair loss are Finasteride and Propecia. Finasteride is the generic version of Propecia, so it’s slightly cheaper, but they both work in the same way, and contain the same active ingredient, finasteride. They’re prescription tablets that you take once a day.

In clinical studies, 48% of men using finasteride showed an improvement in hair growth after one year (compared to 7% with placebo), and this increased to 66% after two years (compared to 7% with placebo). ^[1]

An important thing to note here is that you may not see results immediately. It can take between three and six months before you notice improvements with Propecia and Finasteride, and it may be up to 12 months before you see a difference in your hair. Given that these products prevent further hair loss in eight out of 10 men who take it for 12 months though, and two thirds of men benefit from some degree of hair regrowth, patience tends to be rewarded.

But if you don’t see any improvements in your hair after 12 months, let our doctor know. They may recommend trying an alternative hair loss treatment.

Dutasteride is a similar medication to finasteride, Avodart is a well-known branded version, and although it isn’t specifically licensed to be used for hair loss (its intended use is to help with prostate problems) research has shown that it seems to be more effective than finasteride and just as safe. ^[2]

How do Propecia and Finasteride work?

These tablets stop an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase from converting testosterone into DHT. DHT is a hormone that can cause hair follicles to shrink, and triggers hair loss in men who are sensitive to it. By stopping this conversion from happening, Propecia and Finasteride cut down the amount of DHT in the blood and scalp. This helps to stop you from losing any more hair, and also promotes hair regrowth.

Does Minoxidil (Rogaine) work?

Yes. But it works in a slightly different way to Propecia and Finasteride. It doesn’t technically stop alopecia, but it really comes into its own with improving hair regrowth. It helps to improve the flow of oxygen and nutrients to hair follicles in the body, which encourages hair growth. Rogaine is sometimes referred to as a ‘vasodilator’ on this basis. In a study, 60% of men using Rogaine for 48 weeks reported an improvement in their hair coverage.^[3]

But it isn’t quite as effective as finasteride. A study comparing topical minoxidil (Rogaine) with oral finasteride found finasteride to be more effective (increased hair growth was reported for 80% of the people who took finasteride versus 52% for those using minoxidil 5%). Although both treatments did improve hair thickness and growth. ^[4]

Rogaine is used primarily for hair regrowth, and Propecia or Finasteride are helpful at preventing further hair loss, using both can be very successful for some men. This was proven in a study where men using topical minoxidil with finasteride had better results than those using minoxidil alone.^[5] If you’d like to use these treatments at the same time, you should discuss this with our clinician first, so that they can decide if both are safe for you to take.

Rogaine is available as either a topical solution or foam, so it’s not a tablet that you take. You apply it directly to the scalp. It’s also available over the counter, so you don’t need a prescription for it.

Treated trusted source:

McClellan, K.J. and Markham, A. (1999). Finasteride. Drugs, 57(1), pp.111–126.
Shanshanwal, S. and Dhurat, R. (2017). Superiority of dutasteride over finasteride in hair regrowth and reversal of miniaturization in men with androgenetic alopecia: A randomized controlled open-label, evaluator-blinded study. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, 83(1), p.47.
www.medicines.org.uk. (n.d.). Regaine for Men Extra Strength Scalp Solution 5% w/v Cutaneous Solution – Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) – (emc).
Arca, E., Açikgöz, G., Taştan, H.B., Köse, O. and Kurumlu, Z. (2004). An open, randomized, comparative study of oral finasteride and 5% topical minoxidil in male androgenetic alopecia. Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland), 209(2), pp.117–25.
Gowda, A., Sushmitha, K.C. and Chandra, K.S. (2021). Comparative study of efficacy of topical minoxidil versus topical minoxidil with finasteride in androgenetic alopecia. International Journal of Research in Dermatology, 7(3), p.378.

How we source info.

Hair Loss: FAQ

Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

Is there a link between stress and hair loss?

Answer:

Yes. Emotional stress and anxiety can cause alopecia. Normally there’s a three month period between a stressful event and your hair falling out. It’s triggered by the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response, as the body produces extra hormones to help it tackle a potential threat. During this time, more hairs on your head are in what’s referred to as the ‘resting stage’. All this means is that it may take a few months for your hair growth and regrowth to return to normal. So any hair loss is usually just a temporary thing until your stress levels have gone down. ^[1]

Can you get side effects with hair loss treatments?

Answer:

Yes. Hair loss treatments can cause certain side effects, such as depression, suicidal thoughts, a reduction in your sex drive, erectile dysfunction, headaches and itching. Most men find that they don’t experience any of these side effects, and for the few that do - these usually resolve once the treatment is stopped. But this isn’t always the case.

If you’re noticing that you’re experiencing mood changes or suicidal thoughts, stop taking the treatment and seek medical advice straight away.

Infertility has been reported by men who have taken Propecia or Finasteride over long periods of time, so if you have any concerns about this, let us know and we can discuss this with you.

You should always read the information leaflet that comes with your treatment before using it, and send our prescriber a message if you experience any side effects. They may advise you to try an alternative treatment for alopecia.

Can hair loss in women happen?

Answer:

Yes. It’s not just men who experience alopecia. About 40% of women experience hair loss by the age of 50.^[2]
And up to two-thirds of postmenopausal women experience hair thinning or bald spots.

As is the case with men, female (rather than male) pattern hair loss is the most common type of hair loss in women. Health conditions, medications and physical or emotional stress can all cause hair loss in women. So if you’re experiencing any of these things, you should let us know. They can help to find out what’s caused your hair loss and decide whether you need any treatment.

Do I need a prescription to get hair loss treatment?

Answer:

For Finasteride and Propecia, yes. These treatments can cause side effects, and it may be that you’re sensitive to their ingredients. You may also have a health condition which means that they aren’t suitable for you. So you’ll need to have a consultation with our clinician to make sure that they’re safe for you to use.

Rogaine is available over the counter, so you won’t need a prescription for it.

What is postpartum hair loss?

Answer:

After giving birth, women’s hormone levels can change, and this can sometimes trigger alopecia. It usually only lasts for between six and 12 months, at which point your hair growth cycle should return to normal. It’s quite common and isn’t usually anything to worry about. If you are concerned though, or if you find that your hair loss persists, you should contact your GP or midwife.

Vitamins for hair loss: do they work?

Answer:

If you’re severely lacking in iron, vitamins A, B, D or E, zinc, amino acids or omega acids (particularly omega-3 fatty acids), vitamin supplements can help to improve hair loss and hair growth. But if you aren’t deficient in any of these vitamins, there’s no evidence that taking any supplements will have a noticeable effect on hair loss or hair growth.

Treated trusted source:

1. Malkud, S. (2015). Telogen Effluvium: A Review. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH.
2. Famenini, S., Slaught, C., Duan, L. and Goh, C. (2015). Demographics of women with female pattern hair loss and the effectiveness of spironolactone therapy. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 73(4), pp.705–706.

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