Hair loss
Male pattern hair loss treatment, online
Male pattern hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia, is hair loss driven by the effect of hormones on genetically sensitive follicles. It follows a recognisable pattern: receding at the temples, thinning at the crown, or both. Treatment works best when it is started early, because it is far easier to keep hair than to regrow it.
Roughly half of men show noticeable male pattern hair loss by the age of 50, and around 80% by the age of 70. It can begin in the late teens.
A consultation does not guarantee a prescription. A prescriber decides what, if anything, is appropriate for you.
How male pattern hair loss presents
- A receding hairline, usually starting at the temples
- Thinning at the crown
- Hair that grows back finer and shorter with each cycle
- A widening parting
- The sides and back usually stay unaffected
What causes male pattern hair loss
Physical causes
- Sensitivity of the hair follicle to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is inherited
- Age — follicles spend less time in the growth phase as you get older
- Family history on either side of the family
Psychological causes
- Stress does not cause male pattern hair loss, but severe stress or illness can trigger a separate, temporary shedding called telogen effluvium
Treatment options
This is the full range, including the options we don't provide. Which one is right is a decision for you and a prescriber together — not something to choose from a list.
Doing nothing
Via your GP or a specialistA legitimate choice. Male pattern hair loss is not harmful, and treatment has to be continued indefinitely to keep working.
Topical minoxidil
Available through this serviceA solution or foam applied to the scalp, available without a prescription. It extends the growth phase of the hair cycle. Shedding in the first few weeks is expected.
Oral 5-alpha reductase inhibitors
Available through this serviceA prescription-only tablet used to treat male pattern hair loss by reducing DHT. It can slow loss and partly regrow hair at the crown. Side effects can include sexual dysfunction and mood changes, and it lowers PSA readings, which matters if you are ever tested for prostate problems.
Hair transplant surgery
Via your GP or a specialistMoves follicles from the back and sides to the thinning areas. It is a specialist surgical procedure, and medical treatment is usually continued alongside it to protect the hair you still have.
Low-level laser therapy
Via your GP or a specialistCaps and combs that use red light. The evidence is weaker than for medical treatment, but it is low-risk.
Cosmetic options
Via your GP or a specialistScalp micropigmentation, hair fibres and a shorter cut are all reasonable choices, and carry no medical risk.
What helps day to day
Start early if you're going to start
Treatment protects the follicles that are still alive. Once a follicle has gone, nothing medical brings it back.
Check your iron and thyroid
If your loss is diffuse rather than patterned, low ferritin or thyroid disease are worth ruling out first with a blood test.
Be patient
Hair cycles are slow. Give any treatment at least six months, and take a photograph at the start so you have something to compare against.
Go easy on the scalp
Tight styles, harsh bleaching and very hot styling cause their own damage on top of the pattern loss.
When to see a doctor instead
Book an appointment if any of these apply
- Hair falling out in distinct round patches
- Loss of eyebrow, beard or body hair as well
- A red, sore, scaly or painful scalp
- Smooth, shiny skin where hair used to grow, which can mean scarring
- Sudden heavy shedding all over, rather than in a pattern
Common questions
Will I have to take treatment forever?
To keep the benefit, yes. Medical treatment for male pattern hair loss works only while you take it. Hair lost in the months after stopping is usually the hair the treatment was protecting.
How long before I see a difference?
Expect three to six months before loss visibly slows, and up to twelve months before any regrowth is obvious. Shedding in the first few weeks of treatment is common and is not a sign it is failing.
Are the sexual side effects real?
Sexual side effects are reported by a small minority of men in clinical trials and usually resolve on stopping. A small number of people report symptoms persisting afterwards. The consultation asks about this directly so a prescriber can discuss it with you before you start.
Does it affect prostate cancer testing?
Yes, and this matters. This class of medicine roughly halves PSA readings. Always tell any doctor arranging a PSA test that you take it, so the result can be interpreted correctly.
Can my partner handle the tablets?
No, not if they are pregnant or could become pregnant — the medicine can harm a developing male baby. Tablets should be kept in their original packaging and not handled by anyone else.
Related conditions
This page is for information and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Last reviewed October 2026 by the clinical team.
Ready to see where you stand?
The consultation takes about five minutes and costs nothing. You'll only pay if a prescriber decides treatment is right for you.