Hair Loss Patient Information Leaflet
What is male pattern baldness?
Male pattern baldness affects most men eventually. Most men don’t require any treatment, though if it causes distress or depression then treatment may help. It occurs over years and can start any time after puberty. Hair loss is usually experienced on the crown & on the sides at the front, eventually to the extent that these areas merge, leaving hair only at the back and sides. This hair may also eventually be lost.
Nobody knows exactly why this process occurs, but it’s been shown to be inherited genetically. Some of the hair follicles in this area shrink under the influence of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a male hormone which is present in normal levels in men who are balding.
Tablets for Hair Loss
- can often reduce further hair loss, which may help a person regain his confidence
- take several months to work and up to 2 years for full hair growth
- specifically lower the levels of DHT in the scalp, thus helping to reverse the balding process
- do not affect hair on other parts of the body
- are not addictive
- don’t usually cause side-effects. About 2% of men experience loss of libido (sex drive)
There are other options available to treat hair loss – topical (rub-on) treatments, wigs, even surgical procedures
