Hair Loss Cures:

Male pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss in men. The condition, also known as androgenic alopecia, affects approximately 30% of men by the time they reach the age of 30. 50% of men will be affected by this condition by the time they turn 50 years of age. But what causes it and are there any hair loss cures? Let’s take a closer look.

What Is Male Pattern Hair Loss?

Understanding what causes male hair loss will help us understand the different treatment options better so before we dive into hair loss “cures”, let’s talk a little about the cause of male pattern baldness!

Male pattern hair loss is caused by a combination of hormonal and genetic factors. This means that a predisposition to male hair loss is inherited from your parents. There is a popular belief that hair loss in men is passed down from the mother’s side of the family. However, this is not the case. The genes that cause hair loss can be inherited from both sides of the family.

As mentioned, hormones also play a part in male pattern hair loss. When the hormone testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) it causes hair follicles to shrink, meaning hair falls out sooner. It also means that hair will no longer be able to grow from these follicles. When there are high levels of this hormone, male pattern hair loss occurs.

Over time, the hair begins to thin and bald patches begin to appear. As the name suggests, male pattern baldness develops in recognised patterns. You may notice the gradual thinning of hair at the temples or the crown of the head. You may also notice your hairline receding, the loosening of hair and shedding more than before.

Hair Loss Cures

While hair loss is a normal part of the ageing process for many men, many others find it distressing, especially if it is excessive or occurs in early adult life. Therefore, many men may find themselves seeking hair loss cures.

Unfortunately, male pattern hair loss is permanent and there is no “cure” but there are some treatment options that can help. For instance, there are some hair loss medications that can help halt the balding process and potentially encourage hair regrowth. Alternatively, there are various therapies and surgery options available from hair loss specialists, if that is what you wish to do.

It’s important to be aware that there are many “miracle hair loss cures” available on the market, largely because male hair loss is so common. But if the product seems too good to be true, it’s probably because it is. If you are struggling with male hair loss, we recommend speaking to your doctor for the best advice on treatment options available. This will save you a lot of time and money!

Hair Loss Treatment Options

As we mentioned, there is no “hair loss cure” but there are some treatment options available that can help. For example, through our online prescription service, Webdoctor.ie can arrange a prescription for finasteride – a hair loss treatment for men.

How Does Finasteride Work?

Finasteride works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). As we know, DHT causes hair loss by shrinking hair follicles. However, by disrupting this conversion process, finasteride can help to prevent hair loss.

It is important to note that keeping the hair that you have is much easier than trying to replace it once you have lost it. While finasteride can encourage new hair growth, it mostly helps to prevent further hair loss. Therefore, you may want to consider using this medication as soon as you start to notice your hair thinning to prevent bald patches from developing.

As we mentioned above, male pattern hair loss is permanent and there are no permanent hair loss “cures”. Therefore, you will need to keep taking finasteride to maintain your results. Once you stop taking this medication, the balding process will commence.

Finasteride Is Only Suitable As A Treatment For Male Pattern Hair Loss In Males

You should also note that finasteride is only suitable to treat male pattern hair loss in males (male pattern hair loss can occur in females).

Please be advised that pregnant women MUST NOT touch this medication once it is removed from the protective packaging as this drug can potentially cause harm to an unborn baby. If you and your partner are trying to conceive, you should not use this medication. Likewise, if your partner is pregnant or might be pregnant, you must use condoms while using finasteride treatment.

Propecia

If you have been researching hair loss cures and treatments, you might have come across the branded product, Propecia. This brand is licenced and available in the UK but it is not available in Ireland. However, the active ingredient in Propecia is finasteride and there is a generic version of this brand available in Ireland. Through our online prescription service, we can arrange a prescription for these finasteride 1 mg tablets, subject to clinical suitability.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil is another hair loss treatment that can be used to prevent and potentially reverse hair loss in men suffering from male pattern baldness. Minoxidil comes as a lotion or a foam and it is applied directly to the balding areas of the scalp each day. In lotion or foam form, minoxidil is available without a prescription, over-the-counter in pharmacies.

It is also available in tablet form under the brand name Rogaine which requires a prescription. Please note: we cannot provide prescriptions for Rogaine through our online Male Hair Loss Treatment prescription service.

When used every day, minoxidil can be effective in preventing hair loss but many believe that it is not as effective as finasteride. However, you can use the over-the-counter forms of minoxidil in conjunction with finasteride – you can speak to your doctor about this.

Where Can I Get A Prescription For Finasteride?

As mentioned above, here at Webdoctor.ie, we can provide you with a prescription for finasteride (if clinically appropriate).

If you are interested in trying finasteride to treat male pattern hair loss, you will simply need to fill in a short and secure suitability questionnaire. Then, one of our Irish-registered doctors will review your request to ensure this treatment is medically suitable and safe for you.

Once approved, we’ll send your prescription to an Irish pharmacy of your choice via secure Healthmail. This service is extremely convenient and discreet; you can access it via our website on any phone, laptop or tablet! Check out our Male Hair Loss Treatment page for more information.