As hair regrowth is a naturally slow process, there’s likely to be little change for the first one to three months when you begin using a hair loss treatment. Some people may experience hair shedding when they first start using Topical Spray, but this is normal and temporary.

After three to six months, hair loss should start to slow down and newly regrown hair should begin to emerge. Initial hairs may be soft and light at the start, but should eventually become the same as normal hair.

Beyond six months, hair loss should slow significantly and thicker, fuller regrown hair should begin to fill in patches of thinning hair. Scalp coverage should noticeably improve and hairs should look stronger and healthier.

One of the main factors involved in male pattern hair loss is the activity of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) on the hair follicles. When present, DHT activates a receptor in the hair follicle which causes the growth phase of the hair cycle to gradually decrease. This shrinks the follicle resulting in finer, shorter hairs until the growth phase is so short that the hairs don’t grow from the scalp at all.

Finasteride stops the production of DHT. It works as an inhibitor of 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme which converts testosterone into DHT. This means that less DHT is present in the scalp (around 60% less), preventing further hair loss, and in some cases, promoting hair regrowth.

Topical Spray and Regaine both contain the active ingredient minoxidil, which can reduce and reverse hair loss caused by male pattern baldness in a number of ways:

• First, by dilating the blood vessels and allowing them to supply nutrient-rich blood to the hair follicles - increasing hair density and promoting regrowth.
• Second, by extending the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle. The anagen phase (known as the “growth” stage of the hair cycle) is the stage in which new hair is generated.
• Third, by increasing hair follicle size and hair diameter, which can make hair appear thicker and fuller.

As all of the hair loss treatments we offer are effective, the kind of treatment you choose will depend on your personal preference.

Finasteride: best for those who prefer the convenience of only needing to take one tablet a day to slow overall hair loss and promote hair regrowth.

Topical Spray and Regaine: can be applied directly to bald patches and areas of thinning hair to promote regrowth in specific areas of the scalp affected by male pattern hair loss (such as the hairline, crown of the head and temples).

Hair loss treatments are suitable for men aged 18-65 who are experiencing mild to moderate male pattern hair loss.

Finasteride, Topical Spray, and Regaine are not suitable for women. A full list of warnings and precautions is available in the Patient Information Leaflet and/or Safety Information Page included with your treatment, which you should always read before using them for the first time.

Occasionally, men taking finasteride experience changes in their sexual function. In trials, only around 1.5% of men experienced symptoms such as erectile dysfunction, decreased libido and ejaculatory dysfunction. Stopping treatment usually leads to the resolution of these symptoms in over 99% of men.

Other rare side effects of finasteride include testicular pain, depression and breast tissue growth/tenderness.

Likewise, Topical Spray can also cause potential side effects - although not everyone gets them. Common side effects include:

• Itching and/or skin irritation of the scalp at the site of application.

The time it takes to see a reduction in hair loss and the regrowth of new hair depends on the type of hair loss treatment you choose. As hair growth is a naturally slow process, it usually takes a few months to notice any changes. This is normal, and the best results are usually observed after six months of treatment.

Finasteride: takes about three to six months to notice reduced hair loss and/or the regrowth of hair.

Topical Spray: takes about two to four months to notice reduced hair loss and/or the regrowth of hair.

Note that some hair shedding may occur when you first begin treatment with Topical Spray. This is only temporary, and happens because initial treatment causes the hair follicles to move quickly through the growth cycle until they reach the anagen (growth) stage.

If you decide to stop using your hair loss treatment, it’s likely that you will lose the hair you regrew during treatment within three to four months. Therefore, continuous use is recommended for the best results.

Don’t worry if you forget to use your hair loss treatment one day. Although continuous use is recommended for the best results, it takes about three to four months for regrown hair to disappear once treatment is stopped. Therefore, forgetting to use the treatment for one day is unlikely to have an impact on your hair coverage.

In the event that you forget to use your hair loss treatment, do not double the dose to make up for the one/s you missed. Instead, use it as normal the following day.

An off-licence medicine is one that is used in a different way to that described in its licence. Examples of off-licence use include:

• Using a medicine for a different condition to that stated in the licence. This may happen because doctors have found that the medicine works very well for another condition. Using the medicine in this way may be supported by expert groups, but the manufacturer of the medication has not extended its licence.
• Using a medicine in an age group beyond the boundaries of the licenced range.
• Using a medicine at a higher dose than stated in the licence.