When using any treatment for hair loss, it’s important to keep in mind that hair regrowth is a naturally slow process, so there may not be much visible change for the first one to three months. But remember: Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is a luscious head of hair, so it’s key that you give your hair loss treatment time to work its magic.

After about three to six months of using your hair loss treatment, hair loss should start to slow down and newly regrown hairs 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.

Finasteride is a hair loss treatment for men that helps to counter male pattern baldness by reducing the action of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) on hair follicles. DHT is a naturally occurring molecule that interacts with hair follicles in a way that causes the growth phase of the hair cycle to gradually decrease. This shrinks the follicle resulting in thinner, 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 inhibits 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme which converts testosterone into DHT, meaning that less DHT is present in the scalp (around 60% less). This helps to prevent further hair loss, and in many cases, promotes hair regrowth.

Medicated 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 widening the blood vessels and allowing them to supply nutrient-rich blood to the hair follicles - increasing hair density and promoting hair regrowth.
– Second, by prolonging 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.

Like most medicines, hair loss treatments can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Before using any medicine for hair loss it’s important to be aware of the potential side effects, as this knowledge will help you to use your hair loss treatment safely and effectively.

Minoxidil
The common side effects of Extra Strength Spray and Regaine (both of which contain the active ingredient minoxidil) include itching and/or skin irritation of the scalp at the site of application.

If you experience any of the side effects mentioned above stop using the hair loss treatment and seek medical guidance.

Finasteride

Sometimes, men taking finasteride 1mg 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.

A complete list of side effects is available in the Patient Information Leaflet and/or Safety Information Page included with every male pattern baldness treatment we provide, which you should always read before taking any treatment for the first time.

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.

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

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

You should bear in mind that these timeframes are guidelines, because the time it takes for a male pattern baldness treatment to work is likely to differ from person to person. Some people may experience noticeable changes to their hair in a shorter timeframe than the ones described above. Likewise, it may take a little longer for others. Therefore, it’s best to stay consistent with your chosen hair loss treatment, as hair regrowth tends to improve the longer a treatment is used.

Note that some hair shedding may occur when you first begin treatment with Extra Strength 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.

Don’t worry if you forget to use your hair loss treatment one day. Although male pattern baldness treatments work best when they are used consistently, 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 shouldn’t have an impact on your hair coverage.

Important: if you forget to take 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.