Do hair loss treatments work? Yes, but not for everyone

Hair loss treatment sceptics are among us. You'll find them online, sharing photos of their mate Brian's disastrous results. Bald before. Bald after.

So do hair loss treatments actually work? Here's the honest answer. Yes, for most men with male pattern baldness, but not for everyone. The treatments with real science behind them, finasteride and minoxidil, help a lot of men.^1,2 They just aren't a guaranteed fix for every type of hair loss. Sceptical? Let us explain.

Ineffective hair loss treatments give the industry a bad rep

Part of the problem is the sheer amount of stuff on the market that does nothing. Hair oils, caffeine shampoos, and all manner of alternative remedies promise miracle regrowth with no real science behind them. When they fail, they drag the reputation of the whole industry down with them.

Take caffeine shampoo. In 2018, the Advertising Standards Authority ruled that Alpecin could no longer claim its caffeine shampoo helps reduce hair loss, because the evidence didn't stand up.³ The research into caffeine and hair growth is limited and largely lab-based.⁴

Numan only offers treatments with genuine clinical evidence behind them. A 2021 trial found finasteride produced a significant increase in total hair count compared with placebo,¹ and minoxidil has been shown to regrow hair with few side effects.² We're a CQC-regulated clinical service, so every treatment is prescribed by a clinician, not sold off a shelf.

Hair loss treatments don't work for everyone

No treatment works for everyone, and the reason usually comes down to matching the treatment to the cause. There are several types of hair loss, and finasteride and minoxidil are built for one in particular: androgenetic alopecia, or male pattern baldness. It affects more than 50% of men over the age of 50.⁵

Male pattern baldness is driven by DHT, a hormone made from testosterone that shrinks the hair follicles over time.⁵ Finasteride works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT.¹ Minoxidil works differently, widening the blood vessels around the follicles so they get more oxygen and nutrients.² If your hair loss is caused by something else, such as stress or another condition, these medications are far less likely to help.

Timing matters too. Hair loss treatments are mostly preventative. They protect the hair you have and can thicken what's thinning, but they can't raise the dead. Once a follicle has stopped producing hair for good, no medication will bring it back, which is when it's too late for finasteride to help. At that stage, it's worth looking at alternatives treatments.

Does finasteride work for everyone?

Finasteride is one of the most effective treatments for male pattern baldness, but it only helps with that type of hair loss, and only while there are still active follicles to work with.¹ Start early and you give it the best chance.

Does minoxidil work for everyone?

Not always. If standard-strength minoxidil (the 2% or 5% in Regaine) hasn't worked for you, a stronger option may be worth exploring. Minoxidil is sometimes prescribed off-label at a higher strength when a clinician has decided it's appropriate for you. Prescribing off-label means a clinician prescribes a licensed medicine in a way that sits outside its original licence, for example at a different strength or for a different use, when they judge it's the right choice for the person in front of them. It's legal, common, and a normal part of everyday medical practice, always based on clinical evidence and their assessment of your needs.

If it still isn't working, our clinicians can talk you through what to do next.

Because the right treatment depends on the cause, our clinicians review every consultation and will turn a request down if a treatment is unlikely to work for you.

Side effects make people wary

Both finasteride and minoxidil have side effects. It's very common for a medication to have side effects, and the likelihood and severity will vary from person to person.

Here's everything you need to know about the side effects of hair loss treatment.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil was originally prescribed to treat blood pressure, but unexpected hair growth was observed in patients. The treatment widens blood vessels, providing the hair follicles with oxygen and nutrient-rich blood.² Minoxidil is now approved as a hair loss treatment, but its mechanism and topical application help explain why you may encounter some of the following side effects:²

• Changes in blood pressure

• Rapid heartbeat

• Pain in the chest

• Dizziness

• Unexplained weight gain

• Swelling of the hands or feet

• Persistent irritation of the scalp

Stop treatment and speak to your clinician immediately if you experience any of the above.

More commonly, people experience irritation of the skin, including itchiness, flakiness, redness, or dryness. This is usually temporary, and you should give your skin time to adjust to the product. If irritation persists, stop treatment and speak to your clinician.

Finasteride

If you've done some serious digging on the side effects of finasteride, you've probably found some worrying results.¹ Finasteride was originally prescribed to shrink benign enlarged prostates. It blocks the conversion of testosterone to DHT, the hormone responsible for male pattern hair loss. Although rare, some men encounter worrying side effects as a result of taking it.¹

Stop treatment immediately and speak to your clinician if any of the following occurs:¹

• An allergic reaction: Swelling of the lips, throat and eyelids, difficulty breathing, wheezing, dizziness, collapsing, hives.

• Depression: Feelings of severe hopelessness and unworthiness.

• Changes in breast tissue: Lumps, pain, or nipple discharge should be reported to your doctor immediately.

Occurring in up to 1 in 100 men, uncommon side effects of finasteride include:⁶

• Decreased libido

• Erectile dysfunction

• Problems with ejaculation, such as a decrease in the amount of semen

These side effects don't affect everyone, and symptoms should stop after stopping the medication. Although incredibly rare, there are reports of post-finasteride syndrome, where symptoms persist after stopping. There's still work to be done to understand the link between finasteride and the syndrome, so it's important to weigh up your options and consider the risk before taking the medication.

Still not convinced?

We know it's difficult to trust the hair loss treatment industry when before and after photographs show a very evident touch of Photoshop.

While everyone responds differently, many men see truly impressive results. If hair loss is bothering you , it's time to take that next step and see what treatments are available to you.

The numan take

The hair loss industry has a bad reputation, because there are all sorts of ineffective treatments on the market. There are, however, treatments backed by scientific research. Finasteride and minoxidil are clinically proven hair loss medications, and although they don't work for everyone, many men see real results.

References

^{1 Piraccini BM, Blume-Peytavi U, Scarci F, et al. Efficacy and safety of topical finasteride spray solution for male androgenetic alopecia: a phase III, randomized, controlled clinical trial. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022;36(2):286-294. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jdv.17738}

^{2 Olsen EA, Whiting D, Bergfeld W, et al. A multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of a novel formulation of 5% minoxidil topical foam versus placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007;57(5):767-774. Available from: https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(07)00760-8/fulltext}

^{3 Advertising Standards Authority. ASA ruling on Dr Kurt Wolff GmbH & Co. KG (Alpecin) [Internet]. London: ASA; 2018 [cited 2026 Aug 28]. Available from: https://www.asa.org.uk/rulings/dr-kurt-wolff-gmbh---co-kg-a17-387365.html}

^{4 Fischer TW, Hipler UC, Elsner P. Effect of caffeine and testosterone on the proliferation of human hair follicles in vitro. Int J Dermatol. 2007;46(1):27-35. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17214716/}

^{5 Asfour L, Cranwell W, Sinclair R. Male androgenetic alopecia. MDText.com, Inc., South Dartmouth; 2000.}

^{6 Propecia 1 mg film-coated tablets: patient information leaflet [Internet]. Electronic medicines compendium (emc) [cited 2026 Aug 28]. Available from: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/2194/pil}