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Is there a baldness cure?

Approved by our Clinical team | Nov 15, 2022

We understand that going bald can be a confusing time and many men make may seek out a baldness cure. Male pattern baldness is a hereditary condition and currently there is no baldness cure; however there are some treatments available in the UK which have had positive results in reducing and reversing baldness.

Is there a hair loss cure?

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No, but there are treatments that can slow it down and, in some cases, reverse some of the loss. As male pattern baldness is a hereditary condition, it doesn't have a cure, but preventative treatments can be taken to slow the process down and even regrow your hair.

LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor can prescribe a range of hair loss treatments after an online consultation, if medically suitable. These treatments include finasteride/propecia – a hair loss treatment which is taken once a day.

How can Finasteride or Propecia help with hair loss in men?

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Finasteride and Propecia are the same treatment, finasteride is the generic medicine and Propecia is the branded version. Male pattern baldness occurs as a result of a hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone). DHT causes hair loss:

by inducing a change in the hair follicles
the hair follicles then produce progressively thinner and shorter hair

Finasteride/propecia help prevent hair loss and increase hair growth by blocking the effect of DHT on the hair follicles.

One tablet must be taken every day to combat hair loss and improvement is usually seen at 3-6 months. It cannot provide a permanent cure for hair loss, so if you stop taking it, your hair loss will resume.

Either is available as private prescription medicines and you can visit the LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor hair loss clinic for an online consultation. Online Doctor also offer a free assessment to advise what treatments would be appropriate for you.

What is minoxidil and can it help with baldness?

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Minoxidil was the first hair loss treatment proven to reverse genetic male (and female) hair loss. It is a topical treatment that:

increases the blood supply to the areas that it's applied
prevents shrinkage of the follicles
stimulates hair growth from the follicles

Resulting in prevention of hair loss and regrowth of the hair in many cases.

What are the causes of male pattern baldness?

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Male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, is a hereditary condition caused by your genes and hormones. Male pattern baldness is caused by your body’s reaction to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which causes your hair follicles to shrink.

Is it safe to use combination therapy?

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Yes, it is safe to use finasteride/propecia, minoxidil/Regaine and Alpecin shampoo alongside each other. Combining finasteride and minoxidil for a hair loss treatment course can be more effective. Adding in an additional hair growth booster like alpecin shampoo to complement this treatment can offer optimum levels of hair regrowth.

What is DHT?

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DHT stands for dihydrotestosterone, which is converted from testosterone. Male pattern baldness is caused by a very sensitive reaction to DHT. DHT causes hair loss by inducing a change in the hair follicles. The hair follicles then produce progressively thinner and shorter hair until eventually the hair follicles shrink completely and stop producing hair.