Hair Loss Treatments

What hair loss is

Hair loss, or alopecia, affects both men and women. It can happen gradually or suddenly, and it may be temporary or permanent depending on the cause. Losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal; a widening parting, receding hairline or patches of loss are worth looking into.^[1]

Pattern hair loss is the most common long-term type. It develops gradually as genetically susceptible follicles produce finer, shorter hairs. The treatments on this page are for pattern hair loss; sudden or patchy loss usually has a different cause and needs different treatment.^[2][3]

Hair loss treatments compared

Compare how each treatment is used, what it does and how long it can take before you notice a change.

What causes hair loss?

Pattern hair loss is the most common long-term cause, but it is not the only one. Finding the cause matters because the other types are treated differently.

Genetic and hormonal causes

• Male and female pattern hair loss: gradual thinning that usually follows a recognisable pattern.
• Hormonal changes: pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and thyroid problems can trigger shedding.

Medical causes

• Alopecia areata: an autoimmune condition that causes sudden, round patches of loss.
• Scalp infections: fungal infections such as ringworm can cause hair loss.
• Health conditions: iron deficiency, thyroid disease, lupus and other illnesses can cause thinning.
• Medicines: chemotherapy and some other medicines can affect the growth cycle.

Lifestyle and external causes

• Stress or illness: physical or emotional stress can cause a temporary shed called telogen effluvium.
• Nutrition and rapid weight loss: low protein or iron and crash dieting can disrupt hair growth.
• Traction and damage: tight hairstyles, chemical treatments and repeated heat can damage hair and follicles.

How hair loss is diagnosed

Pattern hair loss often has a recognisable shape. Sudden, patchy or painful hair loss needs someone to look at your scalp.

Male pattern hair loss usually starts at the temples, the crown or both. It develops slowly, and the hair at the back and sides is usually less affected. If this looks like your hair loss and close relatives have the same pattern, that gives you a useful clue.^[2]

Female pattern hair loss looks different. The front hairline often stays where it is while the parting gradually becomes wider.^[3]

When a doctor should look at it

See your GP if the loss came on quickly, appears in round patches, or your scalp is sore, red, scaly or scarred. You should also see them if you cannot work out what is happening. A GP can examine your hair and scalp, ask about your health and family history, and arrange further checks when needed.^[1][16]

The treatments on this page are intended for pattern hair loss. If something else is causing your hair loss, treating that cause comes first.

What our assessment does

Our online questionnaire is not a scalp examination. It asks about your pattern of loss, how it started, your medical history, your blood pressure and the medicines you take. A prescriber uses your answers to decide whether a prescription treatment is safe and suitable for you. If your answers point to a different type of hair loss, they will ask you to see your GP instead.

Is hair loss treatment available on the NHS?

Pattern hair loss treatments are not normally available on the NHS, so you will usually need to pay for them privately. Wigs and hairpieces can be available through the NHS in some circumstances.^[1][16]

Hair loss caused by another health problem is different. If your thinning is linked to low iron, a thyroid problem, an illness or a medicine you take, your GP can investigate the cause and explain what treatment is available.^[1]

When you buy treatment privately, compare the ongoing cost rather than only the first pack. Finasteride and minoxidil only maintain their effect while you continue using them.^[1][4]

Will hair loss treatment work?

The aim is usually to slow or stop further loss first. Some people also see thicker hair or regrowth, but that takes longer and the response differs from person to person. The comparison above gives you a realistic time to look for change with each treatment.

Take progress photographs in consistent lighting and from the same angles. These treatments manage an ongoing process rather than curing it, so continued use is normally needed to maintain the benefit. If you stop, hair loss resumes and maintained or regrown hair is generally lost over the following months.

Looking after your hair while you treat it

Hair care cannot change inherited pattern hair loss. It can help you avoid breakage, scalp irritation and other preventable damage while your treatment has time to work.^[2][17]

• Go easy on heat and chemicals. Repeated straightening, bleaching and strong chemical treatments can damage the hair shaft and make thinning look worse.^[17]
• Loosen tight styles. Tight buns, braids, cornrows and extensions pull on the follicle. Repeated pulling can cause traction alopecia and may eventually cause permanent loss.^[17]
• Be gentle when your hair is wet. Wet hair is more fragile. Pat it dry and use your fingers or a wide-toothed comb instead of pulling a brush through it.^[17]
• Eat a balanced diet. Low iron and rapid weight loss can trigger shedding. If you think you may be deficient, ask your GP about the right checks rather than guessing with supplements.^[1]
• Protect exposed scalp from the sun. Use a hat or suitable sun protection on areas where your hair no longer covers the skin.^[2]

Start as soon as you are confident that pattern hair loss is the cause. Treatment can slow further loss and may help some regrowth, but it cannot restore every follicle that has stopped producing visible hair.^[2]

Other hair loss options people consider

We do not offer these services. Here is what the current evidence can tell you before you spend money on them.

Hair transplant surgery

A surgeon moves follicles from the back or sides of your scalp into thinning areas. It can add hair where follicles no longer produce visible hair, but it is still surgery and the result depends on the donor hair and the surgeon. A transplant does not stop pattern hair loss in the hair around it. Hair transplant surgery for pattern hair loss is not normally available on the NHS.^[1][2]

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

A clinic takes a small amount of your blood, separates the platelet-rich plasma and injects it into your scalp. A 2024 systematic review found some promising results, but the studies were small and varied considerably in how PRP was prepared and used. The authors judged the evidence too limited for firm conclusions, so ask what evidence and treatment schedule a clinic uses before paying for repeat sessions.^[14]

Microneedling and derma rollers

A 2025 review of randomised trials found that microneedling with topical minoxidil improved hair count and diameter more than minoxidil alone. The devices, needle depths and schedules varied considerably, so there is no single agreed home-use method. Do not use a device on broken, inflamed or infected skin. Follow the minoxidil leaflet and ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining them.^[7][15]

Supplements, biotin and caffeine shampoos

A supplement can help when a confirmed deficiency is contributing to your shedding. It does not replace a treatment for pattern hair loss. Caffeine shampoos are cosmetic products rather than licensed hair loss medicines. If you are worried about your diet or a deficiency, ask your GP before spending money on tests or supplements.^[1][16]

Wigs and hairpieces

A wig or hairpiece changes how your hair looks straight away and does not involve medicine or surgery. Synthetic and real-hair options need different care, and some wigs are available through the NHS if you meet the criteria.^[1][2]