If you notice your hair is starting to thin or fall out, the first thing to do is to go and see your doctor to get a formal diagnosis. Your doctor may refer you to a hair loss specialist, or they may prescribe or recommend a treatment.
There are a lot of treatments for hair loss now available, but not all of them may be worth the time and money for everyone.
If you are diagnosed with having less than 50 per cent hair loss, the following treatments may be available to you. Here are their pros and cons:
Topical Minoxidil (also known as Regaine or Rogaine)
Pro: This medicine has been known to be relatively effective on people with patchy hair loss
Con: It does not normally work for people with alopecia totalis or universalis
Pro: Although not available on prescription, a 5% solution of this medicine (lasting one month) costs around £20 online
Con: Side effects may include scalp irritation, itching or scaling.
Corticosteroids
Pro: This treatment, administered via lotion, cream or injection, is generally very effective in mild cases of alopecia.
Con: If taken for a long time, corticosteroids can lower the body’s ability to fight off infections
Pro: This medication is available on prescription
Pro: It takes around 4 to 6 months to show noticeable improvement