Hair loss

Buy Hair Loss Treatment Online UK

If you've recently noticed your hairline receding and are worried about losing your hair, there are treatments which can slow or stall your hair loss.

With Prescription Doctor's UK pharmacy, you can buy hair loss treatments online and have them delivered to your door discreetly.

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Understanding Hair Loss

Hair is a part of the human integumentary system, just like skin and nails. These are the outermost layers of the body and protect internal organs and tissues.

Just like our skin, our hair is made from a protein called keratin and goes through a cycle where it grows and sheds. The cycle is known as the hair growth cycle and has 4 phases.

Stage 1: Anagen phase (3-5 years). The hair grows at a consistent rate of about 1 inch every 2 months.

Stage 2: Catagen phase (10 days). Hair growth slows down, and the hair strand transitions to a state prepared for shedding.

Stage 3: Telogen phase. (3 months). The hair completely detaches from the blood vessel (papilla), supplying it with oxygen and nutrients. The follicle prepares to grow new hair beneath it. The hair stays in this static position until it is ready to be shed.

Stage 4: Exogen phase. During this final stage of the cycle, the hair falls out, allowing the hair below it to grow and take its place. After this, the hair follicle returns to the anagen phase, and the cycle begins again.

The video below shows the different stages of the hair growth cycle.

As we age, the anagen phase becomes longer, slowing the rate of hair growth.

Types of hair loss

Doctors refer to hair loss as “alopecia.” There are several types of hair loss; each has different symptoms and causes. These types of hair loss include:

• Male and female-pattern baldness
• Alopecia areata
• Alopecia totalis
• Traction alopecia
• Alopecia effluvium

Male and female pattern hair loss usually follows a predictable pattern of a receding hairline followed by thinning of hair on the temples and crown, which creates a horseshoe-shaped area of hair around the sides and back of the head.

Alopecia areata is a condition where coin-sized patches of baldness appear on your scalp or elsewhere on your body. The patches can be of different sizes and shapes. Alopecia is often the result of an autoimmune problem that causes the body to attack itself in areas of the body with hair. The autoimmune attack causes inflammation in those areas of the body, and this inflammation causes hair to fall out. Alopecia areata can occur over a short period or cause long-term hair loss.

Alopecia totalis causes total baldness. Like alopecia areata, this condition is the result of an autoimmune disorder.

Traction alopecia occurs mainly in women and as the result of hair styling. Excessive pulling, heating, braiding, bleaching, and binding can strain the scalp and hair follicles, which leads to inflammation and hair loss.

Alopecia effluvium is temporary hair loss resulting from high stress or psychological issues. Hair loss is usually more prominent at the top of your head and around your temples, but alopecia effluvium does not usually cause a receding hairline.

It's important to speak to your doctor if you notice any drastic change in your hair - especially if your hair is falling in large quantities or if your hair is falling out in patches.

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What Causes Hair Loss?

The most common causes of hair loss in men are associated with genetic or hormonal factors. A combination of genetics, hormones, and the ageing process causes most cases of male hair loss. People with at least one parent with hair loss are more likely to experience alopecia.

A male hormone related to testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), can attack hair follicles, causing them to shrink and produce shorter, thinner hair.

Other causes of hair loss include:

• Anaemia
• Bleach
• Chemotherapy
• Infections (ringworm)
• Iron or protein deficiency
• Stress or anxiety
• Sudden weight changes
• Thyroid problems

Some medicines can also cause hair loss as a side effect. If you suspect a medicine is causing your hair loss, speak to your doctor for advice. They will be able to determine whether your hair loss is caused by a medicine you are taking and discuss appropriate treatments. Do not stop taking a medicine prescribed to you without first speaking to your doctor.

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How To Treat Hair Loss?

If your hair loss is causing you distress, there are a number of treatments available.

Medicines for hair loss focus on retaining the hair you have and slowing hair loss rather than increasing the amount of hair you have. These treatments are not available on the NHS, though they are available from pharmacies or via a private prescription service, such as Prescription Doctor.

Before taking any medicine for hair loss, it's important to speak to your doctor to ensure it's suitable for you.

If medicines aren't suitable, there are other ways of treating the appearance of hair loss for both men and women.

Hair loss treatments for men

There are several safe and effective treatments for hair loss in men.

Finasteride - often sold older the brand Propecia - is a hair loss treatment which directly inhibits the activity of DHT. By stopping its action, the rate of hair loss slows down. Finasteride tablets are only available on prescription in the UK.

Finasteride is only available for men and is not safe for women. Extra care should be taken to prevent women from coming into contact with the medicine as it can be absorbed through the skin.

Regaine for men is an over-the-counter treatment for male pattern baldness. It contains the active ingredient minoxidil, which promotes blood flow to the hair follicles.

Toupees and wigs can be used to hide hair loss, giving the appearance of having more hair. These can be available in a range of colours and styles to suit you, though they can be expensive.

Hair loss treatments for women

Minoxidil is also available for women with female pattern baldness.

Sold under the brand Regaine for women, minoxidil is available for women.

Wigs and hair extensions can help to hide hair loss in women, giving the appearance of having a fuller head of hair.

Lifestyle changes to enhance hair growth

While hair loss may be the result of genetics and hormone imbalances, lifestyle changes may help improve the quality of your hair follicles and the hair you grow.

Eat a balanced diet: Hair follicles are made of proteins, so eating a protein-rich diet provides your follicles the nutrients they need to produce high-quality hair.

Choose shampoo and conditioner carefully: Certain chemicals in shampoos and conditioners can damage the hair and scalp. Look for gentle shampoos and conditioners - speak to your stylist for advice.

Consume plenty of calcium: This mineral keeps hair strong, thick and healthy.

Avoid stress: Stress can cause a whole range of physical symptoms, including hair loss. Moreover, you may find yourself fidgeting with your hair during stressful situations and may accidentally pull it out. Speak to your doctor about managing stress.

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What is the best hair loss treatment for me?

If you are unsure which hair loss treatment is suitable for you, speak to your doctor for advice. There may be an underlying condition which is causing your hair loss, which would need to be treated separately.

At Prescription Doctor, we offer several hair loss treatments, including Propecia and Finasteride, as well as Regaine.

Following an online consultation, one of our online doctors can prescribe Finasteride either as a generic or as Propecia.

You can also buy Regaine online from our pharmacy.

All items are dispatched from our pharmacy in discreet packaging to ensure your privacy. We offer fast next-day delivery on orders approved before 3 pm on weekdays.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Hair Loss and Hair Loss Treatments

Does hair loss only affect men?

No, women can lose hair, too, though hair loss is more common in men.

Can hair loss treatment stop me from going grey?

No. While Regaine and finasteride can slow the rate of hair loss, they cannot prevent you from going grey.

However, you can use hair dye alongside finasteride and Regaine to reduce the appearance of grey hair.

Can hair loss treatment help me grow my hair back?

While you may grow new hairs with hair loss treatments like finasteride, the hair loss treatment is focused more on slowing the rate at which hair falls out rather than regrowing your hair.