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Baldness remedies - what works and what doesn't?

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Baldness remedies - what works and what doesn't?

Written by Colin Brennan, health journalist

People have always been gullible where their hair is concerned. Queen Victoria drank silver birch wine made from sap because she believed it would cure her baldness. And despite icons such as David Beckham shaving off their locks, hair loss is refusing to become fashionable.

Dr Andrew Messenger, a consultant dermatologist at Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, told NetDoctor: 'Although the great majority of men learn to live with it, I think everybody would prefer not to be bald. For a very small number of men, it becomes a big issue.'

He says it is more often younger men who visit their doctor to ask what can be done about hair thinning.

Medical attitudes to thinning hair

Most doctors believe men should think deeply before using any remedies for hair loss because the treatment options are so limited.

Baldness isn't a life-threatening condition, and it is easy to spend a lot of money trying to restore a full head of hair.

While it's all very well being told how you ought to feel about the loss of your hair, if it starts to dint your self-esteem, it's probably worth seeking treatment.

But Dr Messenger is clear about the limitations of medicine in this area: 'There are only two ways to deal with baldness currently available in the UK that the evidence shows work to at least some extent.' Neither of the medicines listed below is available on the NHS.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil is sold over the counter as a topical solution (liquid) under the brand name Regaine.

How does it work? We don't know how minoxidil works. It was first used on patients with heart disease who reported an increased growth in their hair.

It may increase blood supply to the hair follicles.

How is it used?

It's applied twice a day, and it can take up to four months for the results to be noticeable.

Is it effective?

About two-thirds of the men who use it have some improvement in their hair growth, ranging from minimal to moderate-to-dense regrowth.

If hair starts to regrow, it will probably be soft, downy and barely visible. With continued use, this new hair may become the same colour and thickness as the rest of your hair.

Regrowth of hair can be as much as 25 per cent of the existing hair, depending on how bad the hair loss has been and how long it has been happening.

It is not possible to tell in advance whether minoxidil will work for you, and there's no evidence it works better in younger men. They may get better results because hair loss is not as severe, but this would apply to a man in middle age too.

It isn't known why minoxidil works for some people and not others.

Regaine Extra Strength is a higher strength version of minoxidil and has a slightly better effect.

The first sign of new hair begins to show after two months and it peaks at around one year.

In trials comparing the two strengths, Regaine Extra produced 43 per cent more regrowth than the regular strength after 12 months' use.

How long do the effects last?

Any benefits to hair growth will carry on for as long as you continue the twice-daily applications.

Once you stop using minoxidil, regrown hair will be lost after three to four months, and the balding process will start again.

'It can become a bit of a bind rubbing it into the scalp twice a day after it has stopped improving and you can't see anything happening,' says Dr Messenger. 'You also have to go on paying for it at the rate of about Â£25 per month.'

How much does it cost?

The price depends on the strength and quantity of minoxidil being purchased. It is possible to get a triple pack three-month supply for around Â£59.95.

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