Losing your hair slowly is a normal part of the ageing process for most men and some women. No treatment may be the best treatment. However if you wish to slow or stop the progression of hair loss, there are treatments available.
Medicines for hereditary hair loss
Finasteride and minoxidil are the main medicines currently available to treat hair loss. However, they're not funded in Aotearoa New Zealand, so you’ll need to pay for them.
Medicines that are used to treat hair loss provide different results for different people. It's also not possible to predict who may or may not benefit from treatment. If it works, the medicine needs to be continued otherwise hair loss returns.
Finasteride
This is a prescription-only treatment for hereditary hair loss in men. It is available as a tablet. It works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, so the hair follicles won’t be affected by this hormone and won’t shrink. Treatment needs to be continued for at least 6 months once started. If successful, the treatment must be continued to keep the effect.
Talk to your healthcare provider to find out whether finasteride is suitable for you. Read more about finasteride.
Minoxidil topical lotion or foam
Minoxidil can be bought from your local pharmacy as a liquid or foam. It can be used by both men and women. It needs to be applied twice daily to your scalp when it’s dry. Minoxidil is more effective in the earlier stages of hair loss. At first, you may notice more shedding of your hair, but this usually stops within 6 weeks and doesn't mean the treatment is making your hair loss worse. Treatment needs to be continued for at least 6 months once started. If it's successful, treatment is continued to maintain the effect.
Talk to your pharmacist to find out whether minoxidil is suitable for you. Read more about minoxidil.
Spironolactone
This is a prescription-only medicine that may be beneficial for women with hereditary hair loss. Spironolactone shouldn't be used if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. If you've been prescribed spironolactone and you could get pregnant, you must use reliable birth control (contraceptives).
It's not used to treat hereditary hair loss in men because of its effects on male hormones.
Cosmetic options
- Styling your hair to cover thinning areas.
- Hair sprays or hair colouring products can be used to hide areas of thinning hair.
- Apply electrostatic microfibres to bulk up your natural hair.
- Wigs and hair pieces, either synthetic or natural. However these can be hot to wear and expensive.
- Bandanas, hats and scarves.
- Scalp micropigmentation/tattooing.
- Hair transplantation – this surgery moves a hair follicle from a normal area to a thinned area. This is done by a private cosmetic surgeon, is expensive, and isn't suitable for everyone.