Hair Loss

EXPERT CARE, EVIDENCE-BASED OPTIONS

Hair loss is common, and acting early gives you the widest range of options. Fill out a confidential online form, choose your preferred treatment, and a UK-registered prescriber will review it. If approved, your treatment is dispensed by our GPhC-registered pharmacy and delivered discreetly to your door.

Start your free online form Takes a few minutes and is reviewed by a UK prescriber. Treatment is supplied only if approved.
  • Fill out a short form
  • Choose your treatment
  • Delivered if approved
  • GPhC-registered pharmacy
  • Confidential plain packaging

The condition

Understanding hair loss

Male pattern hair loss is by far the most common type, affecting around half of men by the age of fifty. It is driven by genetics and a hormone called DHT, which gradually shrinks hair follicles until they stop producing visible hair. It usually starts with a receding hairline or thinning at the crown and progresses slowly over years.

Other causes include stress, illness, low iron, thyroid problems and some medicines, which is why a proper assessment matters. Hair loss is nothing to be embarrassed about, and evidence-based treatments can slow it down and, for many men, encourage regrowth. Starting earlier tends to give better results, because treatments protect the hair you still have.

Know the signs

Symptoms and when to seek help

Male pattern hair loss usually develops gradually. Common early signs include the following.

  • A receding hairline, often starting at the temples
  • Thinning at the crown of the head
  • A widening parting or overall loss of density
  • More hair than usual on your pillow, brush or in the shower

When to see a doctor

Gradual thinning is rarely a medical emergency, but see your GP promptly if you notice any of the following, as they can point to a different underlying cause that needs in-person assessment.

  • Sudden hair loss, or hair coming out in clumps
  • Bald patches appearing quickly, or loss of eyebrows and body hair
  • An itchy, burning, scaly or scarred scalp, or redness and pain
  • Hair loss alongside tiredness, weight change or feeling generally unwell
  • Hair loss that began after starting a new medicine

If hair loss is affecting your mood or confidence, mention that to your GP too. Support is available, and for urgent advice that is not an emergency you can call NHS 111.

Our clinic model

How it works at Medicosmetic

Fill out a short medical form

Answer a confidential set of health questions online. It takes a few minutes and can be done in private, at any time. We carry out identity checks to keep the service safe.

Choose your preferred treatment

Select the treatment option you would prefer. A UK-registered prescriber then reviews your form and approves it only if it is clinically appropriate. They may suggest an alternative or decline supply.

Delivered discreetly if approved

Once approved, your treatment is checked and dispensed by our pharmacist at Erdington Community Pharmacy, then posted in plain, unbranded packaging with tracking.

We encourage you to let your GP know about any treatment you receive, so your medical records stay complete. If treatment is declined, you are not charged for medicine that is not supplied.

Start your form

Evidence-based options

Treatment approaches

Two evidence-based medicine approaches are widely used for male pattern hair loss. The first is a daily prescription tablet that works by lowering the hormone which shrinks hair follicles. The second is a topical solution applied directly to the scalp, which stimulates the follicles and is available without a prescription, subject to pharmacist approval. Some men use both together. Results build gradually, with visible change typically taking three to six months, and treatments do not work for everyone.

Beyond medicines, it helps to treat hair gently, address any deficiencies such as low iron, and manage stress. Where hair loss has a different underlying cause, treating that cause comes first. Your prescriber will consider your overall health and the pattern of your hair loss before recommending any option.

Compare your options

Treatment options and pricing

The main differences between hair loss treatments are how they are used, how they work, and whether they need a prescription. The comparison below is factual information to help you choose a preferred option in your form. Your prescriber approves a treatment only if it is clinically appropriate for you, and may recommend an alternative.

Daily tablet

From £XX including consultation and delivery

  • How it's takenOne tablet daily
  • Starts workingTypically 3 to 6 months
  • LastsWorks while treatment continues

Prescription only. Works by lowering the hormone that shrinks hair follicles.

Check my suitability

Topical scalp solution

From £XX including delivery

  • How it's takenApplied to the scalp, usually twice daily
  • Starts workingTypically 3 to 6 months
  • LastsWorks while treatment continues

No prescription needed, subject to pharmacist approval. Stimulates the follicles directly.

Check my suitability

Combination approach

From £XX including consultation and delivery

  • How it's takenDaily tablet plus topical solution
  • Starts workingTypically 3 to 6 months
  • LastsWorks while treatment continues

Targets hair loss in two ways at once. Your prescriber will confirm whether it suits you.

Check my suitability

Prices shown include the consultation, prescription, dispensing and delivery. Treatment is supplied only if approved by a UK-registered prescriber following your online form. Supply is never guaranteed, and you are not charged for medicine that is not supplied. Information above is factual and does not replace clinical advice.

Trusted care

Why Medicosmetic

GPhC-registered pharmacy

Medicosmetic is a trading name of Erdington Community Pharmacy (Premises No. 1107990). Verify on the GPhC register.

Named Superintendent Pharmacist

Mohammad Luqman Ghani (GPhC 2220694) oversees our pharmacy services.

UK-registered prescribers

Every form is reviewed by a clinician registered to prescribe in the UK.

Genuine UK-sourced medicines

Dispensed by our own pharmacy, never third-party marketplaces.

Discreet by design

Plain packaging, tracked delivery, and confidential handling of your information.

Straightforward next steps

If treatment is not suitable, we explain why and signpost you to the right care, usually your GP.

Common questions

Hair loss FAQs

What causes hair loss in men?
The most common cause is male pattern hair loss, which is genetic and driven by a hormone called DHT that gradually shrinks hair follicles. Other causes include stress, illness, low iron, thyroid problems and some medicines. A clinical review helps confirm the type of hair loss before treatment, because the right approach depends on the cause.
Can hair grow back after thinning?
Often, yes, if the follicles are still active. Evidence-based treatments can slow further loss and encourage regrowth in many men, particularly when started early. Where follicles have been inactive for many years, regrowth is less likely, which is why acting sooner tends to give better results.
How long do hair loss treatments take to work?
Visible results typically take three to six months of consistent use, and up to a year for the full effect. Some men notice slightly more shedding in the first weeks as follicles reset, which usually settles. Taking photos every month or two is a good way to track genuine progress.
Do hair loss treatments have side effects?
All medicines can cause side effects, and hair loss treatments are no different. Most men use them without problems, but some experience effects such as scalp irritation with topical solutions, or mood and sexual side effects with the daily tablet. Your prescriber reviews your health first, and every treatment comes with full patient information. Report anything unusual to us or your GP.
Will I need to keep taking treatment?
Yes, hair loss treatments work for as long as you use them. If you stop, the underlying process resumes and hair gained is usually lost again over the following months. Many men treat it as an ongoing routine, and your prescriber can review whether it remains right for you over time.
Can I get hair loss treatment online in the UK?
Yes, through a registered online pharmacy service with prescriber review. At Medicosmetic you complete a confidential form, a UK-registered prescriber reviews it, and prescription treatment is approved only if clinically appropriate. Always check a pharmacy's GPhC registration before using any online service.
Do you treat hair loss in women?
Female hair loss often has different causes and needs a different assessment, so our online hair loss service focuses on male pattern hair loss. If you are a woman noticing hair loss, we recommend speaking to your GP or calling our pharmacy team, who can advise on the right next step for you.

Ready to start? It begins with a short form

Fill out a confidential medical form, choose your preferred treatment and, if approved by our prescriber, have it dispensed by our pharmacist and delivered discreetly to your door.

Start your free online form