Male pattern baldness is incredibly common. In fact, it’s the most common type of hair loss, affecting around 6.5 million men across the UK. Most men will experience some hair loss by the time they turn 60, but the process can begin as early as the late teens.

We know that male pattern baldness can have a real impact on your confidence and sense of self, especially if it happens suddenly or hits you in your teens, twenties or thirties. To help you treat, and even reverse, male pattern baldness, we stock a choice of hair loss treatments including Finasteride 1mg Tablets.

Clinically proven to combat hair loss, Finasteride 1mg Tablets have a 90% success rate, giving you a great chance of maintaining - or even regrowing - your thinning locks.

Finasteride 1mg tablets treat hair loss by targeting the hormone (known as dihydrotestosterone, or DHT) that’s responsible for making follicles smaller and causing hair loss. Decreasing the amount of DHT in the body halts hair loss, allows existing follicles to recover and promotes regrowth. The medication only affects hair on the scalp, so you won’t see extra hair growth anywhere else on the body.

Although the medication is very effective, it won’t give you dramatic results straight away. In most cases, it takes 3-6 months of daily use to see a real difference in your appearance.

It’s important to remember that Finasteride 1mg tablets are a treatment, not a cure, for male pattern baldness. Taking the medication is a long term commitment and, if you choose to stop taking Finasteride, all of the benefits you’ve seen will be reversed and your hair loss will return.

Finasteride is the generic version of Propecia, a branded hair loss treatment.

Finasteride is a very effective treatment for male pattern baldness. The tablets have been proven to stop or slow hair loss in nearly 90% of men, with two-thirds even showing some regrowth. In order for Finasteride to be as effective as possible, you’ll need to take one tablet at roughly the same time every day.

Most men who take Finasteride don’t experience any side effects, however some will have an adverse reaction to taking the medication. The most common side effects are:

• Problems getting an erection
• Lower libido
• Problems ejaculating (such as little or no semen)

Most of these symptoms should ease after a while. If you don’t see any improvement, you may need to stop taking Finasteride. Talk to a medical professional to find out more.

Thanks to its impressive success rate, minimal side effects and affordability, Finasteride is a very popular choice for men experiencing hair loss. But there are a number of other hair loss treatments on the market and you may need to try a few to find the product that’s right for you. The most popular alternatives to Finasteride 1mg tablets are:

• Regaine
• Dutasteride (Avodart)
• Alpecin Caffeine Shampoo

Unlike Finasteride, which is taken as oral tablets, Regaine is a topical treatment that’s applied directly to the scalp. Available over-the-counter, it contains a medication called Minoxidil which treats hair loss by enhancing the blood flow to your hair follicles, encouraging the growth and longevity of your hair.

Minoxidil has been shown to prevent further hair loss in four out of five men. It’s most effective in men with recent hair loss who are showing signs of thinning.

Finasteride is widely considered to be more effective at preventing and reversing hair loss than Minoxidil. However, as the two medications work in very different ways, you can actually use them together, boosting your chances of great results.

Sold under the brand name Avodart, Dutasteride is a popular hair loss treatment that works in a very similar way to Finasteride. However, where Finasteride works by blocking a specific enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT, Dutasteride blocks two enzymes, potentially making it even more effective.

In a 2014 study, Dutasteride helped regrow over 100 hairs in a small area (about the size of a postage stamp) in 24 weeks. In the same time period, Finasteride only regrew about 60 hairs. Like Finasteride, Dutasteride takes 3-6 months to produce results and you’ll need to keep taking the medication in order to prevent future hair loss.

Available over-the-counter, Alpecin Caffeine Shampoo contains caffeine, zinc and niacin. These penetrate the hair follicles and travel up to the roots, prolonging the growth phase of each hair, stimulating growth and reducing the rate at which old hair is lost.

Like Regaine, Alpecin Caffeine Shampoo can be used in conjunction with Finasteride 1mg tablets to improve overall results.

Men who take Finasteride may not necessarily experience side effects as different medications affect different people in different ways. These are some of the known side effects of taking Finasteride, including:

• Decrease in sex drive
• Depression
• Ejaculation disorders – including a reduced volume of ejaculation
• Impotence – difficulty in achieving or maintaining an erection
• Hypersensitivity reactions – including hives, itching, rash, or swelling of the face and lips
• Palpitations
• Tender or swollen breasts
• Testicular pain

• Do not donate blood while taking Finasteride and not for a minimum of four weeks after completing the treatment.
• If you take a blood test while on a course of Finasteride, inform your doctor that you are taking the medication.
• Taking Finasteride has been reported to cause a reduction in the quality of male semen.
• If you become aware of any pain, lumps, bumps, or any other changes in your breast area while taking Finasteride, notify your doctor.

For a full list of warnings, see the Patient Information Leaflet contained within the product packaging.

Another hair loss treatment on the market is sold as Avodart, which contains dutasteride. Originally sold as a treatment for an enlarged prostate, it can also be prescribed off-label for male hair loss. As a product, it's similar to Finasteride: the reviews for both Finasteride and Avodart are generally positive.

You are able to take Regaine Extra Strength (minoxidil 5%) in addition to, or instead of, Finasteride. Regaine Extra Strength comes as either a lotion or foam, and alongside Finasteride and Avodart, it is the only hair loss treatment proven effective. Regaine is the only hair loss treatment that is available over the counter; you cannot buy Finasteride without a prescription.

There are also other options, like hair loss surgery, but these procedures can be expensive and come with mixed results. Non-surgical remedies may be a safer option.

Some people buy hair growth tablets, supplements, and vitamins from online stores and shops on the high street, but these are often from dubious origins and cannot be proven to be effective and safe.

We strongly recommend sticking to prescription medication for the most reliable results. If you're feeling uncertain, don't hesitate to consult your doctor for personalised advice.

Although there is mixed clinical evidence to show extra effects, Finasteride can be used with topical hair loss treatment such as Regaine (minoxidil). It should not be taken with any other oral hair loss treatments or supplements.