The Short Answer: As soon as you notice changes.
Early treatment gives you the best chance to keep the hair you have and slow or prevent further loss.
Why Starting Early Matters
- It’s much easier to maintain existing hair than to regrow lost hair.
- Treatments work best on active, healthy follicles.
- Hair loss treatments can slow or stop progression of hair loss.
- Long-term DHT damage can become permanent if left untreated.
How Do I Know If I’m Losing My Hair?
Common signs of male pattern baldness include:
- Thinner, weaker hair on the top of the head
- Slower hair growth
- Gradual increase in shedding
- Signs It’s Time to Act
- Receding hairline
- Thinning at the crown
- More visible scalp
- Increased shedding (especially when washing or styling)
- Changes in how your hair sits or styles
Why Is my Hair Falling out?
Around 90% of male hair loss is caused by male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia):
- Driven by sensitivity to DHT.
- Progressive if untreated.
- Extremely common.
When it might Not Be Male Pattern Baldness?
Sudden hair loss, patchy bald spots, scalp pain, or inflammation may suggest other causes such as stress, medical conditions, or nutrient deficiencies. A healthcare professional can help confirm the cause.
What Is DHT & Why does It cause Hair Loss?
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a hormone involved in traits like muscle mass and facial hair. On the scalp, however, it can gradually weaken hair follicles in men who are genetically sensitive to it — leading to male pattern baldness.
How DHT affects Hair follicles?
- DHT binds to follicles in susceptible areas (typically the hairline and crown).
This causes follicle miniaturisation, meaning follicles shrink over time. - Hair becomes thinner, weaker, and shorter and eventually, follicles may stop producing visible hair altogether.
Why DHT damage gets worse over time?
- Each hair growth cycle becomes shorter.
- New hair grows back finer than before.
- Untreated follicles may become permanently inactive.
The Role of 5α-Reductase
DHT is created when the enzyme 5α-reductase converts testosterone into DHT. Reducing this enzyme’s activity lowers DHT levels in the scalp and helps protect hair follicles.
Here is how treatment helps:
- Finasteride lowers scalp DHT, slowing or stopping follicle shrinkage.
- Reduced DHT helps follicles stay active and produce thicker hair.
- Minoxidil provides additional stimulation to support regrowth.
Is Hair Loss reversible?
The Short Answer:
Yes — male pattern hair loss can be slowed and partially reversed, especially when treated early.
Proven Treatments:
Finasteride
- Reduces DHT, the main hormone responsible for hair follicle shrinkage
- Effective for around 9 out of 10 men with male pattern baldness
Minoxidil
- Stimulates hair follicles
- Increases blood flow to the scalp
- Helps promote regrowth
Why combination treatments works best;
Using Finasteride and Minoxidil together delivers stronger results because they work in different ways - one protects follicles from DHT, the other stimulates growth.
Treatment Timing & Results
- Best results: Starting at the first signs of hair loss.
- Good results: Starting once thinning is noticeable.
- Limited results: Starting after significant hair loss.
- Bottom line: the earlier you start treatment, the better your chances of maintaining thicker, healthier hair.