Hair Loss in the UK: Types, Causes, NHS Options and Treatments Explained

Want a doctor to find out which type you have? Message us on WhatsApp, book a consultation or call 020 3951 3429.

How common is hair loss?

It is normal to lose 50 to 100 hairs a day (NHS: Hair loss). Male pattern hair loss becomes more common with age: NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries reports that in white men roughly 30% are affected by 30, 50% by 50 and 80% by 70 (NICE CKS). Hair loss can also affect women, and it can have an emotional impact whatever the cause.

The main types

Pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia). Inherited sensitivity to androgen hormones gradually shrinks follicles. In men this usually shows as a receding hairline or crown thinning. Women more often notice thinning across the top of the scalp. The NHS names finasteride and minoxidil as the main treatments for male pattern baldness, and minoxidil can also be used for female pattern hair loss.

Telogen effluvium. A temporary increase in shedding after a trigger such as childbirth, serious illness, surgery, stress or marked weight loss. The British Association of Dermatologists says shedding often starts about 3 months after the trigger, lasts 3 to 6 months and usually gets completely better without treatment, though regrowth can take many months (BAD: Telogen effluvium).

Patchy hair loss. Round bald patches can be alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition. Patchy loss, scarring, or a sore or scaly scalp needs a doctor to look at it.

Not sure which type you have? Message us on WhatsApp, book a consultation or call 020 3951 3429.

What the NHS offers

The NHS advises seeing a GP if you are worried about your hair loss, and a GP may be able to tell what is causing it by looking at your hair. The NHS suggests seeing a GP before going to a commercial hair clinic. Not all treatments are available on the NHS, so you may have to pay, and no treatment is 100% effective. If it is affecting your mood, a GP may be able to help with counselling.

Private options, and where PRP fits

Private options include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, hair transplant surgery, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). PRP uses a concentrate of your own blood injected into the scalp. Research on PRP for hair has given mixed results, including a 2018 JAMA Dermatology trial (PMID 30419125), so a good clinic will not promise a result. At The London PRP Clinic, PRP is £450 per session, or £1,215 for a course of 3, after a doctor has assessed the cause of your hair loss.

Free checklist: before you see anyone

- Write down when the loss started and whether it was sudden or gradual.

- Note any triggers in the last 3 to 6 months: illness, childbirth, surgery, stress, a crash diet or new medicines.

- Check your family history.

- Ask your GP about blood tests for iron and thyroid function.

- Take a photo every month in the same light.

- Ask any clinic to explain what the evidence does and does not show.

Red flags

See a doctor promptly for sudden or patchy hair loss, a sore, itchy or scaly scalp, scarring, or hair loss alongside tiredness, weight change or other new symptoms.

How to start

A consultation with one of our doctors is £59 by phone (15 minutes), £150 by video or £220 in person at Unit 4, 10 Portman Square, London W1H 6AZ. We will assess the likely cause, tell you honestly which options suit you, including free NHS routes, and agree review points.

Frequently asked questions

Is hair loss normal?

Losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal. Noticeable thinning is worth getting checked.

Will hair grow back?

It depends on the cause. Telogen effluvium usually recovers on its own, according to BAD. Pattern hair loss tends to continue without treatment.

Does the NHS treat hair loss?

A GP can assess it. Finasteride and minoxidil are the main treatments for male pattern baldness, though not every treatment is available on the NHS.

Ready to talk to a doctor? Message us on WhatsApp, book a consultation or call 020 3951 3429.

Written by The Wellness Team and medically reviewed by The Wellness Clinical Team. This article is for information only and does not replace a consultation with a doctor.