Typically, hair loss happens due to three main reasons. Genes, medical conditions, or hormonal changes. Hereditary hair loss, also known as male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia, is the most commonly experienced form of hair loss which usually occurs or worsens as you get older. The first signs of male pattern hair loss can be a bald spot or receding hairline.

Hair loss can also be the result of other medical conditions, such as alopecia areata (an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks its own hair follicles), telogen effluvium (hair loss that occurs due to stress, traumatic events or severe illness) and trichotillomania (a mental health disorder involving compulsive hair-pulling that requires mental health treatment).

Hair loss treatments include medication, therapy or a mix of both, but finding out what is causing your hair loss is the first step. If you are experiencing hair loss, speak to a doctor through the Noah platform to get treatment. For more detail into the causes of hair loss, read our post about it here.

Men who have a receding hairline or hair loss that gets worse with age, may be experiencing male pattern baldness. Male pattern baldness is permanent and unfortunately does not have a cure, but with treatment, may be able to slow down the hair loss process and even regrow hair.

However, men who experience balding all of a sudden with no apparent cause should seek immediate medical help to determine the reason. Sudden hair loss may be due to medical conditions, like alopecia areata, vitamin deficiency or arising as a side effect of a medication you are taking. These types of hair loss are usually not permanent and can be treated.

There is no cure for hair loss, however there are medications that have been scientifically proven to be effective. Beware of any company claiming to be able to cure your hair loss, as there is no complete hair loss cure. The existing proven hair loss treatments that are prescribed at Noah may help you to reverse balding or decrease the rate of hair loss.

An oral prescription pill and a topical serum are two medications approved by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) to treat male hair loss effectively. The oral prescription pill is taken daily, to block the hormones that stop hair growth from happening, eventually stimulating hair growth and preventing additional balding. 

The topical serum does not require a prescription and can be bought over-the-counter. It works best for cases of new or mild to moderate hair loss, as it effectively stimulates hair regrowth. For men who notice symptoms of thinning hair, this works to help restore hair density.

Some studies have shown that DHT blocking shampoo (with the active ingredient ketoconazole) may also help with hair growth and reduce hair loss by blocking the hormone contributing to male pattern hair loss. Shampoo containing ketoconazole can be purchased without a prescription.

At Noah, we carry all 3 hair loss treatments (oral prescription pill, topical serum, and DHT-blocking shampoo). For more details on hair loss treatments, read our post about it here.

Common side effects include rashes, breast pain, pain in the testicles, problems with sexual desire, ejaculation or erection. Consult a medical provider if any of these side effects are serious, don’t go away or bother you. If you experience hives or trouble breathing (which can be symptoms of an allergic reaction), seek immediate medical attention.

While results will vary from person to person, it typically takes hair loss medication about three to four months of daily use before you start seeing visible changes in your hair. As long as you don't experience any serious side effects, it is recommended that you continue taking the medication for a full year before determining that it has done all it is able to do for you.