According to recent numbers, more than fifty per cent of UK men will experience hair loss in their lifetime. While most of this shedding is simply a symptom of aging, there are conditions that can affect men as early as their teens and can cause rapid hair loss.

The most common of these conditions is called male pattern baldness and it is estimated that as many as eight million men in the UK suffer from it. When we say suffer we do not mean that their is any pain involved. But the psychological affect of losing your hair at an early age can be quite profound.

That is why American men spend over a billion dollars each year on hair loss treatments . And while there are no current numbers for the UK, we can only assume that men spend nearly as much on average, since male pattern baldness is common in both countries. (more...)

Minoxidil is currently the only FDA approved hair loss treatment that can be purchased without a doctor’s prescription. It is also the oldest and most thoroughly tested drug on the market today. Designed as a treatment for high blood pressure, it was soon discovered that the drug had an interesting side effect. That is, it helped to slow hair loss and even regrew new hair.

A few years later, the drug was approved by the FDA, and per their requirements, they were forced to disclose all of the side effects patients reported during clinical trials. While it is true that nearly every drug has a few minor side effects, Minoxidil has quite a few.

What are the side effects of Minoxidil ? Unlike most over the counter medications, Minoxidil has a few serious side effects. The most common one is a severe allergic reaction that can result in hives, itching, swelling of the face and mouth, and even difficulty breathing. Of course, this is an extremely rare reaction and it occurs in less than one per cent of the patients that use the drug. (more...)