Topical treatments
Topical treatments
Lotions and shampoos, split into the medicine, the dandruff wash, and the cosmetics.
Written in the UK, for women and men.
Topical minoxidil is a medicine the NHS names for pattern hair loss in men and women. Ketoconazole shampoo is an NHS option for dandruff, not a hair-growth drug. Caffeine shampoos and peptide serums are cosmetics.
See a GP if hair loss is sudden, patchy, or comes with illness, a rash, or other symptoms. The NHS asks for that conversation before a private clinic.
“Topical” means you put it on the scalp. The bottle can still be a medicine.
How do the options differ?
| Product | What it is in the UK |
|---|---|
| Minoxidil foam or solution | The topical medicine NHS and NICE CKS discuss for pattern hair loss. You usually buy it. |
| Ketoconazole shampoo | An anti-dandruff shampoo the NHS names, alongside coal tar and salicylic acid. |
| Caffeine shampoo | A cosmetic. Not listed by the NHS as a pattern-hair-loss treatment. |
| Peptide serum | A cosmetic ingredient list. Not an NHS treatment. |
Where should you read first?
Does minoxidil work? is the page for the medicine. Best shampoo for hair loss is the page that refuses to pretend a wash is the same thing. Red light or minoxidil is the comparison if you are choosing between a hat and the lotion.
Oral minoxidil is a different product, and a prescription. It is in medical treatments.
In this section
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Common questions
What is the main topical treatment for pattern hair loss?
Minoxidil. The NHS says it is used for male pattern baldness and can also be used for female pattern baldness.
Is ketoconazole shampoo a hair-loss medicine?
The NHS lists ketoconazole as an anti-dandruff shampoo. That is a scalp-skin treatment. It is not the same claim as regrowing pattern hair.
Can I use minoxidil with a red light hat?
Trials do not agree that adding light to minoxidil beats minoxidil alone. Ask a GP or pharmacist before you combine them.
Sources
Keep reading
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