A receding hairline affects many millions of men worldwide, but so few know that this condition can be treated medically. Noticeable hair loss will affect 40% of men by their 35^th birthday, becoming increasingly likely as they age. Along with thinning on the crown, a receding hairline is generally how male pattern baldness manifests itself.

Caused by genetics, pattern hair loss cannot be “cured” as such, and a receding hairline will not fix itself, growing only more noticeable as time goes by. Often, over-the-counter hair loss remedies will have no effect on a receding hairline, either because the ingredients are not powerful enough, or, as we are seeing increasingly often, the ingredients do not include medically approved hair loss treatments.

Expert dermatologist from The Belgravia Centre, Elena Koleva, advises a specific product containing a clinically proven medication, for a receding hairline.

“Minoxidil 10% or 12.5% cream has been developed specifically for stubborn areas of hair loss, such as a receding hairline,” she said.

“The product is high in concentration, which we have seen has a significant influence in its effectiveness, but just as importantly because of its texture, it can be applied directly to the problematic areas of thinning hair or hair loss.”

Minoxidil is licensed for use as a hair loss treatment by the UK’s medical regulatory body the MHRA, and approved by its American equivalent, the FDA. It is crucial that men seeking effective treatment for a receding hairline ensure that part of their hair loss treatment programme includes clinically proven medication.

Jonny Harris, hair loss expert and managing director of The Belgravia Centre advises a bespoke treatment plan to be outlined for each hair loss sufferer, depending on a number of factors.

“It is important that somebody with hair loss visits an expert. At The Belgravia Centre we tailor treatment courses depending on the person’s diagnosis, pattern and stage of hair loss,” he said.

“For instance, a man with male pattern hair loss but general thinning spread over the top of the scalp will probably not be recommended a cream-form of minoxidil because it may be difficult to apply through relatively thick hair. Instead they would be prescribed our high-strength minoxidil 8% + MPG + Caff liquid formula. This product is ideal for diffuse thinning.

“Some men or women may be prescribed a combination of liquid minoxidil and cream – it all depends on their specific case. For a receding hairline, our products achieve better results for a receding hairline than any I have seen.”

Another clinically proven product is Propecia, which is an oral medication that contains finasteride. Propecia acts by blocking dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an androgen than attacks genetically predisposed hair follicles on top of the scalp, causing them to shrink and produce thin, wispy, ‘baby’ hair and eventually no hair at all. When the two medications can be used consecutively and this often produces the best results.

It is also important that a receding hairline is treated before areas that used to produce hair on the scalp become bald and shiny, producing no hair whatsoever, as at this point the hair loss becomes medically untreatable.

Of course, treating a receding hairline or any other pattern of hair loss is not merely about the medication, in fact, there are a number of ways in which you can complement your treatment with additional treatment boosters. This might be in the form of an FDA cleared LaserComb, a device that emits a low power laser onto the scalp that both improves treatment success and helps stabilise hair loss.

Another addition to a hair loss treatment plan that gives hair a helping hand is the nutritional supplement Hair Vitalics. These daily tablets maintain and improve the condition of hair, to ensure that you’re giving it the best possible chance of not only growing back thicker, but in a better, healthier condition than before.

So, for men troubled by a receding hairline, no matter how advanced their thinning hair may be, it’s always worth seeing a hair loss specialist to establish whether it can be treated medically. You might be surprised at how quickly and effectively a receding hairline can be regrown.