Hair loss treatment on the NHS: what your GP can and can’t do
Getting a GP appointment isn’t always easy, so it’s fair to ask whether it’s worth it for thinning hair. For most people with pattern hair loss, the NHS won’t pay for treatment. But a GP is still the right first step if anything about your hair loss is unusual, because some causes need treating in their own right.
What the NHS says
The NHS advises seeing a GP if you’re worried about your hair loss. It lists minoxidil, and a prescription tablet for men, as the main treatments for male pattern baldness, and notes that these are not all available on the NHS, so they can be expensive if you have to pay. The British Association of Dermatologists is more specific: minoxidil isn’t available on an NHS prescription for pattern hair loss, and hair transplants aren’t offered on the NHS.
When to see your GP
Book an appointment if:
- your hair is falling out suddenly or in clumps
- you have round bald patches
- your scalp is itchy, sore, red, scaly or burning
- you’re losing eyebrows, eyelashes or body hair as well
- it started after a new medicine, an illness or having a baby
- you have other symptoms, such as tiredness, heavy periods, weight changes or always feeling cold
- it’s affecting your mood or confidence
If it’s gradual thinning at the crown, temples or parting that runs in the family, and nothing else is going on, a GP appointment is optional. Plenty of people start with a pharmacist.
What a GP can do
- Look at the pattern. Pattern hair loss, patchy alopecia areata, shedding after an illness and scarring types of hair loss look different and are treated differently.
- Arrange blood tests where there’s a reason to, for example to check your iron levels or thyroid.
- Review your medicines, since some can cause shedding.
- Treat some types. Steroid creams or injections are used for some kinds of patchy hair loss, and underlying problems such as low iron can be treated.
- Refer you to a dermatologist if the cause isn’t clear, the loss is patchy or scarring, or it isn’t responding. Waiting times vary a lot by area.
- Help with a wig. Some wigs are available on the NHS, though you may have to pay unless you qualify for help with charges. Generally only synthetic wigs are provided.
What you’ll usually pay for
| Option | On the NHS for pattern hair loss? | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Minoxidil liquid or foam | No | Sold in pharmacies without a prescription. A pharmacist can advise. |
| Prescription tablets for men | Not usually | Prescribed privately. A doctor or pharmacist prescriber will talk you through the side effects. |
| Hair transplant | No | Private clinics only. |
| PRP (platelet-rich plasma) | No | Private only. UK dermatologists say the research is too limited to know when it helps. |
| Synthetic wig | Sometimes | Charges and rules differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| Hair fibres and camouflage sprays | No | Easy to buy, but they wash out in rain, sweat or swimming. |
Ask a pharmacist
Pharmacists can advise on hair loss without an appointment: whether an over-the-counter treatment is suitable, how to use it, and when you should see a GP instead. Most pharmacies have a private consultation room if you’d rather not talk at the counter.
Going private safely
If you’re considering a hair transplant or another clinic treatment:
- In England, check the clinic is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own regulators: Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and the RQIA.
- Check the doctor is on the General Medical Council (GMC) register, and ask who will actually carry out the procedure.
- Be wary of very low prices, deals that expire in days and packages abroad that are hard to follow up if something goes wrong.
- Ask what will happen to the rest of your hair. A transplant moves hair, but it doesn’t stop pattern hair loss carrying on around it.
Looking after yourself
Hair loss can knock your confidence, and that’s worth taking seriously. If you’re thinning on top, protect your scalp from the sun with a hat or sun cream, even on a cloudy day. Alopecia UK runs a support line on 0800 101 7025 and has information on every type of hair loss.
Want a plain guide to keep? Our free Thinning Hair Handbook covers why hair thins, when to see your GP, how minoxidil works, how to apply it and what to expect month by month. It comes with a printable photo tracker.
This is general information, not medical advice. If you’re not sure whether something is right for you, speak to your GP or a pharmacist.
Sources: NHS: Hair loss; British Association of Dermatologists: Male pattern hair loss (leaflet); British Association of Dermatologists: Female pattern hair loss (leaflet).
