Men’s Health
Pattern Hair Loss Consultation
Honest, face-to-face advice about pattern hair loss, and what treatment can and cannot do.
Available from 1 October 2026 – register your interestBook a consultation Call 01453 810316
- Setting
- Private consultation
- Age
- Adults 18 and over
- Approach
- Honest expectations
- Follow-up
- Review appointments available
About this service
Pattern hair loss, also called androgenetic alopecia, is the most common cause of hair loss and affects both men and women. In men it usually starts at the temples and crown, and in women it usually shows as gradual thinning across the top of the scalp with the parting widening. It is driven by genetics and by the effect of hormones on the hair follicles, and it develops slowly over years.
Not all hair loss is pattern hair loss, and the pattern, the speed of onset and the state of the scalp matter, so sudden loss, patchy bald areas, scarring, redness, scaling, itching, or hair loss with other symptoms such as fatigue or weight change need a different assessment and often a GP referral or blood tests. Where treatment is appropriate, it is important to understand that treatment for pattern hair loss generally works by slowing further loss and maintaining what you have, with some improvement in thickness for some people, that it takes several months before any change is visible, and that any benefit is lost if treatment is stopped. If treatment is clinically appropriate for you, our prescriber will discuss the options during your consultation, and we do not advertise treatments.
What pattern hair loss is
Pattern hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia, is the most common form of hair loss and runs in families. In men it typically recedes at the temples and thins at the crown, while in women it causes gradual thinning over the top of the scalp with a widening parting, usually without a receding hairline.
It is driven by genetics and by hormones acting on the hair follicles, and it progresses slowly over years. Treatment, where suitable, generally aims to slow further loss and maintain existing hair, with some improvement in thickness for some people, and any benefit is lost if treatment is stopped. Not all hair loss follows this pattern, which is why we assess the cause before advising you.
Who this service is for
Suitable for
- Adults 18 and over with gradual, patterned thinning
- Men with a receding hairline or thinning crown
- Women with gradual thinning across the top of the scalp
- Anyone who wants an honest assessment before spending money on products
- People who want to understand what is realistic before committing to anything long term
Not suitable for
- Sudden or rapid hair loss, which needs medical assessment
- Patchy, coin-shaped bald areas
- Hair loss with a red, scaly, scarring or painful scalp
- Hair loss after illness, surgery, childbirth, crash dieting or significant stress, which is usually temporary and needs a different approach
- Hair loss with other symptoms such as fatigue, weight change or menstrual changes, which needs blood tests
- Under 18s
- Some treatment options are not suitable for women who could become pregnant, which we assess carefully
How it works
A simple, consistent process for every service at Berkeley Pharmacy.
Get in touch
Call us or use our contact form to arrange a consultation.
Consultation
A private, face-to-face appointment with our pharmacist in our Berkeley consultation room.
Clinical assessment
We review your medical history and confirm whether the service is suitable for you.
Treatment or referral
If it is suitable we treat you the same day; if not, we explain why and advise on the best next step.
What to expect at your appointment
Your consultation is private and focused on understanding your hair loss properly before any advice is given.
- A private consultation looking at the pattern, distribution and timeline of your hair loss
- A look at your scalp and hair
- Questions about family history, general health, medicines, diet, recent illness and stress
- An honest opinion about whether this looks like pattern hair loss or something else
- Referral to your GP where investigation is needed
- Where treatment is appropriate, a discussion of the options and what they realistically achieve
- A review appointment offered so we can look at progress properly
Aftercare and realistic expectations
Give any treatment time, since several months is normal before there is anything to judge. Look after the basics and come back for review rather than deciding on your own that nothing is working.
- Give any treatment time, since several months is normal before there is anything to judge
- Take photographs at the start in consistent light so you have something objective to compare against
- Be wary of expensive products and online sellers making strong claims
- Look after the basics, including iron and protein in your diet, gentle hair care and managing stress
- Tell us if your scalp becomes sore, red or scaly, or if the pattern of loss changes
- Come back for review rather than deciding on your own that nothing is working
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my hair loss is pattern hair loss?
Pattern hair loss follows a recognisable pattern, receding at the temples and thinning at the crown in men, and gradual thinning across the top of the scalp with a widening parting in women, and it develops slowly over years. Sudden loss, patchy bald areas or a scaly or painful scalp suggest a different cause, which is why we assess the pattern before advising you.
Can women have this consultation?
Yes. Pattern hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia, affects women too, usually as gradual thinning across the top of the scalp rather than a receding hairline. We assess the pattern and timeline carefully, and some treatment options are not suitable for women who could become pregnant, which we discuss at your consultation.
How long before I would see any change from treatment?
Several months is normal before there is anything to judge, and treatment generally works by slowing further loss and maintaining what you have, with some improvement in thickness for some people. We will give you honest expectations at your consultation and offer a review appointment so we can look at progress properly.
Will hair loss come back if treatment stops?
Yes, any benefit is lost if treatment is stopped, which is why it is important to understand what is involved before you start. We will talk through what treatment realistically achieves and what committing to it means, so you can decide whether it is right for you.
When does hair loss need investigating by a GP?
Sudden or rapid hair loss, patchy coin-shaped bald areas, a red, scaly, scarring or painful scalp, hair loss after illness, surgery, childbirth, crash dieting or significant stress, or hair loss with other symptoms such as fatigue, weight change or menstrual changes all need a different assessment, often with blood tests. We will refer you to your GP where that is needed.
Do you take photographs to track progress?
We may suggest taking photographs at the start in consistent light so you have something objective to compare against over the months, because changes are slow and hard to judge by eye. This is entirely with your consent and the photographs are kept confidentially.
How we can supply treatment without a GP appointment
Some treatments at Berkeley Pharmacy are supplied under a Patient Group Direction, or PGD – a written instruction, signed by a doctor and a pharmacist, that legally allows our trained pharmacists to supply and administer specified medicines to people who meet defined clinical criteria, without a prescription from your GP. If you do not meet the criteria set out in the PGD we cannot supply the treatment, and we will explain why and advise you on the best next step. Our pharmacists also work as independent prescribers where that is appropriate.
Serving Berkeley and the surrounding Gloucestershire villages
Berkeley Pharmacy is on Market Place in the centre of Berkeley, with easy access from junctions 13 and 14 of the M5. We welcome patients from Berkeley, Sharpness, Newport, Berkeley Heath, Alkington, Ham, Stone and Rockhampton, and we are a short drive from Cam, Dursley, Slimbridge, Cambridge, Falfield, Charfield, Tortworth, Cromhall, Oldbury-on-Severn, Wotton-under-Edge, Thornbury, Frampton on Severn and Stonehouse. Patients also travel to us from Stroud, Nailsworth, Yate, Chipping Sodbury, Tetbury and Gloucester.
Safe, regulated care from your local pharmacy team
- Berkeley Pharmacy is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. You can check any pharmacy or pharmacist on the GPhC register at pharmacyregulation.org.
- Every consultation is face to face and private, in our dedicated consultation room – not an online questionnaire.
- Serving the Berkeley community for over 25 years.
- This service does not replace care from your GP. With your consent we will inform your GP of any treatment provided. If you are unwell, have new or worsening symptoms, or need urgent care, contact your GP or NHS 111, and in an emergency call 999.
- If you experience a side effect from any medicine you can report it through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk.
Page last reviewed: September 2026. Next review due: September 2027.
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Visit us in Berkeley or get in touch to arrange a private consultation with our pharmacist.
Book a consultation Call 01453 810316
Address
14 Market Place, Berkeley, GL13 9BB
Opening hours
Mon–Fri 9am–6pm (closed 1–2pm)
Sat 9am–1pm
Sun Closed