Treatment plan

Manual Minoxidil & Finasteride Spray Treatment Plan

Thank you for choosing to start a Manual hair plan. We were happy to recommend our Manual Extra Strength Minoxidil + Topical Finasteride + Azelaic Acid hair solution.

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Medically reviewed by Dr Earim Chaudry

Dr Earim Chaudry

iconLast updated 7th of May 2024

Now, this is the initial step in your journey to tackle your hair loss, and we are going to support you through the whole process of what should be a 12-month journey. If you have any worries, concerns, or questions, just message us – we are here for you.

As a first step, it’s important for you to take the time to read this treatment plan. This gives you information about how the treatments work, how to take the medication, what to avoid, side effects and when to seek help.

How do the active ingredients in this hair kit work?

This triple combination product is loaded with hair loss-protecting goodness! Central to the leading cause of male pattern baldness is the activity of the hormone Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) at the hair follicular site. This treatment plan includes our unique topical finasteride, which suppresses the enzyme 5-alpha reductase (5AR) activity at the scalp level. This in turn lowers hair loss and shredding and also promotes hair growth. By avoiding the oral tablet route, it’s formulated specifically to minimise ‘widespread’ side effects. Hence, it is a really attractive solution (no pun intended!) for those wishing to pursue long-term treatment without having to maintain a daily pill-taking regimen. Its use results in less hair follicle ‘destruction’, which slows down and in some cases reverses hair loss.

This is double whammied by the use of our maximum strength topical minoxidil; a powerful hair growth stimulant which works by increasing blood flow to your scalp, nicely nourishing and boosting hair follicles into their ‘ripe’ growth phase. Lastly, we have included topical azelaic acid a natural ingredient, perfectly designed to exfoliate the scalp; improving the skin quality and maximise the delivery of topical minoxidil to target where it works best. It has also been demonstrated to exert a similar inhibitory effect on that pesky 5AR enzyme, working in alliance with finasteride in reducing hair loss. This triple combined topical treatment is a full treatment plan for men wishing to pursue an ‘all in one’ product which will deliver local treatment avoiding the need to worry about taking tablets or using separate treatment products. We are offering you a specially formulated preparation, which our clinical team believes will be the most effective way to treat your hair loss. As such, it is classed as an unlicensed special treatment. This means it’s a specific medication which is made to serve a specific patient need. This is produced by our licensed manufacturer that specialises in the development and manufacture of such bespoke specials. If you have any questions you can contact our clinicians via your patient account messaging facility.

Will this hair treatment combo work for me?

The amount of hair regrowth varies amongst men. To see the best results, the most important factor is taking it consistently as prescribed and make sure you get the medicine directly to the scalp. This hair kit has been tailored for you based on your questionnaire answers, and will provide you with the best set up in reducing your hair loss – a powerful triple combined topical therapy. The evidence available suggests that oral finasteride is effective in 90% of men with mild to moderate male pattern baldness, and studies indicate that topical finasteride can have a similar therapeutic benefit against combating hair loss. Whilst there is the added benefit that side-effects should also be significantly reduced. There is unclear evidence that Finasteride works for receding hairlines at the temples only, or for men with extensive hair loss. However it should in theory still prevent further recession into the middle of your scalp.

Minoxidil works in approximately 60% of individuals – stabilising hair loss and promoting hair regrowth.

The combination of topical Minoxidil 10%, Azelaic Acid 5% and Finasteride 0.1% working independently on hair loss is formulated to deliver a more enhanced hair loss treatment.

When and how is it taken?

For the best results, it is important to start treatment early on to minimise hair loss. If you think about it, it is easier to keep the hair you currently have, than regrow what is lost .

The benefit of this treatment kit is you don’t need to remember to take any pills, all the activity takes place at scalp level. Think of it like the water that plants need to grow! Regular once a day application does the trick.

How do I use the treatment solution?

The ‘all in one’ triple combo hair kit is ready to use and deliver the hair loving goodness.

The treatment solution should be applied as follows:

Wash your hands before and after applying the solution

Apply solution to dry/towel dried hair and scalp. Part the hair to allow delivery onto the scalp zones most impacted with baldness.

Apply and gently massage into the scalp 1 ml (7 sprays) of the solution once a day to the most problematic ‘balding’ scalp areas, either in the morning or in the evening. [Remember: you are treating the scalp, and not the hair]

Using more than 1 ml for each application, or more than once a day will not enhance results and will mean you will lose product unnecessarily

Extra tips:

Allow the solution to dry for at least 20-25 mins before applying any hair styling products, and at least 2 hours before going to bed.

If you forget to apply, no stress, just apply when the next dose is due, no need to double up.

If you find it too oily, you can gently use a hairdryer

Results will come to those who wait! It’s important to stick with a once a day routine for topical solution if you wish to see reduced hair loss and hair growth.

How soon can I expect results from using this triple combo solution?

The earlier you notice hair loss and start treatment, the greater your chances of success.

Results may be seen within 3-6 months, however it could take longer for some men. That’s why it’s important to stick with a once a day routine for topical solution.

With continued use, the hair follicles gain greater volume, which helps prevent further hair loss and help promote the re-growth of longer and thicker hair. If you stop treatment, the new hair is likely to disappear after 3-4 months.

How long should I take it for?

Put simply – the same amount of time you wish to keep your hair for. This treatment plan is not a cure for baldness, but an ongoing hair loss stabilisation management plan which offers scope for potential hair regrowth.

What kind of shampoo should I use with this hair plan?

A mild non-drying shampoo is recommended. You could also try our POWER SHAMPOO; packed with Caffeine, Biotin and Saw Palmetto. These ingredients have been shown to produce promising results in isolation in laboratory tests. So no they won’t be a miracle cure, but they may help to be a good shampoo for those you want a healthy head of hair.

What are the side effects?

Like all medicines there are risks of unwanted side effects but ours is specially formulated to minimise these. The most common side-effects with the minoxidil component are local skin irritation. If this occurs and continues you should discuss your symptoms with a clinician.

Finasteride side effects include a rash, tenderness around the nipples, decrease in libido, testicular pain, erectile dysfunction, poor seminal quality, depression/low mood and palpitations. We don’t envisage there being any issue with these from the use of our topical treatment. Men taking topical finasteride are highly unlikely to experience side effects, but we want to ensure you know what to look out for if you do.

Stop using the medicine and talk to a clinician, your own doctor or a pharmacist if you experience any of the following:

  • Headache, dizziness, feeling faint due to low blood pressure.
  • Palpitations and/or fast heartbeat.
  • Swelling in the hands, feet or legs, or shortness of breath.
  • Sudden, unexplained weight gain.
  • Develop depression or change in your mood.
  • Suicidal ideation.
  • Any changes in your breast tissue, such as lumps, pain, enlargement or nipple discharge
  • Erectile Dysfunction
  • Loss of Libido

NOTE: Temporary hair loss (or shedding) may occur during the first 2-4 weeks of use. This is likely to be a result of a change in the natural hair growth cycle promoting old hair to fall out and new hair to come through, and it should stop within a couple of weeks.

We want the best for you and your health. It is important you don’t feel alone, so please voice your concerns and get in touch with one of our team for more help if you need it. You can message a clinician via the messaging function on your patient account, and we will typically reply within 24hrs.

If you are allergic to any of the actives or excipients, anaphylaxis or a generalised severe allergic reaction may occur. Symptoms can include fainting, shortness of breath, sudden drop in blood pressure and swelling of the face and neck. If you feel very unwell or experience serious, severe or persistent side effects please go to your local Accident & Emergency department immediately or in an emergency call 999. This advice applies to all products within the hair plan.

Who should not take it?

Our Hair treatment plans are NOT suitable in women and male patients under 18 years of age. Finasteride solution must never be handled by those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, including females of childbearing age. This is due to the risk of potential harm it may cause to an unborn baby.

Men who take Finasteride do have traces of the medication in their semen. Available evidence suggests this is unlikely to pose a risk to an unborn child, but we advise you should not take this medication if you are planning a pregnancy. You should use a condom when having sexual intercourse with a woman who does not take regular contraception.

The treatments have not been shown to be effective in men who have complete hair loss.

The following are not suitable for our Topical Minoxidil + Finasteride + Azelaic acid all-in-one hair plan:

for men with benign prostate enlargement (BPE) currently receiving treatment with an 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (e.g. Finasteride 5mg tablets or Dutasteride).

If you are or have suffered from male breast cancer or prostate cancer

If you have galactose intolerance, lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption

Suffer from uncontrolled dangerously low or high blood pressure

Scalp conditions, including psoriasis (an itchy inflammatory skin condition), sunburnt or damaged sore skin.

You should not take our treatments if you are allergic to minoxidil, finasteride, azelaic acid, propylene glycol, alcohol or purified water.

We are committed to continually improving our understanding of the medications we prescribe, including their side effects, to provide the highest level of care, guided by the latest medical insights. If you experience any side effects, please discuss them with your clinician or coach.Additionally, you can report side effects, no matter how minor, through the government-run Yellow Card reporting scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/. Your feedback helps to improve medication safety for everyone.”

Yellow Card Scheme
You can also report side effects directly to the MHRA via the Yellow Card Scheme. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Fertility or your partner is pregnant.

Men who take Finasteride do have traces of the medication in their semen. Available evidence suggests this is unlikely to pose a risk to an unborn child, and there is no known risk to the foetus as the amount of finasteride excreted following a 1mg dose is too small to be harmful. Having said this, foetal abnormalities can develop without an obvious reason. From an emotional point of view, if that were to happen, you may agonise and go back and try to see if ‘you did anything wrong’. This may sound illogical or unscientific, but that is human nature. Given this, conservative advice is that when taking finasteride-containing treatments (such as our All-in-One Capsule), you should use a condom if having intercourse with a woman who is known to be pregnant. This is conservative advice, and you have the discretion to decide how to apply this advice, given your own risk appetite.

In relation to fertility, long-term data from the use of Finasteride and/or oral minoxidil impacting human fertility is lacking, and specific studies in subfertile men have not been conducted. The male patients who were planning to father a child were initially excluded from clinical trials. Animal studies do not show relevant negative effects on fertility, however. Some spontaneous reports of infertility and/or poor seminal quality have been reported with finasteride. In some of these reports, patients had other risk factors that might have contributed to infertility. Normalisation or improvement of seminal quality was reported after discontinuation of finasteride. We would like our patients to be as well informed as possible before deciding on treatment. We do not want to be seen as omitting any information. It is important to note that most of the studies deem finasteride 1mg safe and effective, which is our overwhelming experience from thousands of customers. We also understand concerns that new or potential users of finasteride treatment may face when deciding whether or not to take finasteride. We advise if you are actively trying to conceive, then you should consider the above information and make an informed decision on whether you wish to proceed with treatment based on your personal fertility circumstances. If you are undergoing fertility treatment or have a known low sperm count and are trying to conceive, we advise you not to take Finasteride-containing treatments so that you are not worrying about any theoretical impact they could have.

Mental Health

While Finasteride can increase the risk of depressive symptoms in a small percentage of users, it is considered an uncommon side effect. Some studies suggest a link between Finasteride and low mood, while others find no difference. Most men tolerate Finasteride well, but those with a history of depression should consider the potential risks and benefits.

When starting your treatment, monitor your mood and inform friends and family that you are taking this medication, as they can help identify any changes. If you experience depressive symptoms or suicidal thoughts, stop taking Finasteride 1mg (Propecia) immediately and contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Sexual Health

In clinical trials, less than 2% of men experienced sexual side effects from taking finasteride. Specifically, about 1.3% reported erectile dysfunction, 1.8% noted a reduced interest in sex, and 1.2% experienced ejaculation issues, including lower semen volume. If you encounter any sexual function issues, such as difficulty maintaining an erection or a decrease in sex drive, please discuss this with your prescriber or doctor. If you experience any problems with sexual function such as inability to get and maintain an erection or decrease in sex drive, please discuss this with your prescriber or doctor.

What if my medical status changes or I am due a blood test?

Finasteride can lower a hormone called PSA measured in a blood test for prostate problems. Please tell your GP that you are taking this medication if you have this blood test so that they can interpret your test results correctly.

Please inform our clinicians via your patient account messaging facility: if you start taking any new medicines or if there are any significant changes to your medical history. Also if you experience any significant side-effects or want further advice on your treatment.

It is important that you inform your GP about the medicines you take to ensure they have an accurate medication history. If you do not share this information with your GP it could result in the healthcare professional not having enough information to make informed clinical decisions about your care, increasing your risk of injuries or side effects. On your account page, you can download a letter to share with your GP that contains all the relevant information about your treatment plan.

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