Hair Loss Treatment for Men — Assessed by a Licensed Physician
Male pattern hair loss is treated with two evidence-based approaches: an oral tablet and a topical solution, prescribed after a licensed physician reviews your medical questionnaire online. Neither is a cure — both require ongoing use — and which one, or combination, is appropriate depends on your individual assessment, not self-selection.
We follow evidence-based care guidelines. Your physician determines the specific prescription treatment — and combination of formulations — that's right for you after reviewing your questionnaire.
Medically reviewed by Dr David Esra, Israeli medical licence 1-188771 · September 1, 2026
How these treatments work
Male pattern hair loss — androgenetic alopecia — is a genetically influenced condition in which scalp follicles gradually shrink in response to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a byproduct of testosterone. Affected follicles produce progressively finer, shorter hairs over successive growth cycles, and some eventually stop producing a visible hair at all.
The prescription options a physician may consider work through two different mechanisms. An oral treatment reduces the body's conversion of testosterone into DHT, targeting the process at its hormonal source (PubMed 9777765). A topical treatment, applied directly to the scalp, is thought to act through several pathways at once — including increased blood flow to the follicle and a longer active growth phase (PubMed 34159872). Because the two work differently, a physician may prescribe one on its own or, for some men, both together, depending on your pattern of loss and how you respond during follow-up. Our overview of treatments for hair loss compares these against other options like PRP and hair transplantation in one place.
Who this treatment is for
Androgenetic alopecia in men typically follows a recognisable pattern — thinning at the temples and crown that can progress over years — described clinically using the Norwood-Hamilton classification, a scale dermatologists have used since the 1970s to describe the extent and pattern of male hair loss (PubMed 1188424). This is the presentation the treatments on this page are designed for.
Eligibility isn't a checklist on this page — it is a clinical judgement the physician makes after reviewing your questionnaire, your pattern of loss, and your medical history, to confirm the presentation is consistent with androgenetic alopecia and that neither treatment is contraindicated for you. Not sure whether it's time to get assessed? Our article on when to start treating hair loss covers that question directly.
Topical treatment
| How it works | A topical prescription treatment applied directly to the scalp, as directed by your physician. |
| Indication | Male pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia) and general hair thinning. |
| What to expect | Results vary by individual. Your physician will explain a realistic timeline based on your treatment plan. |
| Typical use | Applied to the scalp as directed, typically once or twice daily. |
| Possible side effects | May include scalp irritation, dryness, or itching. A full list is provided with your prescription. |
| Who shouldn't use | Not suitable for broken or irritated scalp, or known allergy to the prescribed ingredients — your physician screens for this. |
| Consistency matters | Regular, long-term use as prescribed is needed to maintain results. |
Oral treatment
| How it works | A prescription tablet taken as directed by your physician. |
| Indication | Male pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia). |
| What to expect | Results vary by individual. Your physician will explain a realistic timeline based on your treatment plan. |
| Typical use | Taken once daily as prescribed. |
| Possible side effects | May include sexual side effects such as decreased libido. A full list is provided with your prescription. |
| Who shouldn't use | Not appropriate for everyone — your physician reviews your medical history to confirm suitability. |
| Consistency matters | Regular, long-term use as prescribed is needed to maintain results. |
How the assessment works
The process starts with a structured medical questionnaire covering when your hair loss began, its pattern, your family history, current medications, allergies, and any other health conditions. A physician licensed in Israel reviews your answers directly — this isn't a form processed by an algorithm.
Based on that review, the physician decides whether treatment is appropriate, and if so, which option or combination fits your situation, at what starting dose, and what to watch for. If your questionnaire raises something that needs a closer look — a scalp condition, a medication interaction, a pattern that doesn't fit androgenetic alopecia — the physician follows up before any prescription is issued, and refers you for further evaluation where appropriate rather than prescribing regardless. You can find full detail on how we hold this process to a clinical standard on our about page. Some men notice more shedding in the first few weeks of topical treatment — that's a documented, usually temporary phase, and we cover it in our article on shedding when starting treatment. If you want to know what the legal route to a prescription looks like in Israel, and what the health basket covers, see how a prescription is obtained in Israel. For how the oral and applied routes compare, see oral versus topical treatment, and for the evidence on supplements and laser caps and combs.
When this isn't the right treatment
Not all hair loss in men is androgenetic alopecia, and the treatments on this page are not appropriate for other causes. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that causes patchy, often sudden hair loss rather than the gradual temple-and-crown pattern described above. Telogen effluvium is a temporary, diffuse shedding triggered by illness, surgery, significant weight loss, stress, certain medications, or nutritional and thyroid problems (PubMed 34449961). Scarring (cicatricial) alopecia and fungal scalp infections are other causes that need an entirely different diagnostic path. A general review of the common causes of hair loss and how they're distinguished is available in the medical literature (PubMed 28925637).
Part of what the questionnaire and physician review are designed to do is catch these cases. Where the pattern doesn't fit androgenetic alopecia, or where something else needs attention first, we refer you on rather than issue a prescription that wouldn't help. For men who have already lost hair and are weighing medical treatment against a surgical option, our article on medical treatment compared with hair transplantation covers how the two approaches relate to each other. Men weighing complementary options can also read our comparison of PRP against medical treatment.
Pricing
| Treatment | Price |
|---|---|
| Oral treatment | From 170 NIS/month |
| Topical treatment | From 155 NIS/month |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the oral and topical treatment?
The oral treatment works systemically, reducing the hormone (DHT) associated with androgenetic alopecia. The topical treatment is applied directly to the scalp and is thought to act locally, including on blood flow to the follicle. A physician decides whether one, or both, are appropriate for you.
Can I use both treatments together?
Yes — for some men a physician may prescribe both the oral and topical treatment together. Whether combination treatment is appropriate depends on your pattern of loss, medical history, and how you respond during follow-up. It is not a default combination for everyone.
How is androgenetic alopecia diagnosed?
There isn't a blood test for it. A physician diagnoses androgenetic alopecia from the pattern and history of your hair loss, gathered through your questionnaire, using a clinical classification of male-pattern loss that has been in use since the 1970s. Where the pattern doesn't fit, the physician looks for other causes instead.
What if my hair loss doesn't match a typical temple-or-crown pattern?
Patchy, sudden, or all-over shedding usually points to a different cause than androgenetic alopecia — such as alopecia areata or telogen effluvium — which need a different assessment and aren't treated with the medicines on this page. The questionnaire is designed to pick this up, and the physician will refer you on rather than prescribe treatment that wouldn't help.
Is a hair transplant a better option than medication?
It depends on the extent of your hair loss and what you're looking for. The two approaches aren't mutually exclusive — some men use both. If you want to weigh them against each other, we've published a separate article comparing medical treatment with hair transplantation.
How will my physician know if the treatment is working?
There's no lab test that measures this day to day. Your physician sets realistic expectations for your specific treatment plan, and ongoing follow-up lets them see how you're responding and adjust it if needed.