The active ingredient found in Regaine foam is minoxidil (5%), which is the same active ingredient and dose, as Regaine’s classic Regaine 5% minoxidil liquid. The only difference between the two, which is also the selling point, is that the form of the new product is a foam or ‘mousse’ as opposed to a liquid. The TV advert features a man spraying some foam on his hand and applying it to an area of thin hair on his crown.

Our initial thoughts about the product are that it won’t in fact be as effective as a liquid minoxidil formulation. If applied correctly, a liquid can be placed directly on the scalp and optimally absorbed. Even if some of the liquid lands on the hair, the laws of gravity will ensure most will drip onto the scalp as required. With a foam, however, it will be very difficult (almost impossible, in fact) for all of the product to be applied to the scalp and we would imagine the majority would be absorbed by the hair, depending of course on the thickness of the user’s hair. If you observe the TV advert for Regaine Foam, you will notice that when the user applies the foam, none actually seems to reach his scalp, but instead gets absorbed by his hair. Absorbtion into the hair would be of no use to somebody wishing to prevent hair thinning, as it is required that the product penetrates the scalp in order to reach hair follicles.

Minoxidil 12.5% Cream – a specially enhanced formulation of minoxidil

Although Belgravia’s minoxidil 12.5% + Azelaic Acid cream takes a similar form to Regaine foam, the method of application is different. An applicator is required so that the product can reach the scalp through the hair in order to ensure as little minoxidil gets caught in the hair as possible and optimum absorbtion is achieved. Another point is that if some cream is blocked from reaching the scalp by the hair, the dose is high enough to ensure enough minoxidil is absorbed into the scalp. Because of the higher dose of minoxidil (12.5%), it makes our product a prescription medication, but users have reported significantly increased results to a 5% solution, especially for stubborn areas of hair loss such as a receding hairline or a balding crown as you can see on our receding hairline page.

At Belgravia each person is treated on an individual basis and depending on the pattern of a person’s hair loss, some people will be better suited to liquid minoxidil. This is because those with relatively thick hair may not suit a cream or foam.

Only time will tell exactly how effective Regaine foam is. Results from any hair loss treatment take at least 3 months to begin to take effect and as we receive reports by users, we will keep our blog updated.

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Question: Is minoxidil safe to use on transplanted hair?

Answer: Yes, minoxidil is safe to use on transplanted hair – and it is suitable for both men and women. In fact, the use of minoxidil as part of a bespoke treatment plan is often advisable in such cases, since the product stops the any naturally growing hair (that has not been transplanted) from shedding. With close trichological monitoring, a hair loss treatment programme that includes minoxidil (and various other medically proven and natural treatments) can yield impressive results.

The Belgravia Centre’s in-house pharmacy produces the best quality minoxidil with added DHT blockers, as well as formulations of various strengths that are only available from the clinic. The Belgravia Pharmacy provides both 4% and 5% solutions with added medroxyprogesterone (MPG), and an extra-strength 12.5% minoxidil cream with added azelaic acid. You will need to consult one of our qualified trichologists to determine which is the most appropriate strength for your particular condition.

You can call the Belgravia Centre on 020 7730 6666 to book an appointment for a free consultation. Alternatively, if you cannot attend in person you can submit an online diagnostic form. The information that you provide will allow our specialists to diagnose and recommend a suitable treatment course specifically tailored to you.

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Question: I’m an 82 year old woman but young for my age lately my hair is very dry and I’m loosing a  lot of it  the doctor says its old age. Would it be that? I had such thick hair I don’t know what to do about it being so dry.

Answer: Most hair complaints after the age of 50 turn out to be Female Pattern Hair loss. A progressive widening of the top parting indicates this. A small proportion of hair loss complaints can certainly be attributed to the aging process but this occurs slowly over many years. Treatment courses for women, consisting primarily of Minoxidil + Medroxyprogesterone (MPG), with added hair growth boosters, can help to prevent further hair loss and to encourage regrowth.

Diffuse hair loss that can occur at any age, happens when the hair loss is generalised around the scalp and tends to happen suddenly. This type of hair loss is due to disruption of the Hair growth cycle due to stress or illness. Diffuse hair loss tends to correct itself in time, as long as the underlying cause subsides, but treatment can help to speed up regrowth and minimise possible damage to hair growth as our body recovers from the stressful episode.

Dryness of the hair is often due to chemicals applied such as tints, perms and the use of heat equipments such as hair dryers or curling tongs.  Dry hair can also indicate lack of essential oils and Vitamin A. Medical conditions such as Thyroid imbalance can explain hair loss and dry hair, but in the absence of any known reason, it is best to add a multivitamin to a well balanced diet. Most women also complain about dry hair and dry skin after the menopause and beyond due to decreased level of Oestrogen. Adding fish oils and Vitamin E in the diet helps to improve the dryness of both hair and skin.

Overall, the best step forward is to have the problem diagnosed so the correct treatment or approach is recommended.

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Question: I want to use a hair relaxer, but I had a caesarean section only three weeks ago. Are there any side-effects?

Answer: Having a caesarean section does not make you sensitive to the chemical relaxer and therefore there are no contraindications between your recent operation and relaxing your hair. However, you may need to ask your hairdresser if your hair is strong enough to relax. Following pregnancy the hair can temporarily become weak and thinner, and more vulnerable to breakage. Relaxing the hair may not be a sensible idea during such a time.

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Answer: Smoking may affect hair growth, and research published in the British Medical Journal and other peer-reviewed sources supports this claim.

A study published in the Archives of Dermatology sought to find out the impact of smoking upon hair loss in a survey of Taiwanese men (Su, L.H. and Chen, T.H., 2007). The test concluded that there was a significant, positive association between moderate or severe Androgenic Alopecia (male pattern baldness) and smoking 20 cigarettes or more per day.

The theory as to why smoking may cause hair loss is that nicotine and carbon monoxide – substances found in cigarettes – restrict the flow of blood and oxygen to the body’s extremities, including the hair follicles. The hair lacks nourishment and, as a result, starts falling away from the scalp.

While there is some scientific research that potentially validates smoking and its effect on the hair, many men and women believe that smoking may have caused their hair loss when, in fact, genetics may have been the main cause.

The best way to determine the cause of any hair loss is to see a professional who can examine your hair and scalp. A proper diagnosis ensures peace of mind, the correct treatment and the right advice. Contact The Belgravia Centre for a free consultation or fill out our online diagnostic form if you’re unable to attend in person.

Question: Is there a refund policy for hair loss treatments if you have already bought something?

Answers: Belgravia’s policy ensures nobody is tied in to a long-term programme or obligated in any way to go ahead with a treatment course during their initial consultation.

Patients are entitled to a refund for any medications that have been paid for if they have not already been dispensed from the pharmacy. There is however a prescription charge of £25 per prescription which is included in the treatment programme, but non-refundable. We are unable to provide a refund for any medications already sent to, or taken by a patient. Any products or services that have been used will not be refunded.

If somebody receives a free LaserComb or Hair Vitalics and later on in their treatment programme requests a refund for undispensed treatments, the treatment will be refunded minus the cost of the LaserComb or Hair Vitalics.

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Answer: Minoxidil is not a prescription medication, so it is possible to obtain it from most chemists. The most common brand found in high-street chemists is Regaine (known as Rogaine in the US). Minoxidil 5% is available for men and minoxidil 2% for women.

Belgravia however, produces minoxidil of the very highest quality with added DHT blockers. Our minoxidil formulations are made by our in-house pharmacy and in various strengths unavailable elsewhere. The Belgravia Pharmacy produces a 4% or 5% solution with added Medroxyprogesterone (MPG) and an extra-strength 12.5% minoxidil cream with Azelaic Acid.

Our minoxidil 4% + MPG requires a prescription and is usually recommended for women with female pattern hair loss amongst other conditions. As minoxidil is a ‘dose dependend’ medication, patients have regularly reported our own 4% and 5% solutions to be considerably more effective for female hair loss than the common 2% solution.

Minoxidil 5% is slightly stronger and advised for men with genetic hair loss and in some cases, women. It has also been reported to be more effective than the high street brands because of the increased quality and added DHT blockers.

Our liquid formulations of minoxidil will not make the hair greasy as many off-the-shelf brands do.

Finally, our minoxidil 12.5% + AA cream has been found in thousands of cases to be very effective for stubborn or patchy hair loss. We usually advise minoxidil 12.5% for a receding hairline, balding areas at the vertex (top/back of the head) or patches of alopecia areata.

To see how effective Belgravia’s combination treatment courses for hair loss, inclusive of minoxidil can be, view our hair loss success stories.

For more information on Belgravia’s combination treatment courses please contact us for a free consultation or complete an online diagnostic form for a treatment course anywhere in the world.

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Question: I am losing my hair at the front and have done some research into the hair loss products minoxidil and Propecia. I haven’t found another site or clinic with more convincing hair loss treatment programmes than Belgravia’s, but are they covered by the NHS?

Answer: As genetic hair loss is considered a cosmetic issue, not an illness, unfortunately hair loss treatments are not covered by the NHS. Belgravia does however offer the most cost-effective treatment courses for hair loss, as well as a number of payment options to suit the pocket. For more information please read our hair loss treatment information or watch our hair loss videos.

for further advice you can contact the centre for a free consultation or alternatively complete our online diagnostic form for a home-use treatment course anywhere in the world.

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Question: I have been trying a lot of ways to prevent hair loss but the hair fall is not reducing. I am only 18 years old. Most of the parting looks bald and my scalp gets oily the day after I shampoo. Please suggest a remedy!

Answer: It’s normal for sebum (oil) production to be higher than usual during the teen years but the only solution to an oily scalp is regular shampooing. This will help to reduce the build up of oil, or sebum, in the scalp. Belgravia’s range of shampoos are perfect for treating different hair types, including oily hair.

However, an oily scalp does not cause hair loss. Likewise, daily shampooing does not cause or aggravate hair loss.

If you’re concerned about hair fall, the best thing to do is have your scalp and hair examined by a specialist to determine what’s causing the problem and what hair loss treatment would be most helpful to not only prevent further shedding, but also regrow any that’s already been lost.

You can call the Belgravia Centre on 020 7730 6666 to book an appointment for a free consultation. Alternatively, if you cannot attend in person you can submit an online diagnostic form. The information that you provide will allow our specialists to diagnose and recommend a suitable treatment course specifically tailored for you.

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Question: Please take a look at these two photos. In your opinion, has Martin Kemp had a hair transplant? In a photo that was taken in 1999, he looks to have a receding hairline but in another which was taken ten years later in 2009, it looks straighter.

Answer: Hairline maturisation occurs in just about all men but it’s not always a sign of male pattern baldness. If you’re worried about hair loss, the Norwood Scale is a good benchmark to compare ones degree of recession and gauge whether more thinning or loss could be imminent.

The two photos you sent through of Martin Kemp are taken at different angles. The angle at which the 2009 picture was taken does make his hairline look straight compared to the older photo, but if you look at the group photo taken in Cannes in 2009 his hairline is still obviously receded.

Photos can be deceiving, and whether he did or did not undergo a procedure on his hairline is not evident by the photos. However, they are all we have to go on in this instance so to answer your question: in my opinion, after looking through some more pictures, it does not appear as though Martin Kemp had a hair transplant.