TV's Dr Ranj Happy With Hair Loss Treatment

NHS doctor and Strictly Come Dancing celebrity, Ranjit Singh - better known as Dr Ranj - opened up about his own hair loss whilst hosting a phone-in to help other men with theirs.

The 40 year old, whose thick black hair and eyebrows are part of his signature look, told This Morning viewers he had started noticing Male Pattern Baldness setting in, in his 20s but has now found a solution he is happy with.

"It's not something we talk about"

"I've been gradually thinning since my early 20s" Dr Ranj noted on the daytime TV show. "It got to my late thirties and I went to see a specialist and got my assessment done [as part of a TV show] and I am going to do something about it...

I tried various different things and then eventually I settled on a treatment that I am happy with... It's not something we talk about."

This last point was the reason he was holding a phone-in about treating Male Pattern Baldness on the popular ITV programme; often men can be too embarrassed about losing their hair to discuss it with a doctor or hair loss specialist, and many are unaware of the fact that there are clinically-proven options for preventing baldness that don't involve getting a hair transplant.

Dr Ranj did not disclose where he had his consultation, nor which specific hair loss treatments he was using, but they are likely to involve either one or both of the only MHRA-licensed and FDA-approved medications currently available for androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss).

The first is a one-a-day tablet of finasteride 1mg, which is available from a number of brands despite still often being referred to by its first ever brand name, Propecia.

This oral treatment inhibits the formation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone which causes thinning hair and a receding hairline in those with the relevant genetic predisposition through a process known as follicular miniaturisation.

The second is a topical hair loss solution, high strength minoxidil; whereas finasteride acts as a DHT deterrent, minoxidil proactively stimulates hair growth.

Additional hair growth products

Both of the aforementioned established men's hair loss treatments have complementary actions. As such, they can be used together or independently depending on the individual's age and medical suitability, as well as their level of shedding when they first decide to start treatment.

As long as the affected hair follicles are still functioning and capable of producing hair - even if it is thin - it is likely they are able to take this type of non-surgical approach to regrowing hair.

If, however, the skin has taken on a smooth, shiny appearance with no obvious hairs in these areas, it is a sign that it is too late to treat hair loss with non-invasive methods as baldness has set in.

Depending on the individual's precise pattern of shedding and the quality of hairs in the rest of their scalp, a hair transplant may be possible and advice would need to be taken from an experienced surgeon.

For those who have not left it too late, additional hair growth supporting products can also be employed alongside the two key medications to help promote regrowth and healthy hair.

These include low-level laser therapy (LLLT) administered at home via an FDA-cleared device such as the LaserBand. This uses medical-grade lasers to stimulate follicles into producing stronger hair growth.

Other products include food supplements targeted towards the maintenance of normal healthy hair growth, such as Hair Vitalics for Men. These one-a-day tablets were specially formulated by Belgravia hair specialists to contain a premium blend of key vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanical extracts, including biotin, zinc, selenium, copper and saw palmetto.

The first thing any man concerned about losing hair should do, however, is get a professional diagnosis of their hair loss condition, either in person at a dedicated hair loss clinic, or online - just as Dr. Ranj did. Once the underlying cause is established, suitable treatment options can be recommended based on their findings, and any questions or concerns can be addressed. As Dr Ranj advises "it's important to get a medical opinion before you embark on a significant treatment course."