There’s increasing awareness in the hair loss community about Tretinoin as a promising treatment for hair growth. Tretinoin is famous in the skincare world as a powerful prescription retinoid for treating acne, hyperpigmentation and skin ageing. However, there is growing evidence that it can also play a supporting role in treating hair loss. Especially when combined with Minoxidil. Despite this, getting Tretinoin for hair loss in the UK is not straightforward. That’s because it is a prescription-only medicine and is not licensed for hair loss. Crucially, the Tretinoin creams and gels prescribed for facial skin conditions are not generally suitable for use on the scalp. In this post we review how it works for hair growth and where to get tretinoin hair loss treatments online and in person in the UK.
How Does Tretinoin Help With Hair Loss?
Tretinoin is a vitamin A derivative that works by regulating cell turnover, promoting cell proliferation and stimulating vascular activity in the skin. These properties are what make it useful for stimulating hair growth. There are two main ways Tretinoin can help with hair loss:
- Research shows that Tretinoin can increase absorption of Minoxidil into the scalp and prolongs it’s activity on the hair follicle. This means that when you apply Tretinoin to the scalp alongside Minoxidil, significantly more of the Minoxidil reaches the hair follicles where it can act. This is particularly relevant for “Minoxidil non-responders” where poor absorption may be part of the problem. Tretinoin also allows once a day Minoxidil rather than the usual twice daily.
- Tretinoin also has a direct effect on the hair follicle by itself. It can help stimulate hair regrowth in some patients with androgenetic alopecia. This is likely because Tretinoin promotes cell proliferation and differentiation in the hair follicle epithelium. It may also stimulate vascular proliferation around the follicle which improves nutrient delivery. However, the evidence for Tretinoin as a standalone hair loss treatment comes from a small number of studies. That’s why most clinicians use it in combination with other actives rather than on its own.
Why You Can’t Just Use Facial Tretinoin Creams or Gels on Your Scalp
This is one of the most common questions people ask and it’s an important one. If you already have a prescription for Tretinoin cream or gel for your face, it might seem logical to apply it to your scalp as well. Unfortunately, this isn’t a good idea for a few reasons:
- Facial Tretinoin creams and gels are formulated specifically to absorb into the facial skin. The scalp is a completely different environment. It is covered in hair, has a much thicker stratum corneum in places, produces significantly more sebum and has a different pH and microbiome. A cream or gel designed for the face will not distribute evenly across the scalp and fail to reach the hair follicles where it needs to act.
- The inactive ingredients in a facial cream or gel (e.g. the emollients, preservatives, thickeners and stabilisers) are designed for facial skin. They are not optimal for scalp penetration or delivering Tretinoin to hair follicles. This is why compounded scalp formulations use entirely different vehicles typically lightweight solutions, serums or sprays. You can apply these more easily through hair and they absorb into the scalp without clogging hair follicles.
- The concentrations used in scalp hair loss treatments also differs. They are usually lower in order to minimise scalp irritation which can cause inflammation and hair follicle damage.
In addition to the above factors, Tretinoin for hair loss is usually more effective in combination with other active ingredients like Minoxidil, Finasteride, Dutasteride Melatonin or Caffeine. These compounded formulas are specifically designed for scalp application and boost hair growth by allowing multiple actives to work together.
Is Tretinoin Safe for Hair Loss Treatment?
Tretinoin applied to the scalp can cause localised side effects including dryness, flaking, redness and irritation. These are similar to the effects you see with facial use. However they may be more noticeable on the scalp because the skin is different. Starting at a low concentration, using a scalp friendly formula and combining with Hydrocortisone initially can help reduce these risks. Some people may also experience a temporary increase in hair shedding when first starting treatment. This is usually a normal response to starting hair growth tretaments which normally settles within a few weeks.
Because you use low concentrations in topical Tretinoin hair loss formulas, the risk of absorption into the blood stream is minimal. This reduces the risk serious systemic side effects that can happen with oral retinoids. However, even though the risk of side effects like teratogenicity are lower, Tretinoin is not suitable even as a topical scalp treatment for women who are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing potential should use effective contraception during treatment. As with all prescription treatments, you should only use Tretinoin under the supervision of a medical professional.
How to Get Tretinoin for Hair Loss in Person in the UK
Tretinoin is a prescription-only medicine in the UK. It is licensed by the MHRA for the treatment of acne vulgaris but is not licensed for hair loss. It is however possible to access Tretinoin for hair loss as an unlicensed treatment through a specialist doctor or other specialist health provider. The NHS does not generally prescribe any treatments for androgenetic alopecia, so you would need to see a private GP, dermatologist or other medical specialist who treats hair loss. Even among private providers, relatively few prescribe Tretinoin specifically for hair loss. Those who do will usually prescribe it as part of a compounded scalp formulation combined with Minoxidil and potentially other actives. They then send the prescription to a specialist compounding pharmacy who will formulate the treatment and deliver it to you.
Where to Get Tretinoin for Hair Loss Online in the UK
Tretinoin for hair loss is one of the hardest prescription hair loss ingredients to access online in the UK. Most of the well-known telehealth hair loss services including Hims, Numan, Manual, Hair + Me, Boots Online Doctor, Superdrug Online Doctor, LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor and Zava do not provide Tretinoin for hair loss. Major online skincare subscription services like Skin + Me and Dermatica prescribe Tretinoin for facial skin conditions but not for scalp hair loss. Getting Tretinoin for hair loss treatment online in the UK requires a medical provider that is specifically able to prescribe compound scalp treatments. Below are the main platforms where it is possible to get Tretinoin for hair loss online in the UK:
#1 City Skin Clinic
City Skin Clinic is an online medical clinic providing personalised prescription skin and hair loss treatments. We offer custom topical hair loss treatments for men and women following an online consultation by a UK registered doctor. Custom hair loss serums can contain Tretinoin alone or usually alongside other actives like Minoxidil, Finasteride, Dutasteride, Spironolactone, Caffeine, Hydrocortisone, Metformin or Melatonin if appropriate and safe. Your doctor will determine whether adding Tretinoin to your formula is beneficial based on your hair loss pattern, treatment history and health. Formulas cost a flat fee regardless of composition. If suitable, your doctor will design and prescribe your treatment. A specialist compounding pharmacy will then formulate the treatment and deliver it directly to you. The same doctor will provide care throughout your treatment journey. You can either schedule a virtual video appointment or complete the online consultation form to access this service.
#2 Sons
Sons is an online subscription service for men that offers hair loss treatments in the UK. They provide a topical spray that combines Finasteride, Minoxidil and Tretinoin. They determine suitability following an online consultation form reviewed by their clinical team. This is a subscription service with treatments delivered directly on a recurring basis. Sons offers a fixed-formula combination product rather than a fully bespoke formulation. They provide aftercare through their online portal.
#3 Hair Repair Clinic
Hair Repair Clinic is a UK specialist hair loss service that offers compounded topical treatments. They provide a Minoxidil and Finasteride or Minoxidil and Dutasteride hair solution. You can add Tretinoin to the formula for an additional fee. To access the service, you complete an online consultation which a prescribing pharmacist reviews. If suitable, the pharmacy will formulate your treatment deliver it to you.
Tretinoin can be a useful addition to hair loss treatment because of its ability to significantly enhance the absorption and effectiveness of other actives like Minoxidil. It can also have some direct hair growth promoting effects. However, Tretinoin is a prescription-only medicine and is not licensed for this use. That makes accessing Tretinoin for hair loss treatment in the UK online and in person difficult. You need to find a medical provider who specialises in providing compound hair treatments. They should undertake a thorough assessment, select the best treatment for you and provide ongoing monitoring.
We believe that hair loss treatment should always be personalised. This is why we offer custom hair loss treatments for men and women through our online clinic. Our doctors design bespoke topical formulas using actives like Tretinoin, Minoxidil, Finasteride, Dutasteride, Spironolactone and Caffeine where appropriate. Choose your virtual consultation and begin your journey to great hair today.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified medical provider for any medical concerns or questions you might have.
