Caffeine hair loss shampoo: do they really work against hair loss?

Are caffeine and shampoos that contain it really effective against hair loss? Here's what the studies say about it

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Are caffeine and shampoos that contain it really effective against hair loss? Here's what the studies say about it

Those who lose their hair are often looking for more or less "miraculous" and more or less natural solutions to stem the problem. There are several hair loss shampoos on the market, some of which contain caffeine. But do they really work? Here is what emerged from the studies.

Caffeine hair loss shampoos are among the most popular in stores and many people are convinced that these products are able to stimulate hair growth, preventing hair loss.

Caffeine as an active ingredient present in food and beverages, but also in cosmetics, has been under discussion for some time and several studies have questioned its real effectiveness, in particular for combating hair loss.

In male pattern baldness, hair loss tends to occur when the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) damages the hair follicles. In fact, even in women, albeit to a much lesser extent, this hormone is present and, if the levels rise, it can cause the same problem.

A first study, published in 2007, highlighted how caffeine is able to help block the damaging effects of DHT on male hair follicles. The same active ingredient was found to be useful in lengthening the hair shaft, allowing the roots to become longer, wider and consequently stronger.

Research has found that caffeine may have the same beneficial effect on hair growth in women as well.

A promising study, which, however, did not subsequently have sufficient clinical findings to confirm what was discovered on that occasion. Practically there is no exhaustive evidence that caffeine has a lasting effect on baldness and, for this reason, in 2018 the UK Advertising Standards Authority ruled that a caffeine shampoo could no longer be advertised by reporting its effectiveness in "helping reduce hair loss", as there was no adequate evidence to support it. of this statement.

At the moment there are no confirmations but the experts, including the dermatologa Sharon Wong, del London Bridge Hospital, are quite favorable to the use of caffeine shampoos.

“In the early stages of genetic hair loss or thinning, caffeinated shampoos they can be useful as a supportive treatment in addition to proven and licensed medical treatments for hair loss, such as topical minoxidil and Propecia [finasteride], ”doctrine Wong told Patient.info.

Of course, the expert also points out that clinical trials, controlled and randomized on larger groups of patients, are needed to reach definitive conclusions on the benefits of caffeine for hair.

Wong, meanwhile, suggests that try a topical caffeine solution to leave on your hair to have more effects on growth than a shampoo that washes off right away. This attempt is to be made at the first signs of baldnessIn fact, it is difficult for this treatment to make a difference in the most advanced stages of hair loss.

In practice, we can try to use a caffeine shampoo to limit hair loss but we absolutely must not hope for a "miracle". If we notice that the situation is becoming very serious, it is better to contact a specialist who will evaluate case by case, recommending the best treatments.

Fonti: Patient.info / International Journal of Dermatology / Express

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