Can Caffeine Be Used To Stop Hair Loss?
Caffeine – More Than Just To Drink!
Although the most popular way to get caffeine is through beverages like tea and coffee, the stimulant can also be applied topically in the form of soap, shampoo, conditioner or other products.
So, what are the benefits of putting caffeine in your hair? You may be surprised to learn that this natural stimulant has chemical properties that make it a powerful asset in preventing hair loss.
If you are one of the millions of men and women who struggle with thinning hair, keep reading – this post is one you don’t want to miss. Caffeine is a hair loss-preventing ingredient that you need to know about, and in this post we’ll get into the science behind its benefits for thinning hair, and how you can use it in your daily hair care routine.
What is Caffeine?
Caffeine is a stimulant – a substance that sends signals to your brain and central nervous system that prompt your body to stay alert, focused and energized. Naturally found in coffee, tea and chocolate, caffeine is one of the most common stimulants consumed around the world.
Caffeine can also be artificially added to foods and drinks to increase their stimulating properties – this is often the case with caffeinated energy drinks, sodas and other similar processed foods.
How Hair Loss Works
One of the primary causes of hair loss, especially later in life, is a male sex hormone called dihydrotesterone (DHT). DHT is in a category of hormones called androgens. Androgens regulate the presence of masculine characteristics in the male and female body. These hormones play a key role in the development of male genitalia in utero, aid in the body’s transition in puberty, and are overall crucial for healthy functioning in your body.
Androgens like DHT are not your enemies, regardless of whether your hair is thinning out. However, even though it plays an important role in your body’s endocrine system, DHT can have a negative effect on your hair growth, especially as you get older.
DHT production in your body often continues increasing as you age, even more so as a male. As you get older, excess DHT production can cause your hair follicles to shrink, interfering with your hair’s natural growth cycle. This cycle takes your hair through three phases – the anagen (growth), catagen (transition), and telogen (rest) stages.
Too much DHT can shorten your hair’s growth stage and lengthen its rest stage, causing your hair to grow thinner and shorter.
Hormone-related hair loss does not typically cause a person to go completely bald. Instead, androgenic alopecia (also known as pattern hair loss) is typically the result of excess DHT as a person ages. This type of hair loss typically specifically affects certain parts of the head, especially the hairline and crown.
Who Does Androgenic Alopecia Affect?
Androgenic alopecia, or pattern hair loss, is an extremely common condition. Around half of men and a quarter of women over the age of 50 experience androgen-related hair thinning, and many people start dealing with this type of hair loss even earlier in their lives.
In addition to DHT, other factors can contribute to a person’s susceptibility to thinning hair. Stress and hereditary factors often put a person at higher risk of hair loss. Genetics cannot be changed, but one of the best things you can do for thinning hair is reduce the amount of stress in your life as much as possible.
A combination of DHT and these other factors can cause significant hair loss, but luckily there are ways to counteract and even reverse it.
How Can Caffeine Help With Hair Loss?
Caffeine is an ingredient that has natural DHT-blocking properties, making it a valuable resource in your efforts to prevent and reverse hair loss.
If you are struggling to keep your hair from getting thinner, DHT blockers are your secret weapons. They can help you address the root cause of your hair loss and get your hair’s natural, healthy growth cycle back on track.
In addition to being a natural DHT blocker, caffeine can also benefit your hair by boosting the cellular metabolism of your follicles.
Because DHT can reduce your hair’s time in its anagen (growth) phase and lengthen the duration of its time in the telogen (rest) phase, increasing your follicles’ cellular metabolism can be a huge help in increasing your hair’s growth rate.
Caffeine’s effectiveness as a DHT blocker can be compounded when the ingredient is paired with other natural DHT-blocking ingredients. That’s why we at GroMD formulated our proprietary blend of DHT blockers, including caffeine, saw palmetto, stinging nettle, pumpkin seed extract and more, and included this blend in our Shampoo & Conditioner as well as our Follicle Activator Spray.
Washing Your Hair with DHT-Blocking Shampoo
GroMD’s DHT-blocking shampoo and conditioner is one of the best ways to supply your hair with caffeine and other natural DHT-blocking ingredients.
This shampoo and conditioner combo also includes ingredients like niacinamide and argan oil, which are rich in antioxidants and fatty acids. These essential nutrients for your hair’s health, paired with DHT blockers like caffeine, saw palmetto, and more, make our shampoo and conditioner even more beneficial for thinning hair.
To use GroMD Shampoo & Conditioner to treat thinning hair, daily use is best. The shampoo and conditioner combo is easy to use – simply work it into a rich lather in your hands, massage it into your hair, then leave it in for several minutes before rinsing it out. With consistent daily use, you can see incredible changes in your hair’s thickness, fullness and rate of growth.
Pairing Caffeine and other DHT Blockers with Minoxidil (Rogaine)
Rogaine is one of the most effective topical hair loss treatments out there. If you are dealing with androgenic alopecia, you can construct a highly effective hair care regimen by combining GroMD’s shampoo and conditioner with Rogaine.
DHT-blocking ingredients like caffeine pair perfectly with Rogaine, and can make your hair care routine even more beneficial than using Rogaine alone. In addition, argan oil, which is included in GroMD’s shampoo and conditioner, has natural moisturizing properties, which can help to prevent Rogaine from drying out and irritating your scalp.
When it comes to preventing and reversing hair loss, one of the most important tips to remember is to be patient. Even with highly effective ingredients like caffeine, preventing and reversing hair loss takes time.
By sticking to your daily use of GroMD’s shampoo and conditioner, you can keep your hair hydrated, nourished, and refreshed each day. In addition, the DHT-blocking ingredients in the shampoo and conditioner can help address the root cause of your hair loss, working to enlarge your hair follicles and prevent further hair loss.
Hair loss can be discouraging, but at GroMD, we believe losing your hair simply isn’t an option. That’s why we put together our signature blend of powerful DHT blockers like caffeine to keep your hair as strong, thick, full and healthy as possible. These ingredients are backed by science and have produced incredible results for many men and women struggling with androgenic alopecia.
If you have been looking far too long for a solution to your struggle with thinning hair, look no further. Natural DHT blockers like caffeine can make significant improvements to your hair’s ability to grow well, and we’ve put all the DHT-blocking power your hair needs in one Shampoo & Conditioner!
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3500065/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11337315
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190962288701085